This episode is a discussion on how AI is impacting the music industry, hosted by Stu Watts and features guests Joe Carra (Grammy nominated mastering engineer) and Simon Moro (producer/engineer/mixer).
Joe Carra is the chief mastering engineer and owner of Crystal Mastering. With over 3 decades of experience, Joe has mastered for cassette, vinyl, CD, and in recent times, embraced the immersive audio of Dolby Atmos. In 2020 Joe received a Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album, for the Teskey Brothers ‘Run Home Slow’ album. Joe has mastered various ARIA award winning albums and in 2023, was recognised with a nomination in the MPEG Awards for 'Mastering Engineer of the Year’. Joe’s credits include Pond, The Slingers, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Courtney Barnett, Amyl & The Sniffers, Genesis Owusu, The Murlocs, San Cisco, Babe Rainbow, Bliss N Eso, The Waifs and many more.
Simon Moro is a music producer, sound engineer, mixer and co-owner of The Avenue Recording Studio and has over 25 years of experience. His unique ability to empathetically connect with an artist and understand their vision was born out of training under Michael Brauer (Coldplay, The Kooks, Grizzly Bear) which taught him that capturing the essence of the artist is paramount to creating the best mix. Having worked with labels such as Sony and Mushroom, artists such as Anthony Callea and Allday, mixed and produced ARIA nominated albums, live albums, and television shows, he knows that no project is too bold and ambitious, and no detail is too minute to matter.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:25 Joe's Client's AI-Generated Album
07:10 The Evolution of AI Music Generation
12:59 AI's Role in Music Production
20:43 Why Human Mastering Still Thrives Against AI
33:35 The Risk of Homogenised Music vs. Authentic Human Art
40:53 The Fight for Fair Credits and Royalties in AI Music
49:04 Using AI Tools Without Losing Creative Human Skills
01:01:15 Final Thoughts: AI, Copyright, and the Value of Human Effort
How you can support the podcast:
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Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Joe's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats with Mickey Nox (aka Stephan Nardella) who burst on to the Melbourne club scene in 2007 and soon had a reputation for playing the harder styles of dance music. This soon led to starting his own productions as a producer, and eventually full DJ sets of only original music in a time where if you wanted to hear the music, you’d simply have to go and watch him play. By doing this Mickey Nox amassed quite the following. This continued with years of DJ'ing several weekly residencies, headlining around Australia and then touring Europe & Asia multiple times.2019 was the start of his studio career as an engineer. 6 Years later his studio is growing from strength to strength and Mickey is mixing and mastering for many artist and labels around the globe.A real music lover, husband, father and hopeless guitarist. Mickey Nox is just getting started in his studio career.
How you can support the podcast:
Follow on Instagram:
Mickey Nox website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Mickey's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats with Josh Simons, who is the CEO of Australia’s only ASX-listed music company, Vinyl Group (ASX:VNL), and Founder of Vampr. Described as a visionary entrepreneur, Simons has raised $35M historically for his technology startups from various sources including venture capital, institutional, HNW, family office and angel groups. These ventures have seen him reside in Los Angeles, London, Sydney and Melbourne.Formerly known as Jaxsta, Vinyl Group launched in 2023 as a parent company encompassing its foundational brands—Jaxsta, Vampr, and Vinyl.com. Under his leadership, the company has acquired The Brag Media—publisher of Rolling Stone Australia and Variety Australia—as well as Mediaweek and Concrete Playground, combining them to form Vinyl Media, now one of the most influential youth publishing and cultural networks in the southern hemisphere. He has also led the acquisitions of Funkified Entertainment and Serenade.Simons is also the co-founder of Vampr, the world’s largest social-professional network for musicians and creatives, often dubbed the “LinkedIn for creatives.”Before transitioning to tech, Simons ran a record label, publishing arm, and film production company, and was the lead singer of indie rock band Buchanan. As a songwriter and producer, he has shared credits with Travis Scott, Troye Sivan, and Kanye West, and as a performer, has toured with Coldplay, Keith Urban, and Carrie Underwood.In recognition of his contributions to music and innovation, Simons was named to The Music Network’s 30 Under 30 in 2020, winning Reader’s Choice, and in 2024, received Young Entrepreneur of the Year honours from Business News Australia.
