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The Lovely Dark: From Studio Project to Live Show at Radford University

Rich and co-host Justin Hochella welcome John Hildreth to discuss The Lovely Dark and an upcoming live concert. John explains that The Lovely Dark began in early 2025 through 'The Song Machine', a collective of songwriters using a series of songwriting prompts. This evolved into a gothic/industrial/synth-pop production project with Justin producing. In 2026 they released the EP Dark Stars and Mythologies, the Depeche Mode tribute LP Strange Love, and the new release Event Horizon, then decided to build a live band with Rich and Justin, leading to an October 21, 7:30 PM show at Radford University. They discuss reimagining Depeche Mode covers, adding Rich’s forthcoming Bozic song “Wake Up” and Justin’s Man Made Random track “Repellent,” and coordinating remotely via Muse, Wrike, weekly meetings.

00:00 Welcome and Shoutout
01:24 Meet The Lovely Dark
02:32 John Joins the Show
03:10 Origin Story
07:09 Depeche Mode Tribute
11:18 Setlist Highlights
12:53 Repellent and Wake Up
16:24 Remote Rehearsal Setup
20:23 Project Management Workflow
24:09 Social Media and Promotion
26:50 Show Details and Wrap Up

Tickets to the October 21st Show at Radford University:

https://rutheatretickets.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1600&p=1

The Lovely Dark:

https://linktr.ee/thelovelydark

Bozic:

https://linktr.ee/bozic

man made random:

https://linktr.ee/manmaderandom

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Set Up to Song is a Course designed for absolute beginners looking for training on Apple's Logic Pro. If you want to make music without feeling lost or overwhelmed, this course is for you! 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

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The Face Your Ears podcast celebrates its 50th episode with co-hosts Justin Hochella and Rich Bozic with guest Jay Pevonis, who together with Justin forms Same Not Same, a remotely produced electronic/industrial project. Rich shares updates about his upcoming song “Liberty Bells” under Bozic and an October gig with The Lovely Dark, while Justin mentions a new Same Not Same release. Jay and Justin explain that the duo began after Justin remixed Jay’s Doing the Devil’s Work track “Not Dead,” leading to their first collaboration “Don’t Die Alone,” with Justin focusing on production and Jay on lyrics/vocals while collaborating via Muse, texting, and file sharing. They discuss industrial influences, movie sampling (including anti-AI themes in “Straight Line”), community playlists like Hex VHS’s “Now That’s What I Call Industrial,” performances at Clevetoberfest, and a lightning round covering favorite albums, plugins, films, and influences, plus where to find their music on streaming platforms and YouTube.

Check out these links mentioned during this episode: 

Check out Same Not Same:

Same Not Same: https://linktr.ee/samenotsame

Friends of Same Not Same:

NOW That's What I Call Industrial! Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoQ2SlazT_XwHvQEiempR-YI2hPcLG7Ij&si=WK_6375_lWVvMDbA

HEXVHS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD9TulbPg8Ur_XoGIfQ4emQ

Sshhluuuuuuck!: https://hyperfollow.com/sshhluuuuuuck

Severed Skies: https://severedskies.bandcamp.com

Circuit Preacher: https://circuitpreacher.bandcamp.com

Ghoztbomb: https://www.instagram.com/ghoztbomb/

DJ Operator: https://www.instagram.com/djoperator.ot/

00:00 50th Episode Celebration
01:58 Host Updates and New Music
03:29 Meet Same Not Same
05:34 Origin Story and First Tracks
08:48 Industrial Influences and Gear
12:26 Remote Workflow and Muse
15:10 Movie Samples and Themes
18:36 Community Playlists and Festivals
21:17 What Listeners Should Feel
22:13 Making Music for Love
23:02 Shoutout to DJs
24:13 Lightning Round Begins
24:29 Essential Industrial Albums
25:57 Gateway Records Picks
28:41 Go To Synth Plugins
30:31 Favorite Carpenter Films
32:33 Hear It Again Songs
33:21 Dream Live Shows
34:41 Underrated New Artists
37:02 Biggest Non Industrial Influences
38:18 Band Name Origin
39:01 Where to Find Them
39:28 Episode Wrap Up

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Set Up to Song is a Course designed for absolute beginners looking for training on Apple's Logic Pro. If you want to make music without feeling lost or overwhelmed, this course is for you! 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

