Recording Studio Rockstars

What happens when you sit down with a songwriter who’s done everything from early fan-funded records, to major-label pop, to K-pop, to sync, to teaching songwriting at Berklee - and ask him what really matters in the studio today?
Bleu McAuley and I go deep into the intersection of creativity, workflow, sync licensing, AI, and staying inspired at a time when music creation is changing fast. We start with his early days in Boston, learning four-tracks and alternate tunings, following Ducky Carlisle around Room 9 From Outer Space, and eventually being pushed by producer John Fields to take a real swing in Los Angeles. Bleu talks about shaping his voice as a solo artist, capturing inspiration quickly, and why most of the battle in the studio is simply removing friction.
We dig into sync: how commercial music is its own ecosystem, why high-dollar sync often has nothing to do with the pop charts, and how entire micro-genres exist only inside advertising. Bleu breaks down the difference between library production music and custom sync, how briefs actually work, what trends supervisors follow, and how studying commercial catalogs (not Spotify playlists) changes your instincts. He explains why inspiration disappears in moments, why setups must be instant, why inspiration beats fidelity, and how he builds his studio workflow - from synth routing to outboard to leaving drums mic’d up permanently - so artists never lose the spark.
In the second half, we talk about AI’s impact on music production and why it’s already reshaping expectations, budgets, and the perceived value of human-created work. Bleu predicts that production music will be “decimated,” that executives are already asking “can’t you just AI that?”, and why musicians must prepare for a world where non-AI work has to be obviously human. We talk cassette 4-track records, reel-to-reel inspiration, talent that shines through limitations, and why unique sonic imperfections may soon become a calling card. Bleu also breaks down vocal technique, why control matters more than range, and why producers should avoid technical talk during emotional takes. Finally, we look at career longevity, creative spaces, studio setup philosophy, and what advice he’d give his younger self (hint: invest early, learn piano, and chase control over perfection).

Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/
https://pickrmusic.com
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/bleu-production-highlights/pl.u-KVXB2eLtm8P9My
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/558

What happens when you rescue a forgotten studio that once shaped American music history - and bring it roaring back to life?
This week, I sat down with Teresa Knox, the powerhouse entrepreneur and preservationist behind the rebirth of The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma - the legendary home of Leon Russell, the early Shelter Records family, and the roots of what became known as the Tulsa Sound. Teresa shares the entire arc of this wild journey: from collecting Leon Russell Slurpee cups as an 8-year-old kid, to buying the abandoned church sight unseen, to rebuilding it from the ground up and restoring it as a world-class studio, museum, archive, and engineering school. We talk about the stunning history embedded in the building - the 1915 hand-built sanctuary, the 1972 Leon-era renovations, and what it really takes to preserve a place where so many iconic recordings were born.
We dig deep into the music: Leon’s time in the Wrecking Crew, his explosion after Mad Dogs & Englishmen, recording with George Harrison at the Concert for Bangladesh, and his early influence on players like Elton John and Glen Campbell. Teresa shares stories from the Shelter Records years - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers arriving as Mudcrutch, J.J. Cale, The Gap Band, Phoebe Snow, Willis Alan Ramsey, Freddie King, and even Bob Marley & The Wailers turning the place into a Jamaican party. She walks us through the official Church Studio playlist, the discovery of original artifacts inside the walls, and why preserving the stories of these musicians matters just as much as preserving the building itself.
Finally, we talk about the reconstruction: shoring up a collapsing foundation, solving electrical noise and RF issues, preserving historic architecture while building a modern studio, restoring a Neve 8068, installing two EMT 140 plates, and designing a hybrid analog/digital workflow. Teresa also explains how The Church Studio now trains new engineers through its hands-on vocational school, hosts sessions with top artists, runs a nonprofit to support musicians, and continues the legacy of Leon and the Tulsa Sound through events like CarniFest. Her passion for preservation, community, and world-class sound makes this one of the most inspiring studio stories I’ve ever heard.

Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/ The next program starts May 11, 2026
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK30 to get 1 month free of NI 360!
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/
https://pickrmusic.com
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6BLaSUX1juRYH6jHHTfa6k?si=nZtNPzHDSXi0bVQnpSU43A
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/557

What happens when you finally get to mix Spinal Tap in Dubly Atmos? You turn it up to 11, of course!
My guest today is Grammy-nominated engineer and mixer Steve Genewick, joining us from his Atmos room in Los Angeles to walk us through the wild, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt process of capturing and mixing the new "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" soundtrack and album. In this episode, Steve talks about working directly with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer; recording their live vocals; tracking the band as a real rock group; and assembling a full dubly Atmos experience that honors the original film while pushing the new one into immersive territory.
We dig into the whole workflow - from the Beyerdynamic M500 ribbon mics he labeled as Nigel, David, and Derek… to tracking full songs live at The Village… to mixing the concert sequences for the film… to remixing "Break Like the Wind" in Atmos using the original 1990s analog tapes that had to be transferred from tape box track sheets. Steve also talks about Spinal Tap's actual backstory, the improvised nature of the films, working directly with Rob Reiner, and why the guys are not in character in the studio - except when it's time to sound "more Nigel."
We also go deep into Atmos and orchestral recording, Steve's work on classic jazz records (Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard), his remixing of the "Jaws" and "Jaws 2" soundtracks, and how immersive music translates between speakers, earbuds, and soundbars. Steve explains LFE strategy, subwoofer layouts, mixing bass into objects, and why a great Atmos mix is not about flying things around the room — it's about clarity, space, and emotional impact. And yes, we do talk about Stonehenge… the pizza pedal… the cheese guitar… and whether mixing break like the wind is allowed in the control room.
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/ The next program starts May 11, 2026
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK30 to get 1 month free of NI 360!
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/
https://pickrmusic.com
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/steve-genewick-atmos-mixes/pl.u-76oNkrMF1JKbp
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/556

What if your mix engineer secretly backed up every session in triplicate just so your grandkids could remix your demo in 2085?
In this episode, I’m joined by my brother from another podcast, Matt Boudreau - veteran mixer, Atmos trailblazer, and the host of Working Class Audio. Matt’s credits include immersive mixes for Green Day, Alanis Morissette, and the theme for Real Time with Bill Maher, plus stereo magic on artists like Deafheaven.
We kick things off recapping our AES Long Beach hang - complete with acai bowl addiction, barefoot sandbox airport vibes, and panels on everything from Japanese air-traffic AI to studio fire insurance. Matt shares how a late-night HBO downmix request accidentally birthed his simultaneous stereo/Atmos workflow, and why he now mixes midrange balance on tiny single-cone speakers before touching highs or lows.
We dive into the art of collaboration: why you should wait 48 hours before sending mix notes, how to handle clients who keep salting the same sandwich, and the spreadsheet revision system that’s saving everyone’s sanity.
Matt drops hard-earned wisdom on trusting your gut with red-flag clients, charging retrieval fees for 20-year-old sessions, and why “if it doesn’t exist in three places, it doesn’t exist.” We geek out over plugins (Gullfoss, Sonible Smart EQ, the return of Echo Farm), archiving nightmares, and why AI is great for laundry but still can’t feel heartbreak like a human. Whether you’re mixing in a bedroom or a living-room Atmos rig, this chat is pure gold for anyone who wants their tracks to outlive the hard drive.
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/ The next program starts May 11, 2026
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK30 to get 1 month free of NI 360!
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/
https://pickrmusic.com
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6tdfm7hqzhn1o8PA65I7N0?si=81dbS2cgQLO0d7M3C0vSWQ
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/555

What happens when a tree destroys your home and studio - and it leads you to a new creative life across two continents?
In this episode, I talk with Ronan Chris Murphy, the world-traveling producer, engineer, and artist known for his work with King Crimson, Steve Morse, and Tony Levin, and for teaching hundreds of musicians how to finish their records through his Recording Bootcamp and RIPA Festival of International Sound.
Ronan shares how losing his home and studio in the mountains north of Los Angeles became a turning point that reshaped his creative life - leading him to rebuild from scratch in the Berkshires of Massachusetts and a medieval hill town in Italy. We dig into how his surroundings inspire creativity, how he balances his own artistic work with client projects, and why finishing creative ideas matters more than chasing perfection.
We also talk about building community through workshops and retreats, finding joy in collaboration, and creating music that connects people across cultures. Along the way, Ronan offers hard-won advice on protecting your studio and data, trusting your creative instincts, and staying productive when life throws you curveballs.
Ronan’s story is a reminder that art, resilience, and curiosity can keep us inspired - no matter where we make our records.
Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com
https://usa.sae.edu/ The next program starts May 11, 2026
https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!
https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK30 to get 1 month free of NI 360!
https://www.spectra1964.com
https://gracedesign.com/
https://pickrmusic.com
https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy
https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/
Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic
Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7EVNgxULrlqKpykk9MDT8B?si=w9unZYn_QPi8EZp3It6yww
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/554