How you can support the podcast:
Follow on Instagram:
Listen to Josh's work on Spotify
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats with Tim Maxwell, who is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, producer and mix engineer based in Melbourne, Australia. He first made his mark as the producer and frontman of the band Loser. Their debut album, Mindless Joy, was nominated for an Australian Music Prize in 2020, marking the start of Tim’s career as a producer. The follow-up album, All The Rage, achieved over 1 million Spotify streams, with two singles added to national radio rotation. The album was also nominated for Best Punk Release at the 2022 AIR Awards.In January 2021, Tim founded Restless Noise, his own studio and business. Through Restless Noise, he has worked with a diverse range of local and emerging artists, helping them shape their sound and reach their creative potential. Driven by a desire to collaborate with larger artists, Tim expanded his experience by working with Wrangler Studios, where he continues to refine his skills and position himself for high-profile projects.Tim’s growing reputation as a producer has led to opportunities with interstate bands, including Towns, Fangz, and Molly Rocket. Whether working in his own studio or collaborating with other artists, Tim remains committed to pushing creative boundaries and elevating the Australian music scene.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro/About Tim Maxwell02:21 What has changed over the past 3 years03:47 Working with interstate bands06:25 Rebranding and rebuilding Wrangler Studios07:30 Does the gear really matter?12:22 Make things sound good in the room13:21 Turning point moments16:12 Workflow improvements21:31 Don't compare yourself to others25:52 Does the mix translate everywhere?32:12 Inspiration/new habits34:42 What have you learnt about the music industry?38:23 Focus on enjoyment39:39 Advice to yourself from 3 years ago42:00 What continues to excite you?46:38 What Tim is focusing on in the near future47:34 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists48:36 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:
Follow on Instagram:
Listen to Tim's work on Spotify
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats with Myles Mumford, who has been making music and making records professionally since the late 90s. Starting trombone with his Dad, Monte Mumford, he completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music) with trombone and composition before moving to Melbourne in 2002 to study at the VCA. After completing a Graduate Diploma in Dramatic Art (sound) Myles took over the operation of the VCA recording studio and hasn't looked back. Since then he has worked extensively across all spheres of music and audio creation including record production, music and effects for film, music and effects for theatre, location recording, concert production and more. He is well known for his musical and collaborative approach to recording, and his ability to create a sense of presence and space. Myles’ productions can be heard across all forms of media and regularly receives critical acclaim in the form of featured singles, featured albums, or album of the week. He's had a few albums nominated for ARIAs, several Bell Award winning productions, many Age and Music Victoria awards, a Green Room award, APRA awards and various others along the way. In 2012 - 2013 Myles volunteered for 12 months in Swaziland for Lusweti - Institute For Health Communication and Development through Australian Volunteers International. During this time Myles produced two weekly one hour radio shows on the National broadcaster SBIS, worked with local builders to design and build a recording studio, developed radio content, trained local staff, collaborated with the Swazi Community Radio Initiative, produced several albums of local artists and his productions featured in the Swazi Top 20 every week for more than a year. In 2014 he spearheaded the formation of Rolling Stock Recording Rooms in Collingwood which has quickly become an incredibly active hub of music making across all genres of Melbourne music with hundreds of projects in the ensuing 10 years and in 2025 was named as the MPEG Studio of the Year. In addition to producing and engineering, Myles is a multi-award-winning composer and performer. He has composed for concerts, theatre, and contemporary dance, with his work being performed across Australia and internationally.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro02:17 About Myles Mumford03:09 Early experiences with music10:04 Appreciating a broad range of music genres11:16 The technical side of making records13:40 Moving into production15:17 What is "good music"?19:28 Early days producing and engineering21:49 How his approach has changed23:47 Coaching an artist through a recording session28:29 About Rolling Stock Recording Rooms34:02 The wealth of talented producers and engineers in Melbourne (and the rest of Australia)36:31 The lack of support from our government and governing bodies43:39 The difficulties of being a producer/engineer50:00 Dealing with FOMO52:34 Respect and sacrifice1:00:47 What's Myles looking forward to1:04:55 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists1:10:07 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:
Follow on Instagram:
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats with Louis Montgomery, who is a Melbourne based music producer, mix engineer, recording engineer, composer, and musician; working mostly between Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Louis graduated from the ANU with a Bachelor of Music - First Class Honours. In this, Louis specialised in Creative Recording and was awarded the prestigious Bernard Neumann Memorial Prize, The Peter and Lena Karmel Anniversary Award, and The Friends of the School of Music Transition Award. During his studies, he also partook in a number of recording studio internships around Australia, including: Studios 301, Sydney; Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne; Infidel Studios, Canberra; work experience with ABC Classic FM, and assisted Magoo (Dr Lachlan Goold), Brisbane.
