This week on the Tone Tailors Podcast, I’m sitting down with 18-year-old musician, producer, and one-man-band content machine Ethan Cutillo.Follow Ethan online:  https://www.instagram.com/ethan.cutilloYou’ve probably seen his covers floating around Instagram. He’s sitting in a blue-lit room playing drums, keys, guitar, bass, and vocals all at once. And no, it’s not pre-recorded and dubbed over. He’s actually tracking every instrument live and building the song piece by piece.In this episode we talk about:• Starting in choir and landing a national tour of The Sound of Music at just 10 years old• Touring the country and how that shaped his confidence early on• Why Covid shifted him from acting into full-time music• His love for rock, indie, and classic bands like The Strokes and The Beatles• How he built a 50,000+ following on Instagram with covers• The exact process he uses to record drums, keys, guitar, vocals, and mix everything himself• Dealing with internet hate and negative comments• AI in music and where he draws the line• Being nominated for Best Youth Artist at the Central Pennsylvania Music AwardsWe also get into his college plans, Berklee vs NYU, and what a long-term career in music production could look like for him.What I respect most about Ethan is this: he’s not waiting. He’s not “working on it.” He’s posting. He’s experimenting. He’s learning in public. And it’s working.If you’re a young musician trying to grow on social media, or you’re just curious how these multi-instrument covers are actually made, this episode breaks it all down.Go follow Ethan and show him some love. And if you see him at the CPMAs, tell him you heard him here first.Subscribe for more episodes with musicians and creatives from Lancaster, Central PA, and beyond.

Get your TICKETS! The winners will be announced LIVE on stage at the 7th Annual CPMAs & Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA! Everyone is invited--artists, press, family, friends, fans, and the general public! Don't miss this opportunity to get your picture on the red carpet!https://amtshows.com/show/7th-annual-cpmas-hall-of-fame-induction-ceremony/This week on the Tone Tailors Podcast, I’m sitting down with Brandon Valentine, the founder and Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame. Brandon’s a drummer, a dad of two, a former movie critic, and somehow also a co-host of The Local Show on The River 97.3 FM. Oh and yes, his last name is Valentine and he was born on Valentine’s Day, because of course he was.More on CPMHOF and everything they do: https://cpmhof.com/We talk about what the CPMHOF actually is, and why it exists in the first place. Brandon saw a gap in the local scene: tons of talent, not enough recognition, not enough support, and not enough structure to help artists build momentum. So he helped create an organization that does three things really well: recognition, support, and education. That means Hall of Fame inductions, the Central Pennsylvania Music Awards (CPMAs), plus real year round work like promotions, radio, podcasts, bookings, and spotlighting artists who deserve more eyes on them.Brandon breaks down the difference between the Hall of Fame and the CPMAs, because people mix that up all the time. Hall of Fame is the “best of the best” legacy side. The CPMA awards focus on who had the strongest year across a ton of categories. It’s two separate lanes under one mission, and it’s built to give artists something they can actually use: credibility, resume lines, and real momentum when they’re trying to land better gigs and bigger opportunities.We also get into how the music industry flipped on its head. We went from “drop off your demo at the radio station” to “have a phone and a plan.” We talk TikTok discovery, independent distribution, and the reality that radio still hits different when you’re a local artist hearing your own name and song on the air for the first time. Brandon explains how artists can submit music and apply for features through the CPMHOF site, and why they keep access open because the whole point is growing the scene, not gatekeeping it.Then we go deep on youth music education, because that’s the core of what keeps the nonprofit engine running. Brandon explains the Youth Music Showcase, the Central PA Youth All Star Band, youth act bookings, and even youth music camps, all designed to help kids get real opportunities early. They’ve recorded covers, produced music videos, and built a pipeline where young musicians can level up, get seen, and eventually graduate into the adult categories when they turn 19. The CPMHOF youth program is built to nurture the next generation, not just celebrate the current one. We also talk about AI in music, and why it’s turning into a loud argument everywhere you look. Brandon shares how the Recording Academy handles AI disclosure, and what CPMHOF is discussing on their side so things stay fair while the industry changes. We don’t pretend it’s simple. We just talk about it like adults who actually work in creative industries and have to deal with the reality of where things are heading.And yes, we bring it back to supporting local gear shops too. Brandon’s message is simple: buy local when you can, try the gear, talk to real people, and keep these places alive because they’re part of the scene. That idea lines up perfectly with what Tone Tailors is all about.If you want to learn what the CPMHOF really does for Central PA music, this episode will make it click.More on CPMHOF and everything they do: https://cpmhof.com

