Stu Watts chats with Louis Montgomery, who is a Melbourne based music producer, mix engineer, recording engineer, composer, and musician; working mostly between Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Louis graduated from the ANU with a Bachelor of Music - First Class Honours. In this, Louis specialised in Creative Recording and was awarded the prestigious Bernard Neumann Memorial Prize, The Peter and Lena Karmel Anniversary Award, and The Friends of the School of Music Transition Award. During his studies, he also partook in a number of recording studio internships around Australia, including: Studios 301, Sydney; Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne; Infidel Studios, Canberra; work experience with ABC Classic FM, and assisted Magoo (Dr Lachlan Goold), Brisbane.

Over his career his work has amassed 160+ million streams. His work with Callum Henshaw resulted in an Album of the Week on Classic FM; his work with SAFIA resulted in an Album of the Week on Triple J, 5 songs in the Hottest 100, and in 2016 saw the band nominated for an ARIA Award. He has been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum singles, as well as a Gold Certified album. He has worked at Abbey Road Studios, London; Studios 301, Sydney; Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne; Golden Retriever, Sydney; Rolling on the River, Tasmania; and Supersize Recording Studio, Budapest. In 2018 he was part of a team that won Best Sound for Interactive Media at the Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards. In 2022 Louis was nominated for Industry Legend of the Year at the Music ACT Music Awards, in 2024 he produced the Music ACT Music Awards Release of the Year (Flik - Stormchaser), in 2025 he was nominated for MPEG Breakthrough Producer of the Year.

Chapters:00:00 Intro02:11 About Louis Montgomery02:32 Early experiences with music08:25 Discussing the education system10:36 Early experiences of sound engineering14:20 Interning and assisting22:39 The importance of extensive demoing25:52 How to navigate when things aren't going right29:22 What is a "great mix"?32:57 A discussion about mix notes37:14 There's no answer for how to create the "perfect" piece of art39:02 What Louis has learnt about business over the years42:45 Networking and relationships45:15 Recording live and to tape52:10 What's coming up for Louis55:01 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists56:41 Conclusion/Outro

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Stu Watts

Louis Montgomery

Louis Montgomery website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stu Watts website

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Louis' work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Stu's work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Enquiries and suggestions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stu Watts chats with Hayden Lauersen, who is a mix engineer and record producer based in Melbourne, Australia. With a background in songwriting and production of original works, he offers a premium service tailored to the artist experience, highlighting emotional expression with compelling sonics. Studio credits include Kate Ceberano, Clare Bowditch, Haiku Hands, Tentendo, ISHAN, Kee’ahn, Sophiya, Woodes, RARIA, Blush’ko, AKOSIA and Shannen James, along with Future Classic, Universal Music, Island Records, Spinning Top Music, Ivy League Records, Sidekick Music and many more. His work has been hand picked by Zane Lowe, played on BBC Radio 1, KCRW, Triple J, Fox FM and Nova, accumulating over 60 million Spotify streams.

Chapters:00:00:00 Intro00:03:08 About Hayden Lauersen00:07:20 Early experiences with music00:13:16 How Powderfinger and Silverchair changed Hayden's life00:20:10 High school and beyond00:25:38 First experience in a studio with Dylan Nash00:29:35 Getting into mixing00:31:15 Beginning to charge clients00:34:14 Touring with Woodes00:36:38 Being surrounded by other successful artists00:39:16 Working in a commercial studio00:46:28 Hayden's mixing process00:50:16 Benchmark to aim for in a mix/referencing other mixes00:53:33 Sample replacement when mixing00:56:15 Focus on user experience when delivering mixes01:02:28 What Hayden is excited about for this year01:06:16 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists01:13:25 Conclusion/Outro

How you can support the podcast:

⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE⁠⁠

⁠⁠BUY SOME MERCH⁠⁠

⁠⁠DONATE⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@whatsthatsoundpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stu Watts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stu.watts.audio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hayden Lauersen: ⁠⁠⁠@haydenlauersen

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stu Watts website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hayden Lauersen website⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Stu's work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Listen to Hayden's work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

Enquiries and suggestions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stu Watts chats with Stefan Du Randt, who is one of the select few engineers who work exclusively from Studios 301 and has capitalised on that by building a reputation as a prolific producer, mixing and recording engineer. His credits are highlighted by his work on Mac Millers‘ posthumous album “Circles“, and include many exciting Australian and international artists such as Coldplay, Zedd, Katy Perry, Thelma Plum, Guy Sebastian, Elton John, Vera Blue, Asap Ferg, YG, The Script, Delta Goodrem, Wolfmother, Peking Duk, Daniel Johns and many more. Stefan’s road to joining the Studios 301 team in 2015 included relocating from South Africa where he worked as principal engineer for Grammy-winning producer Darryl Torr (Soweto Gospel Choir). To add to his engineering and production work, Stefan is one of the lead facilitators and practical mentors for the 301 Academy where he takes up-coming engineers through the process of making a record, all the way from the demo stage through to the finished product. Stefan also holds a degree in music production from Berklee College of Music.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Intro 00:02:08 About Stefan Du Randt 00:03:08 Early experiences with music 00:06:57 Falling in love with technology 00:08:18 Beginning formal education and opening a studio 00:18:45 Obtaining better opportunities 00:21:22 How Stefan's time is divided 00:22:24 The rest of Stefan's journey 00:25:25 What made Stefan level up 00:27:45 Commonalities between professional artists 00:29:36 Collaboration 00:34:21 How to get in a creative mode 00:37:46 Working with high profile artists 00:41:39 Feeling out of your depth 00:43:07 Working in Dolby Atmos 00:46:12 Stefan's mixing process 00:49:13 Utilising the rough mix 00:51:34 Challenges of being a mixer 00:55:48 What's coming up in 2025 00:56:26 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists 01:01:04 Conclusion/Outro