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Rich Bozic and Justin Hochella introduce the concept of EQ using Logic Pro’s EQ as the example. They explain EQ as boosting or cutting frequencies across the 20 Hz–20 kHz hearing range, define high-pass/low-pass filters, bell curves and shelves, Q as bandwidth, and amplitude as boost/cut amount, and describe “sweeping” to find harsh frequencies. They outline broad frequency bands and common tonal issues, and discuss EQ use cases for balancing, creative effects (radio/telephone), and carving space between competing instruments in a mix.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

02:07 Logic Pro Launchpad Course

04:06 Clevetoberfest and Updates

05:29 Why EQ Matters

06:53 EQ Basics Explained

07:52 Filters Bell and Shelf

11:46 Q and Amplitude Controls

14:24 Sweeping Technique

15:21 Frequency Ranges and Tone

18:40 Creative EQ and Space

20:47 Wrap Up and Takeaways

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Check out Justin's Logic Pro Launch Pad Course! Perfect for beginners and new users of Apple's Logic Pro! Save 30% until 8/31/2026 using code zoey30

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Set Up to Song is a Course designed for absolute beginners looking for training on Apple's Logic Pro. If you want to make music without feeling lost or overwhelmed, this course is for you! 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

----

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https://www.faceyourears.com

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In episode 48 of the Face Your Ears podcast, Rich and Justin celebrate passing 5,000 downloads, share personal music updates. “Feel the Squeeze,” introduces audio compression: its role in controlling dynamic range, its history and coloration, and Logic Pro’s seven compressor circuit types (Platinum Digital, Studio VCA, Studio FET, Classic VCA, Vintage VCA, Vintage FET, Vintage Opto) with typical use cases. Justin also explains key compressor controls: threshold, ratio, makeup gain/auto gain, attack, and release.

Learn about Logic Pro's compressor: 

https://support.apple.com/en-my/guide/logicpro/lgcef1bec9f3/mac

Compression Video Quick Tutorial: 

https://youtu.be/LGqDVhww-hs

Justin's Project 'Same Not Same':

https://linktr.ee/samenotsame

Rich's music project 'Bozic':

https://linktr.ee/bozic

The Lovely Dark:

https://thelovelydarkband.wordpress.com/

00:00 Welcome and Weather
00:56 Where to Listen and Follow
01:46 5000 Downloads Milestone
02:35 Rich Updates and Upcoming Shows
05:10 Gig Disaster Weather Story
06:43 Justin New Single and Remix Plans
08:29 Compression Episode Setup
09:14 What Compression Does
10:31 A Brief History of Compressors
11:46 Logic Pro Compressor Overview
13:56 Seven Logic Circuit Types
19:37 Compressor Knobs Explained
19:57 Threshold and Ratio Basics
25:02 Makeup Gain and Auto Gain
28:35 Attack Release and Wrap Up

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Set Up to Song is a Course designed for absolute beginners looking for training on Apple's Logic Pro. If you want to make music without feeling lost or overwhelmed, this course is for you! 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

----

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Rich and Justin continue to talk about AI developments in music. This includes ACE Studio’s AI voice-cloning tool (with listening tests distinguishing AI from real vocals), concerns about future live performance and consumer indifference, and ACE Studio’s prompt-based film-scoring feature. They debate producers using tools like Suno for demos versus replacing craft, criticize labels signing AI “artists” as profit-driven, and highlight Deezer adding AI tags amid estimates of 50,000–75,000 fully AI-generated songs uploaded daily, urging listener feedback and informed choices.

00:00 Welcome and Updates
01:20 Dark Force Fest Recap
03:37 Flowing Horizon Progress
05:08 AI Landscape Intro
05:25 ACE Voice Cloning Demo
06:43 Can You Hear AI
10:52 Robots and Live Shows
13:50 Ethics and Creative Value
15:05 AI Music as Product
16:38 What Else Is New
17:01 AI Film Scoring Prompts
17:56 Can AI Watch Scenes
19:07 Imagination After AI
20:59 Suno In The Studio
22:21 Tool Versus Craft
26:32 AI Artists Signed
28:12 Profits Over People
30:28 Deezer AI Tags
31:37 Listener Call To Action
32:58 Wrap Up And Goodbye

