Recording Studio Rockstars

What happens when you finally stop chasing every plugin and build a mix workflow that actually works?
My guest today is Grammy-winning mixer, producer, and musician Jason Lehning, returning to the show after RSR074. If the name sounds familiar, it should - we’ve also had his brother Jordan (RSR104) and his dad Kyle (RSR094), the legendary producer behind Randy Travis. Jason grew up in studios and learned early on that songwriting, engineering, and mixing all feed the same creative impulse. In this episode, we dig into what it really means to build a mix template that supports musical decisions rather than cluttering your session with endless “maybe” options.
We talk about Jason’s approach to vocal mixing - using parallels, dynamics, and tonal shifts to keep the performance feeling alive without over-processing it. He explains why he often duplicates vocals instead of relying on automation, how he thinks about track folders the way engineers used to think about console returns, and why an SM7 still wins sessions where expensive mics fall apart in a dense arrangement. He breaks down his low-end philosophy too: removing anything that fights the bass, organizing the bottom octave early, and using phase, arrangement, and smart routing to keep kick and bass speaking clearly together. Jason also explains why balancing quietly on NS10s helps him find the real center of a mix without getting fooled by loudness.
We also dive into the Nashville writing world - how titles and wordplay drive sessions, why so many guitars are tuned down or in E-flat, and what it actually looks like to be in a writers’ room where ideas come fast, bad lines get tossed quickly, and everyone is aiming for the same emotional center. Jason talks about working with Luke Dick (“Birthday Suit”), how even great writers have mountains of uncut songs, and why creativity depends more on vibe than perfection. We wrap with thoughts on AI, the future of songwriting, and Jason’s simple advice to his younger self: keep doing it, and keep it fun.

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 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2M4JyTaCC2vd7U6cOERpup?si=8SERaORbTbSr_eV5zDSqAA
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/565

What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic instincts, and indie-folk sensitivity lands in Nashville with a home studio, a loop pedal, and a fearless creative streak?
What happens when a Chicago multi-instrumentalist with power-pop roots, psychedelic instincts, and indie-folk sensitivity lands in Nashville with a home studio, a loop pedal, and a fearless creative streak?
In this episode, I sat down with Packy Lundholm - songwriter, producer, guitarist, and longtime member of I Fight Dragons, Theo Katzman's band, and collaborator with artists like May Erlewine, Woody Goss, and Kory Quinn. We talk about his move from Chicago to Nashville, how he built a recording life out of his home studio, and the unexpected freedom that comes from producing across wildly different genres.
Packy shares how looping and improvisation shaped his musicianship, why writing too many verses is part of his process, and how he trims songs back to their emotional core. We dig into the art of collaboration, arranging for different artists, producing folk vs. rock vs. synth-driven pop, and why he still chases the power-pop/psych/Americana blend that first inspired him. We also get into the Track Sabbath series, his shift toward co-producing for May Erlewine, and what it means to build a career where playing, writing, and producing all feed each other.
Whether you're a home-studio songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist juggling bands, or a producer trying to define your sound, Packy’s journey is packed with real-world insight, humility, and a ton of creative encouragement

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 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4N94WlerjWFUHllHe60cU7?si=11GbwseDSOm1By1MR6PeWw
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/564

