Ep 80 - From Metallica to Bublé: Bob Rock on Producing Hits, part 2
Release Date: 06/06/2024
Ep 95 - Jazz, PR & Showbiz Stories with the legendary Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
Vocal Lab
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke is a Toronto-based jazz publicist, media consultant, and arts journalist with a long-standing career in music and entertainment. A former child actress from a showbiz family, she has worked in TV production, toured as a performer, and led PR campaigns for artists like Joshua Redman, Blossom Dearie, and Janis Siegel, as well as labels including Warner Bros. Jazz and Concord. She has represented The Village Vanguard, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and other major events, while contributing writing to Hot House, The Whole Note, and more. Lesley continues to work...
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Ep 94 - Scoring big with Hal Beckett on AI, Orchestras, and Film
Vocal Lab
Hal Beckett is an award-winning composer, conductor, and music producer with over 30 years in the industry. Based in Vancouver, he has composed for film, TV, opera, and symphonic ensembles, and is Music Director of the Vancouver Film Orchestra. His credits include conducting for Universal and Lionsgate, contributing to Michael Bublé’s Crazy Love, and producing 102 national anthems for the 2010 Olympics with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. A passionate arts advocate, Hal is a board member for the Screen Composers Guild of Canada and teaches film music at UBC. During our chat, we talk about...
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Ep 93 - Sarah Whitten on Healing the Singer’s Body to Unlock Vocal Freedom
Vocal Lab
Sarah Whitten, is an internationally known movement specialist for singers. Using principles of biomechanics, biotensegrity, and pain science, she works with singers’ bodies to resolve pain and physical dysfunction to improve the singing voice. She holds an MA in Pedagogy, and an MM in Performance both from The Ohio State University. Additionally she is a 500-hour certified Yoga Instructor, and holds certifications in Movement for Trauma, Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy, Yoga Therapy, and Restore Your Core Method. She has presented and worked with singers and voice teachers at...
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Ep 92 - Bill Sample on Working with Legends & Crafting Timeless Music
Vocal Lab
Bill Sample is an award-winning composer, producer, arranger, and pianist, widely regarded as one of Vancouver’s top “first call” musicians. With a career spanning decades, he has worked with legends like Ray Charles, Mel Tormé, Robben Ford, and served as Music Director for David Foster, performing alongside Celine Dion, Bryan Adams, and Peter Cetera. Bill has produced for artists including Leon and Eric Bibb, Jane Mortifee, and Marcus Mosely, and contributed to the Grammy-winning Ratatouille soundtrack. A graduate of the University of Victoria in Music Composition, he was inducted into...
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Ep 91 - Jamie Leonhart on Finding Her Voice & Crafting Emotion Through Song
Vocal Lab
Drawing comparisons to Norah Jones, Feist, and Sarah Vaughan, singer-songwriter Jamie Leonhart blends jazz, indie-pop, and cabaret with sharp wit and emotional depth. A New York City native, she began her musical journey at age three and honed her craft through jazz ensembles, gospel choirs, and solo performances at iconic venues like Joe’s Pub. Jamie’s songwriting explores vulnerability, patience, and shifting perspectives, often drawing inspiration from nature. She’s a sought-after voiceover artist (Lifetime, Kohl’s, Neutrogena), session singer (Steely Dan, St. Vincent), and...
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Ep 90 - Samantha Pickard on PR, Management, and building your name in the Entertainment Industry
Vocal Lab
Samantha Pickard, President of Strut Entertainment, brings 34 years of global experience in music and entertainment. She has worked in retail buying, artist management, promotions, events, and publishing. Her career led her from Australia to Canada, where she managed The Canadian Music Network before launching Strut Entertainment 18 years ago. At Strut, Samantha specializes in PR, social media, marketing, and influencer services for entertainment, music, and lifestyle brands. She has led campaigns for Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Dolly Parton, Walk Off The Earth, TIFF, Universal Music, and...
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Ep 89 - The Keys to Vocal Performance
Vocal Lab
Welcome back to The Vocal Lab Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly talented Mindy Pack. Mindy is a Vocal coach who was a vocal performance major at the University of Utah, but her education didn’t stop there. Throughout her career, Mindy has studied vocal technique, voice science, and vocal health with nationally and internationally renowned vocal instructors, educational institutions, and accredited programs throughout the world. Mindy’s philosophy is “the minute I stop learning is the minute I stop teaching.” Mindy is an expert in complex ins and outs of voice...
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Ep 88 - Mastering the Art of Music: A Deep Dive with Legendary Jazz Drummer Terry Clarke
Vocal Lab
Welcome back to The Vocal Lab Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly talented Terry Clarke. In 1970 Terry settled in Toronto, at first working with Lenny Breau, and quickly became the city's leading studio drummer, noted for his versatility in jazz and rock settings. Concurrently, he played jazz in local clubs and concerts, and on radio and TV. Terry then moved to New York, working there and/or touring with Hall, the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Roger Kellaway, Helen Merrill, Toots Thielemans, Oscar Peterson, and others. Terry returned to Canada in 1999 and joined The Rob...
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Ep 87 - The Keys to Learning and Teaching Successfully in Music
Vocal Lab
Welcome back to The Vocal Lab Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly talented Stephen Richardson. Stephen is an accomplished musician, educator, and twice JUNO-nominated artist, recently recognized as the 2024 JUNO MusiCounts Music Teacher of the Year. As the creative force behind the solo project Agony of the Leaves and guitarist-songwriter for the Canadian indie rock band 3-Across-Dee-Eye, Richardson’s music has reached national and international audiences through platforms like CBC TV, syndicated shows such as Wild Kitchen, and the documentary Pixelated Heroes. His work...
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Ep 86 - Maximizing Royalties and Revenue Streams with Jonathan Simkin, part 2
Vocal Lab
In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Simkin, the dynamic founder of 604 Records, to dig into all the bells and whistles that go into building a lasting career in the music industry. Jonathan, who has played a pivotal role in the success of major artists like Nickelback and Carly Rae Jepsen, shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience. We dive deep into the essential elements that contribute to career longevity. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of staying committed to the art and constantly striving to improve. He points out that having a viral hit is great, but it doesn't...
info_outlineWelcome back to The Vocal Lab! I’m excited to continue my conversation with the legendary producer Bob Rock. In this episode, we dive into the art and science of music production, exploring how Bob approaches working with artists from diverse genres.
We kick things off by discussing the importance of songs and how Bob navigates between producing for artists like Metallica and Michael Bublé. Bob emphasizes the significance of pre-production and shares stories about finding magic in unexpected places, like a demo studio in Maui.
A key highlight is Bob’s perspective on the evolution of recording technology. We chat about the transition from analog to digital, and how this shift has opened new possibilities in music production. Bob also shares some fascinating insights about the quirks and challenges of recording, such as why tambourines in Motown records were so loud.
We delve into the psychology of the studio environment, discussing how managing personalities and creating a comfortable space can lead to the best performances. Bob recounts his experiences working with top artists and the valuable lessons he’s learned from them, including a memorable session with Van Morrison.
Our conversation also touches on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bob's work-life balance and the importance of deadlines in the creative process. Bob shares his thoughts on maintaining passion and adaptability in a constantly changing industry, and the role of mistakes and experimentation in achieving success.
Join us for an enlightening discussion filled with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and a deep dive into the world of music production with one of its most influential figures.
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