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Set Up to Song is a Course designed for absolute beginners looking for training on Apple's Logic Pro. If you want to make music without feeling lost or overwhelmed, this course is for you! 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

----

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In this episode, Justin Hochella and Rich Bozic discuss Rich's new Single “Flowing Horizon” and discuss its inspiration, meaning, and DIY production. Rich describes the track as an old-school rock homage with modern elements, inspired from an acoustic guitar chord progression and centered on appreciating and accepting love from others. He details producing in his home studio using Logic Pro’s Drummer with deep customization and layering, creating bass with Logic patches, recording vocals with a Townsend Sphere using an LD 2 51 emulation, and using a Yamaha MODX8 for piano and synths. Mixing and mastering were done by Burak Yildirmaz with Rich observing and providing feedback, along with Justin’s input, and Rich shares release challenges like branding, Canva design, and a logo by Michelle Coelho; the song is on all streaming platforms and updates are at www.bozicmusic.com and @bozicmusic on Instagram.

00:00 Welcome and Intro
00:40 New Single Announcement
01:42 Song Meaning and Origins
03:12 Influences and Mindset
04:33 DIY Production Overview
05:22 Drums and Rhythm Building
07:31 Bass and Vocal Recording
09:21 Keys and Sound Palette
10:22 Mixing Mastering Lessons
13:32 More Music Coming Soon
14:52 Modern Release Challenges
17:15 Branding Art and Collaboration
20:48 Where to Listen and Follow
21:35 Closing and Song Outro

Listen to Flowing Horizon:

https://linktr.ee/bozic

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

----

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https://www.faceyourears.com

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AI Music on Streaming Platforms: Bandcamp’s Ban, Spotify’s Embrace, and the AIODE Session-Musician Tool

Hosts Rich Bozic and Justin Hochella  begin by briefly discussing busy studio work and Justin's new Logic Pro Launch Pad course at logicprolaunchpad.com, then sharing recent podcast listener cities worldwide. The episode turns to AI in music, contrasting Bandcamp’s stated policy (posted January 13, 2026) banning music generated wholly or in substantial part by AI and prohibiting AI impersonation, with Spotify’s more welcoming stance toward AI-generated music and concerns about labeling, artist impact, and potential platform incentives. They also discuss AIODE (A-I-O-D-E), a tool that can import a song and generate instrument parts (e.g., bass, guitar, trumpets) based on real musicians’ performances, noting both its practical uses and risks of enabling fully AI-created songs. They conclude that AI cannot replicate human lived experience and artistic expression.

00:00 Welcome and Updates
01:00 Logic Pro Course Launch
03:03 Podcast Listener Stats
04:38 AI Music Topic Setup
05:49 Bandcamp Bans Generative AI
12:41 Spotify Embraces AI Slop
15:39 Should AI Music Be Labeled
17:09 AIODE AI Session Musician
21:51 Is AI a Tool or Replacement
28:09 Human Experience vs AI
30:39 Recap and Sign Off

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Set Up to Song is a Course designed for absolute beginners looking for training on Apple's Logic Pro. If you want to make music without feeling lost or overwhelmed, this course is for you! 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

----

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Justin Launches Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Setup to Song

The focus of this episode is Justin’s new beginner course, “Logic Pro Launchpad: From Setup to Song,” created over about a year and a half and finished with help from Rich as an accountability partner. Justin explains the course is for absolute beginners and covers setting up Logic Pro, recording and editing audio and MIDI, using built-in instruments, plugins, and loops, plus simple mixing and mastering, culminating in creating and exporting a complete song. He shares his history with Logic (initially disliking it in college, later returning via podcast editing) and why he prefers it for stability, built-in tools, intuitive workflow, and cost. He highlights Apple Loops (drag-and-drop tempo/key matching) and the power of virtual instruments, including using a MIDI controller or computer keyboard. Justin describes challenges in course creation, including planning, shooting/editing, reshoots, and updating content after a Logic Pro update. The course is available via manmaderandom.com and logicprolaunchpad.com, will be live when the episode airs, and is structured in short video segments; Justin also offers one-on-one coaching.

