In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, Paul visits the remote desert outpost of Goat Mountain Recording, home to musicians and audio engineers Pat and Susan Kearns. Nestled on five acres in Landers near Joshua Tree, the Kearns family has created a purpose-built recording studio unlike anything else in Southern California — complete with zero 90-degree corners, custom architectural design, and a quiet desert backdrop that shapes their sound.
Pat and Susan share how they built this dream studio from the ground up, how gentrification pushed them out of Portland, and how they transformed their move to the desert into a thriving creative hub. From recording and mixing to mastering and audio restoration, Pat’s decades of experience merge with Susan’s artistry, musicianship, painting, and their shared love of “Western Folk,” the unique genre they’ve coined to describe their sound.
We dive into their latest album Together and Alone, their songwriting process (including how melodies often “bubble up from the subconscious”), the stories behind standout tracks like “Charlie,” and the inspiration they draw from the desert’s solitude, landscapes, and creative community.
Pat also reveals what it’s like hosting the Z107.7 Local Music Showcase, highlighting and connecting musicians across Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Wonder Valley, and beyond. And Susan gives us a peek into her visual art practice, including her participation in the annual Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours, her expressionist desert pieces, and the lively fusion of art and music that happens when musicians join her shows.
Whether you love music creation, desert culture, or behind-the-scenes creative life, this episode paints a vibrant picture of two artists building something extraordinary together.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
0:00 – Welcome to On the Road + introduction to Pat & Susan Kearns
0:35 – Pat explains his role as an audio engineer and multi-discipline sound creator 1:04 – Building their acoustically engineered studio in Landers with architect Ignacio “Nacho” Moreno
1:56 – Why the studio has no 90-degree corners or parallel walls
3:22 – The leap of faith: leaving Portland, gentrification, and starting fresh in the desert
4:08 – Susan encourages Pat to pursue audio full-time
5:32 – How selling everything opened the door to Goat Mountain Recording
6:52 – Running a destination recording studio & keeping clients despite moving off-grid
7:31 – How the desert influences Pat’s work and the artists who visit
8:52 – Their album Together and Alone — concept, recording, and analog effects 9:28 – What is “Western Folk”? Understanding their signature genre
10:06 – Finding truth in Old West imagery, desert landscapes & classic films
11:21 – Writing “Charlie” from subconscious inspiration and notebook fragments 14:13 – Do lyrics or melodies come first? Pat and Susan’s collaborative process 15:12 – “If a Cowboy Goes to Heaven” — melodies that arrive out of nowhere
15:31 – Touring, booking shows, and the cross-country run
16:19 – Indie on the Move: how they book venues and find the right rooms
17:05 – Why Western Folk isn’t honky-tonk — and why punk crowds love them 17:27 – Pat’s radio show on Z107.7 & spotlighting local talent
19:10 – What defines the “desert sound”? Its mystery, diversity, and influence
20:30 – Community connection: emails, friendships & weaving musicians together 22:19 – Matching artists intentionally on air to spark collaboration
24:04 – LIVE performance of “Two…” from Pat & Susan’s set
24:42 – Susan’s desert artwork & the expressionist painting she created for the album
25:18 – Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours & the local art community 26:27 – How art shows turn into music gatherings
27:12 – Susan’s standup bass journey & choosing between electric & upright
28:33 – How Pat & Susan began performing together
30:13 – Their daily practice routine & making music a shared lifestyle
31:04 – Final reflections + thank you to our sponsor, Opus Escrow
Desert Dreams: The Palms, Wonder Valley’s Artistic Oasis
Music, History & Magic: The Story of Tiny Porch Concerts at Peter Strauss Ranch Vines, Wines & Good Times at Cornell Wine Company
Connect with the Kearns Family:
www.thekearnsfamily.bandcamp.com/
Contact Paul Ward:
📞 805-479-5004
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.HomeAndRanchTeam.com
Have ideas for future episodes? Drop a comment! For real estate needs in Ventura County, reach out anytime.
A huge thank-you to our sponsor OPUS Escrow. Supporting OPUS ESCROW helps keep On the Road with Paul Ward thriving and on the move.
