Unstoppable Recording Machine Podcast

Jeremy Spencer is a drummer, vocalist, and songwriter. He was previously in Five Finger Death Punch and now releases music as Psycho Synner. Shawn McGhee is a producer and songwriter. On this episode: 4:37 - Drum editing is a fine-tuned skill 15:57 - Getting repeat clients 28:57 - You have to write music you like, don’t chase accolades 38:08 - Try things and fail in order to see what works 48:37 -...

Will Yip is a producer, songwriter, and label owner known for his work with bands such as Code Orange, Circa Survive, Turnstile and many more. Today, he joins Eyal Levi to answer questions from the URM Discord community. On this episode: 2:23 - Working in different genres 10:44 - Analog vs.digital workflow 23:00 - Music release strategy 39:00 - Being more assertive with artists 48:55 - What happen...

Eyal Levi and Joel Wanasek are critiquing mixes of “Drone Corpse Aviator” by Archspire.  On this episode: Why Archspire has a hard style to mix When to make changes vs. starting over You can’t have a muddy mix And more! Sponsored by: DistroKid Want to level up your audio game? Sign up for URM. When you sign up, you'll get access to: Insanely detailed audio production tutorials One-on-one feedback...

Jesse Cannon is a producer, podcaster, mastering engineer, author, and music marketer who also produces podcasts for The Daily Beast.  On this episode: 10:16 - Vanity metrics won’t help you 16:46 - Breaking into other regions 26:51 - Cheat codes in metal 35:55 - Socials or content, which comes first? 44:10 - TikTok promotion works Sponsored by: DistroKid Want to level up your audio game? Sign up f...

Mike Plotnikoff is a producer/engineer who has worked with acts such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Cher alongside producers such as Howard Benson, Mutt Lange, Bruce Fairbairn, and countless others. On this episode: 2:45 - Failing more than you succeed 13:05 - Keep moving forward and take breaks as needed 27:17 - Understanding your strengths and weaknesses  35:07 - Visualizing mixes 47:45 - Imposing bou...

Chris Clancy is a producer, engineer, musician, and the singer of Mutiny Within. He’s worked with Machine Head, Kataklysm, and many others. On this episode: 7:00 - Working with Jason Suecof and getting into production 19:37 - Being a person who can just learn new things 33:25 - Taking calculated risks 46:03 - Getting a chance from Colin Richardson 54:15 - Knowing when something is good enough 1:01...

Dryw Owens is an engineer who has worked with Dance Gavin Dance, Hail the Sun, A Lot Like Birds, and many others. He works out of Little Russia Recordings in Sacramento, CA. On this episode: 2:15 - Being a collaborator 13:50 - The trajectory of the artists is important 21:00 - Democracies can be bad for bands 31:59 - Why the sophomore slump exists 41:46 - Helping people get to the next level and s...

Dan Weller is a guitarist in SikTh and a producer, mixer, and songwriter who has worked with Enter Shikari, Young Guns, and Babymetal, among others. On this episode: 3:45 - Writing songs that stand the test of time 14:19 - Be clear about your goals early on 35:20 - Taking control of sessions 43:13 - Having someone else’s future in your hands 51:15 - Working with Taylor Larson 1:13:38 - Working on...

MixCritMonday is back! Eyal Levi and Joel Wanasek crit three subscriber mixes of Jason Richardson’s “Upside Down.” On this episode: 7:15 - Bass guitar balance 9:54 - Inconsistent cymbals 17:58 - Painful highs and mids 23:14 - When gear helps 26:39 - How too much low end impacts a whole mix Want to level up your audio game? Sign up for URM. When you sign up, you'll get access to: Insanely detailed...

Lewis Johns is a producer and mixer out of the UK who has worked with bands and labels such as Loathe, Irist, Wall Flower, Palm Reader, Sony Music Entertainment, Nuclear Blast, Universal Music Group, Rise and Warner Brothers.  On this episode: 3:08 - Staying on top of a busy schedule 14:43 - Learn the various aspects of production before delegating tasks 26:48 - Modern vs. old school producers 37:...

Randy Slaugh is a composer and producer who has worked with Architects, Periphery, Four Year Strong, and many others. On this episode: 2:22 - Becoming a composer 18:08 - Play the long game and do cold outreach 25:12 - Having a routine and boundaries 32:05 - You can’t be a lone wolf if you want to scale up 39:18 - Not all projects will work out 52:38 - Treat ALL of your clients like they’re importa...

Mike Mowery is an artist manager at 10th Street Entertainment where he manages Ice Nine Kills. On this episode: 2:26 - Adapting from tour management to artist management 18:53 - Honing Spencer Charnas’s vision with Ice Nine Kills 25:20 - The role of loyalty in the industry 37:50 - Don’t quit just because things get hard 58:16 - Shifting from Outerloop to 10th St Entertainment Want to level up your...

