The ONLY Secret to Making Music...
Music Production Podcast
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 , , Links: Adam Rokhsar on the Music Production Podcast - Some Good Evil The Master Plan EP - Brian Funk Website - Music Production Club - 5-Minute Music Producer - Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - Music Production Podcast - Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your...
info_outline
The Art of Mastering with Oscar Zambrano
Music Production Podcast
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 artistic sides of mastering. In this episode, Oscar and I explore the art and philosophy of mastering—from quality control and loudness wars to the vinyl revival and the evolving role of mastering in the...
info_outline
Aqeel Aadam - Making Plug-ins for the Curious and Open-Minded
Music Production Podcast
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 creativity, and how modular gear shapes his sonic world. We talk about learning through struggle, designing plugins that encourage play over perfection, and finding joy in the unpredictable. Aqeel shares...
info_outline
Toru - Host of the ProducerHead Podcast
Music Production 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 personal reflection. In this conversation, Toru and I explore the power of creative discipline, the value of sharing imperfect work, and how building in public can lead to deep personal growth and...
info_outline
Six Missing – Flow States, Ego Drops, and the Art of Letting Go
Music Production Podcast
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 shared techniques for dealing with self-doubt and the inner critic. We also explored where we stand as artists in the face of Artificial Intelligence and constantly expanding technology. Listen on...
info_outline
Jxmie Blake on Rule-Breaking, Risk-Taking, and Decision-Making
Music Production Podcast
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 and a client list including Ableton, Red Bull, and Ludacris, he’s quickly becoming a leading voice in modern music education and performance. In this conversation, Jxmie and I dive into the...
info_outline
Creative Confidence and Music Production with LNA
Music Production Podcast
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 blocks and insecurities. Listen on , , Takeaways: LNA's journey to authorship was unexpected due to her dyslexia. Creative confidence is essential for artists to overcome...
info_outline
Rich Shivener - Living Digital Media
Music Production Podcast
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 book, creating music, and live streaming. Listen on , , Takeaways: Collaboration can lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes. Vulnerability in sharing creative work fosters...
info_outline
#398: At Home Songwriting with Chad Shank
Music Production Podcast
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. Chad shared techniques and strategies he uses in his music and teaches his students. Listen on , , Links: At Home Songwriting YouTube - At Home Songwriting Website - Chad's Pro...
info_outline
William Garrett - From Sweeping Floors to 10 Billion Streams
Music Production Podcast
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 Lauper, The National, Norah Jones, Elton John… the list goes on and on… it might have been easier to mention who he hasn’t worked with! William shared his story from humble beginnings...
info_outlineAndrea 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, books, and resources.
As one who has followed and learned from her for years, I really enjoyed speaking with Andrea. She shared lots of practical songwriting advice musicians from any genre can use. Andrea shared her story and how she continues to hone her songwriting craft. We spoke about the vulnerability and openness songwriting requires, as well as how to grow by working with collaborators.
Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube
Takeaways:
- Simplicity is key in songwriting, focusing on the core elements of melody, lyrics, rhythm, and chords.
- Focus on expressing yourself authentically.
- Write songs that have substance and meaning, rather than relying on cliches or low-hanging fruit.
- Collaboration and production can enhance a song's message and impact.
- Take the time to reflect on your songs and identify areas where they may need improvement or refinement.
- Feedback from others can be useful, but it is important for songwriters to stay true to their own instincts and not try to wear other people's ideas as their own.
- Specific details in lyrics can create a vivid and relatable experience for listeners, but it is important to find the right balance between specificity and universality.
- Songwriting retreats provide a supportive and collaborative environment for songwriters to connect with others, overcome creative blocks, and make progress in their writing.
- The creative process is a journey of exploration and reaction, and it is important to embrace both the creative and critical aspects of songwriting.
- Having the right tools and techniques can help songwriters overcome challenges and make their creative process more efficient and effective.
Links:
- Andrea's Website - https://www.andreastolpe.com
- Andrea's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andreastolpeofficial/
- Andrea's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@andreastolpe
- Download the 5 Songwriting Tools That Change Everything - Free PDF Guide:
https://bit.ly/fivesongwritingtools - Join Andrea Live at a Songwriting Retreat - (California dates still available for November 2024): https://bit.ly/4e4EvHA
- 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
- Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store
- This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/
Thank you for listening.
Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider!
And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs.
Brian Funk