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Music Production Podcast

Brian Funk
Music Production Podcast
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  • Aqeel Aadam - Making Plug-ins for the Curious and Open-Minded
    Aqeel Aadam is a musician, sound designer, and plugin developer blending modular synthesis with a love of nature and organic textures. Through his company, Aqeel Aadam Sound, he creates audio plugins for the curious and open-minded. He creates tools that spark inspiration rather than dictate outcomes. Aqeel and I explore the connection between nature and synthesis, the power of limitations in creativity, and how modular gear shapes his sonic world. We talk about learning through struggle, designing plugins that encourage play over perfection, and finding joy in the unpredictable. Aqeel shares his story of learning guitar from his jazz-guitarist grandfather, discovering modular synthesis in college, and developing a suite of expressive, visually rich plugins like Ridgewalk, Waymaker, and Weeping Wall. Listen on Apple | Spotify | YouTube Takeaways: Plugins for the Curious & Open-Minded – Aqeel designs tools that prioritize exploration over precision, encouraging musicians to discover unexpected results through experimentation. Modular Meets Nature – His music and visual plugin interfaces reflect his deep love of nature and organic textures, merging the electronic and the natural in both form and function. Learning Through Struggle – From self-teaching guitar to building plugins, Aqeel embraces the idea that struggling through something is essential to meaningful learning. Designing for Musical Flow – Rather than overloading plugins with technical features, Aqeel focuses on simplicity, usability, and play, so musicians can stay in the creative zone. From Guitar to Eurorack – His journey from jazz guitar to modular synths and plugin development reflects a wide-ranging approach to music-making and sound design. Improvisation as Composition – Aqeel’s performances and recordings often begin with semi-generative modular systems, allowing spontaneity to guide structure and form. Inspiration Over Information – His plugins don’t just process sound—they invite interaction and interpretation, helping users find their voice through curiosity. Contextual Composition – Like an impressionist painter, Aqeel aims to place abstract textures into recognizable musical frameworks that resonate emotionally. Visual Interfaces Matter – From growing circular meters to mountainous visualizers, Aqeel’s plugins look as fun as they sound—inviting creators to explore without intimidation. Building an Ecosystem – With plugins like Waymaker interacting with his other tools, Aqeel is creating a modular digital environment where small ideas lead to big creative breakthroughs. Links: Aqeel Aadam Sound Website – https://aqeeladamsound.com Aqeel Aadam Sound Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aqeelaadamsound Aqeel's Personal Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/aqeel.aadam Aqeel's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AqeelAadam Aqeel on Bandcamp - https://aqeelaadam.bandcamp.com Brian Funk Website – https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club – https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer Book – https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack – https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast Archive – https://brianfunk.com/podcast 🎁 Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs with code PODCAST – https://brianfunk.com/store 🎧 Episode edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule – https://performodule.com/   Thank you for listening.  Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
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  • Toru - Host of the ProducerHead Podcast
    Julian Astri, aka Toru, is a music producer, educator, and the host of the ProducerHead Podcast, a show dedicated to amplifying the voices of beatmakers, producers, and creatives at every stage of their journey. Through his work, Toru fosters a culture of consistency, curiosity, and community in music production—offering motivation and real-world insight through interviews, daily posts, and personal reflection. In this conversation, Toru and I explore the power of creative discipline, the value of sharing imperfect work, and how building in public can lead to deep personal growth and meaningful connection. We talk about the origins of ProducerHead, the importance of community for producers working in isolation, and how showing up consistently—even with low expectations—can create long-term momentum. It’s an inspiring and down-to-earth look at what it means to be a modern music maker. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube ⸻ Takeaways • ProducerHead’s Origin Story – Julian shares how a need for community and consistency led to the launch of his podcast and beatmaking platform. • Post Imperfect, Grow Anyway – Publishing unfinished or imperfect ideas helps develop confidence and invites authentic connection. • Small Moves, Big Impact – Showing up daily in small ways can be more powerful than rare moments of brilliance. • Build the Community You Need – Julian talks about intentionally creating a space for like-minded producers who want to share, grow, and stay accountable. • Creative Momentum Is Built, Not Found – Progress comes from doing, not waiting for inspiration to strike. • The Power of Consistency – From Instagram beat snippets to podcast episodes, repetition builds clarity, skill, and confidence. • Social Media as Practice Space – Instead of chasing perfection, Julian treats social platforms as a rehearsal room for sharing ideas and learning out loud. • No One Is Paying as Much Attention as You Think – Letting go of perfectionism frees you to take more creative risks and build resilience. • Making Music Is a Long Game – Julian encourages artists to detach from quick results and focus on process and community over metrics. • Sharing the Process Is the Art – ProducerHead is not just about final products—it’s about showing the journey of making music and staying creative. ⸻ Links: ProducerHead Podcast ProducerHead on Instagram Toru on Instagram ProducerHead on YouTube Brian Funk on ProducerHead Podcast #16 Ableton Music Producer Podcast with Dan Giffin The Creative Act by Rick Rubin Make Your Own Rules by Andrew Huang Someday is Today by Matthew Dicks Slow Productivity by Cal Newport Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert War of Art by Steven Pressfield The Artists Way by Julia Cameron Brian Funk Website Music Production Club 5-Minute Music Producer Music Production Podcast Ableton Live Packs – Save 25% with code: PODCAST Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack Podcast Editing by Animus Invidious / PerforModule ⸻ Thank you for listening. Please rate and review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite app. Visit BrianFunk.com for tutorials, videos, downloads, and sound design tools for Ableton Live.
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  • Six Missing – Flow States, Ego Drops, and the Art of Letting Go
    Today I welcome back TJ Dumser, who makes ambient meditative soundscapes under the name Six Missing. TJ is in the process of releasing his new album Without Mind in 3 sections. We spoke shortly after the first section Identify was released. TJ and I picked up where we left off, discussing his work and the vision he has for this album. Things pretty quickly got philosophical and introspective. We shared techniques for dealing with self-doubt and the inner critic. We also explored where we stand as artists in the face of Artificial Intelligence and constantly expanding technology. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: Trilogy Structure for Deeper Listening – TJ’s Without Mind album is being released in three parts to encourage intentional listening and build a larger sonic narrative. Music Beyond the Background – Unlike passive ambient music, Without Mind is designed to hold your attention and reshape your experience in the moment. Revisiting Old Work with Fresh Ears – After sitting unreleased for years, the project regained personal relevance when revisited in a new headspace and physical space. Letting Go of Listener Expectations – TJ challenges the idea that ambient music has to be “nice and polite,” embracing sudden changes, rhythm, and experimentation. Meditation as Creative Foundation – The concept of Without Mind stems from mindfulness: the ability to step back from thoughts and ego to access true presence. Fighting the Algorithm with Art – Releasing in parts is not only practical for listeners, but also a way to subvert algorithm-driven consumption and reclaim artistic delivery. Creative Identity Isn’t Fixed – Making something outside your norm is a valid and necessary part of your evolution as an artist. Protect Your Flow State – Comparing distractions to carrying a hammer around all day, TJ emphasizes the need to carve out nonjudgmental, focused space to create. From Critic to Collaborator – Brian and TJ reflect on treating the inner critic not as a judge, but as a collaborator—someone to notice, not obey. Art as a Portal to Awareness – Both hosts agree: making music is not just about the product—it’s about attention, presence, joy, and being human. Links: Six Missing - https://www.sixmissing.com Six Missing Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sixmissing Without Mind by Six Missing - https://www.sixmissing.com/sounds/without-mind TJ's First Appearance on this Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/tj-dumser Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc  5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening.  Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk  
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  • Jxmie Blake on Rule-Breaking, Risk-Taking, and Decision-Making
