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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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#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...
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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_outlineBen Levin is a musician, visual artist, and educator. He runs the Ben Levin Music School where he hosts courses that help artists find their voice, finish music, and maintain and cultivate their love of music-making. Ben's YouTube Channel hosts his art, music, and educational content. His new album Heaven Heaven Heaven features indie, alternative rock music with 2 Fender Bass VIs at its core.
Ben and I explore the complexities of artistic identity, the challenges of navigating platforms like YouTube, and the importance of creativity in education. Ben explains the challenges of being artistically honest and following our passions while trying to create a consistent online presence that cooperates with the algorithms so we can actually make a living artistically. Ben even brings out his Fender Bass VI to demonstrate how he uses it on his new album Heaven Heaven Heaven.
This episode is sponsored by Baby Audio, makers of incredible music software. Use the code MPP15 to save 15%! https://babyaud.io
Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube
Takeaways:
- Ben Levin discusses the duality of being a multifaceted artist.
- Navigating the YouTube landscape requires balancing creativity and marketability.
- Batch production of content can help manage audience expectations.
- The importance of creating space for endings in artistic work.
- Teaching creativity in schools can enhance student engagement.
- Understanding modes in music requires contextual learning.
- The arts provide essential emotional support during difficult times.
- Artistic expression can be a powerful healing tool.
- Personal growth in music production often involves collaboration and community.
- The creative process is often nonlinear and requires patience.
- The Fender Bass VI offers a unique sound that bridges bass and guitar.
- Authenticity in vocal performance resonates more than technical perfection.
- Finding one's voice is a journey that requires exploration and practice.
- The creative process is often more rewarding than the final product.
- Vulnerability in music can create a deeper connection with listeners.
- Teenage experiences and emotions can be effectively expressed through music.
- Balancing humor and seriousness in art can enhance emotional impact.
Links:
- Ben Levin Music School - https://benlevinmusicschool.com
- Ben's Courses - https://benlevinmusicschool.com/p/courses
- Heaven Heaven Heaven by Ben Levin - https://benlevingroup.bandcamp.com/album/heaven-heaven-heaven
- Ben's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BenLevin
- Ben's Art - https://benshow.horse
- Ben on the Fender Bass VI - https://youtu.be/G1DLpdFWrdM?si=gEvXLlRG6QzCKYIt
- 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!
Brian Funk