This week on the Tone Tailors Podcast, we’re sitting down with Azayah Pugh and members of the band, alongside friend and mentor Terian Mack of Larger Than Life. We dig into what it really looks like to build momentum in the Lancaster music scene, finding your sound, staying consistent, putting yourself in rooms before you feel “ready,” and turning community into opportunity.Azayah breaks down the evolution from a solo project into a full band, why the new album New Era locks in their alternative rock and hip-hop identity, and how they decided to go big with a 23-track release instead of playing it safe. We also talk about the upcoming New Era Live Experience 2026 in downtown Lancaster, where Azayah Pugh will perform the album start to finish as a fully curated live experience.Terian Mack shares his path from early hustle to music entrepreneurship, how Larger Than Life grew from creative programs into a label and agency, and what independent artists should understand about publishing, sync licensing, and building sustainable income. We also get into his work with United Masters, real-world sync placements, teaching independent artist classes, and why his mission is centered on opening doors for creatives, not gatekeeping them.And yes, we cover the essentials: touring stories, performing in Tokyo, Japan, the Fender flagship store, why Japanese 7-Eleven is elite, the band’s stance on generative AI in music, and what each guest would grab with a $5,000 shopping spree at Tone Tailors.

**New Era: Live Experience 2026Tickets: https://zoetropolis.com/special_events/welcome-to-the-new-era-live-experience-2026/Diving headfirst into their alternative & nu-metal roots, Azayah Pugh and his band released their second full-length album, “New Era.” The project blends hard rock and metal with modern hip-hop to create a contemporary rap-rock sound unlike anything else. The album has several rock & rap features, many of which are from the Lancaster area. The band is comprised of Yahqob Pugh on Guitar, Trevor Shuffelbottom on Bass, Azayah Pugh on Lead Vocals, & special for this show only, Nicholas Adams on Secondary Guitar.**Follow Terian Mack: https://www.instagram.com/terian_mack/Follow Azayah Pugh: https://www.instagram.com/azayahpugh/Learn More About The Band: https://azayahpugh.square.site/**