Over his career his work has amassed 160+ million streams. His work with Callum Henshaw resulted in an Album of the Week on Classic FM; his work with SAFIA resulted in an Album of the Week on Triple J, 5 songs in the Hottest 100, and in 2016 saw the band nominated for an ARIA Award. He has been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum singles, as well as a Gold Certified album. He has worked at Abbey Road Studios, London; Studios 301, Sydney; Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne; Golden Retriever, Sydney; Rolling on the River, Tasmania; and Supersize Recording Studio, Budapest. In 2018 he was part of a team that won Best Sound for Interactive Media at the Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards. In 2022 Louis was nominated for Industry Legend of the Year at the Music ACT Music Awards, in 2024 he produced the Music ACT Music Awards Release of the Year (Flik - Stormchaser), in 2025 he was nominated for MPEG Breakthrough Producer of the Year.
Chapters:00:00 Intro02:11 About Louis Montgomery02:32 Early experiences with music08:25 Discussing the education system10:36 Early experiences of sound engineering14:20 Interning and assisting22:39 The importance of extensive demoing25:52 How to navigate when things aren't going right29:22 What is a "great mix"?32:57 A discussion about mix notes37:14 There's no answer for how to create the "perfect" piece of art39:02 What Louis has learnt about business over the years42:45 Networking and relationships45:15 Recording live and to tape52:10 What's coming up for Louis55:01 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists56:41 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:Subscribe on YouTube
Follow on Instagram:What's That Sound?
Louis Montgomery website
Listen to Louis' work on Spotify
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats with Nick Franklin, who is a mastering engineer, (sometimes) recording and mixing engineer and the owner of electronic gadget company Franklin Audio.Nick grew up in a small coastal town on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, playing in bands and recording music with friends. His parents were incredibly supportive—soundproofing the garage, helping him buy his first recording equipment, and ultimately encouraging him to pursue his dream of moving to the city to study audio engineering.Shortly after completing his studies, a chance encounter with legendary mastering engineer Rick O’Neil led to a position as an assistant engineer at Turtlerock Mastering, then the largest mastering studio in Australia. The role proved to be an intense crash course in mastering and client work, laying a strong foundation for the rest of his music career. Like many studios, however, the Turtlerock building was eventually demolished to make way for apartments, leaving Nick jobless and uncertain about the next step.In search of steady work while figuring out his next move, Nick accepted a lecturing role at JMC Academy, teaching Pro Tools, electronics, and music production. It wasn’t long before he became fully immersed in the world of education, eventually taking on the role of full-time studio manager. In that position, he oversaw the campus’s relocation to Ultimo and the commissioning of four large-format consoles. During a studio tour for local producers, he connected with a studio owner in need of a new house engineer—an opportunity that brought him back into the professional audio world.Over the next five years, Nick recorded hundreds of artists and bands at Linear Recording, refining the craft of capturing live instruments. During this time, he also built his own studio just a block away—poetically located in the newly established Turtlerock Mastering building.Alongside his music career, Nick had been nurturing an electronics business, which he officially launched in 2021. That same year, he was once again forced to demolish his studio to make way for development. This time, he chose not to rebuild, instead committing full-time to Franklin Audio. Since then, the company has grown into a six-person team with customers around the world.
Chapters:00:00:00 Intro00:03:35 About Nick Franklin00:04:15 Early experiences with music00:09:11 Learning audio at JMC00:13:27 After college and Rick O'Neil's mentorship00:18:40 Key learns from his early mastering experiences00:22:35 The next stage of Nick's journey as a lecturer00:28:35 Meeting Chris from Linear Recording00:31:02 Reflections on the higher education system00:35:11 How Franklin Audio got started00:41:52 How Nick's previous experiences help with running a business00:45:36 How Franklin Audio approaches social media00:54:14 What can a producer/engineer learn from a business owner?00:57:17 What is still surprising/exciting about being around music?00:59:46 What's coming up this year01:00:51 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers, artists and business owners01:06:02 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:
Follow on Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcastStu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Nick Franklin: @fricknanklinFranklin Audio: @franklin_audio
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Nick's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats with Hayden Lauersen, who is a mix engineer and record producer based in Melbourne, Australia. With a background in songwriting and production of original works, he offers a premium service tailored to the artist experience, highlighting emotional expression with compelling sonics. Studio credits include Kate Ceberano, Clare Bowditch, Haiku Hands, Tentendo, ISHAN, Kee’ahn, Sophiya, Woodes, RARIA, Blush’ko, AKOSIA and Shannen James, along with Future Classic, Universal Music, Island Records, Spinning Top Music, Ivy League Records, Sidekick Music and many more. His work has been hand picked by Zane Lowe, played on BBC Radio 1, KCRW, Triple J, Fox FM and Nova, accumulating over 60 million Spotify streams.
