Among the swaying palms, ripening mulberries and colorful bougainvillea, a musician nicknamed Merlin is working his magic on a 40-acre palm farm.
Howard "Merlin" Wulkan has set up a production studio called Farmadelica Sound, has released an album with his new project, HAETHOR, and is gearing up for multiple projects at "the Farm," near the north end of Pine Island.
"It's the last place you'd find a recording studio," he said, surrounded by a muster of honking peacocks, a 7-foot alligator named Larry and two cats, Princess Sophie and Rocky. "You feel like you left the continental U.S."
A 30-year industry veteran, Wulkan helped promote such bands as Weezer, Nirvana and Hole and moved from New York City to Albuquerque before heading to Cape Coral last July.
"I get to make people happy because of music," he said of the early years and getting hooked on helping musicians. In Albuquerque, he started a recording studio — the LAB — and an indie record company.
He made the move to Southwest Florida to be near family and is now working with his partner Bill Wright, a long-time Florida resident and owner of the farm. He is set up in an old fruit and vegetable building, walking through a vegetable cooler to get to the sound studio.
"It's something special," he said. "It's a safe place for artists to make the best effin' records they can."
When Hurricane Irma struck in September, it delayed plans for months. As reports of the storm worsened during its approach, Wulkan took a laid back approach to the idea of Pine Island being totally wiped out, similar to Hurricane Charley's destruction in 2004.
"It's just stuff," he said. "That which is for you will not pass you by."
After several months' delay, he revved up his plans and signed contracts.
His wife, Lainie Sevante' Wulkan, founded the Holistic Chamber of Commerce Cape Coral Chapter, which started meeting this week.
The couple work together on several projects. They do a weekly online radio show, Zeta Global Radio, which they tape at the studio.
One project close to completion is Music2HealtheEarth, with the Wulkans curating it. It will have about 40 tracks with multiple releases, inspired by a documentary about global warming, "We Know Not What We Do."
Artists include Dave Abbruzesse, formerly of Pearl Jam; Chris Ewen of The Magnetic Fields;UK singer Aloe Blacc; electronic composer Robin Rimbaud, also known as Scanner; and Klaus Fluoride of The Dead Kennedys.
"Music has always been part of my life," Wulkan said. By the fourth grade, he was playing the clarinet. At 10, he picked up a guitar, and by 12 was forming bands. Soon, he added the piano and synthesizers.
He worked at a record store, becoming friends with the distribution reps, and before long was promoting Nirvana and Hole, then Veruca Salt and the Zombies.
"It was a fantasy job," he said.
Haethor is his duo with Amy Owens, and a “classical/alternative crossover” — some say they resemble Evanescence, Massive Attack and Portishead. Violinist/vocalist Charles Yang was a guest musician, Grammy-winning producer Yaron Fuchs co-mixed the record and Emily Lazar, owner of The Lodge Mastering in NYC (Coldplay), mastered the album.
It launched with the help of a $12,000 kick-starter campaign with 87 backers.
The 11 songs on the album were released May 25. Earlier in May, Wulkan and Owens held their debut show at the Gibson showroom in New York City. Wulkan wrote the music and played guitar on the album.
"We got to perform for an intimate group of people," he said. "It's a really interesting record, a crossover with darker atmospheric vibes and simultaneously a pop/electronic appeal."
The album includes songs "Beautiful," "Discrete," "Smoke and Mirrors with Aaron Evans" and their first single, "The Hook."
He also recently joined Make Music Matter, a global group that works in countries that have been deeply scarred by conflict, HIV/AIDS, and violence against women. It hopes to contribute to the prevention of violence and public health issues, and to raising awareness.
"It's in line with my philosophy of paying it forward," Wulkan said.
His big project is a metal record led by the UK's Paul Wright. Tom Schofield, of Chicago rockers SOiL and Chicago death metal band Oppressor, and DieTrich Thrall, of Lords of Acid and Beauty in the Suffering, on bass, join them.
Wulkan recently remixed/rewrote a track for his friend, producer/composer Howie Beno, who has worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ministry, and Tom Jones. sStaria features singer/writer Sheri Shaw. Entitled "Cry Wolf (Merlin's Manic Mix)," the track should be released this summer on a as-yet-to-be-titled CD.
"This is a really crazy place," Wullkan said.