Progressions: Success in the Music Industry

This week's guest is mastering engineer and violinist, Eric Boulanger. Eric started his career at the legendary Mastering Lab working under Doug Sax before starting his own facility, The Bakery, in 2015. In addition to a mastering credit list that includes artists such as Diana Krall, Green Day, Weezer, and Andrea Bocelli, he also worked with Apple to develop the "Mastered for iTunes" protocol. Outside the world of mastering, Eric still finds time to play violin on sessions for various film and television scores. We have a great chat about listening, setting up a room, and knowing when you're ready to jump into your own business.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Approaching mastering as musician, not a robotBuilding a mastering studio in an old screening roomCalling everyday until you get the gigAttended mastering sessionsThe importance of listening and monitoring Playing violin from age 3Working at the Mastering LabBuilding a lathe before ever buying a vinyl recordPlaying violin for film scoresLossless audioThe most important part of a mastering roomStarting your own business and learning as you goLearn More About Eric Boulanger...Website: https://thebakery.la/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakerymastering/📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: Eric BoulangerHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is composer, producer, and recording artist Morgan Kibby. Morgan spent seven years as a member of the band M83, during which time she played, wrote, and sang on two albums, including the Grammy nominated "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming." Since leaving the band, Morgan has contributed songwriting and production for artists such as Panic at the Disco, Harry Styles, and Lady Gaga. She also releases her own music under the moniker White Sea, including remixes for tracks by Lorde and the Weeknd, as well as trailers for movies such as "Harry Potter". In 2015 Morgan shifted her focus to scoring and since has done projects for Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu. We chat about balancing your passions, shifting focus mid career, defining success, and having seasons of "yes" in your career.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Playing and touring with M83Thriving on collaborationThe journey to find your voice as an artistHeadlining the Hollywood BowlScoring a film with before it was filmedNot chasing what you think people want to hearThe mental and physical toll of touringThe importance of studying what fascinates youSynths don't always have to be "80s"How music theory comes into playBeing selective of what you work onAttending the Sundance LabCanne Film FestivalSurrounding yourself with people you trustAlways learningLearn More About Morgan Kibby...Website: https://www.morgankibby.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiteseamusic/📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: Morgan KibbyHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is composer, recording artist, and sound designer Cyrus Reynolds. A classically trained musician from London's Royal Academy of Music, Cyrus has had success not only with his own music, but also in the world of trailer music. He has collaborated with artists such as Bon Iver’s S. Carey and Novo Amor and contributed sound design to artists likes Kanye West and Change the Rapper. He's also done work with Output, helping design instruments for them such as Exhale and Arcade. We have a great chat about his unique blend of cinematic orchestra with modern songwriting, how recording techniques influence creativity, and why following your passion or interests will always lead you to the most fulfilling version of your career.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Goal flexibilityComing from a classical music backgroundExperimenting and trying to move the needleFunding your own orchestra recordingFinishing parts on the plane on the way to Abbey RoadUsing AI and randomization parameters to recreate human tendenciesCreating plug-ins for OutputCollaborating with other artistsWriting trailer musicTuning systems and tuning relative to the musicLearn More About Cyrus Reynolds...Website: https://www.cyrusreynoldsmusic.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyrus_reynolds/Listen on Spotify Here!📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: Cyrus ReynoldsHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceAudio Restoration: Dan ViaforeTheme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is Emmy nominated re-recording mixer Ryan David Adams. Ryan has been working on the post-production side of television for nearly two decades, amassing a long list of credits along the way. He recently received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction or Reality Show in 2020 for the Netflix documentary series "Cheer." Other notable shows that he's worked on include The Voice, Masterchef, American Idol, Lego Masters, Last Chance U for Netflix, and Class Action Park for HBO Max. We have a great chat about working in television, keeping music as a creative outlet by working in other areas of audio, and the importance of checking your ego at the door.In this episode, we'll dig in on...The language of musicBeing a re-recording mixerADR and sound effectsMixing television in Dolby AtmosDealing with work visasLearning how little you knowFuture proofing contentBeing prepared for changesBroadcast specsAudio Engineering SocietyUnions in post-productionStems and delivery requirementsWorking with streaming services like Netflix and HBO MaxLearn More About Ryan David Adams...IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1392453Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artfromthenorth83/📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: Ryan David AdamsHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference

Today's guest is mastering engineer, podcast host, software developer, and creative business coach Chris Graham. Chris is a co-creator and host of the Six Figure Home Studio podcast which became wildly successful because of its unique business focused approach to the recording industry. After years developing a thriving online mastering business and launching the podcast Chris began coaching other industry professionals on some of the best practices that helped his various endeavors succeed. We have a great chat about creating time, not seeking peer approval, and why word of mouth alone won't cut it.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Co-hosting Six Figure Home Studio podcastWorking on your business, not for itHaving a transmittable message How to create time using systemsNever wanting to have an employerBeing comfortable with being expensiveBuilding an online mastering businessThe freedom of the podcast formatReasons to hire a coachDriving website traffic with google adsFear of removing the personal touchPareto's PrincipleLearn More About Chris Graham...Website: https://www.ChrisGrahamCoaching.comBounce Butler: https://www.BounceButler.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_graham📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: Chris GrahamHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference

