Tape Op Podcast Episode 118: Sarah Tudzin
May 15, 2026
Sarah Tudzin, producer/engineer and frontwoman of Illuminati Hotties who has worked with Weyes Blood, Slowdive, Boygenius and more. She talks about growing up in Southern California and how that culture colors her sound. She explains the shift from drumming to studio work, the value of hands-on mentorship, and collaborative, ego-free recording sessions.
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Drumming Trains You To Hear The Whole Arrangement
- Being a drummer shaped Sarah's production approach by forcing her to listen to the whole band and hold the song's anchor.
- She says drummers often become producers because they habitually monitor peripheral parts like bass, keys, and vocal pocket.
Match Musicians' Language And Demonstrate Ideas
- When directing players, learn their vocabulary and let them try ideas before imposing solutions.
- Sarah adapts language (lyric cues, section markers) and picks up instruments to demonstrate parts rather than only giving abstract directions.
Take Any Paid Music Gig To Build Momentum
- Do hustle and say yes to paid music work even if it's day-rate or hourly, to avoid non-music jobs and build experience.
- Sarah focused on minimum-paid gigs, networking with management, and traded short-term comfort for building a sustainable studio career.