Behind the Scrim

Since 1974, KUT/X Studio 1A in Austin has been a legendary institution, hosting a long list of national touring artists and local music legends. Beyond its role as a launchpad for incredible talent, the studio’s success is also defined by its prestigious lead audio engineer role. This coveted position—responsible for running over 300 annual sessions and overseeing the studio's audio broadcast operations, including a growing focus on post-production and vital off-site activations like ACL Festival and South by Southwest—has only been held by four people in its history. On this episode of Behind the Scrim, we talk with Jake Perlman, the latest to grace this throne. As Lead Engineer since 2020, Jake is ushering Studio One A into a new era of content and live performance. We dive into Jake's "it" moment and discuss his path into this epic role, offering a glimpse into the rich history of this Austin landmark and the day-to-day responsibilities of overseeing one of the country's top radio studios. CONTACT Drew: [email protected] - Give feedback.AMA - Submit questions, request an interview, whatever. EPISODE LINKS:KUTXDrew DunavanThe Werd CompanyWaterloo RecordsSOCIAL LINKS:@kutx@dunwerd@thewerdco@waterloorecordsSONG LINK:Eli Waters (Intro Music)Follow "Behind the Scrim" on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube today.

When you experience an artist's installation, what truly captures your imagination? How close do we actually come to missing out on life-changing art? Design and fabrication demand patience, but sometimes, intense outside forces shatter timelines and ignite creation. Pressure doesn't just create diamonds—it forges experiences like Mesmerize.This powerhouse duo, Clayton Lillard and Mateo Gutierrez, haven't just developed a truly immersive, ticketed spectacle; they also run the experiential production company, IECreatives. Their dreamer-meets-developer synergy has been the explosive force behind some of Austin's most mind-blowing activations and legendary parties. In this episode, we crash into their definitive, high-voltage "IT" moment: Mesmerize - Living Dream.CONTACT Drew: [email protected] - Give feedback.AMA - Submit questions, request an interview, whatever. EPISODE LINKS:MesmerizeDrew DunavanThe Werd CompanyWaterloo RecordsSOCIAL LINKS:@mesmerize_clay@teostimetravel @thisismesmerize@dunwerd@thewerdco@waterloorecordsSONG LINK:Eli Waters (Intro Music)Follow "Behind the Scrim" on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube today.

Ever been to a festival or event and been completely wowed by a brand experience? That seamless, effortlessly enjoyable interaction? It's much harder to pull off than it looks, requiring a thrilling blend of cutting-edge technology, precise fabrication, and flawless execution—all while keeping on budget and hitting an un-movable deadline. Because in live events, when it's showtime, it's showtime.From running technical production for massive event and festival activations to co-founding Super Great Fantastic with his wife, Isabella Rodriguez, Juan Alsina has developed a superpower for staying laser-focused under insane pressure and delivering mind-blowing experiences. In this episode, we dive into Juan’s definitive "it" moments, including the epic worlds he brought to life for Reddit Cannes Lions, Reddit SKO Miami, and Google Play @ ACL Festival.CONTACT Drew: [email protected] - Give feedback.AMA - Submit questions, request an interview, whatever.EPISODE LINKS:Super Great FantasticDrew DunavanThe Werd CompanyWaterloo RecordsSOCIAL LINKS:@juantxcho@supergreatfantastic_@dunwerd@thewerdco@waterloorecordsSONG LINK:Eli Waters (Intro Music)Follow "Behind the Scrim" on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube today.

When you’re in the crowd getting your face melted by a massive stage production, it’s easy to get lost in the spectacle. But have you ever wondered how those towering walls of tech and pyro appear and disappear in a matter of hours?While advancements in materials and technology have changed the game, it still takes a master conductor to coordinate the evolving symphony of logistics required to build these shows for bands to take the stage. Ryan Tarby is one of those conductors.From running production for major festivals and international tours to managing operations & logistics for Boss Radio and stage managing at the iconic Mohawk in Austin, Ryan has spent his career making sure the chaos starts on time and is out on time. In today’s episode, we dive into one of Ryan’s definitive "it" moments: stage managing for Gojira on the massive Mega-Monster Tour.CONTACT Drew: [email protected] - Give feedback.AMA - Submit questions, request an interview, whatever.SOCIAL LINKS:@gojiraofficial@bossradioatx@dunwerd@thewerdco@waterloorecordsSONG LINK:Eli Waters (Intro Music)Follow "Behind the Scrim" on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube today.

When you walk into a legendary venue and the sound hits you just right, you aren't just hearing music—you’re hearing years of meticulous engineering and local history.It takes a specific kind of veteran to bridge the gap between world tours and community pillars, and Jamie Wellwarth is a master of that craft. Currently at Nomad Sound, Jamie’s career has taken him from Binghamton, NY, to stages across the globe.In today’s episode, we dive into one of Jamie’s standout "it" moments: managing the high-stakes production of the Arlyn Studios 40th Anniversary Party, an all-day marathon featuring a gauntlet of local legends and national acts.CONTACT Drew: [email protected] - Give feedback.AMA - Submit questions, request an interview, whatever.SOCIAL LINKS:@arlynstudios@dunwerd@sound_of_wellwarth@nomadsoundinc@simsfoundation@thewerdco@waterloorecord sSONG LINK:Eli Waters (Intro Music)Follow "Behind the Scrim" on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube today.