Music Production Podcast
An exploration of music production through informal discussions about technique, philosophy, gear, and creativity. Hosted by Brian Funk, a musician, songwriter, teacher, and Ableton Certified Trainer.
Episodes
Permission to Be Imperfect with Nick Culbertson
Nick Culbertson is a musician and app developer who runs Moby Pixel, a mobile app creation studio. The Moby Pixel YouTube channel covers the latest in iOS music apps and his journey in his own app development. Nick just released Mighty Synth Sampler, a fully featured synth and sampler for iOS and Mac. In Nick's return to the Music Production Podcast, we discuss his new Mighty Synth Sampler and the
Mixing, Mastering, and Staying Creative with Mike Nikou
Mike Nikou is the owner of Mic Nix Productions, a studio based in Adelaide, South Australia. He specialises in mixing, mastering, and full song production. Mike and I discussed how he began playing in rock bands and found his love of recording and production. We discussed how music making has changed and continues to evolve. Mike spoke in-depth about his mixing and mastering workflow and philosoph
Better Than Ezra's Kevin Griffin on Songwriting and Ethical AI
Kevin Griffin is the frontman of Better Than Ezra, a Grammy-nominated songwriter, and Co-founder of a new artist-built AI music platform Soundbreak. Better Than Ezra contributed to the soundtrack of the 90's with hits like "Good" and "In the Blood." Kevin's music has been performed and recorded by artists like Meatloaf, Taylor Swift, and Blondie. Kevin and I spoke in depth about the art and magic
Developing an Authentic Sound with David Paul Newell
David Paul Newell is a musician, producer, and one half of the electronic music duo Midnight Mystery Club. David worked as an audio engineer in Nashville for Brantley Sound Associates. He's been a ghost writer in European House music. Midnight Mystery Club's has a new single "I Only Have Eyes for You" coming out April 3rd. David and I talked about his experience in music production and developing
Creative Enthusiasm and Staying Inspired with Amani Roberts
Amani Roberts is a DJ, Professor, Author, and Artist Coach. Amani teaches music business at Cal State Fullerton and helps artists reach their creative dreams. Amani is the author of DJs Mean Business and The Quiet Storm, a historical look at R&B Groups. Amani and I discussed the challenges artists face from creating music to releasing and sharing it with the world. Amani has powerful insights tha
My 5 Biggest Music Production Problems and Their Solutions
Have you ever felt like the more you learn about music production, the harder it actually gets to finish a song? You aren't alone. In this episode, I'm sharing the 5 biggest mental blocks I've faced, from "tutorial paralysis" to the crushing weight of trying to be a "Great Artist," and the practical shifts I used to break through them. After 6 years of the Jamuary challenge, I've learned that the
Matt Tinkler - The Path to Creative Independence
Matt Tinkler is a musician, educator, and Ableton Certified Trainer. He runs a the Aspect Music Academy and makes music as Chronitect. Matt's YouTube channel is a great resource for learning music production and creative workflows. Matt and I spoke in depth about the creative process and how he makes music. He shared his 5 I's of Ideation workflow, as well as how he helps students turn their ideas
Blankfor.ms and Aqeel Aadam - Collaborating, Production, Plug-in Making
Aqeel Aadam is the founder of Aqeel Aadam Sound plug-ins and Tyler Gilmore makes music as Blankfor.ms. Aqeel and Tyler have just released Outgrowth, a sample-based plug-in and iOS app. Outgrowth allows you to manipulate and reimagine samples in playful and unique way. Aqeel and Tyler spoke to me about their collaboration on the new plug-in, and how they came to work together. We covered the creati
Brad Barr on Songwriting, Human Imperfections, and Minimalism
Brad Barr is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and, along with his brother Andrew, is half of the Americana, folk-rock group the Barr Brothers. The Barr Brothers just released their new album, Let it Hiss, which has a more vulnerable, stripped-down sound that embraces human imperfection and spirit. Brad and I had a great conversation about songwriting and the production of the Barr Brothers' n
7 Tips for a Successful #Jamuary2026
