In Episode 128 of The SOUND Project, Gavin sits down with audio engineer John Spicer at his studio, Broken Soul in Maryland.

John shares his journey from church sound engineer to building a basement studio designed for both personal growth and professional projects. We dive into:

- The challenges of isolation in a small footprint.

-Turning a personal creative space into a professional hub for artists.

- How Covid reshaped his work with livestream mixes.

- The balance between art, responsibility, and burnout.

- Why “perfect is the enemy of great” in studio design.

Whether you’re a musician, producer, or audio enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights about making the most of your space, staying creative, and building a studio that truly inspires.

Guest Links:

Broken Soul Audio - https://www.brokensoulaudio.com/

Video By: More Than Media - https://www.morethan.media/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethan.media/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethan.media

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@morethanmedia_

The S.O.U.N.D. Project Podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sound-project/id1680525959

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6dkk1s642VFjZGsdYGyxBP

Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZTBiZGNlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLghfvh2wd7A9MnVKr44jtPEg0qcZ1esTF

Keep up with us on our Socials:

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@haverstickdesigns

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haverstickdesigns/

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaverstickDesigns

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haverstickdesigns

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/haverstick-designs/

- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/haverstickdesigns

- Website: https://www.haverstickdesigns.com/

#TheSOUNDProject #RecordingStudio #StudioDesign #AudioEngineering #MusicProduction #HomeStudio #BasementStudio #ChurchAudio #LivestreamMixing #CreativeProcess #IsolationDesign #ProducerLife #mixingandmastering

Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome to The SOUND Project

0:08 – Introducing John Spicer & Broken Soul Studio

0:39 – Getting started in audio through church productions

1:48 – Musician roots vs. engineering passion

3:06 – Early responsibilities running live sound for large productions

4:04 – Vision for the basement studio

5:09 – Isolation challenges and family impact

7:03 – Benefits of proper sound isolation

8:03 – Projects in the studio (albums, VO, livestream mixes)

9:14 – Helping churches during Covid with broadcast mixes

11:22 – Balancing passion and burnout in studio work

12:43 – Favorite types of projects and working with non-mainstream artists

15:02 – Pushing yourself creatively in a well-designed room

16:55 – Lessons from mixing and monitoring in small spaces

18:39 – “Hearing new colors” – how good rooms change perception

19:07 – Making great studios in limited spaces

20:08 – Intimacy of one-room collaboration with artists

22:04 – What’s next for Broken Soul Studio

23:21 – Reflections on artistry, community, and purpose