Maldon-based Zen Studios is the creation of 28-year-old Lee Potter.

Lee set up the studios in Heybridge last September as part of the governments Youth Enterprise Scheme and has not looked back.

He has had great success nationwide including work for the BBC and record companies.

Lee explains: "I've recorded everything from country and western, to thrash metal and opera."

He is currently working on a series of 10 plays entitled 'Soldiers of Love' which has included stars from TV such as former EastEnder, Peter Dean (Pete Beale), Dr Who star, Colin Baker and Red Dwarf's Holly (Norman Lovett).

Lee, who has previously worked for the local council and been a car mechanic, said: "I've always been in bands ever since I was in school but it was always too expensive to get anything recorded.

"So I decided to set up a studio where young bands could come in and record."

Recent Army and Navy Battle of the Bands winner, Carbon have now recorded their demo at Zen studios.

Once he was set up, Lee had to get some practice in.

He said: "I know lots of people in bands anyway, so I gave them free studio time to get some practice in and it went from there".

And what does the future hold for the Maldon entrepreneur?

"I can be here for three years and after that I would like to expand to bigger premises. It's only small here and I'm beginning to see its limitations."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.