It's time for Jamuary, a challenge to create music and share it each day during the month of January. Jamuary is a powerful way to start your year with a creative bang! In this episode, I share 7 tips that will help you make the most of Jamuary and maximize your productivity and creativity! Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Join the Music Production Club! - https://brianfunk.com/mpc My
How to Keep Creating When Life Gets Busy with Joshua Blum
Joshua Blum is the host of The Thirteenth Hour Podcast, a show about the creative process as it relates to writing, music, and imagination. He's also the author of The Thirteenth Hour, a fantasy adventure novel, and the creator of Once Upon a Dream—an 80's-inspired synth soundtrack to accompany the book. Josh builds a rich creative world around his stories, blending music, writing, and visual art
Snakes of Russia - Emotion Over Perfection
Joseph Holiday, who releases music as Snakes of Russia, returns to the podcast to talk about his latest album, Swallowed Whole Through the Mouth of Eternity. Joseph's music blends modular textures to create dark, moody, cinematic soundscapes. In this episode, we talk about how Joseph's approach has evolved since our last conversation, why limitations fuel his creativity, and how visual storytelli
Tommy Zee - Stop Drinking from the Infinite Well
Tommy Zee runs Tommy Zee and Co., a music production company that creates music for some of the world's largest brands like Nike, Adidas, Google, Sony, and more. He also runs Making Music for Brands, a platform where he teaches producers how to build careers creating music for commercial projects. This is the fourth time I've had Tommy on the podcast, and every time we talk, I walk away feeling in
Tom Cosm - Telepathic Instruments Co-Founder and Ableton Certified Trainer
Tom Cosm is an electronic musician, Ableton Certified Trainer, and the technical co-founder of Telepathic Instruments. Widely known for his early Ableton Live tutorials and inventive use of hacked gear, Tom has built a reputation as a true audio mad scientist—transforming data, brainwaves, and even bugs into expressive sound. In this conversation, Tom shares his journey from early YouTube educator
Plug-in Development and Live Performance with Soap Audio's Tom Carpenter
Tom Carpenter is a musician, producer, and plug-in developer. He is currently on tour with his 3-piece indie electronic band, Moon Tower. Tom is a co-founder of Soap Audio, who recently released Soap Voice Cleaner, a plug-in designed to easily clean up spoke word audio. I spoke with Tom about his tour, Moon Tower, and Soap Voice Cleaner. Tom shared his thoughts on creativity and collaboration in b
#410: Your Best Music is Dying: 10 Habits of Prolific Music Producers
https://brianfunk.comIs your best music not getting made? Do you struggle through the process? This video contains 10 habits of prolific music producers. Adopt them into your music making and let your best music come to life! Every time we make music is a unique and special experience. We will never be in exactly the same place again. We have to take advantage of each moment we get otherwise, tha
Ableton Certified Trainer Side Brain
Yeuda Ben Atar, aka Side Brain, is one of the most knowledgable and prolific Ableton Certified Trainers out there. He recently released his 100th weekly episode of his music production Study Group. He's got some exciting new Ableton Live tools, such as his Push Trigger FX, MIDI Bounce, and Flin for Push. We spoke about his teaching and work and his liberating position on releasing music. We discus
Sarah Belle Reid - Learning Sound and Synthesis
Sarah Belle Reid is a trumpet player, composer, educator, and sonic explorer whose work combines classical performance, experimental electronics, and modular synthesis. With a background in conservatory training and a fearless embrace of improvisation and technology, Sarah's music blurs boundaries—merging extended trumpet techniques, custom-built software, and handcrafted synth patches into deeply
Mixerman and the Ultimate Guide to Producing Records, Music, and Songs
Mixerman (Eric Sarafin) is a gold and platinum-selling producer, mixer, engineer, and author whose credits include The Pharcyde, Ben Harper, Spearhead, Lifehouse, Barenaked Ladies, and Foreigner. Known for his no-nonsense approach and razor-sharp insights, Mixerman has spent decades working at the highest levels of the industry—both in iconic L.A. studios and now from his mountain home studio in A
The ONLY Secret to Making Music...
