The Apollo Audio Podcast

For the 100th released episode of The Apollo Audio Podcast, Martin and Billy do something slightly different. For the first time, the episode was filmed as well as recorded, with the video version available on YouTube and Spotify. The milestone also lands almost exactly five years after Martin began working with Apollo Audio, so this episode looks back at the studio, the podcast, and a selection o...

Martin and Billy are back in the studio talking football disappointment, unreleased Deftones material, music leaks, chart data, country music, streaming algorithms and a reassessment of Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album. The main album discussion focuses on Bag O’ Bones and their new album Lift Off , recorded at Apollo Audio with production, engineering, mixing and mastering by Martin Lumsden. Martin...

Martin and Billy are back in the studio talking about the World Cup, Berlin, Download Festival, ticket prices, festival lineups and the strange question of where different artists belong. The conversation moves from Linkin Park headlining Download with a female lead singer into a wider discussion about genre, audience expectations and whether artists always know who their music is really for. They...

Martin and Billy are back in the studio talking about leaks, ticket prices, remote recording, AI copyright, streaming royalties and the strange economics of being an independent artist in 2026. The conversation moves from the practical reality of studio work into a wider discussion about how artists actually build momentum. Making a good song matters, but releasing it without a plan can feel like...

Martin and Billy are back in the studio after another sold-out Apollo Audio gig, talking about young bands, live performance, and why getting out in front of an audience still matters. The conversation moves into streaming culture, album sales and what it means when an album has billions of streams. They discuss why streaming figures are not the same as people buying records, how modern release ha...

Martin and Billy are back in the studio, covering everything from live music during a half marathon to Eurovision, persistence, and why enjoying the process still matters if you want to keep making music. The main album discussion focuses on Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill , looking at why the record still feels powerful decades later. They talk about the sound of the album, its mix of rock...

Martin is joined by Elliot Stout from Bag O’ Bones to talk about the band’s new album Lift Off , recorded at Apollo Audio with production, engineering and mixing by Martin Lumsden. The conversation covers the history of the band, Elliot’s move from Southbound into Bag O’ Bones, and how the three-piece developed its blues-grunge sound. Elliot talks about writing in bursts, finding the right band dy...

Martin and Billy discuss how artists keep momentum between releases, from regular single campaigns to the longer process of building a full album. The episode starts with two very different projects recently completed through Apollo Audio: Dan Thomas’ layered album release, developed over many months, and Bag O' Bones recording an entire album live in a single day. They also talk about BODY’s rele...

This week’s episode moves between live performance, studio thinking and the changing nature of how music is made and consumed. Martin reflects on running a live theatre production and the pressures of real-time sound, where there is no opportunity to stop and fix mistakes. Billy shares recent gig experiences, including the importance of preparation and what happens when things go wrong on stage. T...

This week’s episode starts in the rehearsal room with a sold-out hardcore night at Apollo Audio and a wider look at why live music and young bands are still thriving. From there, the conversation moves into the fundamentals that separate average recordings from great ones. Martin and Billy discuss common mistakes bands make in the studio and on stage, including preparation, tone choices, gear deci...

In this special episode, Martin is joined by artist Dan Thomas to discuss the making of his debut album This Is Where You’ll Find Me , released April 27. The conversation covers the shift from solo acoustic artist to full-band sound, the reality of long-term project development, and how artistic identity evolves over time. Dan explains how songs written across nearly two decades came together into...

This week’s episode moves from the studio floor into the bigger picture of how records actually get made. We compare two very different recording approaches. One is a live in-studio session where a band captures performance and energy in the room. The other is a more detailed production process, building a track step by step from a simple guitar and vocal demo. There is also a wider discussion aro...

A special episode featuring a conversation with Luke James Williams ahead of the release of his second album Limes Hotel . We talk about the songwriting and recording process, how albums come together over time, and why the album format still matters. Luke shares the story behind the record, including the personal experiences that shaped its themes and direction. We also discuss audience building...

This week we talk about studio experiences, recording approaches, and what actually makes a great record. We discuss a visit to a newly built high-end studio, the realities of live tracking, and why even the most advanced setups still come down to performance. Along the way, we get into gear myths, studio culture, and why environment and mindset often matter more than equipment. In the second half...

This week’s episode is a lighter conversation around music culture, listening habits, and how people discover and connect with artists. We talk about vinyl, record buying, and how music fits into everyday life, alongside a discussion about why word of mouth still plays a central role in building an audience. In the second half, we listen to The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails and reflect on its...

Most independent artists are not getting paid properly from their music. Not because streaming does not work, but because the system depends on information being set up correctly. In this episode, Martin and Billy break down one of the most overlooked parts of releasing music. Metadata, recording codes, and songwriting registration. The unglamorous details that determine whether money reaches you...

In this week’s episode, Martin and Billy talk pedals, plugins, and the difference between building a sound you can actually own versus pressing a button and borrowing someone else’s. They get into live guitar setups, tracking tones properly, why “inspiration not replication” still matters, and how technology makes it easier than ever to sound like everyone else. In the recommended listening sectio...

This week we talk about why so much modern production feels indistinguishable — and how to use reference tracks without turning your mix into a copy. We also touch on The Brits, live performance vs polish, and why Charli XCX’s Brat connected as a cultural moment as much as a record. The Brits: commercial success vs critical success Everything sounds the same because it can and what that means in p...

This week we talk about gig culture: last-minute ticket buying, dynamic pricing, bots, and why buying tickets early genuinely helps venues survive. We also reflect on the difference between “event gigs” and being five feet from a band in a proper room and why supporting grassroots venues is how future headline acts get made. Album-wise, we dive into R.E.M.’s Automatic for the People - a downbeat,...

In this week’s episode, Martin and Billy talk about music tech and internet culture — from K-pop production as a “craft flex”, to the current state of AI video and why it still gets the basics wrong. They also dig into a list of “albums that tarnished an artist’s legacy”, and end up on a bigger question: why album sequencing matters, why shuffle shouldn’t be the default, and what it says when tech...

In this week’s episode of The Apollo Audio Podcast , Martin and Billy talk about studio life at Apollo Audio - why the vibe and community matter, what bands can do to get the most out of studio time, and why being prepared (tight rehearsals, demos, and pre-production) makes everything easier once the clock starts. They also pick up the ongoing conversation about AI in music, shortcuts, and why the...

In this week’s episode of The Apollo Audio Podcast , Martin and Billy talk about the realities of running and sustaining creative spaces, why recording studios matter to local music communities, and how pressures like rising costs and business rates affect the wider music ecosystem. They also chat through recent industry news, including the Grammys and the Brit Awards, what gets recognised on big...

In this week’s episode of The Apollo Audio Podcast , Martin and Billy talk about why people still bother making records (and why that matters), plus a few things currently doing the rounds in the music world. They discuss generative AI music and Suno (including a CEO comment that sparked a bigger conversation about creativity), the Brit Awards and who actually gets platformed on big TV performance...

In this week’s episode of The Apollo Audio Podcast , Martin and Billy discuss Bandcamp’s decision to reject AI-generated music from the platform and what that could mean for artists, platforms, and the wider role of AI in music. They also share their thoughts on the Brit Awards and how relevant they feel they are within today’s music landscape. In the recommended listening section, Martin and Bill...

In this episode, Martin and Billy kick things off chatting about the evolution of movie soundtracks, the art of networking in the industry, and the ever-shifting landscape of music streaming. Then, they switch to discussing Lily Allen's controversial but highly rated new album West End Girl, it's very personal lyrical depth, and how it measures up to her previous work. Along the way, they sprinkle...