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RSR520 - Abbie Griffin - The Next Generation of Songwriting and Recording

Recording Studio Rockstars

Release Date: 08/22/2025

RSR543 - Travis Harrison - Recording Guided By Voices, Built To Spill, The Men, and Tons of Garage and Punk Rock in Brooklyn, NY show art RSR543 - Travis Harrison - Recording Guided By Voices, Built To Spill, The Men, and Tons of Garage and Punk Rock in Brooklyn, NY

Recording Studio Rockstars

What actually happens when you stop isolating everything and just let a band play together in the room? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  My guest today is Travis Harrison, founder of Serious Business Music, a Brooklyn-based studio known for capturing raw, honest performances from real bands. Travis joined me to talk about how his studio and workflow evolved over time - from early audio-only recordings to embracing video, hybrid setups, and modern tools - while still staying rooted in classic recording approaches. We talked about recording bands live in the room, why Travis...

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RSR542 - Ryan Prewett - The Sound of Retro Funk Beats in The Heart of Country: Music City show art RSR542 - Ryan Prewett - The Sound of Retro Funk Beats in The Heart of Country: Music City

Recording Studio Rockstars

How do you turn your studio skills into a thriving artist career? Ryan Prewett shares how funk, collaboration, and sync licensing helped him shift from producer-for-hire to full-time artist - and why building assets is the new record deal. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  My guest today is Ryan Prewett, a Nashville-based artist, producer, and mix engineer known for blending classic funk and soul with modern pop and groove-driven production. Ryan’s work spans producing records, mixing, and building sample packs, and he’s quickly carving out a name for...

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RSR541 - Bill Cheney - How Missile Tech Created the Sound of Classic Rock at Spectra1964 show art RSR541 - Bill Cheney - How Missile Tech Created the Sound of Classic Rock at Spectra1964

Recording Studio Rockstars

How Did Michael Jackson’s $98,000 Console Inspire the Ultimate Studio Compressor? What happens when missile-grade engineering meets music? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  Bill Cheney of Spectra 1964 joins me to reveal how a company born from aerospace tech became the secret sauce behind Stax, Ardent, and The Record Plant - and how that same precision lives on in Spectra’s modern C610, STX mic pres, and new designs shaping today’s studios. Bill shares the incredible story of the $98,000 Spectra console built for Michael Jackson, how John Lennon, Elton John, ZZ Top,...

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RSR540 – Jimmy Douglass – METAlliance, Atlantic Records, Foreigner, Television, Gang of Four, Timbaland & Snoop Dogg show art RSR540 – Jimmy Douglass – METAlliance, Atlantic Records, Foreigner, Television, Gang of Four, Timbaland & Snoop Dogg

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What happens when you sit down with an engineer who helped define multiple eras of music - from Foreigner to Timbaland - and he tells you the secret is still just listening for what feels good? Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  My guest today is Jimmy Douglass, legendary producer, mixer, and engineer whose career spans more than five decades. Jimmy began as a teenager at Atlantic Records in New York, making tape copies and quietly slipping into the back of sessions, where he learned by watching giants like Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin, and Jerry Wexler. He grew up in the era when you...

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RSR539 - Phil Wagner - Advancing Sound Quality From Soundworks to Solid State Logic show art RSR539 - Phil Wagner - Advancing Sound Quality From Soundworks to Solid State Logic

Recording Studio Rockstars

What does it take to lead two of the biggest names in pro audio? Phil Wagner shares how he went from NYC engineer to running SSL and Apogee - and why the best technology still starts with listening. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  My guest today is Phil Wagner, a longtime pro-audio industry leader who’s helped shape some of the most respected recording technologies in the world. Phil began his career in New York City at Soundworks Studios, working hands-on as a recording engineer before moving into product development and leadership roles. Over the years he’s served as...

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RSR538 - Toby Lloyd - From Punk to Producer - Tiny Triumphs over Mindset, Workflow & Vibe show art RSR538 - Toby Lloyd - From Punk to Producer - Tiny Triumphs over Mindset, Workflow & Vibe

Recording Studio Rockstars

What does a rooftop studio, a cold plunge, and a punk rock heart have in common? Producer Toby Lloyd shares how surrender, discipline, and creative flow helped him build Tiny Triumph Recordings and rediscover joy in making music. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  Howdy Rockstars, my guest today is Toby Lloyd, a music producer, studio engineer, and mixing engineer who runs Tiny Triumph Recordings, a boutique rooftop recording studio in Wellington, New Zealand. Toby has worked with artists like Shapeshifter, Hollie Smith, Stan Walker, and Nightmares on Wax, and he’s...

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RSR537 - Rich Bernett - The sound of machines: Contact Mics, The Cassettone, Guitar Pedal Feedback Loops, Oh My! show art RSR537 - Rich Bernett - The sound of machines: Contact Mics, The Cassettone, Guitar Pedal Feedback Loops, Oh My!

