The Whole Bulb with Kyle Pulley (Alex G, Dr. Dog, Mo Lowda & the Humble)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Kyle Pulley
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Topics discussed
Host note
Kyle Pulley produces, engineers, and plays bass in Philadelphia, co-owns Headroom Studios, and plays in the band Thin Lips. He's worked with Alex G, Dr. Dog, and Mo Lowda & the Humble. The through-line of the conversation is what it actually takes to build a career and a studio step by step, including the studio he built getting sold out from under him along the way.
We get into why Philadelphia works the way it does: less competitive than LA or New York, a scene that holds together because enough people decided to stick around and build something. Kyle talks about moving studios mid-pandemic, what he looks for in a mix (parallel processing, chasing the right "vibe" for a record over a formula), and having a song land in a film.
The episode closes on why he does any of it: music, he says, can heal people and their trauma, and make them feel less alone.
Selected moments
- Kyle's journey in music production 0:31 Kyle shares how he transitioned from a 7,000 square foot warehouse to starting his own studio and the ups and downs that came with it.
- Feature film and song collaboration 3:25 Kyle recounts the experience of having a song featured in a movie and the anxieties that accompanied it.
- Philly vs. LA music scenes 7:28 A discussion on how being in Philadelphia influences artistic careers compared to the larger music hubs of LA and NYC.
- Community and collaboration in Philadelphia 10:06 Kyle highlights the importance of community among artists in Philadelphia, contrasting it with more competitive scenes.
- Overcoming studio challenges 18:35 Kyle talks about the difficulty of moving studios during a pandemic and the lessons learned in resilience.
- Mixing and production techniques 28:10 Kyle explains his approach to mixing and the importance of finding the right ‘vibe’ for a record.
- Love for music and its impact 56:09 Kyle discusses why he loves music and its ability to heal and connect people.
Selected excerpts
It's crazy that you can vibrate air and make people feel better. Music has the ability to heal people, heal their trauma; it can make people feel less alone.
Philly is a place where enough people have cared to stick around to build something.
You don't make music for... you make it for other people, but ultimately you have to make it for yourself.
It's much easier to agree on how to collaborate when everyone knows their strengths.
Music is this beautiful cross-section of life, and it allows me to connect with all different kinds of people.
FAQ
What inspired Kyle Pulley to become a music producer?
Kyle's journey started with a passion for music and a desire to create, leading him to work with notable artists and ultimately co-own Headroom Studios.
How did Kyle Pulley build his music career in Philadelphia?
Kyle built his music career by fostering relationships within the community, working on various projects, and adapting to the challenges of the industry.
What are some key techniques Kyle Pulley uses in music mixing?
Kyle emphasizes techniques like parallel processing and understanding the role of each component in a mix to enhance the overall sound.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. The episode itself is on the listen links above.