In the first episode of the Music Maker’s Lounge, hosts Brandon and Sean sit down with Aiden and Colin from the band Perfect Strangers. They discuss their musical journey, starting from their beginnings. The conversation covers their genre evolution from alternative rock with funky elements to a heavier sound influenced by metal. They also explore the dynamics of songwriting within a group, the impact of live performances on their music, and the logistical and creative challenges of building a band brand. Topics such as effective use of social media, the importance of merch, navigating cover songs, and more. The episode includes candid stories, practical advice for new bands, and plenty of laughs.00:00 Welcome to the Music Maker's Lounge00:06 Meet the Band: Perfect Strangers00:55 The Journey Begins: Forming the Band01:27 Evolving Sound02:14 Live Performances and Audience Reactions05:55 Songwriting Dynamics and Band Chemistry08:13 Navigating the Music Industry21:45 Merchandise and Marketing Strategies26:34 Engaging Live Shows and Community Building27:35 Making Every Show an Event27:57 Navigating the Local Music Scene28:42 Challenges of Touring29:37 Building Stage Chemistry30:58 The Importance of Playing Live32:16 Practicing and Preparing for Shows37:32 Debating Covers vs. Originals39:51 Evolving Sound and Stage Presence48:08 Upcoming Shows and Final Thoughts

More about the band:

Instagram: @perfectstrngers

Gmail: perfectstrangersdet@gmail.com

Website: https://prfctstrngers.wixsite.com/perfectstrangers

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/260ZWwou0Ee8fz3DbX1bEV?si=Z-hQuwshRviHqiS-yNK9EQ

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/perfect-strangers/1574570785

Upcoming Show:

7-12-2025 @ Lager House w Silvis & Moravian, 18+, 7pm

Tickets: tickets will be available at Moravianband.com closer to the event

Band Bio:

Perfect Strangers is a 5-piece alternative-rock band based in metro Detroit. Formed in 2021 by guitarist Colin Wilk and vocalist Aidan Thomas, the duo hit the ground running with a debut EP followed by a full length album titled “Young and Selfish” in 2022. Shortly after its release, Antonio Hinojosa stepped in on bass, and Nate Walker joined Wilk on guitar. Following the release of singles, “I feel better alone” and “Aliens”, the band finally landed a drummer, Tyler Evans. Since December 2024, the band has played countless shows across metro Detroit in venues such as The Sanctuary, The Blind Pig, and The Loving Touch, and released three singles along the way.

With influences rooted in punk, rock, blues, funk, and metal, the band likes to experiment in their songwriting and dip their toes in many different styles of music. They are currently working on an EP and anticipate new music as soon as late summer.

In this episode of the Music Maker's Cookbook, hosts Sean and Brandon dive deep into the concept of natural copyright and its implications for independent artists. They discuss the immediate ownership that creators automatically have over their work upon creation and the importance of documenting and timestamping recordings to secure this copyright. The conversation covers various aspects such as the differences between natural and legal copyright, the role of session musicians, and the intricacies of licensing, especially concerning beatmakers and EDM artists. The episode also touches on the hot topic of AI's impact on copyright in the music industry, stressing the evolving legal landscape. Throughout, the hosts emphasize the importance of officially registering copyright to protect one's work effectively.00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Discussion01:10 Natural Copyright Explained02:02 Legal Disclaimers and Practical Advice03:01 What Natural Copyright Covers12:27 Documenting Your Work for Protection15:33 Beat Licensing and Other Considerations17:38 Understanding Copyright Claims and Exclusive Ownership18:10 Navigating Copyright Claims on YouTube and Spotify18:55 The Importance of Official Copyright Documentation19:50 Natural Copyright and Session Musicians21:40 Engineers and Natural Copyright24:25 AI and Natural Copyright: The Current Landscape27:19 The Complexities of Using Samples and Licensing29:26 Final Thoughts32:32 Protecting Your Music with Professional Help34:20 Outro and Contact Information

In this episode of the Music Makers Cookbook, hosts Sean and Brandon, along with their guest Joe, delve into the intricacies of live sound monitoring. The discussion covers the pros and cons of using in-ear monitors versus floor wedges, offering valuable insights for independent artists. Joe shares best practices from his extensive experience as a live sound engineer, emphasizing mic placement, handling feedback, and the importance of stage volume control. The episode highlights how in-ear monitors can enhance performance quality and protect hearing, while also addressing the challenges of transitioning from traditional floor wedges. Whether you're a seasoned musician or new to live performance, this episode provides practical advice for optimizing your on-stage audio experience.

