musician

Secret Sonics 137 - Anthony J. Resta - The Tao of Music Production

Anthony J. Resta is a multi-platinum awarded record producer, musician, and composer based in LA, CA, USA! In our conversation, Anthony shares parts of his 3-decades long journey in music and many of the lessons he's learned, and the methods he uses to craft records. He goes deep on his approach to production, being direct with artists, sampling, creating his own tonal soundscapes, and alternative recording approaches that he uses regularly. We also chat about collaboration, longevity, contracts, continued learning and growth, and so much more! Check it out!


You can learn more about Anthony at https://onepagelink.com/producer/anthonyjresta


You can follow Anthony on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/anthony.j.resta/


***As I mentioned in this episode, Carl Bahner has an awesome new mindfulness/business podcast for creative freelancers called "Thanks for Thinking." Click here to listen - https://www.carlbahner.com/thanks-for-thinking !***


You can listen to the songs we discussed in the "Sauce" segment in their entirety:
"The Noise (feat. Emp3)" by Ajax Ray O'vaque - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEbpukabMEI&ab_channel=AjaxRayO%27Vaque-Topic


***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t


Subscribe to the podcast and get my free guidebook "Music Production Essentials" here - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/free-download


References

Duran Duran - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duran_Duran

Bob St. John - https://bobstjohn.com/
Ken Lewis - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/9/12/secret-sonics-112-ken-lewis-100-gold-records-and-beyond
Decco - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/21/secret-sonics-015-decco
Micro Synth - https://www.ehx.com/products/micro-synth/
Arturia - https://www.arturia.com/products/analog-classics/v-collection/overviewp
Poly-M Moog - https://www.xils-lab.com/products/polym-p-160.html
Jacob Collier Logic Breakdown (e.g.) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Naxu8D0xXVU&ab_channel=JacobCollier

Medazzaland - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medazzaland

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.
Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!
Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!
You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co
Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 134 - Andy Reed - Making a Song in a Day

Andy Reed is a record producer, engineer, musician, and the owner of Reed Recording Company in Bay City, MI, USA. In our conversation, Andy shares his approach to making recordings by making artists feel comfortable and psyched to be in the studio. He talks about how he can make a record in a day by committing to sounds and using his circle of musician friends to help him track the song. We also chat about building a studio in his basement, mixing while he goes, using the right microphones, being inspired by gear, and so much more! Check it out!

You can learn more about Andy at https://www.reedrecordingcompany.com/


You can follow Andy on Social Media

FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=767303771

IG - https://www.instagram.com/andy_reed_producer_engineer/


***As I mentioned in this episode, Carl Bahner has an awesome new mindfulness/business podcast for creative freelancers called "Thanks for Thinking." Click here to listen - https://www.carlbahner.com/thanks-for-thinking !***


You can listen to the song we discussed in the "Sauce" segment in its entirety here - "The World is Mine" by The Legal Matters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr0WsSwpMF0&ab_channel=TheLegalMatters-Topic


***Join the Secret Sonics Discord community here(!) - discord.gg/UP97b72W6t
Subscribe to the podcast and get my free guidebook "Music Production Essentials" here - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/free-download


References

Joe Montague - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/5/30/secret-sonics-099-joe-montague-going-deep-on-the-ringo-sound
Brendan Benson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_Benson
Verve Pipe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Verve_Pipe
Jon Friedlander - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/21/secret-sonics-009-jonathan-friedlander
Mike Pepe - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2021/9/5/secret-sonics-111-mike-pepe-crafting-the-sound-of-a-band
V251 - https://microphone-parts.com/collections/microphones/products/v-251-tube-microphone
Plugin Alliance Blackbox - https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/black_box_analog_design_hg-2.html
Altiverb - https://www.audioease.com/altiverb/
Mrs. Mills Piano - https://www.spitfireaudio.com/originals/#mrs-mills-piano
Sunset Sound Studio 3 - https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trsunsetsound/
Josh Bowman - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2022/2/13/secret-sonics-132-josh-bowman-intentional-living-and-mixing

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.
Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the podcast theme music!


Thanks to Gavi Kutliroff for helping edit this episode!