Misha Mansoor and Mark Holcomb are the duo who make up Haunted Shores and guitarists in Periphery.  On this episode: 5:30 - Black metal recording styles 19:35 - How Misha learned the difference between black metal and death metal 31:36 - Creative boundaries 46:54 - Solving the riff puzzle 53:15 - Knowing when you need space from your work 1:16:19 - Mistaking productivity for progress Want to level...

Finn McKenty is the Director of Operations at URM and the creator behind The Punk Rock MBA YouTube channel and podcast.  On this episode: 7:08 - Time management 14:52 - Gaining a following on social media 26:54 - Using trial and error to find your unique style 36:35 - NFTs and crypto in the music industry 42:10 - Capitalizing on opportunities Follow Finn McKenty on Twitter and Instagram. Check out...

Francesco Ferrini is a pianist, composer, and the keyboardist in Fleshgod Apocalypse. He’s also known for his orchestral arrangements for artists such as Dimmu Borgir, Ice Nine Kills, and many more. On this episode: 5:22 - The orchestral influence in Fleshgod Apocalypse 16:17 - Finding clarity in a dense arrangement 42:44 - Writing guitar parts that work with orchestra 1:09:57 - How to get better...

Taylor Young is a producer, mixer, and musician (ex Nails) who has worked with Suicide Silence, Twitching Tongues, and many others.  On this episode: 3:36 - Working with bands who can play 14:44 - How a drum career influenced a production career 27:39 - Getting sick guitar tones 38:24 - Sending musicians home 43:19 - Taylor’s new pedal Follow Taylor Young on Twitter.  Check out Taylor’s studio The...

David Levy is a composer, audio engineer and sound designer who is known for his work with Rooster Teeth and on Doom.  On this episode: 2:00 - Health as a priority 12:10 - Working on Doom 27:06 - Staying organized under intense pressure 40:26 - Channeling your creativity at any time 51:02 - Incorporating drums into composing/sound design Follow David Levy on Instagram and Twitter. Check out David...

Mick Gordon is a composer and producer best known for his work on video game soundtracks Doom, Wolfenstein, and many more. He’s also worked with bands such as Monuments and Bring Me the Horizon. On this episode: 2:50 - Defining your role based on the project 12:08 - Getting into the gaming industry 26:30 - How to not get pigeon-holed 33:50 - Working with Bring Me The Horizon 43:30 - Sound design c...

Joel Wanasek is a co founder of URM Academy, Drumforge, as well as a mixing and mastering engineer who has worked with bands such as Machine Head and Attila.  On this episode: 2:54 - Working in genres you don't like 12:16 - Marketing a band 27:44 - Being asked to work for free 33:52 - What’s the value of record labels? 49:36 - Building rapport with bands you can’t meet in person Want to level up y...

Jesse Ray Ernster is a Grammy award winning mixer who has worked with Kanye West, Doja Cat, Burna Boi, and many others. On this episode: 2:40 - Do techniques work across different genres? 17:17 - Niching down to pop and R&B 28:47 - Set up a retirement account… NOW 39:59 - Some paths are unproductive 53:49 - Getting introduced to Kanye West Follow Jesse Ray Ernster on Instagram. Check out Jesse's D...

Adam Bentley is a guitarist and mixer who has worked with Felix Martin, I Built the Sky, and his own band Arch Echo. On this episode: 2:24 - A typical work day 10:36 - The good side of Berklee 21:28 - DAWs and working in-the-box 36:55 - Always needing to move forward 47:43 - Building a career as a mixer 1:12:02 - Working with bands that can help your band 1:24:32 - A good template keeps evolving F...

Will Yip is a producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and label owner known for his work with bands such as Code Orange, Circa Survive, Turnstile and many more.  On this episode: 4:14 - Having a strong work ethic 12:20 - When to follow your passions 28:46 - Teaching the next generation of producers 38:32 - Limited pie myths 51:37 - Setting boundaries and focusing on one task 1:00:22 - Avoiding burnout...

Lasse Lammert is a producer who owns LSD-Studios in Germany.  On this episode: 2:48 - Being a tone hunter 19:16 - Lead guitars aren’t a core element 29:28 - Not everyone can technically explain what they hear 41:44 - How references get brought into mixes 52:58 - Establishing a rapport with bands  1:07:18 - Seeing sounds as colors Check out Lasse’s website. Want to level up your audio game? Sign up...

Anssi Kippo is a producer and the founder of Astia-studio in Finland. On this episode: 10:58 - Analog vs digital 21:52 - Typical session length 35:06 - How to approach bands that resist analog workflow 47:11 - Crucial components when working with tape 1:01:18 - Why he stopped touring 1:13:20 - Working on the arrangements for Children of Bodom’s Hatebreeder 1:19:36 - Capturing the most authentic gu...

Adam D is a producer as well as a guitarist in Killswitch Engage and Times of Grace. He’s worked with bands such as The Acacia Strain, All That Remains, Unearth, Underoath, and many others. On this episode: 2:48 - Balancing the band and production work 13:22 - Why Adam got into production 23:21 - Music theory doesn’t have to play a role in songwriting 40:03 - What matters most for guitar tones 51:...