The Self-Recording Band

Can your music sound professional without becoming generic, boring, or overproduced?
That tension is the main theme of this conversation with Domi Schreiber, the Swiss artist behind MyKungFu.
Domi has a very specific artistic taste. He likes warm, organic, slightly imperfect productions with unusual textures, sparse arrangements, and a strong emotional identity. But for a long time, sounding different from other artists made him wonder whether his music simply wasn’t good enough. 
In this episode, we talk about the difference between sounding professional and sounding polished into sameness.

Domi shares how he developed his own sonic identity, why he prefers character over perfection, and how learning the technical side of recording and mixing gave him more creative freedom instead of less.
We also talk about unusual instruments and textures, working with real studio musicians, keeping imperfections that add emotion, building a live show that feels different from the studio recordings, and learning to promote your own music without handing everything over to someone else. 

In this episode:
Why professional doesn’t have to mean generic
The difference between polished and overproduced
Finding your own sonic identity
Why sounding different can feel uncomfortable
Keeping warmth and character in your productions
Knowing when imperfections make a song better - and when they make it worse
Why sparse arrangements can be more powerful
Using unusual sounds and non-traditional instruments
Learning the technical side without losing creativity
Working with other musicians while protecting your vision
Translating studio productions into interesting live performances
Why self-recording can give artists more freedom
Learning music promotion and advertising as an independent artist
Why finishing and releasing matters more than chasing perfection

Domi was also a member of The Self-Recording Syndicate and worked with us through 1-on-1 coaching to improve his recording, mixing, and production skills while staying true to the sound he wanted to create. 
If you’ve ever worried that making your music sound more professional might also make it sound less like you, this episode is for you.
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If this episode helps you, we’d really appreciate it if you left a rating/review or shared it with another self-recording artist. It helps us reach more musicians, invite exciting guests and keep the podcast going.
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For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:
theselfrecordingband.com/317

Domi / MyKungFu:
mykungfumusic.com
patreon.com/mykungfu
MyKungFu on Spotify
MyKungFu on Apple Music

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🚀 Want our personal help with your next project?
If you want feedback on your songs, your arrangements, your recordings, or your mixes…
…followed by a clear plan to build your skills, confidence and turn your demos into finished releases...
...plus the professional guidance to implement it all:
👉 Apply for coaching:
theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
We’ll listen to your music, create a custom plan for you, and help you execute it step by step.
--
Send us Fan Mail
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

What separates a good drummer from a great one?
Most people would probably think it's timing, technique, or playing everything perfectly.
But the biggest difference is: 
Great drummers make intentional choices. They understand how dynamics, tuning, feel, sound, and even small imperfections can change the emotion of a song.
In this episode, we talk to professional session and touring drummer Michi Dreilich about what great drummers do differently and how musicians can create drum parts that truly serve the song.
Michi spent ten years playing with Blackout Problems and now works as a touring drummer for different artists. He also teaches drums and records custom drum tracks remotely from his own studio, Container Drums. He was previously a member of The Self-Recording Syndicate and worked with us through 1-on-1 coaching to further develop his recording setup, workflow, and drum sounds. 
In this conversation, Michi explains why good drum performances are about much more than hitting the right drums at the right time. We discuss the balance between precision and feel, what a real drummer can add that programmed drums cannot, and how to make bold creative decisions without losing sight of the artist’s vision.
We also listen to three versions of Manel’s song “Lágrimas de Sal”: The original phone demo, a full production demo with programmed drums, and the finished version featuring Michi’s live drums and Benedikt’s final mix. 

In this episode:
What great drummers do differently
Why every drum choice should serve the song
The difference between feel and sloppy playing
When imperfect timing makes a performance more exciting
How dynamics create emotion in drum tracks
How to program more realistic drums
What real drummers add that samples cannot
Balancing the artist’s ideas with a session drummer’s creativity
Choosing drums, cymbals, heads, tuning, and dampening
Getting great drum sounds in an imperfect room
Why room-mic placement can transform your recordings
Comping and editing professional drum performances
How Michi developed his remote recording studio
The evolution from phone demo to finished production

Whether you play drums, program them, or record a drummer in your own studio, this episode will help you think more intentionally about the performance and sound your song actually needs.
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If this episode helps you, we’d really appreciate it if you left a rating/review or shared it with another self-recording artist. It helps us reach more musicians, invite exciting guests and keep the podcast going.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:
theselfrecordingband.com/316
Michi Dreilich:
instagram.com/michidreilich
instagram.com/containerdrums
https://linktr.ee/michidreilich

--
🚀 Want our personal help with your next project?
If you want feedback on your songs, your arrangements, your recordings, or your mixes…
…followed by a clear plan to build your confidence and turn your demos into finished releases...
...plus the professional guidance to implement it all:
👉 Apply for coaching:
theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
We’ll listen to your music, create a custom plan for you, and help you execute it step by step.
And if you want to try what Manel did, let Michi add drums to your song and then send it to us to mix, we can do that, as well! Let's talk!
--
Send us Fan Mail
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Why do so many bands never finish their album?
For German indie rock band Max im Parkhaus, it wasn’t a lack of ideas or inspiration.
It wasn’t a lack of talent.
It wasn’t even a lack of opportunities or budget.
After two failed attempts with professional #1 producers, years of frustration, and almost giving up completely, guitarist and songwriter Fabian Valentini decided to take control of the process himself. The result was the band’s first album they were genuinely proud of.
In this episode, Fabian shares what finally made the difference, why trusting yourself as a producer matters, and what he learned from spending years chasing the wrong version of success. 
We also talk about perfectionism, finishing creative work, balancing music with a full-time career, and what happened just one week after the album’s release.
Along the way, we discuss:
Why most bands never finish their album
The biggest lessons from producing an album three times
How to build confidence as a self-recording artist
How Fabi built the skills to do it himself - and what he needed help with
What helped them rebuild trust in themselves and the process
The danger of perfectionism
Learning to trust your creative instincts
Self-producing while running a full-time business
Why sounding like yourself matters more than sounding commercial
This is an episode about the hardest part of recording music: Finishing it. 
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If this episode helps you, we’d really appreciate it if you left a rating/review or shared it with another self-recording artist. It helps us reach more musicians, invite exciting guests and keep the podcast going.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:
theselfrecordingband.com/315
Max im Parkhaus:
Get the vinyl
instagram.com/maximparkhaus
Spotify
TIDAL
Apple Music
Fabian's video agency:
look-medien.de
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🚀 Want our personal help with your next project?
If you want feedback on your songs, your arrangements, your recordings, or your mixes…
…followed by a clear plan to build your confidence and turn your demos into finished releases...
...plus the professional guidance to implement it all:
👉 Apply for coaching:
theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
We’ll listen to your music, create a custom plan for you, and help you execute it step by step.
And if you want to try what Fabi did and let us mix your self-recorded songs, we can do that, as well! Let's talk!
--
Send us Fan Mail
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Can recording studios be sustainable?
That’s the question we explore in this episode with Michael Buschka, a recording and mixing engineer from Germany who has built his studio around sustainability, conscious decision-making, and genuinely caring for the artists he works with.
Michael shares how he applies sustainable principles to every part of his business. From renewable energy and second-hand gear to ethical merch, banking, and the online services he uses. But the conversation quickly expands beyond sustainability.
We also talk about:
Creating a recording environment where artists feel safe to be vulnerable
Why rushing records almost always leads to disappointment
How to build a mixing workflow that keeps the creative process fun
Why finishing songs is one of the most important skills any producer can develop.
Why artists perform better when they feel comfortable
Why great templates improve creativity
The value of mentorship and feedback
Building a studio business around your values
Whether you’re a self-recording artist or an aspiring producer, this episode is full of practical ideas for making better records—and building a creative career you’ll actually enjoy. 
--
If this episode helps you, we’d really appreciate it if you left a rating/review or shared it with another self-recording artist. It helps us reach more musicians, invite exciting guests and keep the podcast going.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:
theselfrecordingband.com/314
Michael Buschka:
michaelbuschka.com
instagram.com/michaelbuschka
--
🚀 Want our personal help applying this to your next project?
If you want feedback on your songs, your arrangements, your recordings, or your mixes…
…followed by a clear plan to build your confidence and turn your demos into finished releases...
...plus the professional guidance to implement it all:
👉 Apply for coaching:
theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
We’ll listen to your music, create a custom plan for you, and help you execute it step by step.
--
Send us Fan Mail
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

What separates good audio engineers and producers from great ones?
In this episode, we sit down with Kyle Hoffmann, Chief Engineer at the legendary NRG Recording Studios in Los Angeles, to talk about the iconic NRG sound and the skills that matter most. Both in the studio and throughout your career.
Kyle shares his journey from intern to Chief Engineer, what he learned at Berklee College of Music, and why mentorship, attitude and relationships have shaped his career far more than gear ever could.
We also talk about:
Why attitude matters more than technical skill
The difference between producing and engineering
Building trust with artists in the studio
Learning from mentors instead of relying on tutorials
What aspiring engineers get wrong about professional studios
Whether audio school is worth it
Why legendary studios like NRG still matter
How to build a long-term career in audio
This conversation is packed with practical lessons that go far beyond equipment and recording techniques.
--
If this episode helps you, we’d really appreciate it if you left a rating/review or shared it with another self-recording artist. It helps us reach more musicians, invite exciting guests and keep the podcast going.
--
For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, as well as full show notes go to:
theselfrecordingband.com/313
NRG / Kyle:
nrgrecording.com
instagram.com/nrgrecording
instagram.com/khoffmannmusic
--
🚀 Want our personal help applying this to your next project?
If you want feedback on your songs, your arrangements, your recordings, or your mixes…
…followed by a clear plan to build your confidence and turn your demos into finished releases...
...plus the professional guidance to implement it all:
👉 Apply for coaching:
theselfrecordingband.com/coaching
We’ll listen to your music, create a custom plan for you, and help you execute it step by step.
--
Send us Fan Mail
If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com