You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co


Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 112 - Ken Lewis - 100 Gold Records and Beyond

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Ken Lewis is a top major label producer, mixer, songwriter and musician based out of NY, NY, USA. In our conversation, Ken shared his journey; begging his parents for a guitar, making a name for himself by working with Kanye West and staying busy by being available to deliver. We go deep on his approach to mixing, his unique approach to comping vocals (mind-blowing for me), Mixing Night (his free educational/entertainment platform), developing his own plugin, and so much more! Check it out!

You can learn more about Ken at https://kenlewis.com/

You can learn more about Mixing Night at https://www.youtube.com/mixingnight

You can learn more about Ken’s plugin GreenHAAS at https://mixingnightaudio.com/


You can follow Ken on Social Media

IG - https://www.instagram.com/kenlewisproducer/

FB - https://www.facebook.com/kenlewis

Subscribe to the podcast and get my free guidebook "Music Production Essentials" here - https://mpe-ebook.benwallick.com/free-download

Join the Secret Sonics Facebook community here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/secretsonics


If you'd like to help support Secret Sonics, you can do so by visiting https://www.buymeacoffee.com/benwallick

References

Kanye West - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanye_West
BTS - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTS
Pdogg - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pdogg
Des Rocs - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Rocs
AJ Smith - http://www.ajsmithmusic.com/
Mike Stone - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Stone_(record_producer)
Dave Pensado - https://www.pensadosplace.tv/
Audio School Online - https://kenlewislive.audioschoolonline.com/
GreenHAAS - https://mixingnightaudio.com/
Skrizzly Adams 28 Acoustic Remix - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSiatD3kciY&ab_channel=SkrizzlyAdams
Soundradix Auto Align - https://www.soundradix.com/products/auto-align/
Roli keyboard - https://roli.com/products/seaboard
Autotune - https://www.antarestech.com/


Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the new podcast theme music!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

***If you want the show to continue to improve, feel free to fill out a listener survey here: https://forms.gle/BWKmS4YmESYid5rh8 ***

Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/


Feel free to email me at secretsonics@gmail.com with any questions and feedback you might have. I'm open to learning about what topics you'd like to hear about and which people you'd like to hear from. In pursuit of making this podcast truly helpful to anybody looking to improve at music production, all suggestions are truly welcome!

Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 054 - Sean and Brendan Kelly

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Sean and Brendan Kelly are brothers who produce, engineer, and write music together based out of Savannah, GA, and Montgomery, NY, USA, respectively! They are both members of the bands A Fragile Tomorrow and So Sure.

You can listen to So Sure's debut EP Caffeine Drip here: https://www.pastemagazine.com/noisetrade/music/sosure/caffeine-drip

You can learn more about A Fragile Tomorrow here: http://afragiletomorrow.com/

You can follow the Kelly brothers on Social Media

Sean: https://www.instagram.com/seankellymusic/

Brendan: https://www.instagram.com/sirbrendanofkelly/

So Sure: https://www.instagram.com/sosureofficial/

A Fragile Tomorrow: https://www.instagram.com/aftmusic/

Noise Generator FX: https://www.instagram.com/noisegeneratorfx/

References

K’s Choice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%27s_Choice
Ted Comerford: https://tedcomerford.com/music
Low Watt Recording: http://lowwattrecording.com/
Noise Generator FX: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8_-smRiLWPhaZcPDnTnI8w
Malcolm Burn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Burn

Mitch Easter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Easter
Matt Megrue: http://www.mattmegrue.com/
Susan Cowsill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Cowsill
Spectra-Sonics 610: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/10207-spectra-sonics-610-a.html
Tchad Blake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tchad_Blake
Decapitator: https://www.soundtoys.com/product/decapitator/
Jukebox the Ghost: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jukebox_the_Ghost
Greg Calbi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Calbi
D’angelo's Black Messiah: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Messiah_(album)
Ori Winokur: https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/21/secret-sonics-013-ori-winokur
Hillel Reiner: https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/19/secret-sonics-003-hillel-reiner

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

Thank you to Zvi Rodan, Mendy Portnoy, and Yakir Hyman for contributing to the new podcast theme music!

