Author: Finn McKenty

Lenny Skolnik, also known as Yung Spielburg, is a producer and songwriter who works closely with Howard Benson. With a background in pop, he brings a unique perspective to the rock world, having co-written a #1 hit for metalcore veterans All That Remains. His versatile credit list also includes Japanese rock superstar Miyavi, pop artist Leah Marie Johnson, and the indie-pop group Happy Sometimes, showcasing his ability to craft impactful songs across a wide range of genres.

In This Episode

Producer Lenny Skolnik (Yung Spielburg) hangs out with Joel for a killer conversation that bridges the gap between the pop and rock worlds. Lenny shares the wild story of how he linked up with Howard Benson and unpacks the “assembly line” philosophy that made Benson’s studio so prolific. They get into the weeds on what it *really* takes to be a top-level producer today, from building a specialized team you can trust to navigating the politics of feedback from labels and managers. Lenny also drops some serious knowledge on songwriting, breaking down his process of using genuine conversation and therapy-like connection to find the emotional core of a track. For any producer looking to improve their workflow, team-building skills, and ability to write a legit hit, this is a must-listen.

Timestamps

• [3:17] Lenny’s journey from being in bands to becoming a producer because he couldn’t sing
• [5:40] The wild story of how he met Howard Benson and landed his first internship
• [7:34] Why taking initiative and finishing projects is more important than the material itself
• [8:27] The power of saying “yes” to every opportunity when you’re starting out
• [11:29] A producer’s role in breaking through an artist’s self-doubt and mental blocks
• [13:20] Howard Benson’s advice: A producer’s job is to *produce* a finished product
• [14:23] The art of collaboration and navigating feedback from A&R, managers, and the band
• [16:15] Turning around a mastered track in three days after a deadline miscommunication
• [21:02] Building efficient systems for mixing to maximize creativity and effectiveness
• [26:13] How Howard Benson applied an “assembly line” philosophy to making records
• [30:11] The key to building a great team: hiring people who are better than you at their specific job
• [34:47] Where to find new talent for your team (hint: universities and internships)
• [38:53] Why producers should get involved beyond just the music to help promote artists they believe in
• [43:49] What makes a great song? It’s all about making the listener *feel* something
• [45:43] Why a strong negative reaction to a song can be a good sign
• [50:40] Lenny’s songwriting process: It all starts with conversation and therapy-like connection
• [58:09] How to successfully write for different genres and international markets
• [59:55] How Lenny, a pop producer, co-wrote a #1 song for the metal band All That Remains

Andy Marsh is the guitarist for the Australian deathcore band Thy Art Is Murder. In addition to writing and performing with the band, he has also taken on management duties and launched his own record label. Marsh has an incredibly unique career path, having also performed as a fill-in guitarist and bassist for two of Australia’s other largest heavy exports, Parkway Drive and The Amity Affliction.

In This Episode

Andy Marsh of Thy Art Is Murder gets into the nitty-gritty of how he juggles being a touring musician, band manager, and label owner. He shares some seriously practical time management hacks, explaining how he uses simple, integrated tools like Apple’s ecosystem, Dropbox, and Google Docs to stay organized across multiple time zones. Andy also shares his unbelievable origin story: after a career-ending rugby injury, he taught himself guitar theory from a magazine in a hospital bed, which quickly led to him joining some of Australia’s biggest bands. He also breaks down some of the band’s studio and live techniques, discussing how they get their lead tones to cut through a dense mix, their go-to pre-production workflow, and how they use Kemper profiles to bring their album tones to the stage. It’s a great look into the mindset and systems needed to build a sustainable career in music.

Products Mentioned

• Apple Ecosystem (iPhone, MacBook, Apple Watch, etc.)
• Slack
• Google Docs
• Dropbox
• Microsoft 365 (Excel)
• Kemper Profiler
• Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty
• STL Tones – Will Putney Tonality Plug-In
• Avid Pro Tools
• Logic Pro
• Apogee Duet
• Toontrack Superior Drummer

Timestamps

• [0:08:23] The core of Andy’s time management system
• [0:10:53] Using Apple’s integrated apps (Reminders, Notes, Calendar) to organize a busy schedule
• [0:12:34] The tipping point when you can no longer manage everything in your head
• [0:21:07] How to use shared notes and calendars to keep your team in sync
• [0:24:06] Using Dropbox and pre-made templates to streamline tour management
• [0:30:18] The “Indiana Jones” principle: Writing things down to free up your brain
• [0:32:28] John Cleese’s theory on setting time limits to boost creativity
• [0:35:15] Using a change of scenery (like a coffee shop) to improve focus
• [0:39:41] Why taking a break is often more productive than pushing through fatigue
• [0:45:48] The face-crushing rugby injury that accidentally launched his music career
• [0:53:00] How he taught himself guitar by reading tabs in a hospital before he could even play
• [0:58:35] Starting guitar with pure technical exercises instead of songs
• [1:05:31] Why networking and being a reliable person is crucial
• [1:12:37] The story of learning 15 Thy Art Is Murder songs the day of his first show
• [1:18:59] The secrets to a clear and consistent live lead guitar tone
• [1:22:39] Using a Kemper to capture and use their exact studio tones live
• [1:25:18] Studio tricks: Parallel mix bus compression and hard-panning guitars
• [1:27:00] Andy’s favorite tools and workflow for writing and pre-production

Marc McClusky is a multi-platinum producer, mixer, and composer with a discography that includes multiple top-five Billboard albums. He’s known for his work with iconic artists like Weezer, Bad Religion, Motion City Soundtrack, and Everclear, and has also composed for major brands like ESPN and Coca-Cola. In addition to his production work, Marc operates the drum sample company Smack Drum Samples.