Chapters:
Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:08 About Hayden Lauersen 00:07:20 Early experiences with music 00:13:16 How Powderfinger and Silverchair changed Hayden's life 00:20:10 High school and beyond 00:25:38 First experience in a studio with Dylan Nash 00:29:35 Getting into mixing 00:31:15 Beginning to charge clients 00:34:14 Touring with Woodes 00:36:38 Being surrounded by other successful artists 00:39:16 Working in a commercial studio 00:46:28 Hayden's mixing process 00:50:16 Benchmark to aim for in a mix/referencing other mixes 00:53:33 Sample replacement when mixing 00:56:15 Focus on user experience when delivering mixes 01:02:28 What Hayden is excited about for this year 01:06:16 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists 01:13:25 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:
Follow on Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Hayden Lauersen: @haydenlauersen
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Hayden's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats with Stefan Du Randt, who is one of the select few engineers who work exclusively from Studios 301 and has capitalised on that by building a reputation as a prolific producer, mixing and recording engineer. His credits are highlighted by his work on Mac Millers‘ posthumous album “Circles“, and include many exciting Australian and international artists such as Coldplay, Zedd, Katy Perry, Thelma Plum, Guy Sebastian, Elton John, Vera Blue, Asap Ferg, YG, The Script, Delta Goodrem, Wolfmother, Peking Duk, Daniel Johns and many more. Stefan’s road to joining the Studios 301 team in 2015 included relocating from South Africa where he worked as principal engineer for Grammy-winning producer Darryl Torr (Soweto Gospel Choir). To add to his engineering and production work, Stefan is one of the lead facilitators and practical mentors for the 301 Academy where he takes up-coming engineers through the process of making a record, all the way from the demo stage through to the finished product. Stefan also holds a degree in music production from Berklee College of Music.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:08 About Stefan Du Randt 00:03:08 Early experiences with music 00:06:57 Falling in love with technology 00:08:18 Beginning formal education and opening a studio 00:18:45 Obtaining better opportunities 00:21:22 How Stefan's time is divided 00:22:24 The rest of Stefan's journey 00:25:25 What made Stefan level up 00:27:45 Commonalities between professional artists 00:29:36 Collaboration 00:34:21 How to get in a creative mode 00:37:46 Working with high profile artists 00:41:39 Feeling out of your depth 00:43:07 Working in Dolby Atmos 00:46:12 Stefan's mixing process 00:49:13 Utilising the rough mix 00:51:34 Challenges of being a mixer 00:55:48 What's coming up in 2025 00:56:26 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists 01:01:04 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:
Follow on Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Stefan Du Randt: @mixedbystef
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Stefan's work on Spotify
Enquiries and suggestions: podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com
Stu Watts chats Lewis Mitchell, who is a Sydney-based music producer and engineer known for his exceptional craftsmanship and versatility across multiple genres and roles. With over a decade of experience, he’s built a reputation for helping artists reach new creative heights while fostering strong, lasting relationships. Over the course of his career, Lewis has worked in-house at Sony Music and Universal Music and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, The Kid LAROI, Gang of Youths, d4vd, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, The Weeknd, Egoism, Jerome Farah, JOY., Stan Walker, Mitch James, 6lack, Col3trane, A.B. Original, The Veronicas, and Ziggy Ramo to name a few. His recent work on Ziggy Ramo’s album HUMAN? has been met with critical reception, including #1 on the Australian Independent Records charts, #4 on the ARIA Australian Hip Hop charts and #20 on the ARIA Australian Album charts. Lewis was also behind Ziggy’s Sugar Coated Lies album, which won Record of the Year at the 2023 FBI SMAC Awards. Lewis received nominations for Producer of the Year, Recording Engineer of the Year, and Mix Engineer of the Year at the 2024 MPEG Awards. Lewis is dedicated to his craft, consistently delivering high-quality work at every stage of the music production process.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:03 About Lewis Mitchell 00:04:23 Early experiences with music 00:10:12 Education and being mentored 00:12:50 Comparing early sessions to now 00:14:46 What do you focus on in a production? 00:17:51 What do you look for when referencing? 00:20:05 Remote productions 00:24:34 Working with high profile artists 00:29:22 Favourite software and hardware 00:35:09 Any turning point moments? 00:38:05 What are the hardest things about your job? 00:40:08 Tips to eliminate difficult conversations 00:49:12 What continues to excite you? 00:51:25 What's coming up next year? 00:53:12 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists 00:55:10 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:
Follow on Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Lewis Mitchell: @lew_mitchell_
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Lewis' work on Spotify
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
We’re not done with the live event yet! Here’s part 2 - the audience Q&A section filmed at Marshall Street Studios, where host Stu Watts and the amazing panel—Anna Laverty, Nicholas Di Lorenzo and Becki Whitton—answer some awesome real-world questions including fighting burnout, scheduling and managing creative energy, creating safe and inclusive studio spaces and much more!
