WorkTape

How often do you get to personally meet with the artists/bands you hear live? How would you respond if someone gave you tickets to one of your favorite artists/bands on the spot?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• Who are The Cult?
• One of Sean's weirdest encounters while flooring
• Sean's first Fleetwood Mac concert
• Why did Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival end in tragedy?

Are there any rules in the audio world that can't be broken? Is gear more important than the process?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• What gear is crucial for studio-quality vocals?
• Is DAW auto-save a double-edged sword?
• How do methods and gear become standards in the industry?
• Why are the mids important in mixing?
• Is The Strokes' "Is This It" worthy of its high status?
• What are some terrible band names?
• Are/were Nirvana a punk band?
• Is/can modern contemporary pop and hip-hop ever be "new wave"?

Which mics are your go-to workhorses? Why do any of you like DJ Khaled (we seriously need you guys to answer this one)?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• Are recording methods just as important as which mic you use?
• Are "cheap" mics useful?
• Does sibilance add character to recordings?
• Do some artists get milked too much by the media?

Which punk bands are California's most iconic? What makes California punk unique among other punk?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• Are Dead Kennedys California’s best punk band?
• GTA V Channel X punk radio
• How contrasting are west coast and east coast punk?
• Who is GG Allin?
• When does being abstract and avant-garde in art go too far?
• What is noise rock?
• How did Modest Mouse change?
• How do good lyricists approach song meaning/interpretation?

What makes punk rock punk? Is pop punk real punk?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• Who helped form the "punk" sound?
• Are skinheads racist?
• What does the "A" symbol in punk culture stand for?
• What is the relationship between alternative and punk?
• How did garage rock influence punk?
• Do "bad" singers make great artists?
• Is Avril Lavigne's contribution to punk similar as Blink-182's?
• Did Elliot Smith borrow generously from The Beatles?

Why are crossover artists still surprising in the industry ? Was MGK's decision to switch genres a good one?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• The mainstream resurgence of horror pop
• Alessia Cara "Sweet Dream"
• Are sample packs cheating?
• Will live instrumentation regain the throne to replace loops?
• Beatles/Wailers parallels
• Are posthumous releases exploitive?
• NAS' "King's Disease II" overview
• Did and how did Eminem drop the ball?

Which artists do you think have the best quality control? What thoughts came to mind when Thom Yorke trolled you with a chopped and screwed unplugged "Creep"?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• Will Max Martin ruin Coldplay's current production?
• Are clever "packaging", visuals, and marketing an adequate replacement for mediocre music?
• Is Sarah Brand in the same position now as Rebecca Black was back in 2011?
• Is Kendrick Lamar the "Radiohead" of rap/hip-hop?
• Does something being "nostalgic" mean that it's "good"?
• Was punk pop since its inception?
• Has rock been and is it currently devolving?

When you decided to record your first album, did you have an idea of how you wanted it to sound? Do you prefer a polished mix or a lo-fi mix?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• Is auto-tune cheating?
• Will spatial audio become just another fad, or will it stay?
• Is expensive gear necessary for quality studio recordings?
• What is "chopped and screwed"?
• Is being a cover artist advantageous to your goal as an artist?
• Bob Marley & the Wailers' catalog overview
• John Mayer new LP "Sob Rock" overview

How did you feel about BTS' "Butter"? Do you think that vinyl is the only way to experience music?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• K-kop
• "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran
• Black TikTok dance appropriation
• Album-mindedness
• Analog vs. digital
• The return and rise of vinyl
• Spatial audio

Do you hold your favorite artists accountable to their own actions? Do you write your music or your lyrics first?

Here are some of the topics that we go over in this episode:

• Controversial surrounding different artists
• Lil Nas X
• British censorship
• R. Kelly
• Elvis Presley
• Maroon 5
• Music vs. lyrics