Have you ever wondered whether a killer drum sound starts with the right mic placement and kit selection, or if it’s something you can still craft in the mix? Or maybe you’re curious about how much room tone, mic choice, and tuning actually influence the final impact of your drums?

My guest today is Brian Moncarz, a Toronto-based producer and mixer who’s played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of modern rock across Canada and beyond. With credits including Alice Cooper, Our Lady Peace, and many chart-topping singles, he’s a master of capturing drums that punch through the mix and feel alive. Over the past two decades, he’s learned from some of the best, refining techniques for recording and blending drums that make recordings cut through with power and clarity.

We dove deep into his approach to drum recording, from mic choices and placement to handling room acoustics - even how the best drummers can make all the difference. We also touched on how digital tools and mixing magic can enhance what you’ve captured, and the importance of understanding your room and gear as part of the process. Whether you’re tracking drums in a studio, basement, or bedroom, he highlights strategies to get that big, punchy sound that helps your record stand out.

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

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https://usa.sae.edu/ The next program starts September 8, 2026 – don’t wait!

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Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Ko6JvRzdXoH3mDw2QqNNa?si=i_avJTBvQ3K0Lmde65SUbQ

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/571

What does it really take to make your best record by embracing limitations and finding creativity in the constraints?

My guest today is Jordie Lane, a Nashville-based Australian indie roots artist, songwriter, and producer. With a background that includes performing at the Sydney Opera House, composing for TV comedy, and touring with legends like Billy Bragg and Old Crow Medicine Show, Jordie brings a wealth of unconventional recording experience.

In this episode, Jordie shares his journey from childhood in a traveling circus to making records with makeshift gear in unconventional spaces. We discuss how embracing limitations - like working with a four-track recorder or in a space with no running water - can ignite creativity and result in unique sounds. Jordie explains his approach to building songs from the ground up, layering found objects and effects, and how physical space influences his process. We also touch on the importance of unplugging from over-processing, the power of spontaneous performances, and the role of letting accidents lead to new ideas. His stories highlight that sometimes, less gear and more vulnerability lead to the most genuine recordings.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/ The next program starts September 8, 2026 – don’t wait!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6MoEdYlleayslE6QAzEpQ2?si=V3F1rZFiQbWPoM6gaDrsGw

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/570

What happens when you stop calling it pre-production and just start making the record?

My guest today is Vance Powell, multi-Grammy-winning producer, mixer, and engineer from Sputnik Sound in Nashville - and the most frequent guest in RSR history, now returning for his seventh appearance on the show.

Vance has been with us since episode RSR002, and once again he brings an incredible combination of blunt honesty, deep musical intuition, old-school engineering discipline, and hilarious real-world stories from making records with artists like Chris Stapleton, Tyler Bryant, and a whole roster of bands who trust him to capture the moment as it happens.

In this episode we dig into everything from rebuilding his machine room, to why he still aligns a U47 and Coles 4038 with a flashlight, to how tiny amps make the biggest guitar tones, to why “pre-production is production,” to mixing in Atmos in a way that actually translates to AirPods.

We also talk about one-take magic on Chris Stapleton’s White Horse, smashing ADR comps on the Tom Petty tribute, deep drum-room philosophy, and how Vance keeps digital rigs alive by never updating anything that’s working.

And of course, Vance shares what old Vance would tell young Vance - and what young Vance would tell old Vance - about belief, timing, and the moment he should’ve left Blackbird to build Sputnik sooner.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0aFDgLgTsWaFId0n4YSX75?si=b290f2da1b47416f

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/569

What happens when you realize the soundtrack of space travel isn’t science fiction - it’s real music carried aboard real missions?

My guest today is Kevin White, Nashville educator, musician, and creator of Songs of Apollo - a documentary project that explores the real relationship between music and space exploration. This isn’t just a story about composers imagining the cosmos. It’s a story about the actual music astronauts took with them, the songs that woke crews aboard Apollo missions, the playlists that traveled beyond Earth, and how NASA engineers, mission control, and the entire space program have been influenced by music from the start.

