Producer Points

This is the free episode — the full conversation is available exclusively for Producer Pal subscribers on Patreon: patreon.com/producerpoints
In this episode of Producer Points, Justin sits down with Collin Pastore and Jake Finch — a Nashville-based producer-writer duo quietly behind some of the best-sounding indie and alternative records of the last few years. From boygenius and Lucy Dacus to Ashe, Julien Baker, and Suki Waterhouse, their productions share a rawness and honesty that feels live, human, and never overcooked. Two studios, one shared vision, and a philosophy built around capturing real performances.
🎶 Song deep dives:
"Lost Time" by Lucy Dacus — vocal layering, dry mic choices, drum recording and processing, and the production decisions behind one of the most honest-sounding records in recent memory
"I Wanna Love You (But I Don't)" by Ashe — main guitar, synths, real drums vs. samples, and the writing and production techniques that shape the track (full deep dive on Patreon)
🎛️ We explore:
How Collin and Jake linked up at Berklee, landed in Nashville, and tricked Sony into letting them co-produce their first EP
Their philosophy on raw-sounding records — minimal processing, unprecious mic choices, and letting performances breathe
How they built two complementary studios and why bouncing between a live room and a dead mix room works in their favor
Drum samples, compression, and why audio school got it wrong
Mix bus approach, go-to plugins, and their vintage 414 vocal chain
Plug or Unplug: UADx Sound City Studios, LA-2A, Waves R-Vox, Space Echo RE-201, AEA R88, UAD 1176 Rev A, and CLA Vocals
🔗 Follow & Listen:Collin Pastore: @collinpastoreJake Finch: @jakelfishJustin Gammella: @justin_gammellaProducer Points: @producer_pointsTikTok: @producer.points🎧 Producer Points Playlist🛒 SoundBetter | Patreon Templates

Got it — here it is:
🎧 Gian Stone on Vocal Production, "Stuck with U," and Making Pop at the Highest Level
🎙️ This is the free episode — the full conversation is available exclusively for Producer Pal subscribers on Patreon: patreon.com/producerpoints
In this episode of Producer Points, Justin sits down with Gian Stone — a Grammy-nominated producer, songwriter, and vocal producer whose sharp ears and instinctive taste have helped shape some of the biggest pop records of the last decade. From topping the Billboard Hot 100 Producer Chart in 2020 to crafting hits for Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, the Jonas Brothers, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Meghan Trainor, Le Sserafim, and more, Gian has built a reputation as one of pop's most trusted and versatile creative voices.
🎶 Song deep dives:
"Like It's Christmas" by Jonas Brothers — the origin of the track, making it more "Jonas Brothers-y," and how a piano demo became a guitar-driven holiday staple
"Stuck with U" by Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber — how the song went from a session with Scooter to Ariana to Bieber in a week, and the production choices behind a #1 hit
🎛️ We explore:
Gian's journey from drumming in NYC bands to sleeping on studio floors in LA to working at the highest level of pop
How his partnership with producer Jason Evigan shaped his career
His philosophy on vocal production — coaching artists, getting the best take, and knowing when less is more
Balancing production, songwriting, and vocal production as equal crafts
Gear and go-to tools: Neumann U87, SSL 4000 G+, Valhalla Vintage Verb, Omnisphere, and more
Plug or Unplug: Apulsoft splitS, Goodhertz Lossy, CLA Vocals, and his plugin cheat code
🔗 Follow & Listen:Gian Stone: @gianstoneJustin Gammella: @justin_gammellaProducer Points: @producer_pointsTikTok: @producer.points🎧 Producer Points Playlist

🎙️ Season 3 of Producer Points starts May 20th — and this one's different.
Full episodes this season are exclusive to our Producer Pal community on Patreon. And we're not just talking episodes — Producer Pals get preset drops with real files and the philosophy behind them, AMA threads where you can ask Justin directly, extended cuts with the stuff that doesn't make the main edit, process breakdowns covering everything from vocal stacks to session organization, and early access to guest question submissions. It's the behind-the-curtain layer for people who are serious about making records.
We've been working hard behind the scenes, and we're bringing you a stacked lineup of guests, deep conversations, and something new: roundtables. Got a topic you want us to cover? Drop it in the comments.
Huge love to Nathan Rebello and Elijah Sheppard for helping make this happen. Make sure to check out their artist projects.
Season 3 drops May 20th. See you there.
🔗 Become a Producer Pal: Patreon📺 YouTube: @ProducerPoints📸 Instagram: @producer_points | @justin_gammella

🎧 Roundtable: The Future of Indie Plugin Design with Purafied & Nudist Audio
There’s a new wave of plugin makers changing the landscape of modern music production. From boutique developers to full-fledged software houses, indie creators are building tools that rival the biggest names in the game — and often do it with more innovation, personality, and passion.
In this roundtable, Justin sits down with two of the most exciting independent developers shaping that movement:
Sam from Purafied Audio — known for forward-thinking mixing and mastering tools used by pros worldwide.

Caleb from Nudist Audio — a rising developer pushing creative boundaries with analog-inspired plugins that bring warmth, imperfection, and vibe.

🎛️ We explore:
How indie plugin companies are competing with giants like Waves and UAD

The art and business of pricing plugins fairly

Oversampling, sound quality, and performance trade-offs

AI’s role in the next wave of music production tools

What it takes to turn a coding idea into a creative tool musicians love

💡 Plus: behind-the-scenes stories of what it’s really like building a plugin company from scratch — from sound design to customer feedback to surviving as a small business.
🔗 Follow & Listen:
Purafied Audio: Website | @purafiedaudio
Nudist Audio: Website | @nudist_audio
Justin Gammella: @justin_gammella
Producer Points: @producer_points
TikTok: @producer.points
🎧 Producer Points Playlist: Spotify
🎙️ Full Episodes: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

🎧 Jon Buscema on Building Devon Again’s Sound & Chasing What Inspires Him
In this episode of Producer Points, Justin sits down with Jon Buscema — a producer and songwriter whose sharp instincts and trend-leading style have helped shape the next wave of alt-pop. From his early days fronting KNGDAVD to now producing for Devon Again, UPSAHL, King Mala, Emei, and more, Jon has built a reputation for bold, left-of-center productions that push boundaries while staying rooted in taste.
🎶 Song deep dives:
“Deep” by Devon Again — intimate yet playful production, acoustic guitar layering, vocal treatment, and ear-candy choices that define her sound

“Cherry Cola” by Devon Again — groove, quirky sound design, guitar tones, and how he built the track’s playful punch

🎛️ We explore:
How Jon transitioned from frontman to full-time producer

Building creative trust with artists like Devon Again & UPSAHL

Gear talk: guitars, drum sounds, and go-to plugins

Why chasing inspiration (not trends) has fueled his career growth

Advice for producers on trusting taste and taking creative risks

🔗 Follow & Listen:
Jon Buscema: @jonbuscema
Justin Gammella: @justin_gammella
Producer Points: @producer_points
TikTok: @producer.points
🎧 Producer Points Playlist: Spotify
🎙️ Full Episodes: Spotify | Apple Podcasts