There's really only one secret I can tell you that will help you make more music, have more fun making it, and leave you more satisfied with what you make. Work Fast. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Adam Rokhsar on the Music Production Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xsm_PGb9vM Some Good Evil The Master Plan EP - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/somegoodevil/the-master-pl
The Art of Mastering with Oscar Zambrano
Oscar Zambrano is a mastering engineer and the founder of Zampol Productions, a New York City studio known for mastering an impressive range of records—from Spotify Singles to avant-garde jazz to Broadway cast albums. With 20 years in the industry, Oscar has become a go-to name for artists who want their music treated with care, precision, and a deep understanding of both the technical and artisti
Aqeel Aadam - Making Plug-ins for the Curious and Open-Minded
Aqeel Aadam is a musician, sound designer, and plugin developer blending modular synthesis with a love of nature and organic textures. Through his company, Aqeel Aadam Sound, he creates audio plugins for the curious and open-minded. He creates tools that spark inspiration rather than dictate outcomes. Aqeel and I explore the connection between nature and synthesis, the power of limitations in crea
Toru - Host of the ProducerHead Podcast
Julian Astri, aka Toru, is a music producer, educator, and the host of the ProducerHead Podcast, a show dedicated to amplifying the voices of beatmakers, producers, and creatives at every stage of their journey. Through his work, Toru fosters a culture of consistency, curiosity, and community in music production—offering motivation and real-world insight through interviews, daily posts, and person
Six Missing – Flow States, Ego Drops, and the Art of Letting Go
Today I welcome back TJ Dumser, who makes ambient meditative soundscapes under the name Six Missing. TJ is in the process of releasing his new album Without Mind in 3 sections. We spoke shortly after the first section Identify was released. TJ and I picked up where we left off, discussing his work and the vision he has for this album. Things pretty quickly got philosophical and introspective. We s
Jxmie Blake on Rule-Breaking, Risk-Taking, and Decision-Making
Jxmie Blake is a genre-blending artist, producer, and educator whose work fuses jazz, soul, hip hop, pop, and electronic music into a bold and expressive signature sound. Known for his innovative approach to Ableton Push as a chromatic instrument, Jxmie is a multi-talented creator with a deep background in audio engineering, songwriting, and sound design. With degrees from Berklee College of Music
Creative Confidence and Music Production with LNA
Liina Turtonen, aka LNA, is a musician, producer, and educator, who runs the LNA Does Audio Stuff YouTube Channel. Liina is an Ableton Certified Trainer and just released her book Creative Confidence and Music Production: Overcome Your Insecurities. LNA and I discussed her new book and the inspiration behind writing it. She shared insights that have helped her and her students get past creative b
Rich Shivener - Living Digital Media
Rich Shivener is a musician, producer, and professor. His book Living Digital Media explores how creators producer works. He documents the emotional journey creators go through and the behind the scenes experiences that shape their work. Rich and I are reconnecting after meeting and working together at my Finish February workshop at Ableton's headquarters. Rich shares his experiences writing his
#398: At Home Songwriting with Chad Shank
Chad Shank is a songwriting teacher and music producer. Chad teaches songwriting at Berklee Online and runs At Home Songwriting, where he helps students learn how to write songs in their own authentic style and voice. Chad's YouTube channel, At Home Songwriting, is filled with songwriting tips and exercises. Chad and I spoke in-depth about songwriting, lyric writing, and overcoming creative blocks
William Garrett - From Sweeping Floors to 10 Billion Streams
William Garrett is a mixing and recording engineer and producer, and studio builder and manager. He managed a studio for Sony in New York City for 15 years and was Senior Music Producer for Spotify Singles, recording and mixing more than 900 tracks that have over 10 billion streams to date. William has worked with countless artists like Jack White, Miley Cyrus, Shania Twain, John Cale, Cyndi Laupe
