Studios in Compulsory School, Winning Swedish Grammys, and Filling the Vessel with Gustav Brunn
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton
Guest: Gustav Brunn
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Topics discussed
Host note
Gustav Brunn grew up in Lund, Sweden, with access to a recording studio in compulsory school by age 10 or 11, the kind of early start that led to touring internationally before he shifted his focus to mixing and mastering. He runs AllinAudio.se now, and has gone on to win Swedish Grammys for that work.
We trace that path from a kid begging for an Alice Cooper CD to forming bands with his brother, to the practical gear philosophy he holds now: get to know one or two microphones intimately before adding more, and know when not to touch something rather than over-processing it. He also talks about live sound versus studio recording, and how the two inform each other more than people expect.
The second half turns to what changes once you're both a father and an entrepreneur: staying productive with less time, how Sweden's system benefits young musicians, and the nerves that come with mixing for artists at a higher profile than yourself.
Selected moments
- Introduction and background 2:45 Gustav shares about growing up in Lund, Sweden, and the early influences on his music journey.
- The role of early experiences 4:03 Discusses how his parents introduced him to music and how that shaped his interests.
- Finding community in music 6:47 Explains how he and his brother formed bands in their youth and discovered musical community.
- The shift to recording 10:32 Gustav talks about his first experiences recording music and what inspired him to pursue sound engineering.
- Challenges of live sound vs recording 47:52 He shares insights on the differences between live sound mixing and studio recording.
- Navigating work-life balance 64:01 Gustav discusses how he balances his family life with his music career.
- Collaborating with other artists 75:02 Reflects on the nerves of working with high-profile artists and maintaining his creative identity.
Selected excerpts
I remember when I was 10 or 11... I wanted the Alice Cooper album 'Hey Stupid'... I'm super grateful for that access and interest in music.
I think it's interesting to talk about different takes on what live mixing looks like, ways that studio can influence live mixing and vice versa.
The most important thing is to know when not to mess with something... Know what parts really need attention and what can stay as it is.
If you only have a 57, if you only have a 58, get to know them intimately, try them on everything, and then add more tools later.
I think if I try too hard now, it's definitely not gonna do it later... It just needs to be accessible.
FAQ
What is Gustav Brunn known for?
Gustav Brunn is known for his work as a music producer and mixing engineer, particularly in the punk and hardcore scenes.
How did Gustav Brunn start his music career?
He started his music career by playing in bands during his childhood and eventually transitioned to recording and producing music.
What tips does Gustav Brunn offer for balancing music and family life?
Gustav suggests setting boundaries and being efficient with time to balance his work as a musician and a father.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. An automatic transcript is on the Spotify episode.