Kevin digs into decades of research, interviews, and archival stories showing how music became part of astronaut culture - from symbolizing courage and loneliness to marking historic milestones. We also talk about how the space program itself sparked new artistic movements back on Earth, shaping genres, inspiring iconic records, and influencing countless musicians.

This episode is about the two-way connection between sound and space - how music helped astronauts feel human in an environment where nothing is familiar, and how their journeys, in turn, reshaped the music we make here on Earth.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5rDR7UqfiZkYiTgbTSKh0u?si=_HmAQjjLQCOTlrQBhMO56A

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/568

What happens when you start writing, producing, and mixing like the forest, not the trees, and you leave your worries behind?

My guest today is Micah Tawlks - producer, mixer, songwriter, and artist based in Nashville, working out of his home studio in Whites Creek. Micah first joined us back on RSR324, and he’s back to go even deeper into the intersection of writing, recording, and mixing. He’s known for work with COIN, Hayley Williams, Louis Prince, Judah & the Lion, The Lone Bellow, Stephen Day, Ben Rector, and many more, including immersive Atmos mixes with Matt Wallace.

In this episode, we dig into how writing sessions actually unfold when they happen in your studio - the unexpected ways a simple co-write can turn into full production, vocal sessions weeks later, or a finished track if the artist or publisher decides to cut it. Micah describes the different roles he shifts between: offering lyric help when invited, contributing chords and melody, arranging on the fly, or simply running a fast demo session when that’s what the artist wants.

We also talk about the balance between paid studio work and free co-writes, how he and his manager evaluate opportunities, and why some ideas need months to find their artist, while others get cut immediately. He explains what co-writing in pairs vs. groups actually feels like, why some writers don’t want lyrical collaboration at all, and how recording the first 20 minutes of small talk often captures the best emotional ideas of the day.

Micah walks us through his recent engineering day at Blackbird, choosing from huge mic lockers (multiple U47s, C12s, 67s on toms, etc.), working quickly on the console, and how “fast in a big studio” still relies on the same preparation habits as working fast at home.

In the writing room, we get into why clicks can kill a session, how he builds musical rhythmic loops as “human clicks,” when he performs his own time feel into a mic so the grid follows a human instead of the other way around, and how artists respond differently to tempo when the groove feels alive.

Finally, we talk mixing: keeping rough mix intent intact, charging a flat rate, when to recommend another mixer, and how honoring an artist’s stylistic world guides the whole process. Micah’s advice to his younger self? Be a better listener - in the room, at the console, everywhere.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Rj5j9yzADbW3n5JEBEGB1?si=f5uo4BpbSmOHkSD9_0VgEA

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/567

What happens when you build a studio in an industrial zone…and still end up in court for making records?

My guest today is Toby Suess, drummer, engineer, and owner of Tinroof Recording in Fallon, Nevada - a studio that started as nothing more than a rehearsal space and grew into a full hybrid recording room with a killer drum sound. Toby has recorded everything from punk bands to singer-songwriters, dialed in his live room, rebuilt a broken console card-by-card, and learned how to get great drum tones using ribbons, condensers, overhead techniques, and detailed tuning.

In this episode, Toby walks through the real-world evolution of building a studio on a budget - wiring rooms, treating windows, learning gear, adding outboard pres, integrating a Toft console, and figuring out how to track and mix drums with confidence. We talk about recording through compression, getting mixes nearly finished while tracking, checking phase during the mix, blending guitar mics through a Radial summing box, and why great drum recordings still start with tuning, players, and the room.

And then we get into the wild part - Toby’s studio ended up in a legal battle despite having a business license and being fully located in an industrial zone. Toby shares the whole story: sheriff visits, confused neighbors, gathering decibel readings, talking to the D.A., bringing evidence to court, getting the case dismissed, smoothing things out with neighbors afterward, and eventually earning the right to operate without interruption. It’s a powerful reminder that musicians can stand up for their creative work and win.