Songwriting, Creative Flow, and The Natural World with Jean-Paul Vest
In this episode of The Music Production Podcast, I sit down with musician and songwriter Jean-Paul Vest, the driving force behind Last Charge of the Light Horse. We talk about the evolution of songwriting, the impact of place and sound on music, and the delicate balance between control and spontaneity in the creative process. Jean-Paul shares his approach to writing, how his songs take shape over
Øy - Composing Live Music Using Dance
Today I am speaking with Kristoffer Lislegaard and Janne Eraker of the duo Øy. Janne is a tap dancer, with contact mics attached to her shoes. Kristoffer receives the audio in his computer running sequencers, synthesizers, drum machines, and Max for Live that all respond to Janne's movements. We had a fascinating conversation about how Øy collaborates and interacts musically for live performances
Low Heat Beats on Flow, Creativity, and Sharing Your Music
Boyan of LowHeatBeats is a music producer and educator, whose rapidly growing YouTube channel takes us behind the scenes of his process, showing us the tools and techniques he uses to create his blend of soulful hip-hop, funk, electronic music. Boyan and I discuss a wide range of creative philosophies and techniques. He shares how he gets into the creative flow and uses his YouTube channel to shar
I Made Music Every Day for 15 Years - 15 Lessons
Serato's Nick Maclaren on Music Tech and Development
Nick Maclaren is the Chief Strategy Officer for Serato. Nick talked about his experiences as a DJ and how it lead him to become a Serato user. We discuss Serato's new multi-fx plug-in Hex FX. Nick also spoke about the technological developments that have changed DJing and music production, and the challenges that lie ahead as tech gets more and more powerful. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Li
Building Worlds with Music - Landman Composer Andrew Lockington
Andrew Lockington is a film and television composer who composed the scores for many films including blockbuster hits City of Ember, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Sandreas, and Rampage, as well as hit television shows like Mayor of Kingstown, Special Ops: Lioness, and his latest Landman, starring Billy Bob Thornton. He also created the opening theme for Amazon Prime's Monday Night Hockey. Andrew
Echoes of a New Beginning - Jamuary 1 Prompt
It's time for #Jamuary2025, a challenge to make and share music for as many days as you can during January. I'll be sharing the prompts I am giving to my Music Production Club here on the podcast. Whether you are keeping up with the Jamuary challenge or using these prompts sometime in the future, I hope they help inspire you to make some new music! Join the Music Production Club to get the downl
Be 31x More Creative with Jamuary2025!
It's time for Jamuary 2025! These 31 days of creativity will dramatically increase your creativity. Here are some lessons, tips, and takeaways that will help you prepare to make the most of the Jamuary challenge. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book My Free Ableton Live Packs - https://bri
The Threat to New Music - David Rowell
David Rowell is a veteran music journalist who has worked as an editor and writer at the Washington Post for over 20 years. Stewart Copeland of the Police said "David Rowell is the kind of critic that scares us musicians. He really gets it, maybe even more than we do." David is here to talk about his new book The Endless Refrain: Memory, Nostalgia, and the Threat to New Music. In it he expores th
Live Performance and Collaboration with C4RP00L
C4RP00L is an alternative hip-hop band that combines hip-hop beats with electric guitar and bass. They've just released new music, Creature Mode: Vicious and Creature Mode: Velocity. I spoke with Danger, Renzo Starr, and Villian about their new releases and recent touring. We had a great discussion about writing music as a group and performing live. Please welcome C4RP00L to the Music Production P
Tyson Boorman - Getting Industry Standard Mixes for Your Music
Tyson Boorman is a mixing and mastering engineer for Nightowl Music Group. He is the author of The Objective Mix - Mix Like a Pro Without Pro Gear or Premium Plug-ins. Tyson teaches music production on his YouTube channel, Objective Mixing, and he also runs a podcast called Prolific Super Producer, where, in the very near future, I'll be a guest. Tyson and I spoke about his production philosophy o
STOP Optimizing! Do THIS First!!
