Black Hole Sun: How Chris Cornell and Michael Beinhorn Let Go of the Past to Find Soundgarden’s Future
What happens when lead singer Chris Cornell removes his self-imposed limitations on songwriting and embraces his own inspirations and desires? The world gets caught in the inescapable pull of 1994’s Black Hole Sun. The song is Soundgarden's greatest commercial success,…
Legendary Musician – Trey Gunn Interview (King Crimson, David Sylvian, Robert Fripp)
Trey Gunn is an American musician, composer, and producer who is best known for his work as a bassist in King Crimson, one of the most influential progressive rock bands in history. Born in Texas in 1960, Gunn began playing…
Songs That Changed Music: Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
A growing snowball of Steinman’s artistic endeavors and experiences from his late teens and early 20s, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” arrived more like an avalanche of creative ideas on the doorsteps of The Power Station in 1982. The writer/producer/engineer/composer…
“Shake Rattle and Roll” by Big Joe Turner – Songs That Changed Music
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos What was the first rock ‘n roll record? Rocket 88? Rock around the Clock? Do we trace the music back to Bill Haley and Elvis Presley, or to Chuck Berry and Little Richard, or even…
How Sam Cooke Reimagined the Protest Song and Created a Civil Rights Anthem: “A Change is Gonna Come”
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos In the late fifties and early sixties, Sam Cooke had charted a new path in Black-pop music with Sweet Soul, a genre of crooner ballads and softer pop singles, infused with the influence of gospel,…
Summer Of ’69 by Bryan Adams – Songs That Changed Music
Teenage Nostalgia and the Power of Rock in the “Summer of ‘69”   Written by Kieran Vaughn and Caitlin Vaughn Carlos    Prior to the writing and recording process for “Summer of ‘69,” Bryan Adams found himself in the wake…
Satire or Reality?: The Beastie Boy’s “Fight For Your Right”
Written by Kieran Vaughn Satirical, Controversial and a live show favorite, the Beastie Boys “You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party” took 1986 by storm, bridging the color line of the hip-hop and rock communities and confusing fans and…
“Losing My Religion” – Lyrically Reflective, Tediously Recorded, and (Sort-Of) Created by Accident
Written by Kieran Vaughn Without hearing the actual song, most people in the southern sections of the United States could read the title of R.E.M.'s hit track and probably guess, with good accuracy, what it’s about. After all, the phrase…
Psychedelia on Tape: How Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” Captured Psychedelia in Song
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos In the Summer of 1967, San Francisco found itself in the midst of a cultural revolution – the Summer of Love - as thousands of young people with similar social, cultural, and artistic values all…
Songs That Changed Music: Fire and Rain
James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” and the Dawn Laurel Canyon Singer-Songwriters Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos The start of the seventies was an incredible time of powerful songwriting and self-expression. This was epitomized in the talents of a group of…
The World’s Best-Selling Single, “White Christmas,” and the Changing Landscape of the Music Industry in the 1940s
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos In 1942, Bing Crosby introduced a new Christmas classic to the world - “White Christmas.” The masterpiece of the legendary Tin Pan Alley composer Irving Berlin, “White Christmas” not only broke sales records for the…
Songs that Changed Music: Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Paranoid: How Black Sabbath Charted the Future of Heavy Metal Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos Before there was heavy metal, there was Black Sabbath. Arising from the ashes of the bleak industrial landscape of post-war Britain, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi,…
“You Oughta Know”:Alanis Morrisette and the Unapologetically Real Edge of this Best Selling Hit
The start of the 90s saw an ongoing tension between edgy - often dark - hard-rocking sounds, and the brighter, mainstream pop aesthetic. Industry expectations and marketing placed most female artists in the latter of these categories. But along came…
Songs That Changed Music: Natural Woman by Carole King
In the world of popular music, few praises are higher than that of John Lennon saying that he aspired to be like you. And few songwriters can claim such an honour. However, the two that can are, undoubtedly, two of…
Don’t Fear The Reaper – Blue Öyster Cult: Songs That Changed Music
Is it an optimistic take on the inevitability of death, or a glorification of suicide? Is the “sound” exemplary of Blue Öyster Cult’s music, or is it an anomaly that deviates from the style of their discography? Will the timeless…
Mixing Rock with Hunt Sales & Manny Nieto
This week, we not only shared our interview with Hunt Sales that has a truly touching sentiment to it, yesterday, we put out our weekly video on Songs That Changed Musicthat Hunt played drums on, Lust For Life by Iggy…
Lust For Life – Iggy Pop: Songs That Changed Music
From a simple recording of David Bowie on the Ukulele, “Lust for Life” was extrapolated into the instantly-recognizable song we know today. Rolling Stone placed it in The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004—and yet again in 2021—when…
Roxy Music’s Magnum Opus, “Avalon” – Albums That Changed Music
Roxy Music have been called “the greatest art rock group Britain has produced this side of The Beatles,” and “the most influential British group after The Beatles.” Formed in 1971, Roxy Music reached its musical high point in 1982 with…
Beautiful Recording On A Budget – The Austrian Audio OC16 Review
We're blessed with not only incredibly talented musicians like Katie Ferrara and Blair Sinta but incredible brands that are making a lot of ground in a very short space of time. A few years ago, Austrian Audio had only two…
Woman In Chains by Tears For Fears: Songs That Changed Music
Some songs change the world and top the charts. Other songs have more modest showings but still manage to become staple tracks for generations of musicians, mixers, engineers, and producers to follow. In 1989, Tears for Fears created one of…
