Love Music More (with Scoobert Doobert)

Mixing engineers bring music to life. They turn recording sessions into "records." Eliott and I talk about the art and science of mixing, how mixers build their network, and the mindset behind the alchemy.

Artificial intelligence on an acid trip? Let's talk about how generative AI really works, what a "neural network" is, the human tendency to anthropomorphize, and cut through the hype to where the tools really are — and how they work.

Of course, all through the lens of the best thing ever: Music!

Great Good Fine Ok has been featured on songs with The Chainsmokers, earned millions of plays, and toured the world headlining and supporting acts like X Ambassadors and Tove Lo. Jon digs into how they built their career and how it continues to grow after over a decade. I love talking to “working musicians,” especially about the realities of touring and turning their music into a career. I hope this look into the reality of the modern successful band can help you love music more!

Everyone stands on the shoulders of giants. Getting to know those giants and how they got so big helps us to become the artists we dream of being.

In this episode, I focus on The Beatles as an example of how to digest influences, break down what makes individual works of art/bands/communities great, and how to take those influences to create something worthy of the time we spend creating.

The orchestra is the traditional path, but how are musicians that play orchestral instruments really making their living? Greg walks through the interweaving tapestry that add up to a career, and how unlikey passions like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can improve your playing.

Switching up the "lead" instrument in a song can have incredible effects. In this solo pod, I discuss different songs with different recording orders and how that can dramatically change the parts musicians lay down.

JW Francis joins the pod to discuss his new single, Orbit, the power of love (and writing hundreds of Valentines’ Day songs), and what the modern indie musician’s journey looks like.

Every creative endeavor gets hardest as the finish line draws close. Why is that? Let's unpack the concept of "gremlins," the myths we tell ourselves about breaks, and how the musician's journey relates to every other creative, as well as athletes and entrepreneurs.

Jon "Bemuda" Schwartz has been the drummer and right-hand man of Weird Al for the better part of four decades. He's toured the world, been on the Simpsons, played on certified diamond records, and made his mark across genre and culture. He joins the pod to share his love of music and regale us with tales of the absurd journey.

In 2020 Jon became a published author with BLACK & WHITE & WEIRD ALL OVER, a coffee-table book featuring more than 200 of his unreleased black-and-white photographs of Weird Al from the early '80s. LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACCORDION! followed in 2022, with more than 300 color photos of Al and the band. 

There are still gigs and recordings with various local players, but none quite as notorious as Jon's perennial association with Al, which he regards with great pride:

"I get to be a dozen different drummers on every album... I don't know of another drummer who has a gig like that. It's always fun and often a welcome challenge. Al's made me play parts I didn't know how to play, and learn technologies that didn't exist when we started, and I thank him for that."

"How bad do you want it?" A lot holds back artists. The pursuit of perfection (the perfect studio, environment, inspiration, etc.) stops so much art from being made.

In this solo episode, I talk about pushing through that wall, using limitations creatively, and the power of using what you've got rather than what you want.

Ryan Haft and I dig into the joys of the studio, how to build a career as an engineer, and the similarities between live and studio sound.

What can a pop musician learn from orchestral music? A lot. Let's check it out through the lens of Beethoven and U.K.-based band, Everything Everything.

I'm joined by Joshoo, a great friend and collaborator, that just got off the road playing in Peter Gabriel's band. We talk about performing in Madison Square Garden, Joshoo's musical project, and the differences between trumpet and flugelhorn.

Benjamin Lazar Davis joins the pod to discuss production, songwriting, multi-instrumentalism, cross-cultural collaboration, and the artist's journey.

Be sure to stream his new single with Monica Martin "No Need To Reply" when it's released on Friday, Jan 12, 2024!

Happy New Year! Let's dig into mixing experimental pop music, the uncanny valley, why mono mixing is overrated, and musical goals for 2024.

Speech has rhythm, repetition, pace. Voice overs have style, tone, pitch. There’s a reason why so many singers are voice actors, and Alessandra is a perfect example!