Let's get the big things right before we worry about the details. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: My First Album Project Nairb - Apple Music - Spotify My Second Album Forest Far - Apple Music - Spotify Music From Video is from my Passings EP - Apple Music - Spotify Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - htt
Ben Levin - Staying True to Yourself as an Artist
Ben Levin is a musician, visual artist, and educator. He runs the Ben Levin Music School where he hosts courses that help artists find their voice, finish music, and maintain and cultivate their love of music-making. Ben's YouTube Channel hosts his art, music, and educational content. His new album Heaven Heaven Heaven features indie, alternative rock music with 2 Fender Bass VIs at its core. Ben
David Mash - Musician, Educator, Futurist
David Mash is a musician, composer, educator, technologist, and futurist. David worked at Berklee College of Music for 44 years, first as a teacher of guitar and jazz. Then he started the Music Synthesis department, which is now the Electronic Production and Design department. David was Berklee's Assistant Dean of Curriculum for Academic Technology (BADCAT) in 1989, Vice President for Technology i
The Craft of Songwriting with Andrea Stolpe
Andrea Stolpe is a renowned, multi-platinum creative consultant whose methodology for songwriters and music artists has been taught worldwide. A writer with 20+ years of experience in the music industry, Andrea has written for such artists as Faith Hill, Julianne Hough, and Jimmy Wayne. She has turned her experience into award-winning online courses and live events as well as numerous articles, bo
KIN TALA - Building an EP from Scratch
KIN TALA is a musical duo from Blackpool, England, who just released their debut EP, Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost. They created the album entirely on their own, learning to produce and mix along the way. I spoke with Dominic of KIN TALA about their new EP and the creative process they used to make it. Dom discussed how the duo did most of their learning on the fly and how they managed to inj
Ian Temple - Soundfly CEO on Overcoming Creative Obstacles
Ian Temple is the CEO and Co-Founder of the online music school, Soundfly. Soundfly offers courses in a variety of topics related to music-making and music production. Ian is a pianist, composer, and plays in the band Sontag Shogun. Ian and I spoke about the creative process and the challenges of making music. Ian shared insights about learning music and growing as a musician. He explained how we
Corey Baker - aka Kill Paris, Musician, Producer, Ableton Certified Trainer
Corey Baker is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and Ableton Certified Trainer. Corey made a huge impact on the electronic music scene and toured the world as Kill Paris. He shares his workflow and techniques in his tutorials and courses, and hosts a weekly sample flip challenge. I spoke with Corey about his music, educational community, and production techniques. We discussed some of the newer f
Thomas Glendinning - ELPHNT, Sound Designer, Music Maker, Educator
Thomas Glendinning is a music producer, educator, and sound designer. He creates some of the finest Ableton Live and Max for Live devices available at his site ELPHNT. Tom recently released his new album Micro((osmos under the name Conso/e. Tom joined me for a 3rd conversation on the Music Production Podcast to talk about his new album and some of his latest Max for Live creations, including Essen
Michelle Moog - Bob Moog Foundation, History of Moog Synthesizer
Michelle Moog is the executive director of the Bob Moog Foundation and daughter of synthesis pioneer Bob Moog. The Bob Moog Foundation's Mission Statement is to inspire creative thinking by providing interactive educational experiences at the intersection of science, music theory, history, and innovation. Michelle helped bring the organization from a volunteer-driven, grassroots effort to the educ
Carter Vail - Musician, Songwriter on his new album 100 Cowboys
Carter Vail is a musician, producer, and video creator. His fast-paced, lighthearted short-form songs have garnered him hundreds of thousands of followers across social media. His new album, 100 Cowboys, combines upbeat music with emotional lyrics that document a difficult breakup. Carter shares his songwriting process, thoughts on collaboration, and why he chooses to work fast and be prolific in
David Alexander - Audio Engineer, Producer, Musician