Discrete 4 Synergy Core by Antelope Audio Review
I love companies that think ahead and produce products that are packed full for productivity.Today, we are having a bit of Friday Fun!This week, my good friends Katie and Blair came down to the studio for a bit of recording…
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Artists Who Changed Music
For several nights at the end of August, 1990, Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble were the support act for Eric Clapton at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin.  Clapton recalled that when he watched…
Recording Your Dream Drums At Middle Farm Studios
Today we are joined by the marvelous Mr Adam Steel of Hop Pole Studios. Check out his channel! He is starting a new recording and mixing series on the channel documenting his transition to a brand new... brand and recently worked…
Bryan Adam’s, Reckless – Albums That Changed Music
Written by Paul Tingen Bryan Adam’s fourth album Reckless is several milestones rolled into one. Released in 1984, it was Bryan Adams’ international breakthrough album. It brought big rock songs with guitars back to the forefront, at a time when…
Aretha at FAME: Where The Queen of Soul Found Her Voice
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos  When Aretha Franklin entered Fame studios in 1967, she was undoubtedly a prodigious talent, but she hadn’t yet found the voice that would crown her the Queen of Soul.   While the sessions have gone…
Interview: Teddy Richards – Genre-Defying Guitarist
Today, we're sharing Warren's interview with the incredible Teddy Richards. About Teddy Richards After serving 30 years as Aretha Franklin's guitarist, Teddy Richards emerged as a gifted singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer and music publisher. Teddy has been hailed by the press as 'a…
The Definitive Interview: Stephen Lipson – World Renowned British Producer
Stephen Lipson is one of the UK’s leading record producers and songwriters. People say the test of a genuinely great record producer isn’t whether or not they’ve had a couple of hits but whether they can keep having them. If…
How ABBA Found Pop Perfection with “Dancing Queen”

Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos  At the start of the seventies, the idea of a musical group from a non-English speaking country having significant and consistent chart success in the English speaking market, seemed unimaginable. But in the mid-seventies, one…

Songs That Changed Music: Thin Lizzy – “The Boys Are Back in Town”
Thin Lizzy spent years fine-tuning their sound before becoming one of the most recognized rock bands of the mid-70s.  What started as a bluesy folk rock project influenced by Celtic culture and frontman Phil Lynott’s Irish upbringing took a 180…
Gerry Rafferty: Avoiding the Spotlight on “Baker Street”
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos At the start of the eighties, the saxophone was suddenly and unexpectedly omnipresent. From TV commercials to rock singles, its smooth, sultry tones seemed to be found everywhere. By mid-decade, it was the most popular…
Artists who Changed Music: Aretha Franklin
Written by Paul Tingen Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul, and one of the biggest names in American music. She has been called “The Voice of Black America,” as well as “America’s Truest Voice,” “the voice that gave America…
Songs that Changed Music: Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way (ft. James Gadson)
Exclusive Interview with Thelma Houston, Superstar Drummer James Gadson and Grammy-Winning Songwriter/Producer Jimmy Webb by Michael Menachem The allure of a great disco song is an infectious arrangement, lively instrumentation and a stellar vocal to take you away into the…
Artists Who Changed Music: Django Reinhardt
Written by Paul Tingen Django Reinhard has been called “the greatest guitarist who ever lived.” During his heyday, the 1930s and 40s, Reinhardt came up with solo and harmonic innovations on the guitar that had a big impact on modern…
Songs that Changed Music: Herbie Hancock – Rockit
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos  Embracing the Future with Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit”  As an 11 year old, child prodigy, playing the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.5 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, young Herbie Hancock could never have imagined…
Dancing to Distinction: “Blue Monday” and the Reinvented Self of New Order
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos On May 17, 1980, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris all stood, on the eve of their first American tour, poised on the edge of international success. Their band, Joy Division, was about to…
How 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love” Reimagined The Popular Love Song
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos In the mid-seventies 10cc was one of England’s hottest bands. They put out five consecutive Top Ten albums between 1975 and 1978 - Sheet Music (1975), The Original Soundtrack (1975), How Dare You (1976), Deceptive…
Artists Who Changed Music: Miles Davis
Miles Davis was one of the most important musical and cultural icons of the 20th century. He was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer, and was the biggest star in jazz for almost half a century. In addition to his…
Stop Motion Transformations: Peter Gabriel’s Artistic Ascent into Pop Stardom with “Sledgehammer”
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos In August of 1975, Peter Gabriel of Genesis fame delivered his resignation letter, “Out Angels Out” to the press. Citing the challenges of personal growth within the necessary structures of a band environment, he explained:…
Van Halen: How a Los Angeles Bar Band Turned into Legends
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos On February 10, 1978, one minute and forty-two seconds of mind-blowing guitar playing changed the sonic landscape of rock and roll guitar forever by introducing the world to Eddie Van Halen. That would have been…
How the Pretenders Became Real: “Brass in Pocket” and the Hit That Almost Wasn’t
By Caitlin Vaughn Carlos “This goes out over my dead body,” Chrissie Hynde told producer Chris Thomas in the fall of 1979. The Pretenders had just recorded their newest track “Brass in Pocket” at Wessex Studios in London and the…