In This Episode

Marc McClusky joins the podcast for a deep dive into the philosophy of music production, blending a scientific mindset with creative instinct. He explains his concept of music as “emotional math,” and how he deconstructs songs to build a toolbox for evoking specific feelings through harmony and texture. Marc emphasizes the importance of a song passing the “acoustic guitar and vocal” test, arguing that production should only amplify what’s already great. He shares his collaborative, ego-free approach to working with bands, explaining how to gain trust and when to get out of the way (like with Bad Religion). He also gets into the mindset needed for a long-term career, covering the work ethic that separates successful bands from the rest, the value of learning from failure, and navigating the feast-or-famine nature of freelance life. This is a must-listen for producers who want to strengthen the musical and psychological foundation of their work.

Products Mentioned

• Neve 33609 Compressor
• Avid Pro Tools
• Cockos Reaper

Timestamps

• [0:06:47] Viewing music as the “emotional math of harmony”
• [0:07:22] Why he analyzes songs to build a “toolbox” of emotional responses
• [0:11:17] Why musical texture is as important as harmony for creating emotion
• [0:15:15] The value of listening to music you actively dislike
• [0:24:02] Common harmonic mistakes that amateur bands make
• [0:25:00] Visualizing an arrangement like a piano to create space in the mix
• [0:31:14] Stealing ideas and making them your own when composing a score
• [0:42:48] The “acoustic guitar and vocal” test for a great song
• [0:45:53] Why pop music is one of the hardest genres to produce
• [0:52:05] How he built trust with bands by making suggestions he knew would work
• [0:58:37] Learning from failure and the importance of experimentation
• [1:00:32] The creative exercise of writing 200 songs in a single year
• [1:05:13] Trusting an artist’s passion, even if you don’t initially see their vision
• [1:07:37] Mixing Weezer’s “Hurley”: creating dynamics with limited tracks
• [1:10:32] Making the worst-sounding element in a mix your reference point
• [1:17:37] The “waiting for a letter” mentality that holds back up-and-coming bands
• [1:21:06] Recognizing your weaknesses and finding ways to compensate for them
• [1:30:43] Advice for new producers on how to compete with established names
• [1:37:55] The inevitable “waves” of being busy and being dead in a freelance career

Tom Knight is a platinum-selling drummer, instructor, and voice actor whose versatile career has seen him play on records that have sold over 15 million copies. He’s laid down the beat for a diverse range of massive artists, including TLC, Monica, Pink, and Stevie Nicks, and has performed with icons like James Brown and Bo Diddley. Outside of drumming, his voice work can be heard on commercials for major brands like Acura and Yamaha Drums, and he has served as a board governor for the Atlanta chapter of the Recording Academy (The Grammys).

In This Episode

Tom Knight sits down for a chill but super insightful conversation about what it takes to build a long-haul career in music. He gets into the mindset of learning by unapologetically copying your heroes, explaining how emulating greats like Dave Weckl eventually forged his own unique style. Tom also gets real about dealing with creative slumps and maintaining momentum, offering solid advice on using perspective to get past the bad days. He shares some wild stories, from his early days obsessing over Neil Peart to the aggressive (and hilarious) way he landed his first metal tour with Hallows Eve. For anyone navigating the industry, Tom breaks down his transition from metal to high-level R&B session work and why the single most important factor for success—beyond your chops—is simply being a cool person to be around.

Products Mentioned

• Neumann U 87
• Focusrite Preamps
• Adobe Premiere
• Adobe After Effects
• Yamaha Drums
• Vic Firth Drumsticks

Timestamps

• [5:30] The value of copying your heroes
• [8:20] Modeling successful people to develop your own style
• [12:22] How Tom maintains momentum on days when there is none
• [15:40] Using perspective to overcome negative feelings
• [18:19] Why a little OCD might be necessary to be a great drummer
• [24:46] How a drum solo in an Iron Butterfly song got him started
• [28:23] Discovering Neil Peart and assembling the massive Rush kit
• [33:37] Graduating high school with an inflated ego and waiting for the limo that never came
• [36:28] The aggressive (and inadvisable) story of how he landed the gig with Hallows Eve
• [42:00] The band’s ultimatum: “You either get the gig or we beat the shit out of you.”
• [46:15] How he transitioned from metal to the world of R&B session work
• [57:06] His early, DIY approach to marketing himself as a session drummer
• [1:07:21] The two traits shared by all his most successful students
• [1:10:47] Why being easy to hang with is just as important as your chops
• [1:13:01] Pivoting from drumming to video production after getting a $10,000 quote for an EPK
• [1:24:08] Tom’s deep dive into calisthenics and mastering the muscle-up
• [1:30:35] Why he believes limb “independence” is a myth and how to actually learn polyrhythms
• [1:36:09] The art of playing to a click: paying attention and not paying attention at the same time
• [1:41:53] Emulating programmed beats vs. playing like a traditional drummer