David Alexander is an audio engineer, producer, and musician originally from Portland, Oregon and now based in Los Angeles. He has over 20 years of experience working in all genres, with roots in the subcultures of hardcore and punk. David shares his unique blend of technical skills and creative philosophy on social media. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: David Alexander's Site - http://
Evan Frankfort - Songwriter, Sound Designer, Film and TV Composer
Evan Frankfort is a Songwriter, Sound Designer, and TV and Film Composer. His TV and film credits include Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild, The Harlem Globetrotters: Pay it Forward, 90210, and The 100. He writes music and plays in the indie rock band The Spiritual Machines. He has collaborated with diverse artists including Warren Zevon, The Bangles, Rancid, and Liz Phair. Evan and I spoke about
Francis Preve: The Man in the Synth
Francis Preve is a sound designer, producer, and synthesizer programmer. He programs factory presets for the leading synthesizer manufacturers including Sequential, Roland, Korg, Oberheim, Serum, and many more. He is the Section Lead of Digital Composition at Austin Community College. Francis releases sound packs through his company SympleSound. His latest release, Serum Models, turns the popular
#372: The Magic of Musical Collaboration with Boredomfighters
Tyler Manning and Jordan Dale are part of Boredomfighters, a nonprofit that brings music-making and collaboration to kids across the United States. Boredomfighters conducts workshops, assemblies, and "Instrument Gardens" to empower young people to create music on the fly using modern production techniques. Tyler and Jordan spoke to me about their work in Boredomfighters and how they've been inspir
#371: Recording an Entire Album Yourself with Dex Green
Dex Green is a Nashville-based producer, engineer, and songwriter. He recorded his new album, Imaginary War, by himself, playing every instrument. Dex has worked with artists like Elvis Costello, Margo Price, and Collective Soul. His work has been nominated for a Grammy. Dex and I spoke about his work and the lessons he's picked up from recording countless acts in various genres. He discussed the
#370: How to Survive the AI Music Takeover
AI is getting really good at generating realistic and emotional music. Where will this leave music-makers? Today we discuss how we can ensure that we remain relevant in the face of an AI music takeover! Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Rolling Stone AI Song - https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/suno-ai-chatgpt-music-soul-of-the-machine-1234992365/ Jeff Leisawitz on the Mu
#369: Consistency and Authenticity with Mikas of We Make Dance Music
Mikas is the creator of We Make Dance Music, a site of music resources for producers. On his podcast, Live Electronic Music Tutorials with Mikas, he creates tracks in real-time, sharing tips and techniques along the way. The result of each episode becomes a template viewers can purchase on WeMakeDanceMusic.com. This is the second time Mikas and I spoke on the Music Production Podcast. Immediately
#368: Write Better Music Through Storytelling w/ Jeff Leisawitz
Jeff Leisawitz is a musician, producer, coach, college songwriting professor, and author. His new book The Magical Impact of Storytelling explores how creatives can connect with their audiences and produce more meaningful work with effective storytelling. It was great to have Jeff back on the Music Production Podcast to discuss how we can use storytelling to make better music. We talk about how w
#367: Designing Ableton's Performance Pack and Hunting Creativity with Iftah
Iftah is the creator of a number of official Ableton Live Packs, including CV Tools, Time and Timbre, Microtuner, and the new Performance Pack for Live 12. Formerly one-half of the duo, Skinnerbox, Iftah has performed around the world. His creative pursuits cover various mediums and styles such as electronic music, field recordings, photography, and programming. Iftah and I spoke about his work a
#366: Helping Creators Create with Output CEO Gregg Lehrman
Gregg Lehrman is the founder and CEO of Output. Output is a music-creation software company created by musicians for musicians. Gregg is an ASCAP award-winning musician and producer who has worked in television and film. Gregg spoke about his work at Output and how he started the company to fulfill his creative needs. He shared lessons he learned working for Hans Zimmer and how those experiences i
#365: Sound Design for Timbaland and Ableton with Sound Oracle
Sound Oracle is a music producer and sound designer. He has worked with the heavy hitters in the hip-hop world, and his sounds have been used in Grammy-winning songs by Timbaland, Jay-Z, Drake, and more. His latest packs Golden Era Hip Hop Drums and Trap Drums are featured packs in the new Ableton Live 12 update. Sound Oracle and I had an inspiring conversation about his work as a producer and sou