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

***If you want the show to continue to improve, feel free to fill out a listener survey here: https://forms.gle/BWKmS4YmESYid5rh8 ***

Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/


Feel free to email me at secretsonics@gmail.com with any questions and feedback you might have. I'm open to learning about what topics you'd like to hear about and which people you'd like to hear from. In pursuit of making this podcast truly helpful to anybody looking to improve at music production, all suggestions are truly welcome!
 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 046 - Matt Zutell

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Matt Zutell is a music producer, mixing engineer and musician based out of Charleston, SC, USA!

You can learn more about Matt here: http://www.coast-records.com/

You can follow Matt on Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastrecords/

References

Coast Records Releases - https://coastrecords.bandcamp.com/

Matthew Garber - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/21/secret-sonics-042-matthew-garber

Human Resources record mentioned - https://coastrecords.bandcamp.com/album/champagne

War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding -  https://open.spotify.com/album/4TkmrrpjlPoCPpGyDN3rkF?autoplay=true&v=L
87 Nights record Mentioned - https://coastrecords.bandcamp.com/track/i-aint-your-man
The Royal American (the venue where Matt works FOH) - https://www.theroyalamerican.com/
Ben’s Solocast on Silver Linings - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/21/secret-sonics-039-coronaviruscovid-19-silver-linings-and-facebook-live-qampa
CLA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Lord-Alge
Ben’s AES Blog - https://www.benwallick.com/blog/2017/10/30/aes-2017-one-guys-big-revelation

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/


Feel free to email me at secretsonics@gmail.com with any questions and feedback you might have. I'm open to learning about what topics you'd like to hear about and which people you'd like to hear from. In pursuit of making this podcast truly helpful to anybody looking to improve at music production, all suggestions are truly welcome!
 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 044 - Gray Bashew

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Gray Bashew is a music producer, composer, songwriter, and filmmaker traveling the globe in pursuit of his next project and adventure!

You can learn more about Gray here: https://graybashew.com/

You can follow Gray on Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gray_bashew/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUu6Qo-mrA0rh71QOC7iRUA

References

Comedy Central Drunk History - http://www.cc.com/shows/drunk-history

Ian Dotson - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/21/secret-sonics-034-ian-dotson

Gray's Music Video from 2018 that helped him grow his career - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLm8VJVwEhc

Universal Audio Arrow - https://amzn.to/2VXqCpx

Spitfire Labs (Virtual Instruments) - https://www.spitfireaudio.com/labs/

Lydgate Farms (Hawaii Chocolate) - https://lydgatefarms.com/

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/


Feel free to email me at secretsonics@gmail.com with any questions and feedback you might have. I'm open to learning about what topics you'd like to hear about and which people you'd like to hear from. In pursuit of making this podcast truly helpful to anybody looking to improve at music production, all suggestions are truly welcome!
 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 043 - Phil Barnes

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Phil Barnes is a multi-genre record producer, songwriter and recording artist based out of Nashville, TN, USA!

You can learn more about Phil here: https://www.philbarnesmusic.com/

You can follow Phil on Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philbarnesmusic/

Phil's Email: phil@plbandco.com

Phil's Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0y2YPgYVyhrSwDDWmTX5Zr?si=-DmZCdraTbCWOC5sJdBWxw

References

Evan Gibb - https://soundbetter.com/profiles/43665-evan-gibb
Matthew Perryman Jones - https://www.mpjmusic.com/
Eduard Kort - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/20/secret-sonics-005-eduard-kort
Ableton Live - https://www.ableton.com/en/
Tom Lord Alge - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lord-Alge
Greg Wells - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Wells
Michael Brauer - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Brauer
Sam Moses - https://www.benwallick.com/podcast-episodes/2020/4/21/secret-sonics-035-sam-moses

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/


Feel free to email me at secretsonics@gmail.com with any questions and feedback you might have. I'm open to learning about what topics you'd like to hear about and which people you'd like to hear from. In pursuit of making this podcast truly helpful to anybody looking to improve at music production, all suggestions are truly welcome!
 
Have a great week, stay safe, and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 041 - Packy Lundholm

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Packy Lundholm is a music producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chicago, IL, USA!