As an incredible multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer, producers, she brings music to the mic whether it’s on Jazz vocals or a Starbucks commercial.

Alessandra is all things creative. A voice actor, vocalist, bass player and producer. From creating characters at the age of three, to singing in front of large groups at thirteen, she knew her place was on stage, in the studio, and on camera. Growing up in a musical family helped, as weekends were spent having family jam sessions.

Soon after her completing degree in studio music, she landed a gig singing with Ben Folds and the Pittsburgh Symphony, sang for Radio City Music Hall as a Rockette, and sang on My Brightest Diamond’s album “This is My Hand.” Studio singing quickly opened up the doors for her as a voice actor, with clients such as Google, Dove, Starbucks, Verizon, LEGO, Target, Cinnabon, Hello Fresh, Corona, Ketel One Vodka, Hasbro, Amazon, Wingstop, Sonic, Santander Bank, iHeartRadio and many others.

In this last solo pod before the new year, let’s talk about how music coalesces around “scenes.” There’s a beautiful element of competition and adoration across each major musical movement. What’s the scene now? How’s it growing? And what’s my scene?

We’re each other’s influences in unexpected ways. Between competition and influence and adoration. Time and time again. An influence in time and space. Thanks for listening to the pod!

In this second part, Riley talks about his mastering shoot outs with LANDR (an AI mastering tool), as well as the AI-based software company that he co-founded and runs.

Riley provides a unique take. He’s lost money and work to LANDR, but he also has adapted to it, growing bolder in his decisions and making decisions that are out of the box. He’s an avid user of cutting-edge tools, and has an EPIC program of his own. 

Prolific producer-engineer, musician, songwriter, mixer, and mastering engineer, Riley Knapp knows the value of putting stuff out there. One of his songs had under 1,000 plays. Now it’s in an Apple commercial. 

Riley and I have worked together for over a decade. He masters all of my music and lots of music from other projects I’ve had, so he knows my work as well or better than anyone — and he’s put a huge stamp on it.

Always an inspiration and forever a good dude, enjoy part one of this special conversation with Riley Knapp, musician.

The tools for making music are getting CRAZY. Let's dig into the future of audio, how the tools influence building a recording studio, and what I learned from my recent music trip to Japan.

Ever been curious about the ways in music that money gets made? A big part of it is the sample/loop economy. Dylan has torn up the Splice charts with his one shots and loops, leading his music to major label releases and international brand campaigns.

I discuss this vanguard of music with Dylan, as well his his musical journey, network, and his eponymous musical project.

Dylan is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer born in Morgan Hill, California. After graduating with a degree in music business from Loyola University New Orleans, Dylan moved to Los Angeles where he currently resides. As a musician, he wears many hats by co-producing (for artists like YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Phabo, and JUICEB☮️X), scoring background music for TV (featured on Discover Channel, the Tennis Channel, and the Metaverse), while also playing live shows as a sideman for various singers.

His most recent musical venture has been selling guitar and drum samples through Splice, a subscription-based sample library for producers. He has produced these packs in collaboration with OneStopShop, an independent sample production label.

I moved! And now that I’m blessed to have a studio space, I am cursed with the dreaded *flutter echo.* I’ve met with an acoustician, read up a bunch, and have treated a few spaces before, so I wanted to share a few tips and tricks to treating recording spaces.

There's theory, and there's practice. What's best?

Josh Zimmer (Project Atlantic) has taken off on social media with his tongue-in-cheek music theory videos. In this pod, we discuss how he came to love these quirks of pop music, where social media fits in music marketing, and how special the element of surprise can be.

Is it a "waste of money" to pursue music? What value does digging deep really have? And why do I love non-technical education so much?

Let's chat!

How do you break into the mixing and production world? What kind of education actually matters? And will AI take our jobs?

Harper joins the pod to discuss the future of the industry and his take on music creation workflows. 

