podcast Archives - Recording Studio Rockstars

What risks and rebellions in rock and roll history continue to echo in today’s music industry? My guest today is Nettie Freed, an artist, songwriter, creative director, and studio owner based near Nashville. With roots in a music industry family and decades of experience in L.A. and Nashville, Nettie shares her journey, her studio Spellbound […] The post RSR576 – Nettie Freed – The Granddaughter of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Embracing Risks and Authenticity appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What does it really take to design a studio that balances acoustic excellence with practical flow – without losing sight of the human element? My guest today is David Amlin, a veteran producer, engineer, and studio owner with over 35 years of experience across film, music, television, and more. From helping build one of New […] The post RSR575 – David Amlen – Lessons from Decades of Studio Building and Engineering appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What does it take to finish a mix quickly without second-guessing your instincts? My guest today is JJ Catalyst, a Los Angeles-based recording engineer and mixer with credits spanning Disney, Showtime, and Billboard number ones. He’s Emmy-nominated and known for blending modern pop with broadcast-ready production. We met at NAMM 2026, and he’s here to […] The post RSR574 – JJ Catalyst – The Art of Finishing Award Winning Mixes Fast and Confidently appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What’s the secret to capturing that deep, punchy snare sound without overdoing it?I asked Greg Giorgio about his approach to drums, and he shared how tuning and subtle miking tricks – like dampening with towels and choosing the right snare – make all the difference. It’s about working with the instrument’s natural voice. My guest […] The post RSR573 – Greg Giorgio – Hybrid Studio: From Deep Snares and Cue Sends to Creative Mixing Techniques appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What insights do immersive audio techniques, like Atmos, offer for emotional storytelling and how do different speaker setups influence our perception of space and emotion in music? My guest today is BZ Lewis, a producer, engineer, and mixer with over 30 years of experience. He’s earned six Emmy Awards and specializes in immersive audio, working […] The post RSR572 – BZ Lewis – Unlocking the Emotional Power of Immersive Audio appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

Have you ever wondered whether a killer drum sound starts with the right mic placement and kit selection, or if it’s something you can still craft in the mix? Or maybe you’re curious about how much room tone, mic choice, and tuning actually influence the final impact of your drums? My guest today is Brian […] The post RSR571 Brian Moncarz – Mixing Rock Drums for Bob Ezrin, Alice Cooper & Our Lady Peace appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What does it really take to make your best record by embracing limitations and finding creativity in the constraints? My guest today is Jordie Lane, a Nashville-based Australian indie roots artist, songwriter, and producer. With a background that includes performing at the Sydney Opera House, composing for TV comedy, and touring with legends like Billy […] The post RSR570 Jordie Lane – Writing and Producing Great Songs from the Road, Circus, and Joshua Tree appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you stop calling it pre-production and just start making the record? My guest today is Vance Powell, multi-Grammy-winning producer, mixer, and engineer from Sputnik Sound in Nashville – and the most frequent guest in RSR history, now returning for his seventh appearance on the show. Vance has been with us since episode […] The post RSR569 Vance Powell – Baking It In, Atmos Truth, Tiny Amps, and One-Take Magic appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you realize the soundtrack of space travel isn’t science fiction – it’s real music carried aboard real missions? My guest today is Kevin White, Nashville educator, musician, and creator of Songs of Apollo – a documentary project that explores the real relationship between music and space exploration. This isn’t just a story […] The post RSR568 Kevin White – Songs of Apollo, NASA, & Music That Went to Space appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you start writing, producing, and mixing like the forest, not the trees, and you leave your worries behind? My guest today is Micah Tawlks – producer, mixer, songwriter, and artist based in Nashville, working out of his home studio in Whites Creek. Micah first joined us back on RSR324, and he’s back […] The post RSR567 Micah Tawlks – Co-Writing, Mixing, Blackbird Sessions & Capturing Ideas Before They Disappear appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you build a studio in an industrial zone…and still end up in court for making records? My guest today is Toby Suess, drummer, engineer, and owner of Tinroof Recording in Fallon, Nevada – a studio that started as nothing more than a rehearsal space and grew into a full hybrid recording room […] The post RSR566 Toby Suess – Saving Home and Pro Studios from Nashville to Nevada! appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you finally stop chasing every plugin and build a mix workflow that actually works? My guest today is Grammy-winning mixer, producer, and musician Jason Lehning, returning to the show after RSR074. If the name sounds familiar, it should – we’ve also had his brother Jordan (RSR104) and his dad Kyle (RSR094), the […] The post RSR565 – Jason Lehning – Mixing Vocals, Low-End Decisions, Writers’ Rooms & Keeping It Fun appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic instincts, and indie-folk sensitivity lands in Nashville with a home studio, a loop pedal, and a fearless creative streak? In this episode, I sat down with Packy Lundholm — songwriter, producer, guitarist, and longtime member of I Fight Dragons, Theo Katzman’s band, and collaborator with […] The post RSR 564 – Packy Lundholm – Writing, Producing & Recording Yourself at Home appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