00:00 Introduction to the Music Makers Cookbook

00:07 Meet Joe: The Live Sound Engineer

01:20 Discussing Monitor World

01:39 Question of the Week: Wedges vs. In-Ear Monitors

03:21 The Role of a Monitor Engineer

04:35 Challenges and Best Practices in Live Sound

08:43 Understanding Monitor Mixes

16:03 Tips for Musicians: Communicating with Your Engineer

09:47 Enhancing Vocal Clarity with Compression

23:38 Managing Stage Noise and Feedback

25:13 The Benefits of In-Ear Monitors

26:51 Transitioning to In-Ear Monitors

31:41 Hybrid Monitoring Setups

38:27 Customizing Monitor Mixes

42:21 Conclusion and Services

In this episode of the Music Makers Cookbook, hosts Sean and Brandon dive deep into the 80/20 Principle (Pareto Principle) and how it applies to various aspects of an independent artist's career, from songwriting and live performances to mixing and marketing. They discuss the importance of focusing on the 20% of efforts that yield 80% of the results and offer practical tips for leveraging this principle to achieve greater efficiency and success in the music industry. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on how the 80/20 Principle has impacted their careers and to think about how they can apply it moving forward. The episode also includes a reminder to subscribe and review the podcast, along with a sneak peek of future content and the benefits of working with the right studio and engineer.00:00 Introduction to the Music Makers Cookbook00:46 Understanding the 80/20 Principle03:09 Applying the 80/20 Principle in Music10:30 Eliminating Low Impact Activities16:09 Focus on High Impact Activities18:56 Releasing and Testing Songs19:28 The 80/20 Principle in Music19:51 Examples from Famous Artists21:10 Quality Control in the Studio23:49 Applying the 80/20 Principle in Life26:58 Morning Routines and Studio Efficiency28:31 Mixing and the 80/20 Principle31:00 Focusing on Effective Platforms33:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Music Maker's Cookbook, the hosts discuss the essential components of stage plots and their critical role in streamlining live performances. They welcome guest Joe M, an experienced live sound engineer, who shares his insights on the importance of stage plots and tech riders. They delve into best practices for creating stage plots, the importance of communication between bands and venue staff, and the efficiency gains from well-organized load-ins and load-outs. The conversation includes practical tips and real-life examples to help independent artists navigate the logistics of live shows and optimize their performances.00:00 Introduction to the Music Maker's Cookbook00:11 Podcast Setup and Changes00:40 Introducing Joe, the Live Engineer00:59 Joe's Experience in the Music Industry03:05 Importance of Stage Plots07:12 Stage Plots vs. Tech Riders12:58 Best Practices for Stage Plots17:12 Dealing with Late Arrivals and Saving Time17:36 Importance of Detailed Communication19:13 Efficient Load-In and Load-Out Strategies23:27 Prioritizing Headliners and House Audio Support27:28 Tools for Creating Stage Plots29:40 Final Thoughts and Plugs

Resources for making your own Stage Plot:

Tecrider: https://tecrider.com/

Ridermaker: https://ridermaker.com/

Canva: https://www.canva.com/

In the final episode of 2024, hosts Sean and Brandon of the Music Maker's Cookbook podcast reflect on their first full year of podcasting, share end-of-year thoughts, and provide a sneak peek into what 2025 holds. They discuss their consistency over 83 episodes, share their favorite holiday music, and announce exciting changes including a three-month hiatus, a shift to video-centric content, and the introduction of new episode types such as the Music Maker's Lounge and industry updates. They encourage listeners to share feedback and ideas for future content as they prepare to return in April 2025 with refreshed and enriched programming. 00:00 Welcome to the Music Maker's Cookbook 00:52 Reflecting on a Year of Podcasting 02:21 Favorite Holiday Songs 06:52 Exciting Changes for 2025 09:22 New Content and Strategies 15:16 Artist Interviews and Community Engagement 22:29 Year-End Recap and Holiday Wishes

In this episode of Newsmakers Cookbook, hosts Brandon and Sean discuss the crucial topic of gain staging. They cover its significance in both the analog and digital domains, how to avoid common pitfalls, and the balance needed to achieve the perfect recording. Whether you're a seasoned engineer or a budding artist, this episode offers valuable insights on how to handle gain staging to avoid noise floors, clipping, and ensure your recordings shine. The hosts also delve into practical tips for setting levels, the impact of saturation, and the continuous role of gain staging throughout the music production process. 00:00 Introduction to Newsmakers Cookbook 00:14 Upcoming Episodes and Announcements 01:23 Recording Dry vs. With Effects 06:39 The Importance of Gain Staging 08:47 Analog vs. Digital Gain Staging 09:17 Understanding Noise Floor and Clipping 16:36 Analog Saturation and Creative Choices 19:00 The Joy of Analog Sounds 19:31 Common Pitfalls in Recording 20:57 Practical Tips for Gain Staging 22:04 The Importance of Practicing 24:25 Auto Gain and Modern Interfaces 25:30 Peak vs. Average Metering 29:59 Analog vs. Digital Clipping 30:48 Gain Staging Throughout the Process 32:35 Photography Analogy for Gain Staging 34:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Blog Post Link: https://www.studio222recording.com/gain-staging-during-recording-what-the-hell-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/

In this episode of 'The Music Makers Cookbook,' Sean and Brandon discuss 4 different appetizer topics ranging from automation when mixing to knowing when a songs composition is getting to busy. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back 00:40 Weather Talk and Michigan Sniffles 01:48 Podcast Format and Episode Structure 02:54 Appetizer: Is My Mix Too Busy? 11:52 Appetizer: How Much Should I Automate My Mixes? 23:52 Phase Relationship and Timing Issues 24:26 Double Tracking and Layering Guitars 25:11 Balancing and Mixing Techniques 29:42 Punchy Drums: Recording and Mixing Tips 32:14 Advanced Drum Mixing Techniques 40:21 Outro and Contact Information