Harper James has an impressive track record, having produced, mixed, and written music with a combined 50 million Spotify streams. Harper's work spans indie artists and major label talents, including a notable achievement with their band Eighty Ninety. Their debut single, "Three Thirty," reached #2 on Spotify's Global Viral playlist and #23 on Billboard's velocity chart. Harper also had the honor of having Taylor Swift select their song "Your Favorite Song" for her official playlist. His contributions extend to records by James Bay, Marshmello, Mimi Webb, and Ben Platt, with highlights including mixing James Bay's live version of "Chasing Stars" and contributing guitar to John Legend's "I Don’t Love You Like I Used To." In the indie scene, Harper's productions, mixes, and songs have graced numerous Spotify playlists and garnered attention from Billboard, NME, and FADER. Based in Brooklyn, Harper operates from Degraw Sound studio.

Different instruments have different strengths and weaknesses. How can we lean into each? Or how do we break expectation?

Following the last pod about film scoring, let's dig deeper into orchestration, multi-instrumentalism, and making the music theory work for us as composers.

Western music evolved from Gregorian chant (monophonic) to polyphony. But how does that impact modern pop music? What does it mean to think in multiple melodies? Why is Bach still relevant in music schools?

Idk, listen to this podcast and kinda find out I guess.

Fresh off of the Snoop Dogg tour, Bubby joins the pod to talk about improvisation, musical growth, the church community, and his move to Tokyo. Bubby is one of the wisest, kindest, most joyful musicians I know.

Bubby's Bio:

Why do chords sound the way they do? How does someone arrange for an orchestra? What are musical colors and shape, and how do composers use open and closed chords?

In this pod, I share a few insights about notes and their relationships, and how a way of thinking can influence arranging, recording, and part-writing.

Grammy-award-winning producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Dom, joins me on the pod to discuss everything from Broadway and children's music. Hear how he arranged Teenage Dream for pizzicato strings, and why Max Martin is one of the greatest of all time.

After chatting with Alex, I thought a lot about the mind-body split, and how much of music and creativity is internalized in the body, instead of localized in the head. So much of what we do isn't rules-based or even logical, and a walk in nature can have as much (or greater) effect on creativity as practice.

Can AI possibly keep up with I?

Spring reverb! Chamber! Nonlinear! Plate! Let's talk through the different styles of reverb, how they effect audio, and some of the uses for these varied expressions of "room sound."

Can AI create as well as human musicians? Is that even the right question to be asking? How can software developers and technologists rethink generative AI? Let's dig in.

Let's make a song using only AI tools: ChatGPT for lyrics, Splice AI for instrumentation, GrimesAI for vocals. Why? Because the best way to understand the hype (and weaknesses) of these tools... is to use it.

This is just one part in a multi-part exploration of generative AI and its impact on music creation, the value of music, and the fate of the universe (I mean kinda).

Chris and Xuan join the pod to discuss artistic serendipity, co-writing, unexpected choices, and how recording choices inform genre.

Veronicavon, the brainchild of songwriters Chris Hackman (Human Barbie) and Xuan Nguyen (Xuan), emerged in 2020 with a (secret) mission to explore uncharted horizons in lo-fi pop. Their universe of grainy synths, cassette-drenched drums, and warbling guitars, complemented by Nguyen’s enchanting vocals, creates a wistful, playful, and instantly addictive dreamscape. Flood Magazine dubbed them "casually devastating," and their hypnotic bedroom aesthetic quickly garnered a passionate audience, with over 500k streams on Spotify in their first year. They've been featured on editorial playlists like ‘Fresh Finds’, ‘Borderless’, and ‘Fuzzy’. Keep a close eye on this duo, as they follow in the footsteps of alt-pop icons Men I Trust, Alvvays, and Japanese Breakfast.