    Jxmie Blake is a genre-blending artist, producer, and educator whose work fuses jazz, soul, hip hop, pop, and electronic music into a bold and expressive signature sound. Known for his innovative approach to Ableton Push as a chromatic instrument, Jxmie is a multi-talented creator with a deep background in audio engineering, songwriting, and sound design. With degrees from Berklee College of Music and a client list including Ableton, Red Bull, and Ludacris, he’s quickly becoming a leading voice in modern music education and performance. In this conversation, Jxmie and I dive into the creative mindset—how breaking the rules, following sparks of inspiration, and simplifying your workflow can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. We explore the power of limitations, the importance of finishing ideas (even imperfect ones), and how developing a strong relationship with your tools—like Push—can unlock musical freedom. It’s an honest look at the balance between discipline and play, structure and spontaneity, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is stop overthinking and just make something. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: Push as a Chromatic Instrument – Jxmie breaks down how Push can function like a guitar fretboard, opening up intuitive, expressive playing that bridges the gap between traditional instruments and digital music-making. Creative Freedom Through Limitations – Embracing limited gear or working with only stock tools can actually foster more creativity and deeper exploration. Breaking the Rules Is the Point – Jxmie encourages musicians to intentionally break conventions—whether it’s stacking effects, pushing gear beyond intended use, or warping samples into unrecognizable textures. Music as Self-Expression – The ultimate goal isn’t perfection, but expressing what’s inside you—your mood, your perspective, your story. Reckless Experimentation Leads to Inspiration – Playing without a specific goal, just to see what happens, often leads to surprising and exciting results. Gear Doesn’t Make the Artist – Even basic tools like GarageBand or stock Ableton devices can be powerful when fully understood and creatively applied. Teaching as Empowerment – Through his work at 1500 Sound Academy and his online courses, Jxmie focuses on empowering students to unlock their own creative voices, regardless of background or skill level. Creative Blocks Are Often Internal – As we gain technical skills, creative challenges become more mental and emotional—expectations, self-judgment, and overthinking can block our flow. Start with Play, Not Pressure – Some of the best creative moments happen when you approach music playfully, without the weight of needing to make something great. The Process Is the Product – Whether it’s creating sounds, building devices, or finishing songs, the act of exploring, tweaking, and iterating is as valuable as the final result. Links: Jxmie's Website and Push Classes - https://jxmieblake.sellfy.store Jxmie's Free Ableton Live Packs - https://jxmieblake.sellfy.store/packs-2/ Jxmie's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jxmieblake Jxmie's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jxmieblake/ 1500 Sound Academy - https://1500soundacademy.com/ Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc  5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening.  Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk  
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  • Creative Confidence and Music Production with LNA
    Liina Turtonen, aka LNA, is a musician, producer, and educator, who runs the LNA Does Audio Stuff YouTube Channel. Liina is an Ableton Certified Trainer and just released her book Creative Confidence and Music Production: Overcome Your Insecurities.  LNA and I discussed her new book and the inspiration behind writing it. She shared insights that have helped her and her students get past creative blocks and insecurities.  Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: LNA's journey to authorship was unexpected due to her dyslexia. Creative confidence is essential for artists to overcome insecurities. Art is often undervalued despite its significant role in society. Vulnerability is necessary for authentic creative expression. Insecurities often stem from past experiences and external judgments. Recognizing negative thought patterns is the first step to overcoming them. Acceptance of emotions is crucial in the creative process. It's important to create without the fear of judgment from others. Life is short; take risks and pursue your passions. Embrace the mindset of 'why not?' to unlock creativity. Consistency in your efforts is more important than perfection. Being comfortable in your mediocrity can be liberating. Curiosity keeps life interesting and fulfilling. You never know who you might inspire by pursuing your passions. The journey of creativity is often more valuable than the end result. Links: Creative Confidence and Music Production by Liina Turtonen - https://www.lnamusic.com/creativeconfidenceandmusicproduction LNA's Web Site - https://www.lnamusic.com LNA Does Audio Stuff YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/LNADoesAudioStuff/featured Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/LNADoesAudioStuff Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lnadoesaudiostuff/ LNA’s 1st Appearance on this Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/liina-turtonen Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc  5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening.  Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk  
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About Music Production Podcast

An exploration of music production through informal discussions about technique, philosophy, gear, and creativity. Hosted by Brian Funk, a musician, songwriter, teacher, and Ableton Certified Trainer.
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