How you can support the podcast:

⁠SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE⁠

⁠BUY SOME MERCH⁠

⁠DONATE⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@whatsthatsoundpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stu Watts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stu.watts.audio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stefan Du Randt: ⁠⁠@mixedbystef

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stu Watts website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stefan Du Randt website⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Stu's work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Listen to Stefan's work on Spotify⁠⁠

Enquiries and suggestions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stu Watts chats Lewis Mitchell, who is a Sydney-based music producer and engineer known for his exceptional craftsmanship and versatility across multiple genres and roles. With over a decade of experience, he’s built a reputation for helping artists reach new creative heights while fostering strong, lasting relationships. Over the course of his career, Lewis has worked in-house at Sony Music and Universal Music and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, The Kid LAROI, Gang of Youths, d4vd, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, The Weeknd, Egoism, Jerome Farah, JOY., Stan Walker, Mitch James, 6lack, Col3trane, A.B. Original, The Veronicas, and Ziggy Ramo to name a few. His recent work on Ziggy Ramo’s album HUMAN? has been met with critical reception, including #1 on the Australian Independent Records charts, #4 on the ARIA Australian Hip Hop charts and #20 on the ARIA Australian Album charts. Lewis was also behind Ziggy’s Sugar Coated Lies album, which won Record of the Year at the 2023 FBI SMAC Awards. Lewis received nominations for Producer of the Year, Recording Engineer of the Year, and Mix Engineer of the Year at the 2024 MPEG Awards. Lewis is dedicated to his craft, consistently delivering high-quality work at every stage of the music production process.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Intro 00:02:03 About Lewis Mitchell 00:04:23 Early experiences with music 00:10:12 Education and being mentored 00:12:50 Comparing early sessions to now 00:14:46 What do you focus on in a production? 00:17:51 What do you look for when referencing? 00:20:05 Remote productions 00:24:34 Working with high profile artists 00:29:22 Favourite software and hardware 00:35:09 Any turning point moments? 00:38:05 What are the hardest things about your job? 00:40:08 Tips to eliminate difficult conversations 00:49:12 What continues to excite you? 00:51:25 What's coming up next year? 00:53:12 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists 00:55:10 Conclusion/Outro

How you can support the podcast:

SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE

BUY SOME MERCH

DONATE

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@whatsthatsoundpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stu Watts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stu.watts.audio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lewis Mitchell: ⁠@lew_mitchell_

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stu Watts website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lewis Mitchell website⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Stu's work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Listen to Lewis' work on Spotify⁠

Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any enquiries.

Stu Watts chats with Stephen Mowat, who is an ARIA award winning, multi disciplinary, multi genre loving music person. He has worked as a DJ, producer, recording engineer and songwriter all over the world for around 15 years. Extended stints in NYC, Nashville, as well as his hometown of Melbourne, have informed his love of all forms of music. From hip hop to soul to rock and beyond. Mowat is currently based out of The Aviary Studios in Abbotsford, Melbourne. Some of his recent work includes tracks with Jessica Mauboy, Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, Budjerah, WILSN, Kaitlin Keegan and more.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Intro 00:02:52 About Stephen Mowat 00:03:22 What Stephen grew up listening to 00:04:40 Listening for production elements 00:05:41 Learning music and production 00:07:55 Did you have any mentors? 00:08:36 Memories of early sessions 00:11:18 How sessions look these days, working with new clients 00:17:12 Expectations of the music industry, finances 00:19:26 Client acquisition, networking and fee structures 00:26:26 NYC and Nashville scenes compared to Australia 00:31:25 Donate to the podcast! 00:31:49 Key takeaways from working overseas 00:33:50 Finding the identity of each song 00:38:35 Knowing when you're on the right path in a production or mix 00:41:35 Managing your finances and scheduling ahead 00:43:37 Approach to marketing 00:45:31 Landing a publishing deal 00:46:59 How to maintain relationships in the music industry 00:49:11 What's coming in the near future 00:51:41 Stephen's best pieces of advice 00:58:36 Conclusion/Outro

Make sure to subscribe or follow this channel and share it on your socials!

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@whatsthatsoundpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stu Watts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stu.watts.audio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stephen Mowat: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephen_mowat_⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stu Watts website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stephen Mowat website⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Stu's work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to Stephen's work on Spotify

⁠⁠⁠Donate to the Podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for any enquiries.