Human Barbie, an analog fantasy formed in 2018 by songwriter Christopher Leopold, weaves wistful pop, shoegaze, and psychedelia into a melancholy glowscape. Their debut album ‘Get a Life’ (Poor Man Records, 2020) explores personal heartbreak through psychedelic pop, meticulously recorded on vintage equipment. ‘Get a Life’ received acclaim from fans and critics, featuring in Brooklyn Vegan, BIRP!, Indie Shuffle, KCRW, Buzzbands.la, and Spotify playlists like Undercurrents, IRL ANGEL, and Fresh Finds. The album was a top seller on Bandcamp, with songs used in commercials, including a Facebook radio ad and DISCO’s 2022 SXSW mixtape. Inspired by its success, Leopold crafted the patient and expansive EP ‘no worries’ in a Baltimore warehouse, channeling 90’s-era shoegaze nostalgia.

Be sure to check out their music and follow at:

In my last pod, we talked about why music itself is worth (or not worth) pursuing. I wanted to share more about why music matters to me — and how making and expericing music is a good thing for the soul and for the world.

I also dig into my next LP cycle, and whether or not the music I’m making right now is the music I’m supposed to be making. 

Patrick Hart is an artist living in Los Angeles. His music has received press in The Guardian, Billboard, The Sunday Times, Spin, and USA Today. His commissioned compositions have been performed on stage in nine countries. His art and installation work co-opts familiar tools of corporate communication to critically explore themes of capitalist ambition, AI, surveillance, and the ‘consumer family.’ Patrick has composed original score for over ten feature films, including ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries The U, Broke, and The U Part 2, and HBO’s 537 Votes. He has scored commercials for McDonalds, Microsoft, Best Buy, Google and Nike, among others. As a graphic/motion designer, past clients include the University of Toronto, UCLA, University of California Santa Cruz, and the City of Miami Beach. Patrick has a Master’s in music composition from McGill University and a Bachelor’s from the University of Miami.

We talk the role of the modern composer, the unique tools and challenges, the promise of AI, and the value of music itself.

Connect with Patrick’s at:

Ever notice some music sounds louder than others? It's not all volume — a lot of it is perception and evolution!

In this solo pod, I talk about the power of writing two songs in quick succession, how our sense of self grows over time, and the meaning behind my next record cycle, Möbius. The first single from the mega-album just dropped!

Håkan joins the pod to discuss building a music career, the Swedish scene, and the importance of community. He's a great friend, collaborator, and inspirational guy. I think you'll love to hear his heart-warming philosophy on music!

Håkan Persson is a songwriter, producer, artist and label owner from Sweden. Born and raised in the south of Sweden as the youngest child of two school teachers. From an early age Håkan became enamored with all types of music and soon began recording his friends music as well as his own. While studying at university he met Louise that became his ongoing parter in music for almost all future projects. Coming from the punk / Indie scene Håkan has always maintained the d.i.y mentality. Building collectives and communities of musicians and likeminded individuals. Taking the octopus approach, Håkan has racked up 65 million streams with electronic project Swedish Red Elephant, placed songs with indie outfit I Don’t Speak French for commercials and TV shows. As well as running a successful studio and indie label “Indieshake”.

Let’s talk about learning different instruments, how to look at goals, and why learning a new instrument shouldn’t get you down. 

I just released my new album, and I wanted to share the creative reasons behind creating it, the gear I used, and where I'm heading as an artist.

I just released an LP, and I’m on to my next one. In this solo pod, I reflect on my conversation with Phil and the nature of growth. As Phil said, the closer to the source of the audio, the better. So how do we grow the ultimate source of audio — ourselves? (Dramatic lol)

As a bedroom producer, I have a lot of questions, and Phil has the experience to dig deep! We cover pre-session prep, getting the most out of the performance, phase correction, tape, mixing, and more in this special episode of the pod.

Athletes and musicians have a great deal of mutual respect and attraction. In this pod, I talk about what artists can learn from athletes, how we can apply concepts like “chop wood/carry water” to our practice routines, and why Mamba Mentality is a must for the modern-day artist.