WorkTape

Are most artists born "stage-ready", or do most artists battle early anxiety? Is the industry safer for kid artists than it used to be? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Is mental health talked about enough in the music scene? Do people expect too much of artists by always expecting them to be bold and charismatic? Can fame ever be "unhealthy" for child artists? How has...

Who are some of the most important women in singing? Are some styles of music more "timeless" than others? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Is there a problem with Ariana Grande's "Problem"? What makes Tori Kelly among other artists? Why does Billie Eilish's vocal technique work for her, but maybe not for others? Why should artists strive to develop their own sound, and...

Did you know Kyuss were predecessors to Queens of the Stone Age? Which QOTSA album did Dave drum on? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Has Mastodon's catalog held up better than Metallica's? Have Muse raised the bar too high for themselves? Who are Liiily and Cleopatrick? Are Radiohead overrated, or do they deserve the hype? Is emotional connection a more important facto...

Is it better for artists pay for studio time, or is it better for them to invest in their own equipment? How long does it usually take to establish a business/self-employment? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Why might it be smart for artists to invest in themselves and/or learn how to self-produce? Who is Jonathan Higgs? Is "head voice" exclusively attributed to female...

Can theory become a hindrance to/for creativity? Should Joe Rogan be "cancelled" for his COVID stance by being removed from Spotify? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Why do some singers sing "breathy"? Was Art Garfunkel the lead vocalist to/for Simon & Garfunkel? What if Freddie Mercury had been formally trained? Was Neil Young's departure from Spotify a smart move?...

What is a "singing/vocal straw"? Do vocalists need to protect their voices from COVID or other sicknesses? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Do vocal coaches have or need vocal coaches? Should vocalists be wary of caffeine and acidic drinks? Do singing/vocal straws help singers to improve vocal health and performance? Is it alright for singers to use throat sprays?

Is the voice more complex than any instrument? Why do boys' voices sound so similar to girls' voices under a certain age? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Do vocal coaches tend to stick with students of the same gender? Were Led Zeppelin's lyrics considered risqué for their time? Are singers who belt overpraised in music culture? How is vocal technique related to singer...

What is the appeal with local music shops over more "corporate" music stores? Can music be used to manipulate or cause someone harm? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What are the origins of motown? Is motown classic pop? Can music (ever) be evil? What made Prince stick out in the industry? Should some music be "handled with caution"?

What bands/artists have managed to maintain quality releases over a 20 or more year period? Which Marley child sounded closest to Bob, and which sounded most different to him? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Have online remote concerts become a good thing for fans and new listeners? What makes Green Day a good band? Were Weezer ever meant to be taken seriously? Did the...

What bands were Robert Trujillo playing bass for before he joined Metallica? Did you know that James Hetfield is a major car guy? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Would the most well-known bands/artists have made it without marketing? Do bands/artists need to sell out in any way in order to succeed? Did Lars Ulrich deserve the bad press for the Napster situation? Do som...

Did you know that Metallica have a podcast? Did Motörhead ever amount to anything more than "Ace of Spades"? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Are Motörhead a punk band? Who are some Canadian rock bands?

Do you ever stick to your New Year's resolutions? Do people even still burn CDs anymore? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What makes John Mayer a classic guitar hero? Have there been any guitarists bigger than or more iconic than Eddie van Halen after Eddie van Halen?

Is "Christmas music" "corny"? Do artists butcher the same songs every December? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What made/makes Ringo Starr a good drummer and artist? Do blind musicians have an advantage in music? Have commercialization and consumerism ruined Christmas and other holidays? What makes "A Charlie Brown Christmas" a classic album?

What did Ringo think of Peter Jackson's "Get Back" docuseries? Does Paul McCartney still sign autographs? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Was Yoko Ono "too present" during Beatles' studio sessions? Do media outlets tend to abuse invasive "journalist" behavior with artists/bands? Is it dehumanizing to put any artist/band on such a high pedestal? Is "Wonderful Christmast...

How do you feel about Christmas music? Were Sublime really in a league of their own? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Who are some key pianists in popular music? What made "40oz. to Freedom" a 90s staple? What made Bradley Nowell a unique songwriter and frontman? Do people throw out quality for sentimental bias with music?

Are metal heads too musically "stiff"? Is it true that some genres "evolve" better than others? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Who drummed for Nirvana before Dave Grohl joined the band? Was Kurt Cobain a control freak? Who drummed for Foo Fighters before Taylor Hawkins joined the band? Whatever became of the French band Phoenix? What happened to country music? "Bite M...

Do you approach music more with feel, or do you usually go by the book? What does it mean to be more classically-driven than jazz-driven? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What are some good hardware synths? Could companies do better with product support and user-friendliness? Are some artists more creatively intuitive than others? How might kids possibly think music is...

Has music lost its depth? Has the album lost its value? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Has music gone the way of the movie industry? Are seasoned rock bands losing their audience due to mainstream conformity? Who were Korn before they were "Korn"? Why did Brian "Head" Welch leave Korn?

How often do you get to personally meet with the artists/bands you hear live? How would you respond if someone gave you tickets to one of your favorite artists/bands on the spot? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Who are The Cult? One of Sean's weirdest encounters while flooring Sean's first Fleetwood Mac concert Why did Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival end in tragedy?

Are there any rules in the audio world that can't be broken? Is gear more important than the process? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: What gear is crucial for studio-quality vocals? Is DAW auto-save a double-edged sword? How do methods and gear become standards in the industry? Why are the mids important in mixing? Is The Strokes' "Is This It" worthy of its high status...

Which mics are your go-to workhorses? Why do any of you like DJ Khaled (we seriously need you guys to answer this one)? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Are recording methods just as important as which mic you use? Are "cheap" mics useful? Does sibilance add character to recordings? Do some artists get milked too much by the media?

Which punk bands are California's most iconic? What makes California punk unique among other punk? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Are Dead Kennedys California’s best punk band? GTA V Channel X punk radio How contrasting are west coast and east coast punk? Who is GG Allin? When does being abstract and avant-garde in art go too far? What is noise rock? How did Modest Mo...

What makes punk rock punk? Is pop punk real punk? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Who helped form the "punk" sound? Are skinheads racist? What does the "A" symbol in punk culture stand for? What is the relationship between alternative and punk? How did garage rock influence punk? Do "bad" singers make great artists? Is Avril Lavigne's contribution to punk similar as Bl...

Why are crossover artists still surprising in the industry ? Was MGK's decision to switch genres a good one? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: The mainstream resurgence of horror pop Alessia Cara "Sweet Dream" Are sample packs cheating? Will live instrumentation regain the throne to replace loops? Beatles/Wailers parallels Are posthumous releases exploitive? NAS' "King's...

Which artists do you think have the best quality control? What thoughts came to mind when Thom Yorke trolled you with a chopped and screwed unplugged "Creep"? Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode: Will Max Martin ruin Coldplay's current production? Are clever "packaging", visuals, and marketing an adequate replacement for mediocre music? Is Sarah Brand in the same position n...