Why do your deepest, most emotional songs come out better when you stop trying so hard? In this episode, I sit down with Nashville legend Bobby Bare Jr. – fearless songwriter, creative instigator, touring bassist for Guided By Voices, and the son of Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare. This conversation is a masterclass […] The post RSR563 – Bobby Bare Jr – Why Monk Songs Come From a Disco Heart and Other Unicorn Sightings appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What do you actually need to know BEFORE you press your vinyl record… and what mistakes will totally ruin it? In this episode, Piper Payne returns to take us way deeper into the real-world physics, workflows, and decisions behind vinyl mastering and pressing. We dig into how your mixes translate onto a lacquer, why the […] The post RSR562 – Piper Payne – Crafting Vinyl Records With Care for Indie Artists appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when your drumming videos blow up online… and suddenly you’re touring the world behind your own band? In this episode, I sat down with Nashville drummer and creator Kortney Grinwis, one half of the alt-pop duo Chapel, to talk about her journey from posting drum videos on the internet to building a full-time […] The post RSR 561 – Kortney Grinwis – From Viral Drum Videos to Full-Time Musician Touring The World appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you stop chasing the band dream… and start writing songs that actually work in the real world? In this episode, I sat down with songwriter, producer, and sync-music mentor Mike Meiers to dig into how he went from traditional band life to building a sustainable career writing music for film, TV, ads, […] The post RSR560 – Mike Meiers – Stop Writing for Your Band – Start Writing for Real Opportunities appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

Why does the rough mix always feel like the real song – and how the hell do you get that magic back without ruining it? In this episode, Pat Sansone and I go deep into the lifelong puzzle of mixing: why the first tracking rough has all the energy, how chasing it can make you […] The post RSR559 – Pat Sansone – Playing and Songwriting with Wilco, Autumn Defense, and Big Star Quintet. appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you sit down with a songwriter who’s done everything from early fan-funded records, to major-label pop, to K-pop, to sync, to teaching songwriting at Berklee – and ask him what really matters in the studio today? Bleu McAuley and I go deep into the intersection of creativity, workflow, sync licensing, AI, and […] The post RSR558 – Bleu McAuley – Sync, Songs, Survival, & The Future of Making Records appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you rescue a forgotten studio that once shaped American music history – and bring it roaring back to life? This week, I sat down with Teresa Knox, the powerhouse entrepreneur and preservationist behind the rebirth of The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma – the legendary home of Leon Russell, the early Shelter […] The post RSR557 – Teresa Knox – Reviving Leon Russell’s Church Studio & the Tulsa Sound appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you finally get to mix Spinal Tap in Dubly Atmos? You turn it up to 11, of course! My guest today is Grammy-nominated engineer and mixer Steve Genewick, joining us from his Atmos room in Los Angeles to walk us through the wild, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt process of capturing and mixing […] The post RSR556 – Steve Genewick – The Majesty of Turning Spinal Tap Up to Eleven in Atmos appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What if your mix engineer secretly backed up every session in triplicate just so your grandkids could remix your demo in 2085? In this episode, I’m joined by my brother from another podcast, Matt Boudreau – veteran mixer, Atmos trailblazer, and the host of Working Class Audio. Matt’s credits include immersive mixes for Green Day, Alanis […] The post RSR555 – Matt Boudreau – From Stereo to Atmos: Revolutionizing Audio Mixing appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when a tree destroys your home and studio – and it leads you to a new creative life across two continents? In this episode, I talk with Ronan Chris Murphy, the world-traveling producer, engineer, and artist known for his work with King Crimson, Steve Morse, and Tony Levin, and for teaching hundreds of […] The post RSR554 – Ronan Chris Murphy – Modern Songwriting Knight Writing Medieval Melodies in Ancient Italy appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you stop chasing shiny gear and start listening more carefully? In this episode, Locke Davis, founder and CEO of the Pickr Music app, shares how his deep dive into Nashville’s studio culture and Blackbird Academy shaped his approach to building a platform that connects professionals and democratizes the recording industry. We explore […] The post RSR553 – Locke Davis – How to Build Your Community and Content to Grow Your Studio or Music Career – Pickr Music appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