We close with mixing philosophies, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, confidence, and pushing through the uncomfortable parts of building a career - plus why his studio now attracts bands from Reno and even the Bay Area.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZzemQ39O2Q37gSFiJ2exs?si=kYYcKVRISl2p0ncl88UKBg

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/566

What happens when you finally stop chasing every plugin and build a mix workflow that actually works?

My guest today is Grammy-winning mixer, producer, and musician Jason Lehning, returning to the show after RSR074. If the name sounds familiar, it should - we’ve also had his brother Jordan (RSR104) and his dad Kyle (RSR094), the legendary producer behind Randy Travis. Jason grew up in studios and learned early on that songwriting, engineering, and mixing all feed the same creative impulse. In this episode, we dig into what it really means to build a mix template that supports musical decisions rather than cluttering your session with endless “maybe” options.

We talk about Jason’s approach to vocal mixing - using parallels, dynamics, and tonal shifts to keep the performance feeling alive without over-processing it. He explains why he often duplicates vocals instead of relying on automation, how he thinks about track folders the way engineers used to think about console returns, and why an SM7 still wins sessions where expensive mics fall apart in a dense arrangement. He breaks down his low-end philosophy too: removing anything that fights the bass, organizing the bottom octave early, and using phase, arrangement, and smart routing to keep kick and bass speaking clearly together. Jason also explains why balancing quietly on NS10s helps him find the real center of a mix without getting fooled by loudness.

We also dive into the Nashville writing world - how titles and wordplay drive sessions, why so many guitars are tuned down or in E-flat, and what it actually looks like to be in a writers’ room where ideas come fast, bad lines get tossed quickly, and everyone is aiming for the same emotional center. Jason talks about working with Luke Dick (“Birthday Suit”), how even great writers have mountains of uncut songs, and why creativity depends more on vibe than perfection. We wrap with thoughts on AI, the future of songwriting, and Jason’s simple advice to his younger self: keep doing it, and keep it fun.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2M4JyTaCC2vd7U6cOERpup?si=8SERaORbTbSr_eV5zDSqAA

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/565

What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic instincts, and indie-folk sensitivity lands in Nashville with a home studio, a loop pedal, and a fearless creative streak?

What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic instincts, and indie-folk sensitivity lands in Nashville with a home studio, a loop pedal, and a fearless creative streak?

In this episode, I sat down with Packy Lundholm - songwriter, producer, guitarist, and longtime member of I Fight Dragons, Theo Katzman's band, and collaborator with artists like May Erlewine, Woody Goss, and Kory Quinn. We talk about his move from Chicago to Nashville, how he built a recording life out of his home studio, and the unexpected freedom that comes from producing across wildly different genres.

Packy shares how looping and improvisation shaped his musicianship, why writing too many verses is part of his process, and how he trims songs back to their emotional core. We dig into the art of collaboration, arranging for different artists, producing folk vs. rock vs. synth-driven pop, and why he still chases the power-pop/psych/Americana blend that first inspired him. We also get into the Track Sabbath series, his shift toward co-producing for May Erlewine, and what it means to build a career where playing, writing, and producing all feed each other.

Whether you're a home-studio songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist juggling bands, or a producer trying to define your sound, Packy’s journey is packed with real-world insight, humility, and a ton of creative encouragement

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4N94WlerjWFUHllHe60cU7?si=11GbwseDSOm1By1MR6PeWw

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/564

Why do your deepest, most emotional songs come out better when you stop trying so hard?

In this episode, I sit down with Nashville legend Bobby Bare Jr. - fearless songwriter, creative instigator, touring bassist for Guided By Voices, and the son of Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare. This conversation is a masterclass in real creativity, free of pretension and full of joy, humor, wisdom, and truth bombs about songwriting, gear, life, ego, and the artistic process.

We dig deep into Bobby’s philosophy that the most powerful songs often come from the most playful moments - not the heavy, serious headspace many writers force themselves into. He tells wild and meaningful stories, from growing up backstage at the Opry, to working with Shel Silverstein, to learning 60+ Guided By Voices songs at once, to the Dalai Lama cracking jokes at the Tibetan Freedom Concert.

