ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE — Zac Brown Band founding member John Driskell Hopkins is at a good spot in his life.

When he's not on the road with the three-time Grammy Award-winning band, Hopkins is either spending time with his family and friends, working on projects for his own John Driskell Hopkins Band, or working on projects as a producer for the likes of living-jazz legend Joe Gransden, The Joe Gransden Big Band, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal's daughter Katie Deal and rising Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Alex Guthrie.

But now, Hopkins doesn't have to drive to Tennessee to record at Zac Brown's Southern Ground Nashville or pay to rent out 808 EAST in Atlanta to produce an album. Hopkins is the new owner of Brighter Shade Studios, a 2,500-square-foot, professional-grade digital recording studio in his home base of Atlanta.