In this episode, we dive deep into the art of staying creative – even when life gets messy. Tim and I talk about recording at home, the beauty of imperfection, Logic shortcuts, AI tools, Costa Rica inspiration, punk rock sound gigs, and songwriting prompts that dig into the soul. We also laugh a lot about […] The post RSR552 – Tim Easton – Songwriting, Shortcuts, and the Sound of Real Life appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

Meghan Gohil is a producer, mixer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. He runs Hollywood Recording Studio and GoHill Records, where he helps artists make professional-sounding records with smart workflows, hybrid mixing, and practical indie-release strategies. In this episode, Meghan and I talk about the process of building a modern home-studio setup that competes with […] The post RSR551 – Meghan Gohil – Future-Proof Your Music with Atmos, Hybrid Chains, and Indie Strategy appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

Have you ever wondered how embracing chaos and intuition can transform your creative process? In this episode, Laura Crapo shares her journey through music, film, healing, and the importance of staying authentic to your unique voice. We explore the parallels between art forms, the influence of environments, and how trusting your inner voice can lead […] The post RSR550 – Laura Crapo – Making Records, Films, and Music Videos for MTV [Steve Albini, Sebadoh] appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

Ever wondered how seasoned producers handle low-end management, creative sampling, or guiding musicians without spooking them? Join me as I chat with Nashville’s own Brad Jones to uncover practical studio techniques, legendary stories, and lessons learned over decades of making records. In this episode, Brad shares insights from his experiences working with artists like Jill […] The post RSR549 – Brad Jones – Capturing Authentic Performances in the Studio [Jill Sobule, Robyn Hitchcock] appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

Ever wonder how the chaos of remote recording setups and complex signals can actually come together in a studio environment? My guest today is Roger Alan Nichols, a Nashville-based producer, engineer, and songwriter with a résumé including Grammy-nominated projects, work with Hayley Williams, Steven Tyler, and the band Dreaming in English. He's also been a […] The post RSR548 – Roger Alan Nichols – Drum Tuning, Microphone Choices & Getting the Sound Right appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What does it really take to make a record that feels authentic, timeless, and even fun to make, without getting caught up in hype or hype-y gear? My guest today is Jon Estes, a Nashville-born multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer with a diverse background working with artists like Béla Fleck, Robyn Hitchcock, Kacey Musgraves, and Rodney […] The post RSR547 – Jon Estes – Simplicity and Communication Make Better Records [Béla Fleck, Robyn Hitchcock] appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What happens when you mix turntables with virtual reality to reach 4 million students and 20,000 educators worldwide? My guests today are Ronnie and Tiffany Notch, the creative forces behind Breach, a company that blends music, technology, and education in groundbreaking ways. They share their journey from a chance meeting in a recording studio to […] The post RSR546 – Ronnie & Tiffany Notch – Bring Hip-Hop, AI, VR, Microsoft and Music-Learning to 40 Million Kids appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

My guest today is Josh Frigo, a producer, mixer, multi-instrumentalist, and artist based in Nashville, Tennessee, who believes in putting artists and their ideas first. After several years as a touring utility player, Josh shifted his focus full-time to production and mixing, building a creative career shaped by self-learning, collaboration, and curiosity.Working across pop, singer-songwriter, […] The post RSR545 – Josh Frigo – The Art of Atmos Mixing and Creative Collaboration in the Nashville Scene appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.

What actually makes a mix feel musical before you ever touch an EQ?My guest today is Eric Sarafin, better known as Mixerman - a gold- and platinum-selling producer, mixer, and engineer with credits ranging from The Pharcyde and Tone-Lōc to Ben Harper, Lifehouse, Barenaked Ladies, Foreigner, and Pete Murray. He’s also the author of Zen […] The post RSR544 – Eric Sarafin – Mixerman’s Ultimate Guide to Producing Records, Music & Songs. appeared first on Recording Studio Rockstars.