Bobby talks about writing on airplanes, co-writing momentum, muscle memory, the Nashville Number System, meditation, removing ego, and why melody can’t be taught. We even get into his early days selling T-shirts on tour with his dad, the lost demos at Alex the Great, tape machines popping out of record, Jason & The Scorchers, R.E.M, Walk the West, and the magic of the first spontaneous four minutes of an idea before “your brain ruins it.”

He also shares insights on finishing songs, why momentum matters more than inspiration, how to cheat with an iPad without anyone noticing, producing at Ocean Way, working with Travis Harrison, and his upcoming Indiegogo to record a new album in Sweden.

This one is packed with gold for songwriters, musicians, producers, and anyone trying to break out of their head and into flow.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1z4nv7oyqGM8BLkQckfnBn?si=9301F66ZRHGNFpBrKT0d0w

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/563

What do you actually need to know BEFORE you press your vinyl record… and what mistakes will totally ruin it?

In this episode, Piper Payne returns to take us way deeper into the real-world physics, workflows, and decisions behind vinyl mastering and pressing. We dig into how your mixes translate onto a lacquer, why the inside of a record behaves differently from the outside, and what you should never do with high-frequency content, fades, or waveform clipping if you want your album to play back clean.

Piper walks us through mastering decisions that happen long before a lacquer is ever cut - from sequencing songs for the side A/B layout, to choosing what belongs near the inside groove, to dealing with transient-heavy material. We talk about how vinyl masters differ from digital masters, why certain modern productions literally "can’t be cut," and how Piper preps mixes so she can create both vinyl- and digital-optimized versions without having to redo a full master.

We also dig into the realities of running Physical Music Products, her independent pressing plant in Nashville. Piper explains realistic costs for pressing records, what 250-unit short runs look like, why PMP maintains fast 5–7 week turnarounds, and how they protect indie artists from being bumped by major-label orders. We get into pre-sales, special editions, distribution challenges, shipping logistics, recycled vinyl, and how PMP now handles merch, drop-shipping, and fulfillment to help artists actually profit from physical releases.

Finally, Piper shares practical advice on handling, storing, and cleaning your vinyl once you’ve made it - including heat warping, inner groove distortion, groove guard, dust sleeves, jackets, mold issues, and even why some records can recover after a warp and some can’t. She also covers creative fundraising ideas, how fans influence color pressing choices, and why vinyl is still the only format where artists control quantity, pricing, and revenue directly.

This episode is packed with real-world mastering and pressing knowledge you won’t get anywhere else.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6QRbUHGE73GJs2e6CuN2Ai?si=2f5bd18788fb4f2e

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/562

What happens when your drumming videos blow up online… and suddenly you’re touring the world behind your own band?

Hi Rockstars, it’s your host Lij Shaw.

In this episode, I sat down with Nashville drummer and creator Kortney Grinwis, one half of the alt-pop duo Chapel, to talk about her journey from posting drum videos on the internet to building a full-time career on the road. Kortney shared how she developed her sound, her creative identity, and the instincts that guide her as both a drummer and artist.

We talked about what it’s really like coming up in music today - navigating the industry, learning to trust yourself, and creating your own opportunities even when the traditional path doesn’t fit. Kortney opened up about the challenges she’s faced as a woman in the business, how she shaped her role in Chapel, and how embracing creativity (instead of chasing perfection) helped her evolve her drumming technique and overall artistic voice.

We also got deep into the collaborative side of making records and touring. Kortney broke down how she approaches drum parts that actually serve the song, how Chapel works together to build grooves and arrangements, and why staying playful and experimental keeps the whole process fun. From life on the road to finding confidence behind the kit, Kortney’s story is a reminder that success comes from following the spark, trusting your instincts, and building the community around your music.

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

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.spectra1964.com

https://gracedesign.com/

https://pickrmusic.com

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/32lxAhAEcxNXR1GUXt9Xfg?si=woHh3rQaQh6UCxJPLA68Hg

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/561