We’re back after a couple of weeks off, and we’re coming back strong.

Our guest this week is Dan Swank — songwriter, producer and musician best known for his work with All Time Low. Dan has spent years balancing life on the road with life in the studio, and he’s become an essential part of the ATL machine both onstage and behind the scenes.

In this conversation we talk about his journey into music, how he found his place with All Time Low, and the discipline it takes to keep producing, writing and performing at the highest level. We get into his methods as a songwriter and producer, the reality of touring with one of the biggest bands in the scene, and even end up on a weird tangent about Vevo along the way. It’s a wide-ranging and honest chat that pulls back the curtain on what life really looks like when music is both your job and your passion.

As always, we’re also shining a light on new artists that deserve your attention. Episode 9 features:

• easywin – raw, melodic and built for repeat listens.

• Wnsdy at 7 – infectious energy with hooks that stick.

• ear candy – slick, modern and unashamedly catchy.

Elevator Music is built around a simple idea: real conversations with the people who make music happen, and a platform for new bands to be heard without shortcuts or gatekeeping. There’s no pay to play here — it’s free forever, and it’s about connecting artists, fans and industry on an honest level.

If you’re an artist and want to be part of the show, head to ⁠elevatormusicpodcast.com⁠ to submit your tracks. While you’re there, you can also join our Discord community to connect with other artists and listeners.

We’re joined by Chad Olech, legendary FOH engineer and production manager who has worked with Fall Out Boy, Deftones, Thin Lizzy, Anthrax and Demi Lovato. With more than two decades on the road, Chad talks about how to break into touring, how to stay there, and what it really takes to deliver arena shows night after night.

Alongside the conversation we feature new tracks from Dirt Bloom, Mother’s Boy, noiseless. and Weak Asleep.

This week we’re joined by Boots – guitar tech for Bad Omens and Neck Deep, recently covering work for the Sex Pistols, and a former tour manager/driver who’s kept more shows on the road than he can count. We get into the reality of life behind the curtain, fixing guitars in impossible situations, the chaos of touring, and (for some reason) a lot of talk about pizza.

On top of that we’ve got three brilliant submissions:

• Palejoy – shoegaze-tinged emo from Aberdeen with atmosphere and grit

• Breather – soaring alt-rock out of Plymouth with polish and heart

• IndustryPlant – Southampton’s high-energy modern punk with sharp hooks and bite

All submitted. All free. All fire.

If you want to be involved submit your tunes at elevatormusicpodcast.com

This week on Elevator Music, we’re joined by Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, for one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the podcast to date.

We dig into the reality of the UK’s grassroots music scene — not just the romance of it, but the very real challenges it’s facing, and the urgent work being done to protect it. From stories like Muse playing a venue for £2.50 to Green Day sleeping on a pool table, Mark shares the history, the chaos, and the community that shaped so many of our favourite artists — and that continues to give emerging acts their first shot today.

But this isn’t just nostalgia. We talk through the Grassroots Levy, the work of Music Venue Properties, and how bands, fans, promoters, and even podcasts like ours can step up and support the scene before it’s too late.

We didn’t just invite Mark on because he’s a great speaker — we invited him because we believe in what Music Venue Trust is doing. So much so that we’ve chosen to invest directly in their mission to save and secure independent venues across the UK. This episode is us putting a spotlight on that work — and encouraging you to get involved however you can.

Alongside the conversation, we’ve got brand new music from George Holden, 13 Rivers, and Lickshot — three artists who are part of the next wave, playing in grassroots venues and building real connections, not follower counts.

Whether you’re an artist who’s loaded gear through the fire escape, a promoter doing it for the love, or just someone who’s ever seen a life-changing gig in a sweaty back room — this one’s for you.

Support the scene. Submit your music. Find out more at elevatormusicpodcast.com.

Episode 5. Still not cancelled. Glimmers join us this week for a genuinely uplifting chat about their origins, staying authentic, working with management, and the bouquet of music they’ve got on the horizon.

Plus we’ve got new tracks submitted by:

– Athena (Bristol) – alt-pop and rock fusion

– Beach Front (Birmingham) – heavier pop punk with Midwest emo and hardcore edges

– Buried Upstream (Newcastle) – pop punk meets metalcore with an emo streak

Want to be featured? Submit your music for free at elevatormusicpodcast.com

Matt Squire joins us to talk about producing some of the biggest records in alternative music, what bands get wrong in the studio, and how to build a career without losing your perspective.

We also feature new music from All Ears Avow, Turn Two, Ninebanks, Build For Tomorrow, and Weak Asleep — five artists doing it on their own terms. No pay-to-play. No shortcuts. Just songs that deserve your attention.

Listen and submit at elevatormusicpodcast.com

Ken Haas joins us to talk about what actually makes an artist get noticed, how Reverend Guitars built a loyal following without "selling out", and why staying active as a musician is so important to his business.

We also feature new music from Homecoming UK, Tantrum Zentrum, and Eton Mess — all selected on merit, not money. No pay-to-play. No industry favours. Just great songs from artists that deserve to be heard.

Listen and submit at elevatormusicpodcast.com

#ElevatorMusicPodcast #KenHaas #ReverendGuitars #RailhammerPickups #UnsignedAndUnstoppable #SupportDIY #AltMusic

This week on Elevator Music, we sit down with RickyJab — producer, PRS-endorsed guitarist, and one half of genre-defying duo Unsafe Unsound. Best known for his work with Taylor Acorn, Ricky shares how getting laid off during the pandemic became the start of everything he’s doing now.

We talk about the power of just putting yourself out there, asking for what you want, and why most people miss the opportunities right in front of them. If you’re trying to break through or build something that matters, this one’s for you.

This week's tunes come from:

• Sons Of Shem

• Mind The Drive

• Save Our Ships

• Lonelylife

This is Elevator Music. No gatekeepers. No pay-to-play. Just a platform for the stories - and sounds - that matter.

In our first-ever episode, we’re joined by vocalist and absolute force of nature Kasey Karlsen, who talks us through her journey so far — from covers online to stepping into the frontwoman role of Deadlands, and the emotional weight of online feedback, fandom, and finding your identity as an artist in the algorithm era.

We also talk about the psychology of social media reactions, how bands handle public perception, and why comments can hit harder than they should (even when they’re not meant to).

Plus, we’ve got brilliant tracks from:

• Falling Empires

• Wreckship

• Weak Asleep

• Bloomtide

This is Elevator Music. No gatekeepers. No pay-to-play. Just a platform for the stories — and sounds — that matter.