When list-making mania leads to a bucket-list experience. My conversation with renowned audio engineer Don Zientara (Inner Ear Studio, Fugazi, Bad Brains) after I spent a weekend recording North Carolina band the Paranoid Style at Inner Ear Studio in Arlington, VA. We discuss what it's like to work at unfamiliar studios, how it feels to hand over the keys to Inner Ear to complete strangers, and the things that cross your mind when crossing the Maryland border (when half your studio is in the trunk of your car). New episode the first Thursday of every month. Contact the show at [email protected].

What does it take for a musician to choose a recording studio for their project? It’s a complex mix of the right price, equipment, clients, location, vibe... and something else. Something I knew was important, but never realized how much. And it’s the thing that ultimately led my guest (singer/songwriter Jono Robertson of Kindergarten) to decide to record his forthcoming album at the Orchard over any of the dozens of other studios he contacted. New episode the first Thursday of every month. Contact the show at [email protected].

Special guest: audio engineer/studio owner Travis Harrison (Guided By Voices, Robert Pollard, Serious Business recording studio). We discuss an eternal question: When you're asked to work on a project you're not 100% sure you know how to do, what should you do? Say no, play it safe, and risk missing an opportunity? Or say yes, take a chance, and hope you can fake it till you make it? We'll see if playing with fire is worth feeling the heat. To share your thoughts on this topic, or send ideas for episodes, email the show at [email protected].

It's no coincidence that today's episode arrives on the one-year anniversary of Trump's inauguration. The election, inauguration and events that followed all contributed to the creation of a recording studio project that helped me (and others) make a little sense of the world we suddenly found ourselves living in. This is the story of that project, and a testament to the power and importance of music — especially during difficult times. To share your thoughts on this topic, or send ideas for others, email the show at [email protected].

Recording music requires your eyes as much as your ears. But what happens when those two senses disagree? When something sounds right but looks wrong — or vice versa — which sense should win? Today's show begins to answer that question. And explores how the introduction of a visual component into the recording process affected how music is recorded, how it sounds, and how it gave way to an internal monologue that borders on the existential. Share your thoughts on the show, or send topic ideas to [email protected].

At the Orchard we eat, sleep, dream, breathe, think, work and play music. And not just music, but everything that comes with it — sound, recording, creativity and life in general. This is your invitation to join the conversation. Share your thoughts on the show, or send topic ideas to [email protected].