Rediscovering the Fun of Mixing: Gear, Growth, and Getting Curious Again

In this solo episode, Dee Kei gets honest about something nobody in the audio world really wants to say out loud — talent is the most common thing in this industry, and it's rarely what separates the engineers who are thriving from the ones who are struggling. After years of working alongside incredibly gifted mixers who can't keep the lights on, and watching others with average ears build sustainable careers, the pattern is clear: the gap isn't in the DAW.Dee breaks down the real reasons talented engineers stay stuck — from waiting until they feel "ready," to undercharging out of insecurity, to treating their craft like a hobby instead of a business. He talks about the trap of being busy without being strategic, what it actually takes to build a referral pipeline, and why isolation might be the most career-limiting thing a mixer can do.This one is a mindset episode, but it's also practical. Every point has a fix — and none of them require you to get better at mixing.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LU⁠HIRE JAMES⁠Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Dee Kei breaks down how he actually thinks about mixing vocals — and it's probably not what you'd expect. Before touching a plugin, an EQ, or a compressor, the most important step is understanding the intention behind the song. Is it a club banger or an intimate bedroom record? A polished pop vocal or something raw that's supposed to feel that way? Dee explains why blindly applying mixing techniques without reading context is the number one mistake engineers at every level make.From there, he dives into the fundamentals: how low-mids shape intimacy versus energy, why most beginners over-de-ess their vocals, when heavy compression works in your favor and when it fights the song, and how vocal placement in the mix is determined by the density and genre of the track. He also gets real about something not enough people talk about — the rise of intentionally "rough" sounding mixes that are racking up streams, and what that means for how you serve your clients.Whether you're a bedroom producer mixing your first song or a working engineer looking to sharpen your instincts, this episode will shift how you approach every vocal session.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LU⁠HIRE JAMES⁠Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Episode 376 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei shares a solo episode covering a wide range of topics that have been on his mind recently, from sleep and creativity to parenting, education, faith, and the psychology of pursuing music.He reflects on how sleep affects patience, decision-making, relationships, and creative work, why teaching is a completely different skill than doing, and how balancing rules with freedom applies to both parenting and artistic growth. The conversation then expands into bigger questions about faith, cynicism, self-limiting beliefs, and the importance of maintaining hope in an industry that often feels uncertain.This is a thoughtful and highly personal episode about creativity, perspective, and learning how to move forward without becoming trapped by fear, certainty, or negativity. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Episode 375 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei and James break down a tier list for client acquisition in the music industry, inspired by a video from Panorama Mixing and Mastering. They discuss what actually works for getting mixing and production clients, what sounds good in theory but rarely converts, and why repeat clients and word of mouth still dominate almost everything else.The conversation covers networking events, Instagram outreach, YouTube, educational content, spec mixes, referrals, local music scenes, label relationships, free work, websites, paid ads, and cold DMs. Along the way, Dee Kei and James share personal stories from their own careers, including what helped them grow, what failed completely, and how different strategies change depending on your city, pricing, and stage of career.The bigger takeaway is that most successful audio careers are built less on “hacks” and more on trust, consistency, relationships, and staying active long enough for momentum to compound. This is a practical episode for mixers, producers, and engineers trying to figure out where to actually spend their time and energy. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LU⁠HIRE JAMES⁠Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hey Y'all. It's Dee Kei.Sorry for the lazy announcment episode with no real content. I'm moving and stressed out. I just want to knock this out and it's eating all my time. I'll be back with regular content next week. Thank you for your patience!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Episode 373 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei sits down with multi-platinum mixer Austin Seltzer to talk about the real-world habits that separate professional mixers from amateurs.They dive into major label workflows, quality control, revision culture, stem prep, client communication, pricing, managers, points, mixing for indie artists vs major artists, and why sending a mix too early can hurt your career. Austin also shares practical advice on systems, professionalism, politics in the music industry, and how treating every mix like a major release can completely change your trajectory.This episode is packed with honest insight for engineers, producers, and mixers trying to level up both creatively and professionally.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LU⁠HIRE JAMES⁠Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Episode 372 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei and Lu talk about how mix engineers build real confidence. They break down the difference between results-based confidence, where your confidence depends on client approval, clean revisions, or a perfect session, and a deeper confidence built through preparation, experience, systems, and consistency.The conversation covers revision notes, rejected mixes, stressful sessions, client communication, professional workflows, branding, practice, and why confidence cannot come only from good outcomes. Dee Kei and Lu also discuss faith, fear, imposter syndrome, clear conscience, and how staying calm under pressure helps clients trust you more.This episode is for engineers, producers, and creatives who want to build lasting confidence without relying on validation, luck, or every mix going perfectly. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LU⁠HIRE JAMES⁠Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Episode 371 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei and Lu have a more relaxed, reflective conversation about life, creativity, and staying inspired in audio. Dee Kei talks about moving through different phases as an engineer, from early excitement, to getting lost in technical details, to eventually trying to reconnect the emotional side of music with a deeper technical curiosity.They discuss gear research, learning from other engineers, Atmos and surround mixing, studio upgrades, creative plateaus, and the desire to fall back in love with mixing after feeling stuck. The conversation also opens up into fatherhood, having a third child, balancing family with a creative career, contentment versus complacency, and why responsibility can sometimes create more purpose instead of limiting ambition.This episode is part audio reflection, part life update, and part creative reset for anyone trying to stay curious, authentic, and motivated in a long-term music career.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LU⁠HIRE JAMES⁠Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Episode 370 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei and Lu continue their true-or-false format and dig into even more of the beliefs, myths, and gray areas that shape music production and audio careers. This round covers everything from whether you should mix and master your own music, to whether analog gear is really better, whether Pro Tools still matters, and whether networking outweighs skill.They also get into social media, working for free early in your career, standing out in a crowded industry, perfectionism, arrangement vs mix importance, and what actually makes a great mixer. One of the strongest themes in the episode is that audio is never just technical. Great mixing is also about psychology, emotion, decision-making, and understanding how to help artists feel confident in what they are making.This is a sharp, practical episode for engineers, producers, and artists who want more nuance than the usual black-and-white advice. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LU⁠HIRE JAMES⁠Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Episode 369 of the Mixing Music Podcast, Dee Kei and Lu take a true-or-false format and use it to unpack some of the biggest myths and half-truths in music, mixing, and the audio industry. What starts with a Discord question about whether clients should ever receive a mix you are not proud of turns into a bigger conversation about taste, service, flexibility, and what great engineers actually do.They dig into whether natural talent is required to become great at music, whether a mix that sounds good in mono sounds good everywhere, whether subs should always be mono, whether success is measured by streams, whether artists can really make a living from Spotify, and whether you have to move to LA to make it in music. They also touch on reference tracks, client expectations, and how personal ego can distort the way people think about careers and craft.This is a fun but honest episode that mixes hot takes with real nuance, especially for engineers, producers, and artists trying to think more clearly about success, taste, and what actually matters in music. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!⁠SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE⁠Join the ‘Mixing Music Podcast’ Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LU⁠HIRE JAMES⁠Find Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy