Production Expert Podcast

"Behind some of the world's greatest hits lies a great question: does constraint breed genius? In this Podcast Edition, Drummer Steven Gilchrist (Graham Coxon, The Damned, and Boney M) and Grammy winning engineer Liam Nolan (Rihanna, Stormzy, the Black Eyed Peas) sit down with our Host Ashea to reveal the behind-the-scenes of Adele's 'Hello,' the meticulous process behind the legendary Drumopolis project with Tony Visconti, and what it really takes to engineer records that resonate globally.
In This Episode:
Inside the Adele 'Hello' sessions: 
The mic chain that captured one of the biggest vocal performances of the decade (U47, Neve 1081, 1176)
How Tony Visconti designed Drumopolis: capturing '70s legend with modern flexibility across 29 microphones
The Decca tree, room mics, and why a tea towel on the snare matters (vintage tone with intention)
Why recording vibe, comfort, and 'reading the room' is non-negotiable—and what that looks like in practice
Analog vs. digital: the tape machine, commitment, and why limitations can raise the stakes for performance
Managing expectations: why clients listening on car stereos ask for mixes that don't exist, and how to set boundaries
Democratizing music production: why tools like Drumopolis matter beyond the studio
Working with Rihanna, Stormzy, the Black Eyed Peas & will.i.am: lessons from sessions with global superstars

About Our Guests
Liam Nolan
Liam Nolan is a recording and mix engineer who has recently transitioned to freelance work after years at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick. Over his career, he's engineered sessions with some of the world's biggest artists, including Adele, Stormzy, Rihanna, AJ Tracey, the Black Eyed Peas, and will.i.am. He was the engineer on Adele's Grammy-winning 'Hello,' credited for his work in a writing session that became chart history. His approach prioritizes artist comfort, technical precision, and understanding the unique sonic demands of each session. He specializes in capturing vocal performances and crafting the sonic identity of records at one of the world's most legendary facilities.
Instagram: @liamjnolan | Website: mixedbyliamnolan.com
Steven Gilchrist
Steven Gilchrist is an accomplished drummer, percussionist, producer, and engineer. He's performed with legendary artists including Graham Coxon, The Damned, and Boney M. As the owner and operator of Brixton Hill Studios, he works as a session drummer, producer, and engineer. Under his name Stephen Evens, he's currently working on his fifth record, all of which (except the first) have been recorded to tape. He collaborated with Tony Visconti on the Drumopolis project for Toontrack, providing his Ludwig drum kit and his mother's Premier snare for the sound design. Steven is a strong advocate for analog recording, commitment in the studio, and the philosophy that limitation breeds creativity.
Instagram: @thestephenevens | Brixton Hill Studios: brixtonhillstudios.com
About Our Host
Ashea
Ashea is a platinum-selling songwriter, music producer, and audio engineer from the UK. Her production and mixing credits include work with Alan Walker, Holy Goof, TS7, Billy Da Kid (Kiss FM), Steve Smart (Kiss FM), The Wideboys, MER, Sony Music, 2Tone Records, BBC, and SVT1 (Sweden). Through the Production Expert Podcast, she brings industry insiders together to explore the craft, process, and philosophy behind the world's greatest records.
Website: asheamusicofficial.com Instagram: @iamashea
Featured In This Podcast: 
Metropolis Studios: metropolisstudios.com
Toontrack Drumopolis SDX: toontrack.com
Brixton Hill Studios: brixtonrecording.com
Genelec UNIO Monitoring: genelec.com/unio
Source Elements Suite: sourceelem

The number of women working as audio engineers and music producers is falling, not rising. Ashea is joined by British-Ghanaian producer, rapper and author Nana Ayebi-Kwakye to discuss why the gap is widening, where the signs of hope are, and the thinking behind her children's book Delasi On A Mission, written to show young girls that the studio is a place they belong.

Women In Audio: Why The Numbers Are Falling, With Nana Ayebi-Kwakye
The proportion of women working as professional audio engineers and music producers has been moving in the wrong direction for years. The data is uncomfortable, the reasons are tangled, and the industry's response has been inconsistent at best. In this conversation, Ashea sits down with producer, rapper and author Nana Ayebi-Kwakye to talk honestly about what's happening, what's working, and why representation in children's books might matter more than another panel discussion at a trade show.
In this episode:
Why the percentage of women working in professional audio production is declining rather than growing, and what the available data actually shows
The signs of hope: the initiatives, mentorship structures and visible role models that are starting to shift the picture for the next generation
The principle Nana keeps coming back to: if you can't see it, you can't be it, and what that means in practical terms for studios, schools and parents
The story behind Delasi On A Mission, the children's book Nana wrote to put a young girl behind the desk rather than in front of the mic
The barriers that show up before anyone gets near a studio: perception, language, who appears in the photos, who teaches the classes
What working professionals can actually do, beyond awareness, to change the numbers in their own corner of the industry
About Our Guest: Nana Ayebi-Kwakye:
Nana Ayebi-Kwakye is a British-Ghanaian music producer, rapper and author. Her debut children's book, Delasi On A Mission, tells the story of a young girl discovering music production and learning to navigate the obstacles that come with it, aimed at readers aged six and up. She is also involved in initiatives including The Leading Vibe and her own Sounds You Make project, both focused on widening access to music production for young people.
About Our Host:  Ashea is a platinum selling songwriter, music producer & audio engineer from the UK. Credits & Placements Include… Alan Walker, Holy Goof, TS7, Billy Da Kid (Kiss FM) Steve Smart (Kiss FM) The Wideboys, MER, Sony Music, 2Tone Records, BBC, SVT1 (Sweden).

Description
In this podcast episode Ashea is joined by Arnd Kaiser, Product Designer Strategist at Fender Musical Instruments, and Tony Carridi, Global Revenue and Go-To-Market Executive at Fender PreSonus. Together they discuss the strategic rebrand of Fender Studio, exploring what this evolution means for music producers, audio engineers, and musicians using Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software.
This conversation goes beyond the surface-level rebrand to explore the vision driving Fender's entry into the DAW market, the future of music production software, and what producers should expect from Fender Studio going forward. Whether you're a guitarist, music producer, audio engineer, or just curious about the future of music production tools, this episode provides insider insights into one of the music industry's most iconic brands' strategic move into professional music production software. Discover why this rebrand matters, what innovations are coming, and why Fender Studio is positioning itself as a game-changer in the competitive DAW landscape.

In This Episode:
The Fender Studio Rebrand Strategy - Understanding the vision behind Fender's rebrand and repositioning of their DAW product, and what strategic decisions led to this major announcement
Product Design & User Experience Focus - How Fender approaches product design strategy to create intuitive, professional-grade music production software that serves both beginners and experienced producers
Expanding Beyond Guitarists - Why Fender Studio is positioning itself as a tool for all music creators, not just guitarists, and how this broadens the addressable market for the product
The Future of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) - Industry perspective on where DAW technology is headed, emerging features, and competitive dynamics in the music production software market
Go-To-Market Strategy & Industry Positioning - Insights into how Fender is launching and marketing Fender Studio to different segments of the music production community
Innovation in Music Production Tools - The technological innovations and features that make Fender Studio a compelling option in a crowded DAW marketplace
Collaboration Between Fender & PreSonus - How the partnership between Fender Musical Instruments and PreSonus creates synergies and advantages for Fender Studio users
What Inspires Professional Audio Engineers - Personal insights from industry executives about what drives their passion for music production and innovation in the field

About Our Guests:
Arnd Kaiser:
Arnd Kaiser is a Product Designer Strategist at Fender Musical Instruments, responsible for shaping the vision and strategic direction of Fender's product offerings in the music production software space. With expertise in product design and strategic planning, Kaiser brings deep understanding of how to create tools that resonate with musicians and producers across different skill levels and genres.
Tony Carridi:
Tony Carridi is a Global Revenue and Go-To-Market Executive at Fender PreSonus, overseeing the commercial strategy and market positioning of Fender Studio. With extensive experience in revenue growth and market strategy, Carridi brings insights into how Fender is approaching the competitive music production software market and building a sustainable business around innovative music tools.

About Our Host:
Ashea is a platinum-selling songwriter, music producer, and audio engineer from the UK. With credits spanning notable artists, major labels, and prestigious broadcasters, Ashea brings authentic conversations between industry professionals to the Production Expert Podcast. Credits & Placements Include… Alan Walker, Holy Goof, TS7, Billy Da Kid (Kiss FM), Steve Smart (Kiss FM), The Wideboys, MER, Sony Music, 2Tone Records, BBC, SVT1 (Sweden).

Resources & Links Mentioned
Fender Studio - Fender's professional music production DAW software. Visit: fender.com/studio
PreSonus - Digital audio workstation and music production technology company. Visit: presonus.com
Fender Musical Instruments - Iconic manufacturer of guitars and music production equipment. Visit: fender.com
Genelec UniO Monitoring Ecosystem - Professional audio monitoring solution providing seamless bridge between loudspeaker and headphone monitoring for consistent mix translation. Visit: genelec.com/unio

Subscribe & Follow
Subscribe to the Production Expert Podcast on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
All major podcast platforms
Follow us:
Instagram: [@production_expert_podcast]
Website: [productionexpertpodcast.com]

Sponsorship
This episode is brought to you by Genelec. If you've ever been disappointed with the way your mixes sound on other playback systems, check out Genelec's UniO monitoring ecosystem. By providing a seamless bridge between loudspeaker and headphone monitoring, UniO allows you to quickly create great sounding mixes that translate consistently wherever you choose to work. No more guesswork, no more surprises — just truthful, accurate audio monitoring from stereo to immersive. Visit genelec.com/unio to learn more.

In this episode Ashea is joined by Arnd Kaiser and Tony Cariddi of Presonus/Fender for a tense guitar and synth quiz designed to really test your abilities. If you fail it's worth thinking long and hard about your career choice because you're likely an impostor ;) Enjoy!

Description
In this podcast episode Ashea is joined by Stephen Gallagher, an Emmy Award-winning composer and music editor with credits on major film and television productions, and Tilman Sillescu, creative director, co-founder, and principal composer at Sonuscore. This is Part 2 of the Lord Of The Strings, continuing their in-depth exploration of professional film and television scoring.
In this episode, Stephen and Tilman delve deeper into the collaborative process between composers and directors, discussing the balance between creative independence and serving the director's vision. They explore the importance of delegation in team environments, managing multiple demands across different projects, and the mindset required to adapt to each director's unique style and creative preferences. Whether you're a composer, music producer, or anyone interested in understanding how professional orchestral scores are crafted in demanding production environments, this conversation reveals the professional and interpersonal skills that separate experienced composers from emerging talents.

In This Episode:
Balancing Creative Independence and Collaboration - The importance of finding balance between personal creative expression and working collaboratively with directors, producers, and other team members in film and television production
The Skill of Delegation and Team Leadership - How composers effectively delegate tasks in a team environment, trust collaborators with specific aspects of the score, and manage workflow across multiple projects and deadlines
Serving the Director's Vision - Understanding that a composer's primary responsibility is to serve the director's intent and the story they're telling, rather than imposing a personal creative agenda
Adapting to Different Directors' Demands - Each director has unique creative preferences, production challenges, and storytelling approaches, requiring composers to be flexible and responsive to varied creative demands
Human Behavior in Creative Collaboration - Drawing parallels between human relationship dynamics and creative collaboration, understanding how people work individually and collectively
Managing Micromanagement and Creative Control - The importance of letting go of excessive control, trusting collaborators, and avoiding the pitfall of trying to micromanage every aspect of a production
Problem-Solving Across Diverse Projects - No two film or television projects present the same challenges, requiring composers to develop adaptable problem-solving skills and creative flexibility
Building a Professional Composing Career - Insights into how experienced composers navigate the entertainment industry, work with varied production teams, and sustain long-term creative careers

About Our Guests:
Stephen Gallagher:
Stephen Gallagher is an Emmy Award-winning composer and music editor with extensive credits in film and television. His work has been recognized with Emmy Awards, and he has contributed music to major television and film productions that have reached global audiences. With a distinguished career spanning decades, Gallagher brings deep expertise in orchestration, music editing, and the interpersonal skills required to collaborate effectively with directors and production teams in demanding entertainment environments.
Tilman Sillescu:
Tilman Sillescu is a creative director, co-founder, and principal composer at Sonuscore, a leading company known for developing advanced digital orchestral libraries and composition tools. As an award-winning composer in his own right, Sillescu combines deep musical knowledge with innovative technology and practical production experience. His perspective bridges the gap between creative composition and the practical realities of professional film and television scoring.

About Our Host:
Ashea is a platinum-selling songwriter, music producer, and audio engineer from the UK. With credits spanning notable artists, major labels, and prestigious broadcasters, Ashea brings authentic conversations between industry professionals to the Production Expert Podcast. Credits & Placements Include… Alan Walker, Holy Goof, TS7, Billy Da Kid (Kiss FM), Steve Smart (Kiss FM), The Wideboys, MER, Sony Music, 2Tone Records, BBC, SVT1 (Sweden).

Resources & Links Mentioned
Sonuscore - Digital orchestral libraries and composition tools. Visit: sonuscore.com
Stephen Gallagher - Emmy-winning composer and music editor
Genelec UniO Monitoring Ecosystem - Professional audio monitoring solution providing seamless bridge between loudspeaker and headphone monitoring for consistent mix translation. Visit: genelec.com/unio

Subscribe & Follow
Subscribe to the Production Expert Podcast on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
YouTube
All major podcast platforms
Follow us:
Instagram: [@production_expert_podcast]
Website: [productionexpertpodcast.com]

Sponsorship
This episode is brought to you by Genelec. If you've ever been disappointed with the way your mixes sound on other playback systems, check out Genelec's UniO monitoring ecosystem. By providing a seamless bridge between loudspeaker and headphone monitoring, UniO allows you to quickly create great sounding mixes that translate consistently wherever you choose to work. No more guesswork, no more surprises — just truthful, accurate audio monitoring from stereo to immersive. Visit genelec.com/unio to learn more.
Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part episode. Be sure to listen to Part 1 for the complete conversation with Stephen Gallagher and Tilman Sillescu.