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:55 How do you avoid burnout? 00:07:53 How did you figure out your routine? 00:09:21 How do you handle your scheduling? 00:11:39 What's your approach to average performers? 00:12:51 How do you say no to people? 00:13:30 What are your thoughts on labels creating AI artists? 00:16:48 What does a safe space for women look like? 00:20:13 What would your approach to creating a plugin look like? 00:23:45 How far in advance makes you comfortable to have bookings? 00:26:44 How does management help you? 00:29:07 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:
WTS Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Anna Laverty: @annalaverty Nicholas Di Lorenzo: @panorama_mastering Becki Whitton: @aphir_
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Anna's work on Spotify
Listen to Nicholas' work on Spotify
Listen to Becki's work on Spotify
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
In this - part one of the very first live episode, host Stu Watts is joined by an incredible panel of music production professionals—Anna Laverty, Nicholas Di Lorenzo, and Becki Whitton—to discuss the ins and outs of building a career in the music industry. Topics include client acquisition, managing finances, social media strategies, and so much more!
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:42 Panel Introduction 00:06:10 What does a generic workday look like? 00:08:39 How do you get inspired to work? 00:11:03 Working on your own projects vs. working on other's works 00:12:55 Client acquisition process 00:16:46 Marketing without social media 00:19:47 How to adjust to a regularly changing landscape 00:17:12 Expectations of the music industry, finances 00:21:51 Financial management & the process of getting paid 00:24:45 Rigidity vs. flexibility 00:26:52 The importance of social media 00:31:54 Nicholas' social media creation process 00:33:30 How can we aim for more gender diversity in the industry? 00:36:22 Where is the music industry headed? 00:39:05 What advice would you give to your younger self? 00:42:56 Raising your rates 00:45:35 Conclusion/Outro
How you can support the podcast:
WTS Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Anna Laverty: @annalaverty Nicholas Di Lorenzo: @panorama_mastering Becki Whitton: @aphir_
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Anna's work on Spotify
Listen to Nicholas' work on Spotify
Listen to Becki's work on Spotify
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
Stu Watts chats with Stephen Mowat, who is an ARIA award winning, multi disciplinary, multi genre loving music person. He has worked as a DJ, producer, recording engineer and songwriter all over the world for around 15 years. Extended stints in NYC, Nashville, as well as his hometown of Melbourne, have informed his love of all forms of music. From hip hop to soul to rock and beyond. Mowat is currently based out of The Aviary Studios in Abbotsford, Melbourne. Some of his recent work includes tracks with Jessica Mauboy, Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, Budjerah, WILSN, Kaitlin Keegan and more.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:52 About Stephen Mowat 00:03:22 What Stephen grew up listening to 00:04:40 Listening for production elements 00:05:41 Learning music and production 00:07:55 Did you have any mentors? 00:08:36 Memories of early sessions 00:11:18 How sessions look these days, working with new clients 00:17:12 Expectations of the music industry, finances 00:19:26 Client acquisition, networking and fee structures 00:26:26 NYC and Nashville scenes compared to Australia 00:31:25 Donate to the podcast! 00:31:49 Key takeaways from working overseas 00:33:50 Finding the identity of each song 00:38:35 Knowing when you're on the right path in a production or mix 00:41:35 Managing your finances and scheduling ahead 00:43:37 Approach to marketing 00:45:31 Landing a publishing deal 00:46:59 How to maintain relationships in the music industry 00:49:11 What's coming in the near future 00:51:41 Stephen's best pieces of advice 00:58:36 Conclusion/Outro
Make sure to subscribe or follow this channel and share it on your socials!
Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Stephen Mowat: @stephen_mowat_
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Stephen's work on Spotify
Donate to the Podcast!
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
Stu Watts chats with Joe Carra, who is the chief mastering engineer and owner of Crystal Mastering. With over 3 decades of experience, Joe has mastered for cassette, vinyl, CD, and in recent times, embraced the immersive audio of Dolby Atmos. In 2020 Joe received a Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album, for the Teskey Brothers ‘Run Home Slow’ album.
Joe has mastered various ARIA award winning albums and in 2023, was recognised with a nomination in the MPEG Awards for 'Mastering Engineer of the Year’.
Having mastered successful releases on the ARIA & American Billboard charts, Joe’s clients include Pond, The Slingers, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Courtney Barnett, Amyl & The Sniffers, Genesis Owusu, The Murlocs, San Cisco, Babe Rainbow, Bliss N Eso, The Waifs and many more.