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Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  Howdy Rockstars, my guest today is Rich Bernett, aka Sound of Machines, a Richmond, Virginia - based sound artist, builder, and experimental musician. Rich designs and performs with his own DIY instruments like the CassetteTone 2 and Rotary Drone, blending circuit bending, contact mics, and field recordings to create wild, organic, and otherworldly soundscapes. With a growing following on YouTube, Patreon, and Instagram, Rich shares his creative process and connects with a community of makers and musicians exploring new sonic frontiers.  ...

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RSR536 - Ian Fitchuk - Grammy Winner Writer and Producer for Kacey Musgraves, Beyoncé, Chris Stapleton, and Maggie Rogers show art RSR536 - Ian Fitchuk - Grammy Winner Writer and Producer for Kacey Musgraves, Beyoncé, Chris Stapleton, and Maggie Rogers

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Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  My guest today is Ian Fitchuk, a two-time Grammy Award–winning musician, songwriter, and producer based in Nashville. You’ve heard his work on Golden Hour with Kacey Musgraves - a landmark record that helped redefine the sound of modern country and pop. Ian has also collaborated with artists like Maggie Rogers, Joy Oladokun, Chris Stapleton, and Beyoncé, bringing his versatile musicianship and deep sense of songcraft to every project he touches. In this conversation, Ian shares his journey from growing up in a musical family to finding his...

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RSR535 - Ryan Nasci - Mixing Mastery with Ryan Nasci [Harry Styles, Portugal The Man, Young the Giant] show art RSR535 - Ryan Nasci - Mixing Mastery with Ryan Nasci [Harry Styles, Portugal The Man, Young the Giant]

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Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  What does it take to go from Ohio to LA and start mixing records at the highest level? In this episode, I sat down with mixer and engineer Ryan Nasci to trace his journey from the Midwest to Los Angeles, where he worked alongside the legendary Tony Maserati and began mixing artists like Kingfish, Celeste, and more. Ryan breaks down how he built a hybrid workflow that blends analog gear, plugins, and Atmos into mixes that stay musical, open, and emotionally focused. We dig into Ryan’s approach to gain staging, managing headroom, using trim...

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Recording Studio Rockstars

Learn why polar patterns matter more than EQ as Derek Bargaehr of Vanguard Audio Labs breaks down capsules, circuits, self-noise, phase tricks, stereo techniques, and practical mic placement you can use on your next session. Get access to FREE mixing mini-course:  My guest today is Derek Bargaehr. A lifelong tinkerer, he started out burning himself with a soldering iron and modding guitar pedals at 15, eventually working as Director of Operations for a successful microphone company. A freelancing engineer, producer, gear tech, and bassist, Derek earned a BA in Commercial Music – Audio...

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More Episodes
Tune in for an episode of Recording Studio Rockstars with host Lij Shaw, featuring the talented musician and recording arts student, Abbie Griffin. Abbie shares her personal journey—from falling in love with music inspired by artists like Joni Mitchell and Taylor Swift, to navigating the challenges of the industry. She opens up about her songwriting process, the influence of her family and life experiences, and how technology is transforming the way we create music. Most importantly, Abbie emphasizes the importance of staying true to yourself and embracing your individuality. Don’t miss her latest track, "Live from Onie's House," available on Spotify. Join us as we chat about music and creativity on this episode of Recording Studio Rockstars.

Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com

My guest today is Abbie Griffin, an engineer, singer, guitarist, and bassist, and a student of Recording Arts and Production at Montclair State University in NJ, where she studies audio engineering, post-production, and live event audio. At just 22 years old, she’s already been performing for nearly two decades. She loves making music and recently released her first record, Live from Onie’s House, inspired by Joni Mitchell. To quote her greatest inspiration—her musical grandmother—Abbie is “the saddest yet happiest songbird you’ll ever meet, with that smile.”
I met Abbie at NAMM when she came to a meetup for Recording Studio Rockstars. The first thing she said to me was that she was a fan of the podcast—and so was her dad! It’s so cool to hear how the podcast is reaching a younger audience and inspiring those just starting out in their music and audio careers.
Today, we’re going to find out what it’s like to be a young student of recording aspiring to be a musician and songwriter. We’ll talk about what Abbie’s learning in school, what she thought she needed to learn, and what music really means to her. She shares her thoughts on the rapid changes in music technology with AI, how the definition of a producer is evolving for the next generation, and where she sees the future of music heading.
We’ll also dive into her love for vintage gear, DIY instruments, and how strength training plays a surprising role in her creative process. And—one of the coolest parts—Abbie recently had the chance to interview Pat Metheny, one of her musical heroes. Get ready for an inspiring conversation about songwriting, personal growth, and embracing your unique sound!

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Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

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