Why do your deepest, most emotional songs come out better when you stop trying so hard?
In this episode, I sit down with Nashville legend Bobby Bare Jr. - fearless songwriter, creative instigator, touring bassist for Guided By Voices, and the son of Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare. This conversation is a masterclass in real creativity, free of pretension and full of joy, humor, wisdom, and truth bombs about songwriting, gear, life, ego, and the artistic process.
We dig deep into Bobby’s philosophy that the most powerful songs often come from the most playful moments - not the heavy, serious headspace many writers force themselves into. He tells wild and meaningful stories, from growing up backstage at the Opry, to working with Shel Silverstein, to learning 60+ Guided By Voices songs at once, to the Dalai Lama cracking jokes at the Tibetan Freedom Concert.
Bobby talks about writing on airplanes, co-writing momentum, muscle memory, the Nashville Number System, meditation, removing ego, and why melody can’t be taught. We even get into his early days selling T-shirts on tour with his dad, the lost demos at Alex the Great, tape machines popping out of record, Jason & The Scorchers, R.E.M, Walk the West, and the magic of the first spontaneous four minutes of an idea before “your brain ruins it.”
He also shares insights on finishing songs, why momentum matters more than inspiration, how to cheat with an iPad without anyone noticing, producing at Ocean Way, working with Travis Harrison, and his upcoming Indiegogo to record a new album in Sweden.
This one is packed with gold for songwriters, musicians, producers, and anyone trying to break out of their head and into flow.

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 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1z4nv7oyqGM8BLkQckfnBn?si=9301F66ZRHGNFpBrKT0d0w
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/563

What do you actually need to know BEFORE you press your vinyl record… and what mistakes will totally ruin it?
In this episode, Piper Payne returns to take us way deeper into the real-world physics, workflows, and decisions behind vinyl mastering and pressing. We dig into how your mixes translate onto a lacquer, why the inside of a record behaves differently from the outside, and what you should never do with high-frequency content, fades, or waveform clipping if you want your album to play back clean.
Piper walks us through mastering decisions that happen long before a lacquer is ever cut - from sequencing songs for the side A/B layout, to choosing what belongs near the inside groove, to dealing with transient-heavy material. We talk about how vinyl masters differ from digital masters, why certain modern productions literally "can’t be cut," and how Piper preps mixes so she can create both vinyl- and digital-optimized versions without having to redo a full master.
We also dig into the realities of running Physical Music Products, her independent pressing plant in Nashville. Piper explains realistic costs for pressing records, what 250-unit short runs look like, why PMP maintains fast 5–7 week turnarounds, and how they protect indie artists from being bumped by major-label orders. We get into pre-sales, special editions, distribution challenges, shipping logistics, recycled vinyl, and how PMP now handles merch, drop-shipping, and fulfillment to help artists actually profit from physical releases.
Finally, Piper shares practical advice on handling, storing, and cleaning your vinyl once you’ve made it - including heat warping, inner groove distortion, groove guard, dust sleeves, jackets, mold issues, and even why some records can recover after a warp and some can’t. She also covers creative fundraising ideas, how fans influence color pressing choices, and why vinyl is still the only format where artists control quantity, pricing, and revenue directly.
This episode is packed with real-world mastering and pressing knowledge you won’t get anywhere else.

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 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6QRbUHGE73GJs2e6CuN2Ai?si=2f5bd18788fb4f2e

If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/562

What happens when your drumming videos blow up online… and suddenly you’re touring the world behind your own band?
Hi Rockstars, it’s your host Lij Shaw.
In this episode, I sat down with Nashville drummer and creator Kortney Grinwis, one half of the alt-pop duo Chapel, to talk about her journey from posting drum videos on the internet to building a full-time career on the road. Kortney shared how she developed her sound, her creative identity, and the instincts that guide her as both a drummer and artist.
We talked about what it’s really like coming up in music today - navigating the industry, learning to trust yourself, and creating your own opportunities even when the traditional path doesn’t fit. Kortney opened up about the challenges she’s faced as a woman in the business, how she shaped her role in Chapel, and how embracing creativity (instead of chasing perfection) helped her evolve her drumming technique and overall artistic voice.
We also got deep into the collaborative side of making records and touring. Kortney broke down how she approaches drum parts that actually serve the song, how Chapel works together to build grooves and arrangements, and why staying playful and experimental keeps the whole process fun. From life on the road to finding confidence behind the kit, Kortney’s story is a reminder that success comes from following the spark, trusting your instincts, and building the community around your music.

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 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/32lxAhAEcxNXR1GUXt9Xfg?si=woHh3rQaQh6UCxJPLA68Hg
If you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/Review
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/561