The Music Survival Guide Podcast

Bands producing themselves at home is great, it's democratised creativity in the studio, but have you considered the extras, the ear candy that can elevate a production? In this episode Phil discusse…

This week Phil is talking with David, the Producer and owner of Red City Studios in Manchester. We discuss:

- How David got started and stumbled upon an ideal studio space
- How he works collaborativ…

Putting boundaries on yourself can unlock creativity you didn't previously know existed! In this mini episode Phil suggests a few ways you can find your creativity through limitations and how they he…

This week Phil is talking with most of Simulation Theory. We talk about bringing music to the rehearsal rooms and adapting it to the musicians in the band, keeping your live sets interesting for your…

Recording drums, in many ways the hardest thing you can do when recording yourselves! It is a challenge but NOT impossible. 
Join Phil for a brief rundown for what equipment is needed, how to get the…

This week Phil is talking with the boys from Keep This Up. We talk about challenges booking gigs after they changed their sound, when writing working out which songs to keep and which to chuck and sh…

The music scene is saturated, you NEED to stand out! Phil this week discusses how to think through making your unique style that's authentic to you.

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This week Phil is talking with Ben James - guitarist of The Heavy Souls. We discuss, surviving through thick and thin to get success in the music scene, jamming and instinctively feeling if a song is…

You NEED to promote your own music in 2025! Join Phil for a discussion on social media, using advertising and actually pushing your gigs to your audience.

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This week Phil is talking with Izzy McPhee - part of the Weird Jungle mastering collective. We talk about finding her place in the music scene, following her musical instincts when mastering, and inv…

What does it mean to be 'in the pocket', how can you get better at it? Join Phil for a little discussion on this essential but under-discussed skill.

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This week Phil is talking with November Now. We discuss taking time to find and define your sound, song writing and trusting your instincts and the challenges of gigging in London,

November Now On In…

When stuff goes wrong it sucks, right? But there are practical steps you can do. In this mini-episode Phil discusses:

• How to handle mistakes in a gig
• Should you ignore it or make a joke of it
• What t…

This week Phil chats with all of This New Dawn. In this wide ranging (and relatively unserious) chat we talk about demoing music in the rehearsal room, the band whatsapp (how its used and misused) an…

Arrangement can make or break your song, how much do you think about it? Join Phil for a discussion on arrangement, making the most of your music and the use of tension in your song.

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This week Phil chats with Luke and Tom of When They Riot. We discuss, writing lyrics after the music has been written, using Pirate Studios for rehearsal and recording and, of course, the mystery of …

This is a repost from an episode originally uploaded in January 2024 whilst I'm on holiday. It still holds true now!

Well here we are in 2024! You have limited time to work on music, do you use it we…

In this episode, Phil talks with Matt and Jonny of Electric Black. We discuss

1. How the pandemic was a good restart point
2. Testing out a producer with a smaller release before a full album
3. Gett…

Here we are hurtling to the end of the year! What should you consider? How can you plan for the year ahead. Join Phil for a ramble through a few topics

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This week Phil chats with Natasha, the events Manager of the Fighting Cocks in Kingston. We discuss building a strong local music scene, their approach to finding good support bands and (of course) w…