00:00 Welcome to Face Your Ears + Studio Updates
01:12 Justin’s New Releases: Depeche Mode Tribute & Same, Not Same
02:35 YouTube Channel Check-In (Clips, Faces, and Sharing)
03:16 The Big Announcement: Logic Pro Launchpad Course Is Finished
05:09 What the Course Covers: Setup to Song for Absolute Beginners
07:30 Justin’s Logic Pro Origin Story (and Why He Came Back)
09:12 Why Choose Logic Pro? Stability, Tools, and Value
11:22 Course Sneak Peek: Apple Loops Magic (Tempo/Key Matching)
13:08 Beginner Mind-Blowers: Virtual Instruments & Musical Typing
15:58 What Justin Learned Building the Course (and the Logic Update Curveball)
18:32 Where to Get It + Final Recap and Course Format
21:12 Wrap-Up: Thanks for Listening

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Setup to Song: www.logicprolaunchpad.com 

The Lovely Dark | Strange Love: A Tribute to Depeche Mode: https://open.spotify.com/album/4PUuOEjsdnyVDmGHzZLJK5?si=sxC0kuB_SoSliTkLVGoRIg

Same Not Same | Let Go to Live: https://open.spotify.com/album/1JZhBKIQE00xUmg87yqnmO?si=ux56ThJzQ7OFWrxZdZtQ0g 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

----

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Kickstarting 2026: New Year, New Tools

In the first episode of 2026, Rich and Justin discuss their achievements in 2025, including reaching over 2,150 downloads in 50 countries. They introduce the concept of an 'accountabilibuddy' to help each other stay on track with their respective projects: Rich's single and Justin's Logic Pro course. They also highlight the project management tool Wrike for organizing tasks, and Boombox, a collaboration tool for musicians to provide specific feedback on audio tracks. The episode focuses on embracing new tools and strategies to achieve creative goals in the new year.

00:00 Welcome to Face Your Ears 2026!
00:37 2025 Recap: Highlights and Achievements
01:24 Global Reach: Our International Audience
02:23 Top Episodes and Listener Favorites
03:54 New Year, New Tools: Kickstarting 2026
05:33 Accountability Buddies: Staying on Track
10:42 Wrike: Organizing Projects Efficiently
16:15 Boombox: Enhancing Musical Collaboration
21:53 Wrapping Up: Tools for Success in 2026

Links from the episode: 

Wrike: www.wrike.com

Boombox: www.boombox.io 

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Set Up to Song is a Course designed for absolute beginners looking for training on Apple's Logic Pro. If you want to make music without feeling lost or overwhelmed, this course is for you! 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

----

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In this episode of the Face Your Ears podcast, hosts Justin Hochella and Rich Bozic reflect on their highlights and challenges in 2025, discuss new tools and plugins they've discovered, and share their plans for 2026. They touch on various topics including AI in music, tips for improving workflow, and their favorite podcast episodes of the year. The episode also includes insights into using Descript for editing and the importance of having accountability partners in creative projects. Tune in for a thoughtful recap and an exciting look ahead.

00:00 Welcome to Face Your Ears Podcast
00:23 Studio Updates and YouTube Growth
01:53 Reflecting on 2025 Highlights
04:44 Studio Improvements for 2026
08:20 Looking Forward to 2026
11:58 Lightning Round: Quick Hits
13:29 Band Discoveries of 2025
13:38 New Plugin Discovery: Space Blender
15:03 Stem Separator for Drums: Re Stem
16:09 Logic Pro Tips and Tricks
18:51 The Importance of Having a Plan
20:21 Color Coding in Logic Pro
21:35 AI in Music: Concerns and Developments
24:58 Favorite Podcast Episodes of the Year
27:14 Challenges and Behind the Scenes of Podcasting
30:39 Conclusion and Looking Forward to 2026

Spaceblender: https://www.soundtoys.com/product/spaceblender/

ReStem: https://rebeatapp.com/

SShhluuuuuuck: https://sshhluuuuuuck.bandcamp.com/

Unleash The Archers: https://www.unleashthearchers.com/

Logic Pro Launch Pad: From Set Up to Song is a Course designed for absolute beginners looking for training on Apple's Logic Pro. If you want to make music without feeling lost or overwhelmed, this course is for you! 

For Production Services, Coaching and Lessons, visit:

www.rjbmusicproduction.com

For help prepping your songs/voice for the studio:

www.bozicvoicestudio.com

----

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https://www.faceyourears.com

https://www.instagram.com/faceyourearspodcast/

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