You can learn more about Packy here: https://packylundholm.bandcamp.com/

You can follow Packy on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packylundholm/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/packylundholm
Twitter: https://twitter.com/packylundholm?lang=en

References
American Soccer LP - https://open.spotify.com/album/5B4I3Vrg16nIODY2vVpf7V
Track Sabbath Vol 1 EP - https://open.spotify.com/album/15LZQYPPYuVBWDRmRJEw5c
Kara Cavanaugh - https://open.spotify.com/album/13Hvcw21uNjTbvCygCTAkb
Rax Trax Studios - https://www.raxtrax.com/
Noam Wallenberg - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/24162261
I Fight Dragons - http://www.ifightdragons.com/
Chiptunes Gameboy - https://www.reddit.com/r/chiptunes/comments/6ij879/how_do_i_get_started_with_making_chiptunes_on_a/
Little Sound DJ - https://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/index.php
Helix Native Guitar Amp Sim- https://line6.com/helix/helixnative.html
Fuzz Factory - https://amzn.to/34yLGFM
Video with the T Bone Guitar - "Don’t Leave a Thing Behind" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biaL9iDuOT8
T Bone Burnett - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_Bone_Burnett
Soundtoys FX Bundle - https://www.soundtoys.com/product/
Vulfpeck - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulfpeck
Khruangbin - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khruangbin
Jacob Gorenstyn - Dissecting Revolver Episode - https://www.spreaker.com/episode/20360155
Mother Hen - Packy's White Album pastiche - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl7gVXYpV-I

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/


Feel free to email me at secretsonics@gmail.com with any questions and feedback you might have. I'm open to learning about what topics you'd like to hear about and which people you'd like to hear from. In pursuit of making this podcast truly helpful to anybody looking to improve at music production, all suggestions are truly welcome!

Have a great week and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 039 - Coronavirus/COVID-19, Silver Linings and Facebook Live Q&A

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Ben talks out his thoughts and feelings regarding the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic and shares a Facebook Live Q&A about getting better home recordings.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly. Consider rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts and sharing this or any of your favorite episodes with a friend or two.

References
Stay safe and follow the protocol from WHO - https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
Noah Bar-Shain took excellent notes on my Facebook Live - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Te5hVQOPVcCOlRNa594v2O6nv2kCMJH9Wc6uyBewixw/edit?fbclid=IwAR0V12YYO36-p42IDLLLBIrgwGqTKql2_bPvigXxXnSeRRVCgRzsuIgBgF4
Mixerman's "Musician's Survival Guide to a Killer Record" - https://amzn.to/3bBCMJY

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/


Feel free to email me at secretsonics@gmail.com with any questions and feedback you might have. I'm open to learning about what topics you'd like to hear about and which people you'd like to hear from. In pursuit of making this podcast truly helpful to anybody looking to improve at music production, all suggestions are truly welcome!

Have a great week and dig in!

-Ben

Secret Sonics 030 - Tackling Self-Doubt with Yakir Hyman

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Yakir Hyman is the guitarist for rock n' roll legend Tom Schiffour, co-founder of the band Photon, and unapologetic lover of Coffee & Phish! When Yakir isn't busy riffing the nights away on his trusty G&L ASAT, you can find him crushing business development at a company called Five Blocks or helping his wife Jackie build a global tribe of empowered women through Mamas Crushing Fitness.

References:
Jukebox Java - https://soundcloud.com/jukeboxjavapodcast
The Fizzle Show - https://fizzle.co/show
G-nome Project - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-Nome_Project

Thanks for listening to this episode of Secret Sonics! I hope you enjoyed this episode :) Look out for new episodes weekly.

You can find out more about Secret Sonics and subscribe on your favorite podcast app by visiting www.secretsonics.co

Follow along via social media here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SecretSonicsPod
Instagram: www.instagram.com/secretsonics/


Feel free to email me at secretsonics@gmail.com with any questions and feedback you might have. I'm open to learning about what topics you'd like to hear about and which people you'd like to hear from. In pursuit of making this podcast truly helpful to anybody looking to improve at music production, all suggestions are truly welcome!


Have a great week and dig in!

-Ben