This week we're joined by Ben Schmitz and Daniel Fine. Who, along with Ben's cat Jon, make up the audio plug-in company Aberrant DSP. Aberrant's flagship product, Sketch Cassette, has been embraced by producers and mixers around the world. What started as senior project at the University of Rochester has since spiraled to a full time job only a year or so later. We have a great chat about setting project goals, designing unique and exciting plug-ins, and learning to structure and run a small business.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Departing from the accepted standardHow a senior project became a full time jobDesigning an eye catching user interfaceStudying electrical engineeringSelf-motivating as a self-employed personLearning new skills on the flyLo-Fi and cassettesFinding inspiration outside musicCreating a mission statement for yourselfJudging what task to take on by judging your energy levelAtomic HabitsLearn More About Aberrant DSP...Website: https://aberrantdsp.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aberrantdsp/📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotify"Atomic Habits" by James Clear: HereCredits:Guest: Aberrant DSP (Ben Schmitz and Daniel Fine)Host: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference

Today's guest is producer, engineer, and musician Thom Monahan. Thom spent the first 15 years of his career as a touring musician before transitioning to working behind the glass. Since then he has worked with artists such as Neko Case, Fruit Bats, Stevie Nicks, Vetiver, and Medicine. He's also done work as a composer, doing scores for nearly a dozen documentaries, and several podcasts and web-series. Most recently he has taken his passion for music and creative sound design into the podcast world with his work with Treefort. We have a great chat about reducing creative friction, working on projects you are passionate about, and the future of scripted podcasts.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Reducing creative frictionThe new digital nature of collaborationCapturing the magic of a band in the roomMaking microphones out of a boomboxEditing as a form of productionThe future of scripted podcastsLearning from everybody around youUnderstanding the format you are writing music forTape EditsKeeping perspective when doing a "money gig"Committing to yourself and your visionLearn More About Thom Monahan...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thommonahan/Listen to "Killing Hollywood: The Cotton Club Murder" HereTreefort: https://www.treefort.fm/📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: Thom MonahanHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference

Today's guest is songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and recording artist, DAVIS. DAVIS combines classic songwriting sensibility with uncategorizable and unabashedly unique musical choices. His music has been placed on various TV shows for networks such as CBS and MTV, featured in video games, used in advertising, racked up millions of streams worldwide. We have a great chat about the Hollywood grind, passing on opportunities, and staying true to your artistic vision.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Finding your musical nicheCreating a visual identity for your musicOrganic YouTube fan growthConsistently releasing musicCarefully choosing who you want to work withPlaying Stevie Wonder's birthdayPublishing deals from the independent artist perspectiveHow limitation can inform artistryNever signing the first dealLearn More About DAVIS...Instagram: www.instagram.com/unofficialdavisWatch on YouTube HereListen on Spotify Here 📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: DAVISHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is Grammy nominated recording engineer and mixer Steve Genewick. Steve has been a staff engineer at the world renowned Capitol Studios since 1994. His credits included names like Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, Beck, Niall Horan, LeAnn Rimes and Elvis Costello just to name a few. Steve is also on the forefront of mixing music for the Dolby Atmos format, being one of the first studio engineers to do so. We have a great chat about being prepared for every session, pushing the limits of what's possible, and the importance of finding a studio community to be a part of.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Working at Capitol StudiosMixing music for Dolby AtmosAlways saying "Yes"Working with Al SchmittSwitching from analog tape to Pro ToolsFinding a studio community to learn fromRecording big bands and orchestrasLearn the basics firstPost-Pandemic recordingBeing prepared for sessionsRemote recording an orchestra at Abbey RoadLearn More About Steve Genewick and Capitol Studios...Website: http://stevegenewick.com/Capitol Studios: https://www.capitolstudios.com/📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: Steve GenewickHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest, Joseph Thompson, is an executive coach working under the umbrella of Novus Global. While not directly involved in the music industry, his career path is very in line with the concepts of this show. Novus Global is an international coaching firm working with leaders at the forefront of business, athletics, entertainment, and government. Joseph has committed himself to leading others beyond high performance and encouraging them to build out the life and career that they want. We have a great chat about pushing yourself, discovering what you are capable of, and how changing your language can change your perspective.In this episode, we'll dig in on...Being productive vs making progressMeta-PerformanceChanging your language to change your perspectiveSetting goals outside the edge of your comfort zoneDis-empowered vs empoweredLeadershipLimiting beliefsLearn More About Joseph Thompson and Novus Global...Website: www.josephathompson.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/joseph.a.thompson/Novus Global: https://novus.global/📢 Our Sponsors 📢Listen to Secret Sonics!Sign Up for Complete Producer Network!⬇️ FREE 2025 PLANNING WORKSHOP ⬇️https://www.travisference.com/2025plan📺 WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@progressionspodConnect with Me:📬 Newsletter: https://www.travisference.com/subscribe📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressionspod🎵TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@progressionspod🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/progressionspod🌐 Website: https://www.travisference.com/🙏 Leave a Review or Rating 🙏Apple: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/appleSpotify: https://www.progressionspodcast.com/spotifyCredits:Guest: Joseph ThompsonHost: Travis FerenceEditor: Travis FerenceTheme Music: inter.ference