The Apollo Audio Podcast

A Song Is Not a Lottery Ticket

Martin and Billy are back in the studio talking about leaks, ticket prices, remote recording, AI copyright, streaming royalties and the strange economics of being an independent artist in 2026. The conversation moves from the practical reality of studio work into a wider discussion about how artists actually build momentum. Making a good song matters, but releasing it without a plan can feel like buying a lottery ticket and hoping it wins. They talk about why musicians need the right people around them, from producers and engineers to photographers, booking agents, distributors and the audience itself. The album discussion focuses on Interpol’s Turn On the Bright Lights, including the band’s distinctive sound, rhythm section, New York identity and why some albums take a few listens before they properly connect. Topics include: • Remote recording and studio collaboration • AI, copyright and uploaded music • Streaming royalties for independent artists • Why releasing music needs a strategy • Building a team around a band • Interpol and Turn On the Bright Lights • Bass, drums and arrangement in indie rock • Discovering new music through influence and algorithms Find Apollo Audio online: https://apollo-audio.co.uk [https://apollo-audio.co.uk] The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by Martin Lumsden (record producer and engineer) and Billy Hills (musician and studio owner), and is recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. Each episode offers insight into songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and making music. 📍 www.apollo-audio.co.uk [http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk] 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 apolloaudiopod@gmail.com The Apollo Audio Podcast is Froody Music Production. Production and editing by Martin Lumsden. www.froodymusic.com [www.froodymusic.com] Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast [http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Do Albums Still Matter in the Streaming Age?

Martin and Billy are back in the studio after another sold-out Apollo Audio gig, talking about young bands, live performance, and why getting out in front of an audience still matters. The conversation moves into streaming culture, album sales and what it means when an album has billions of streams. They discuss why streaming figures are not the same as people buying records, how modern release habits affect quality control, and why artists still tend to see the album as an important creative milestone. The album discussion focuses on Fatboy Slim’s You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby, including the huge impact of tracks like Right Here, Right Now, Praise You and The Rockafeller Skank, and why the record still feels tied to a particular moment in late-90s music culture. Topics include: • Young bands and first gigs • Streaming numbers vs album sales • Why long albums work differently on streaming • Release strategy and quality control • Albums as an artistic milestone • Fatboy Slim and late-90s dance culture • Sampling, sync and licensing • Party albums, playlists and how listening habits changed Find Apollo Audio online: https://apollo-audio.co.uk [https://apollo-audio.co.uk] The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by Martin Lumsden (record producer and engineer) and Billy Hills (musician and studio owner), and is recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. Each episode offers insight into songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and making music. 📍 www.apollo-audio.co.uk [http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk] 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 apolloaudiopod@gmail.com The Apollo Audio Podcast is Froody Music Production. Production and editing by Martin Lumsden. www.froodymusic.com [www.froodymusic.com] Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast [http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Good

Martin and Billy are back in the studio, covering everything from live music during a half marathon to Eurovision, persistence, and why enjoying the process still matters if you want to keep making music. The main album discussion focuses on Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, looking at why the record still feels powerful decades later. They talk about the sound of the album, its mix of rock guitars, pop hooks and confessional songwriting, and why the performances work because they feel real rather than polished into perfection. The conversation also turns to modern production, pitch correction and the danger of fixing everything simply because the technology allows it. Sometimes the thing that makes a recording connect is the part that feels human. Topics include: • Live music and the energy it creates • Eurovision and what makes a song connect • Persistence in the music business • Alanis Morissette and Jagged Little Pill • Raw vocals vs perfect vocals • Why production should serve the record • Over-polishing and modern recording habits • Choosing the right process for the music Find Apollo Audio online: https://apollo-audio.co.uk [https://apollo-audio.co.uk] The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by Martin Lumsden (record producer and engineer) and Billy Hills (musician and studio owner), and is recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. Each episode offers insight into songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and making music. 📍 www.apollo-audio.co.uk [http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk] 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 apolloaudiopod@gmail.com The Apollo Audio Podcast is Froody Music Production. Production and editing by Martin Lumsden. www.froodymusic.com [www.froodymusic.com] Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast [http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Bag O’ Bones: Recording an Album Live in One Day

Martin is joined by Elliot Stout from Bag O’ Bones to talk about the band’s new album Lift Off, recorded at Apollo Audio with production, engineering and mixing by Martin Lumsden. The conversation covers the history of the band, Elliot’s move from Southbound into Bag O’ Bones, and how the three-piece developed its blues-grunge sound. Elliot talks about writing in bursts, finding the right band dynamic, and why the aim was always to keep the music fun, direct and performance-led. They also discuss the decision to record the album live in one day, rather than build it through layers of overdubs. The band rehearsed heavily in advance, used the gear they already knew, and focused on capturing the sound they were hearing in the room. The episode also touches on the band’s influences, including Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Patto, Cream, James Gang and The Black Keys, and why serving the song matters more than showing off. Lift Off is out now on vinyl, CD, download and streaming. www.froodymusic.com/bag-o-bones [www.froodymusic.com/bag-o-bones] The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by Martin Lumsden (record producer and engineer) and Billy Hills (musician and studio owner), and is recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. Each episode offers insight into songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and making music. 📍 www.apollo-audio.co.uk [http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk] 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 apolloaudiopod@gmail.com The Apollo Audio Podcast is Froody Music Production. Production and editing by Martin Lumsden. www.froodymusic.com [www.froodymusic.com] Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast [http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How Artists Keep Momentum Between Releases

Martin and Billy discuss how artists keep momentum between releases, from regular single campaigns to the longer process of building a full album. The episode starts with two very different projects recently completed through Apollo Audio: Dan Thomas’ layered album release, developed over many months, and Bag O' Bones recording an entire album live in a single day. They also talk about BODY’s release strategy, why simply putting music “out into the ether” is rarely enough, and how independent bands can use regular releases to stay visible. Later in the episode they listen to the new Foo Fighters album and discuss whether a record can be full of good songs without having one obvious standout single. Topics include: • Release strategy for independent artists • Keeping momentum between songs • Live recording vs layered production • Vinyl releases and album presentation • Working with musical heroes • Foo Fighters after Taylor Hawkins • Deep cuts vs hit singles • What makes a song feel like a single The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by Martin Lumsden (record producer and engineer) and Billy Hills (musician and studio owner), and is recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. Each episode offers insight into songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and making music. 📍 www.apollo-audio.co.uk [http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk] 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 apolloaudiopod@gmail.com The Apollo Audio Podcast is Froody Music Production. Production and editing by Martin Lumsden. www.froodymusic.com [www.froodymusic.com] Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast [http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.