Get A Divided Drive Pedal, TODAY - https://shop.tonetailors.com/products/stomp-under-foot-divided-driveThis episode is a fun one for me because I sat down with one of the co-owners of Tone Tailors, John LeClair. If you’ve spent any time in the shop, you already know John. If you haven’t, this episode is a solid introduction to the brain behind a lot of what makes Tone Tailors feel the way it does.We start by bouncing around the usual range you’d expect when two guitar people sit down with mics. We talk Taylor guitars. We somehow end up talking Taylor Swift. That alone should tell you where John’s head lives musically. He’s one of those people who can appreciate a perfectly built acoustic guitar, a pop record done right, and a jam band that stretches a song to 20 minutes without losing the plot.About halfway through the conversation, I casually say the words “Tone Tailors exclusive” and mention the Stomp Under Foot Divided Drive pedal. At that point, John does not take a breath for what feels like 20 straight minutes. And I mean that in the best way possible. This pedal hits every nerve for him. The history, the circuit choices, the feel, the why behind every decision. You can hear the passion immediately. This isn’t a product he’s trying to sell you. It’s a thing he genuinely cares about.The Divided Drive came out of a simple idea that turned into a deep obsession. John wanted a way to capture that stacked, early-90s Trey Anastasio-style drive sound without needing a complicated pedalboard or signal chain. The result is a Tone Tailors exclusive collaboration with Stomp Under Foot that combines two modified overdrives and a vintage-voiced, Ross-style compressor in one enclosure. Each circuit can run on its own or be stacked in different ways, which makes it way more flexible than the inspiration it’s based on.In the episode, John breaks down how and why the pedal works the way it does. We talk about running the compressor by itself for clean rhythm parts, using a single overdrive for lower-gain tones, stacking both drives for thick lead sounds, and pushing the overdrives into the compressor for that long, singing sustain people chase forever. It’s nerdy in the best way, but it’s also practical. You don’t need to be chasing one specific artist’s tone to get a lot out of this pedal.We also talk about the reality of this being a true limited run. Fewer than 20 of these pedals exist. As of recording, only a handful were left. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. There’s no restock, no reissue, no “we might do it again later.” That’s part of what makes this episode interesting. You’re hearing the story of something that’s already becoming a small piece of Tone Tailors history.Outside of the pedal talk, you get a really good look at John as a person. He shares how he got into guitar in the late ’90s, what led him to guitar repair school, and how that path eventually turned into co-founding Tone Tailors in 2015. His background explains a lot about why the shop operates the way it does. He cares about doing things right, learning constantly, and passing that knowledge on to other players and techs whenever he can.We also hit on his influences, his bands over the years, and his taste in music, which somehow includes Phish, Hall & Oates, A Tribe Called Quest, Taylor Swift, and Stone Temple Pilots without any irony. It makes sense once you hear him talk. John doesn’t care about genre lines. He cares about songs, tones, and whether something feels honest.If you’re into guitars, pedals, or just listening to someone explain why they care so much about a piece of gear, this episode delivers. If you’re curious about what goes on behind the scenes at Tone Tailors, this is one of the clearest looks you’ll get. And if you’re even remotely interested in the Divided Drive, hearing John talk about it might be the thing that pushes you over the edge.

This week I sat down with Karlo Gesner and DJ BossRoss (Ross Campanella) to talk about how an idea for a simple EDM night in downtown Lancaster turned into a sold-out event with over 100 tickets at Telus360.Karlo is known around Lancaster as a photographer, filmmaker, and now a connector in the music scene. Ross has been DJing for years—from college clubs to weddings to teaching drum lines—and is now chasing his passion for house music and EDM. Together, they’ve built something fresh for Lancaster: a new outlet for EDM fans and DJs to gather, perform, and grow a real community.In this episode, we cover:-- Karlo’s shift from weddings and commercial work to music videos and live events.-- Ross’s path from teaching percussion to producing a full hour-long DJ set and music video.-- The stress of only selling two tickets a week before the show and how they hustled their way to a packed room.-- The behind-the-scenes process of filming a one-hour music video in an abandoned warehouse.-- The challenge of building an EDM scene in Lancaster and what’s next for future events.This is the story of starting small, taking risks, and watching an idea turn into something real. If you’ve ever tried to throw a show, sell tickets, or just wondered how to get people to care about your art, you’ll connect with this one.And don’t forget—support Lancaster’s music scene. Buy tickets, show up, and help keep these nights alive.----Music/Mix for this episode by DJ BossRoss can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1eTbwqdKMo----Follow The Crew & Other Incredible EDM DJs: Karlo: https://www.instagram.com/karlo.photo.video/BossRoss: https://www.instagram.com/xbossrossx/Brian: https://www.instagram.com/ibeeasian/VFT: https://www.instagram.com/valenciasfieldtrip/Seanzie: https://www.instagram.com/djseanzie/--At Tone Tailors, we know that choosing the right instrument isn’t just a purchase—it’s a personal journey. That’s why we’re passionate about helping you discover the gear that brings out your perfect tone. Our curated collection includes high-end and boutique guitars, amps, and pedals, along with a carefully selected lineup of quality used gear. Every piece is hand-picked to inspire and truly sing.What sets us apart is our dedication to players. Our team lives and breathes guitars, and we’re here to offer honest guidance, expert repairs and setups, or simply talk shop. Whether you’re chasing a new sound or fine-tuning your favorite axe, you’ll find a supportive, knowledgeable crew committed to your growth as a musician. At Tone Tailors, exceptional service is the standard—and your creativity is always the priority.Venue: https://www.instagram.com/tellus360/