#364: Plug-in Design, Creativity, and Balance with The Him
The Him is a music producer, DJ, and plug-in designer with over 500 million streams on Spotify. He's toured some of the largest festival stages and done remixes for artists like Tiesto, The Chainsmokers, and Miley Cyrus. The Him just released his first plug-in, Sub Ninja, which allows producers to get an accurate understanding of the bass frequencies in a mix. The Him and I spoke about his career
#363: Finish Every Song You Start with Johan Ransby
Johan Ransby is an artist, coach, and producer. He shares tips and techniques that help artists finish more music and reach their career goals. His website is loaded with helpful creative tools and his social media accounts contain priceless advice. Johan and I had a great conversation about how he approaches making music and teaching his students. He emphasized the importance of seeking challenge
#362: Finding Support in Community with Michaela Shiloh and Andre Mullen
Michaela Shiloh and Andre Mullens run the community-based record label HRDRV, which helps artists develop their careers. Their combined decades of experience in the music industry include writing music for top artists like Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez and working for Bad Boy Records. Michaela and Andre discuss the importance of camaraderie and collaboration in running their company, HRDRV. Th
#361: Touring and Performing with Music's Largest Acts - Carlos Sosa
Carlos Sosa is a musician, producer, composer, and music director. Sosa formed Grooveline Horns, a 1970s funk and R&B influenced brass group. Carlos tours and records with Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz, Zac Brown Band, and Hanson. Carlos and I spoke in-depth about his music career recording and touring with some of music's largest acts. He spoke about how his never-ending desire to learn ha
#360: Pick Yourself with Philip Roder
Philip Röder is a music producer who runs the Copilco professional mixing and mastering studio in Berlin. Philip's YouTube Channel, Pick Yourself, helps music producers hone their craft and tap into their own personal style. Philip and I had a great conversation about his work and his underpinning philosophies. We went into detail about how he encourages musicians to invest in themselves and "pic
#359: Music Theory, Harmonic Series, Beach Boys with Tim Smolens
Tim Smolens is a musician, composer, and recording engineer. He teaches music theory on his YouTube channel and at High Castle Music Conservatory. Tim has toured and plays in the bands ISS and High Castle Teleorkestra. Tim and I had an inspiring conversation about his work and appreciation of music and chord theory. Throughout the episode, Tim demonstrates the principles on his piano. We discussed
#358: Sequencers, Humanization, Groove and Feel with Alexkid
Alexkid is a music producer and plug-in designer. He's been releasing house music for decades and designing Max for Live devices for Ableton and Isotonik Studios. Alex now runs 510k Arts, where he releases his powerful sequencers, including the new VST/AU plug-in Seqund. Alexkid and I spoke about his work, music, and experience designing sequencers. He went into great detail about the subtle art
#357: Promoting Your Music in 2024 with Alex Akimov
Alex Akimov is the founder of Simple Social, a music digital marketing agency, and Sound.Me, an AI-powered artist and creator platform. He has worked as an artist manager, promoter, and touring guitarist. Alex explores ways to help artists reach their career goals. On this episode, Alex discusses his experience in the music industry and his current focus on Simple Social and Sound.Me. He shares st
#356: Troubadeck Songwriting Cards with Charlie McCarron
Charlie McCarron is a film composer, songwriter, and game designer. He is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for his Troubadeck songwriting cards. Charlie ran the Composer Quest Podcast, where he interviewed songwriters and discussed their creative process. It was great to catch up with Charlie, who was the 2nd guest on this podcast! Charlie showed us his new Troubadeck, which is a fantastic
#355: Selling an Album for $100 with Thad Cockrell
Thad Cockrell is a musician, songwriter, and producer in Nashville, TN. His new album, THE KID, comes out January 26th and is available on vinyl for $100. Thad appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon after Fallon discovered his song "Swingin'" at a hardware store. In this episode, Thad discusses the evolution of his musical style and the importance of creating from a place of authenticity.
