Episodes
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Building a Mixing Business with Michael J. Morgan
Michael J. Morgan is a business coach that works specifically with mixing and mastering engineers. He helps them build frameworks and processes to maximize their businesses, reach more clients, and service them better through his company the Business of Mixing. Michael and I spoke about patterns…
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Bohemyth - Learning Rules to Break Them
Beau McLeod is a music producer and educator, who makes music as Bohemyth. Beau runs Low End Candy, where he designs plug-ins and Ableton Live tools. His newest plug-ins are Preverb for easily creating reversed reverb, and Slingshot for creating reversed delays. Beau spoke about his journey...
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Think Like a Synth with Anthony Marinelli
Anthony Marinelli is a legendary composer, performer, and synthesist. He worked with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones on Thriller, James Brown, Kenny Loggins, Van Halen, and many more. He worked on the scores for over 90 original film score soundtracks including War Games, Stand by Me, and one of...
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Writing a Song in 2 Hours with Ben Burnes
Ben Burnes is a musician, producer, and game developer. He is the author of the new book How to Write a Song in Two Hours, based off his experience writing over 400 songs in weekly two-hour sprints. Ben is back for his fifth conversation! We spoke about his new book and some of the wisdom he…
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Song and Vocal First with Howard Benson
Howard Benson is a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum producer. With 15 platinum records, 10 gold records, and over 150 billion streams, Howard has shaped the sound of modern rock and alternative music. Howard has worked with Hoobastank, POD, My Chemical Romance, The All-American Rejects,...
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Modern Music Education & Overcoming Creative Challenges w/Dennis DeSantis
Dennis DeSantis is a composer, percussionist, sound designer, author, and educator. He is a professor of Music and Technology at Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, where he is developing an all new BM in Music Creation and Technology. Dennis worked as Head of Music Learning…
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The Power of Mastering with Jeff Graves
Jeff Graves is the founder and creator of LuvLang Studios, an online mastering service. LuvLang gives users interactive control and feedback over the mastering process. Jeff and I spoke about how mastering can transform a mix. Jeff shared his story of his experience working in studios and…
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Grammy-winning Songwriter Tim Atlas on Serving the Song
Tim Atlas is a musician, producer, and Grammy-winning songwriter in Los Angeles. His new EP, Reverso, was recorded in his home studio and combines Indie and Psych rock with RnB and Soul. Tim spoke to me about the production of Reverso. We touched on songwriting, arranging, and collaboration. Tim...
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Xylo Aria - Founder of Music Production for Women
Xylo Aria is a singer, producer, and entrepreneur. Xylo founded Music Production for Women to help empower and educate women music-makers. Her new album Dream will be released summer 2026. I've been following Xylo's work for some time now and it was great to speak to her about her work. We...
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Creating Music That Breathes with OVERSEA
Sebastien Heintz makes electro-acoustic music under the name OVERSEA. His new album BEYOND is a modern ceremonial album made for transcendental experiences. Sebastien and I spoke about his work as OVERSEA and how has been using music for meditation and healing. Sebastien explained how he uses...
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Turning Nature into Music with Lomotor
Lomotor is a musician and producer who makes nature-inspired electronic music on a small farm in Massachusetts. His new album ABCAPSILAHAD combines electronic and acoustic instruments with field recordings and the sounds of leaves, trees, and birds. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Special Gifts...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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!…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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#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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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#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…
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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.…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 -...
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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...
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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…
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About this show
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.
Hosted by
Brian Funk
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