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Apply for coaching!

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

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Episode show notes:

In this episode, Benedikt is joined by Adam Croft from the band The Grand Caravan. A group that makes music for wandering souls and vibe-chasers, rather than sticking to any one genre.

They talk about Adam’s journey as a musician, his time in our coaching program, The Self-Recording Syndicate, how the band has evolved over time, and what it was like working on their latest recordings.

Adam shares his experience going from home recording setups to professional studios, and the lessons he’s picked up along the way.

This one’s full of honest insights about growth, learning, and staying passionate - whether you’re tracking at home or in a fancy studio.

Adam and Benedikt also get into the balance between focusing on feel vs. getting caught up in the technical side of things, and how collaboration and spontaneity often lead to the best creative moments.

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Some key takeaways from the conversation:

• The Grand Caravan is a band built on vibes, not strict genres.
• Adam is all about learning, growing, and keeping the creative fire alive.
• Home recording is awesome, but sometimes a pro studio can take things to the next level.
• Don’t try to master everything at once. Pick one thing to focus on and really learn it.
• earn to trust your ears. Gear and theory are cool, but what you hear is what really matters.
• The process and having fun along the way matters just as much as the final result.
• And above all, if you love making music, don’t hold back. Just go for it.

Enjoy!

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For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/276

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Send us a text

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

I hear it all the time. It's one of the most common problems that people run into:

"My vocals never seem to sit right in my mixes."

"The vocals are buried in the mix and when I turn them up, they are too loud."

"I want the vocals to be "in the mix" but still clear and audible all the time."

"I want the vocals to be upfront, but not on top of the mix too much."

"What do I do to make my vocals sit well in the mix?"

The vocal is the most important element in most mixes. So, I don't think I have to explain why it matters to get it to sound right.

It's what connects with your listeners, it's what tells the story, gets the message across and it is the most unique thing about your music that won't sound like anyone or anything else.


So we've made this entire episode, diving deep into all the things you can do to make sure your vocals sit perfectly and feel just right:

• Timing and pitch
• EQ
• Compression
• Sibilance control
• Effects
• Depth and distance between vocal layers

Enjoy!

--

For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/275

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com

Send us a text

Your next step:

Apply for coaching!

theselfrecordingband.com

Our coaching community, The Self-Recording Syndicate, is the number one way for DIY producers around the world to get results that they'll be proud of forever.

If you apply for personal mentoring, we'll first jump on a completely free call so we can give you feedback, build a custom plan for you and help you figure out the best way forward.

🚀 Here are all the details, let's go:

theselfrecordingband.com

--

Episode show notes:

Have you ever written something in a burst of raw emotion - only to cringe at it a year later? Or maybe the opposite - you sat on a song too long and lost the magic?

In the age of AI-generated music and the flood of music that's technically fine and engineered without flaws, but still incredibly boring, what is it that music fans want most?

The human connection. Stories. Emotion. Art that is relatable and authentic.

So let's talk about that part of producing music some more. Let's explore different ways to approach it and how they lead to different results.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• Writing/producing fast and in the moment vs letting it sit for a while
• Writing songs in the moment, when you are going through something versus writing them some time later
• Same with producing
• The Emotional Argument:
  • In an AI-dominated, overpolished era, what listeners crave isn’t just clean production—it’s connection.
    • Why immediacy can lead to:
      • Raw energy
      • Honest storytelling
      • Unfiltered performances
    • Why hindsight can lead to:
      • Deeper insight
      • Refined songwriting
      • Better arrangement decisions

“Is one more ‘authentic’ than the other - or is it just a different kind of truth?”

As an example we talk about Manel's upcoming and already partly released album.

And his experience producing the album (writing the songs 2/3 years ago, then revisiting them 1 year ago, and mixing them now)

• What changed emotionally or musically during that time?
• Were there parts he wanted to keep but didn’t connect with anymore?
• Did letting things sit help or hurt the creative flow?

We also mention some famous examples, like Taylor Swift, Kurt Cobain, Metallica, Radiohead, or the Foo Fighters.

And finally, we talk about the producer’s dilemma:

When producing others:

• Do you push for emotion in the moment or help refine over time?

As a self-recording musician:

• Are you capturing a moment—or sculpting art from memory?

And, of course we add some practical advice and action steps for you before we wrap it up.

Enjoy!

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For links to everything we've mentioned in this episode, key takeaways, as well as full show notes go to: theselfrecordingband.com/274

--

If you have any questions, feedback, topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, email us at: podcast@theselfrecordingband.com