#354: Finding the Present Moment Through Music with TJ Dumser - Six Missing
TJ Dumser is an ambient artist who makes music as Six Missing. His newest album Here For Now combines modular synths, electronic and acoustic instruments, and immersive field recordings. TJ's music explores human resilience and the power of finding the present. TJ and I had a great conversation about his writing process and how he uses music to immerse himself in the present moment. We discussed h
#353: 4 Ways to be More Creative!
Here are 4 tips I've learned that improve creativity! Listen on Apple, Spotify, Google, YouTube Show Notes: Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Sav
#352: Collaborating and Producing with Raul Sotomayor
Raul Sotomayor is a musician, producer, and DJ from Mexico City. Raul makes Afro-Caribbean electronic music as Tonga Conga. He has a record label and studio named Kaya Records and produces music for a wide range of artists. Raul and I had a great time talking about his work as Tonga Conga and his background as a percussionist and DJ. He shared some thoughts on building a studio area that is comfor
#351: Make Your Own Rules with Andrew Huang
Andrew Huang is a musician, producer, video maker, and sound explorer. He's known for his YouTube channel which currently has over 2.35 million subscribers. Andrew recently released the Transit plug-in with Baby Audio, the Ghost Pedal with Endorphines, and the iOS Flip sampler. His new book, Make Your Own Rules, details his story as a music industry misfit and shares advice on how to build a caree
#350: Stavroz on Creating, Producing, and Performing Their New EP Kick Up the Dust
Stavroz is an organic and cinematic electronic music group from Belgium. The award-winning 4-piece combines DJ-style electronic performances with acoustic instruments such as bass, guitar, wind, and brass. In December 2023, they released their Kick Up the Dust EP, combining a variety of styles, moods, energies, and instrumentation. I spoke with Gert from Stavroz, whose varied role in the band incl
#349: Mixing Pop Music with Brent Hendrich
Brent Hendrich is an award-winning mix engineer with over 20 years of experience in the Nashville music industry. He has worked in just about every stage of the recording process and within a wide variety of musical genres. In recent years, Brent has become a specialist in mixing pop music. Brent and I spoke about his work as a pop music mixing engineer. He shared valuable mixing techniques and s
#348: Getting Inspired By... with Will Hatton
Will Hatton is a music producer and educator. He runs the popular Inspired By... YouTube Channel and has taught music for over a decade. Will releases music under the name Hush Child. Will and I had a great time talking about a wide range of topics. We discussed his work and success with his YouTube Channel. Will shared some insights about how he carved his own path in the music industry. We spent
#347: Battling Through Creative Challenges with Composer Amanda Cawley
Amanda Cawley is an award-winning orchestral composer for film, television, and video games. Amanda's work includes the documentary Visionary Gardeners, the animated series Fireman Sam, and the video game Siegebreaker. Amanda and I spoke about her work creating sonic worlds for film and video games. She shared how she overcomes creative challenges and blocks, as well as the mental game of writing
#346: Yeuda Ben-Atar aka Side Brain
Yeuda Ben-Atar, aka Side Brain, is a musician, producer, and Ableton Certified Trainer. Yeuda has taught countless students both online and in person. He first caught my attention around 2010 using his Sega Dreamcast arcade stick and other video game controllers to perform with Ableton Live. Yeuda regularly releases Ableton Live Packs and tutorials and holds a weekly "Study Group" where he and par
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