In addition to his regular mastering duties, Joe shares his knowledge as a guest lecturer at colleges such as SAE, JMC, RMIT, and Box Hill Institute. Through these engagements, he imparts his deep understanding of the intricacies of mastering to aspiring students.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:34 About Joe Carra 00:03:34 Attending university 00:04:56 Learning instruments 00:07:25 What music Joe grew up listening to 00:08:30 What university was like and learning synthesis 00:15:07 Searching for a job 00:18:01 First job at Dex Audio 00:22:41 Tape Op & Assistant work at Newmarket Studios 00:25:55 The early years of CD Mastering 00:30:21 Joe's early Mastering experience & why loudness was so important 00:39:24 Learning In-The-Box Mastering during COVID 00:44:36 Donate to the podcast! 00:45:00 The beginning of Crystal Mastering 00:51:43 Moving Crystal Mastering to Thornbury 00:56:03 High-calibre engineers & artists vs. Amateur engineers 01:00:02 The creative aspect of being a mastering engineer 01:04:41 The importance of great relationships & collaboration 01:07:54 Misinformation on Instagram Reels and TikTok 01:09:15 Continuing with in-person consulting & collaboration 01:14:45 Joe's best pieces of advice 01:23:27 Conclusion/Outro
Make sure to subscribe or follow this channel and share it on your socials!
Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Crystal Mastering: @crystal_mastering
Stu Watts website
Listen to Joe's work on Spotify
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
Stu Watts chats with Chelsea Warner who is a Sydney based producer, songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who creates forward-thinking Pop, R&B, & Hip-Hop. As a true multi-hyphenate, she thrives in all facets of the song creation process, from beat making to vocal arranging to songwriting and more. She has worked with a long list of artists, and has cuts with acts like Kid Cudi, Lil Durk, TIA RAY, and Guy Sebastian. With a background as a singer and having studied jazz & music theory, Chelsea is also a prolific loop & sample maker. She has attended songwriting camps across the world, including the Bali Songwriting Invitational, K-Pop camps in Seoul, UMPG in Hong Kong, and has written in London, Nashville, New Zealand and across Australia. She is the first recipient of Milk & Honey's female producer mentorship, being mentored by Oak Felder (Demi Lovato, Kehlani, Ariana Grande) in LA. Chelsea entered the music industry as an artist, and signed a global publishing deal in her first year of music school. Now, with a multitude of skills, love for storytelling and an unmatched creative versatility, she is building a lane of her own.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:34 About Chelsea Warner 00:03:05 Chelsea's younger years 00:05:21 Learning about production 00:06:36 Songwriting alone and with friends 00:07:49 How school was a formative time 00:11:05 Being in writing rooms 00:14:53 What sessions look like these days 00:16:15 Having an "all or nothing" approach 00:19:37 The differences and similarities between producing and songwriting 00:21:26 Harnessing creativity 00:22:56 Capturing ideas 00:25:47 Donate to the podcast! 00:26:10 Difference between writing for pitching and working with artists 00:27:57 Being flexible in a songwriting session 00:29:45 Favourite things to work on 00:31:48 Forcing yourself to finish an idea 00:34:36 What good and bad sessions look like 00:38:03 Relationships are the key to having a career 00:40:40 Prioritising time 00:43:29 Would you have done anything differently? 00:46:13 How confidence plays into how well you perform 00:49:08 What the next few months look like 00:50:35 Chelsea's best pieces of advice 00:53:26 Conclusion/Outro
Make sure to subscribe or follow this channel and share it on your socials!
Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Chelsea Warner: @chelseawarnermusic
Stu Watts website
Listen to Chelsea's work on Spotify
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
Stu Watts chats with Nadav Cohen (aka aMess). Raised on an eclectic mix of classic rock, Buddha-Bar and electronic music from his father’s collection, the 25-year-old producer and instrumentalist has been consistently releasing vibrant, sonically rich soundscapes for over half a decade. Born Nadav Cohen in Melbourne, Australia, he began recording music in 2012, in the spare room of his family home on an 8 track mixer. After dabbling with guitar playing, Cohen discovered a fascination for cinematic composers like Hans Zimmer and Thomas Newman. Cohen began scoring local short films in 2017 and would continue to write ambient and cinematic music for the following years. It was after this period that Cohen discovered a deep passion for the recently burgeoning wave of Lo-Fi music. Immersing himself in the unique atmospheres that the genre had to offer, Cohen embarked on a new journey of creating music. Having amassed over 150 million streams in the past 3 years alone, as well as the release of his 2022 Middle Eastern inspired chill beats album “Tales from Babylon” Nadav’s passion for creating and sharing music has only grown stronger over time. Nadav’s current artistic focus involves creating music for TV, Film and working with singers and songwriters.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:01:44 About Nadav Cohen 00:02:31 Where music came into his life 00:04:30 Producing for other artists 00:05:50 Learning about producing ambient and lo-fi 00:10:11 Using guitar as a main element 00:11:56 Figuring out what you are good at 00:13:13 How to get into the creative mode 00:17:22 How to start a session, removing pressure 00:21:31 Being a songwriter/producer for hire 00:25:19 How music libraries work 00:26:20 Donate to the podcast! 00:26:45 Being a business 00:33:41 What Nadav's day-to-day looks like 00:38:07 Collaborating with other artists 00:43:44 What the next 6 months looks like for Nadav 00:46:48 Give people something without expecting something in return 00:48:48 Dealing with rejection 00:52:58 Nadav's best bits of advice 00:55:00 Conclusion/Outro
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Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Nadav Cohen: @amessvv
Stu Watts website
Listen to Nadav's work on Spotify
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
Stu Watts chats with George Carpenter, who is a record producer, songwriter, arranger, recording engineer and mixer. An avid music nerd since a young age, he was classically trained in drums, percussion, piano and composition/arrangement at school before going on to complete a Bachelor of Popular Music at the Queensland Conservatorium in 2009. Having previously been a member of several notable groups such as The Delta Riggs, Mourning Tide and Jimmy the Saint & the Sinners, George then went on to open a recording studio called ‘Little Pink’ on the Gold Coast in 2012 which he operated until relocating to Melbourne in 2014. Working freelance from Sing Sing South, Woodstock and Sound Park he then managed to secure his own production suite at the iconic Aviary Studios in Abbotsford where he predominately worked between 2016 and 2021 producing for many artists and bands including APRA, QMA and Darebin Song Contest winners Ash Grunwald, Karl S. Williams and Paige Barnard. Since returning to the SE QLD in 2021 George has continued to work with a diverse group of artists such as Emily Grace Taylor, Heavy Wax, Mr Rascal, Eils & the Drip, Willie J & The Bad Books, Okmattcollins, Eimhin and Alexander William from his private studio in the Gold Coast hinterland. As a drummer and keyboard player, George currently tours with Karl S. Williams and Little Georgia. He is proudly endorsed by Ludwig Drums and Los Cabos Drumsticks.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:06 About George Carpenter 00:03:51 The early days of his life 00:08:56 Playing in bands 00:14:24 Learning about engineering and production 00:18:48 Being a mentee 00:23:17 Professional development 00:25:20 The effect of COVID and social media 00:30:36 Donate to the podcast! 00:31:01 What George's process looks like 00:35:20 Working from scratch or from a demo? 00:36:57 Being a guide rather than telling the artist what to do 00:42:45 The business side of being a producer 00:44:31 Helping the music community 00:49:33 Opportunities 00:53:43 Challenges of being a producer/engineer 00:56:04 Working on things divergent from your direct passion 00:58:47 What's coming up in the near future 01:02:05 George's best bits of advice 01:06:21 Conclusion/Outro
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Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio George Carpenter: @bambamgeorge
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
Stu Watts chats with Ish Quan, also known as "Mixedbyish" has been in the industry now for over half a decade, and has had the privilege of working on hundreds of released records in Australia and many more outside of Australia. Many records by Ish have been placed on Spotify editorials, played on major radio, and performed in stadiums. Ish has developed his audio skills through his bachelor's degree in Sound Production, and working outside his course, building his building his network along the way. He has developed great relationships and worked with some of the most well known talents in Australia's current hip-hop/rap scene. Working with Warner Music Australia was a pivoting moment for Ish's career and fast-forwarding 4 years down the track, he has seen much success in working with a tonne of signed & independent artists.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:01:48 About Ish Quan 00:03:12 Ish's younger years 00:05:53 How he started getting into production 00:08:30 What the early sessions were like 00:11:00 How sessions differ now 00:12:43 Difference between artists 00:14:03 Pushing an artist past their comfort levels 00:17:25 How Ish splits his time 00:18:37 Landing his first placement 00:20:07 Allowing the artist to be fluid in a session 00:23:16 Donate to the podcast! 00:23:40 How to level up 00:26:26 Networking & offering your services 00:30:16 The difference between collaboration and working on your own music 00:33:09 Focus on music over content creation at the beginning 00:39:30 Staying consistent and making a lot of music 00:40:32 Referencing and knowing what is a good standard 00:42:41 Setting deadlines and moving quickly 00:44:28 Ish's focuses on the next 6 months 00:46:25 What's coming up in the near future 00:47:14 Going live on TikTok 00:50:29 Best bits of advice 00:53:34 Conclusion/Outro
Make sure to subscribe or follow this channel and share it on your socials!
Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio Ish Quan: @mixedbyish
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Ish's work on Spotify
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
Stu Watts chats with Keelan Sanders, who is a producer, mix engineer, songwriter and musician based in Naarm (Melbourne), who's worked with artists including Children Collide, Beddy Rays, Screamfeeder and more. Starting out in Meanjin (Brisbane), he began working as a producer in 2017 at The Shed with help and guidance from producers Darek Mudge and Bryce Moorhead. For the next couple of years Keelan lived and worked at Bedlam Records, a recording studio & sharehouse, whilst also freelance engineering at studios including Airlock and The Plutonium, eventually launching his own recording space, Blue Green Studios. His engineering credits include William Barton & Veronique Serret's ARIA nominated world music album "Heartland", Jaguar Jonze's debut art-pop album "Bunny Mode", original music for the ABC short film "Viv's Silly Mango", plus work with Full Flower Moon Band, SGO and more. Since relocating to VIC at the end of 2023, he's been engineering with producer Paul "Woody" Annison at Red Door Sounds in Collingwood, playing drums for local band Jazz Cigarettes and producing his debut solo album under the name Worry Weather.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:04 About Keelan Sanders, childhood years 00:04:15 Learning guitar and musical influences 00:05:22 Listening to production elements 00:06:10 Learning more about production 00:09:03 Early days of recording 00:12:20 Becoming an engineer 00:14:49 How Keelan's process has changed 00:18:12 Keelan's current recording process 00:21:32 Production process 00:23:04 Workflow improvements 00:26:37 The approach to working with different artists 00:28:40 Confidence in decision making 00:31:58 Paypal spiel 00:32:22 The importance of microphone choice 00:38:11 Artists getting attached to demos/"polished" recordings 00:44:03 Having honest conversations and saying "no" 00:48:50 Why does every band do a music video with a white backdrop? 00:51:06 Expectation vs reality of being an engineer 00:54:45 Creating something that sounds different 00:57:09 Best pieces of advice for engineers & artists 01:01:31 "What's on in the near future?" 01:02:35 Conclusion/Outro
Make sure to subscribe or follow this channel and share it on your socials!
Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast
Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio
Keelan Sanders: @keelansanders
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Keelan's work on Spotify
SUPPORT THE PODCAST WITH A DONATION
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
Stu Watts chats with Tahlia-Rose Coleman, who stands out as an exceptional audio engineer, boasting over a decade of experience in both analog and digital mastering techniques. Recently nominated for Mastering Engineer of The Year at the MPEG Music Awards, she has swiftly become an indispensable asset to the Australian Music Industry. Starting out at Studios 301, Tahlia not only made her mark but flourished within the mastering team, working closely with the esteemed chief engineer and mentor, Steve Smart. Among her extensive list of collaborations, Tahlia has lent her expertise to renowned artists such as Electric Fields, The Buoys, Good Pash, We Lost The Sea, and many more.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:20 About Tahlia-Rose Coleman 00:04:34 Learning audio at university 00:05:20 Tahlia's influences 00:06:30 Going deeper at university 00:10:06 Interning at 301 Studios 00:13:27 Being mentored by Steve Smart 00:15:12 Key learns from 301 Studios 00:18:21 Tahlia's current process 00:22:43 What sped up her process 00:27:05 What is a great sounding mix? 00:29:34 PayPal schpiel 00:29:58 Being creative when mastering 00:32:23 How general music discourse influences your work 00:36:50 Challenges in not being a "technical" engineer 00:39:50 The challenge of learning a new room 00:42:26 The challenges of freelancing 00:44:10 The power of word of mouth networking 00:47:31 The importance of proper crediting 00:49:03 The lack of knowledge around engineers 00:51:49 Tahlia's favourite pieces of gear 00:58:00 "Would you change anything from your past?" 01:00:32 Best pieces of advice for engineers & artists 01:03:41 "What's on in the near future?" 01:04:30 Conclusion/Outro
Make sure to subscribe or follow this channel and share it on your socials!
Instagram: @whatsthatsoundpodcast
Stu Watts: @stu.watts.audio
Tahlia-Rose Coleman: @rosierosierosie__
Tahlia-Rose Coleman website
Stu Watts website
Listen to Stu's work on Spotify
Listen to Tahlia's work on Spotify
SUPPORT THE PODCAST WITH A DONATION
Email podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com for any enquiries.
