Show Notes
Aqeel Aadam is a musician, sound designer, and plugin developer blending modular synthesis with a love of nature and organic textures. Through his company, Aqeel Aadam Sound, he creates audio plugins for the curious and open-minded. He creates tools that spark inspiration rather than dictate outcomes. Aqeel and I explore the connection between nature and synthesis, the power of limitations in creativity, and how modular gear shapes his sonic world. We talk about learning through struggle, designing plugins that encourage play over perfection, and finding joy in the unpredictable. Aqeel shares his story of learning guitar from his jazz-guitarist grandfather, discovering modular synthesis in college, and developing a suite of expressive, visually rich plugins like Ridgewalk, Waymaker, and Weeping Wall. Listen on Apple | Spotify | YouTube Takeaways: Plugins for the Curious & Open-Minded – Aqeel designs tools that prioritize exploration over precision, encouraging musicians to discover unexpected results through experimentation.
Modular Meets Nature – His music and visual plugin interfaces reflect his deep love of nature and organic textures, merging the electronic and the natural in both form and function.
Learning Through Struggle – From self-teaching guitar to building plugins, Aqeel embraces the idea that struggling through something is essential to meaningful learning.
Designing for Musical Flow – Rather than overloading plugins with technical features, Aqeel focuses on simplicity, usability, and play, so musicians can stay in the creative zone.
From Guitar to Eurorack – His journey from jazz guitar to modular synths and plugin development reflects a wide-ranging approach to music-making and sound design.
Improvisation as Composition – Aqeel's performances and recordings often begin with semi-generative modular systems, allowing spontaneity to guide structure and form.
Inspiration Over Information – His plugins don't just process sound—they invite interaction and interpretation, helping users find their voice through curiosity.
Contextual Composition – Like an impressionist painter, Aqeel aims to place abstract textures into recognizable musical frameworks that resonate emotionally.
Visual Interfaces Matter – From growing circular meters to mountainous visualizers, Aqeel's plugins look as fun as they sound—inviting creators to explore without intimidation.
Building an Ecosystem – With plugins like Waymaker interacting with his other tools, Aqeel is creating a modular digital environment where small ideas lead to big creative breakthroughs.
Links: Aqeel Aadam Sound Website – https://aqeeladamsound.com Aqeel Aadam Sound Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aqeelaadamsound Aqeel's Personal Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/aqeel.aadam Aqeel's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AqeelAadam Aqeel on Bandcamp - https://aqeelaadam.bandcamp.com Brian Funk Website – https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club – https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer Book – https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack – https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast Archive – https://brianfunk.com/podcast 🎁 Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs with code PODCAST – https://brianfunk.com/store 🎧 Episode edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule – https://performodule.com/
Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
More from Music Production Podcast
Beau McLeod is a music producer and educator, who makes music as Bohemyth. Beau runs Low End Candy, where he designs plug-ins and Ableton Live tools. His newest plug-ins are Preverb for easily creating reversed reverb, and Slingshot for creating reversed delays. Beau spoke about his journey learning how to make plug-ins and tools for producers. We discussed how he came up in the music production world by working with some of his favorite producers. Beau shared some of his insights on how to develop a unique sound and stand out from the crowd. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Low End Candy - https://lowendcandy.com Preverb - https://lowendcandy.com/preverb/ Slingshot - https://lowendcandy.com/slingshot Premix - https://lowendcandy.com/premix Low End Candy YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lowendcandy Bohemyth on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_bohemyth_/ Bohemyth's SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/boheymth Beau's Ableton Extensions Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WrXO7jIwX4 Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
Anthony Marinelli is a legendary composer, performer, and synthesist. He worked with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones on Thriller, James Brown, Kenny Loggins, Van Halen, and many more. He worked on the scores for over 90 original film score soundtracks including War Games, Stand by Me, and one of my favorites Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. He shares his knowledge on his YouTube channels and his in-depth courses Think Like a Synth and Bass DNA. I spoke with Anthony about how he breaks down sounds for synthesis and visualizes his sounds in his imagination rather than in technical terms. Anthony spoke about getting his start working as a synthesizer player and programmer as a teenage, and what it was like working with legends Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Anthony's Website - https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/ Think Like a Synth course - https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/products/think-like-a-synth Bass DNA course - https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/collections/courses/products/bass-dna Anthony's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@anthonymarinellimusic Anthony on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anthonymarinellimusic/ Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
Ben Burnes is a musician, producer, and game developer. He is the author of the new book How to Write a Song in Two Hours, based off his experience writing over 400 songs in weekly two-hour sprints. Ben is back for his fifth conversation! We spoke about his new book and some of the wisdom he picked up writing songs in two hours. We covered practical techniques and philosophical approaches, and we also got to meet a few of his five cats. Get How to Write a Song in Two Hours by Ben Burnes: Payhip - https://payhip.com/b/FfV4x Itch - https://tallbeard.itch.io/write-a-song-in-two-hours Gumroad - https://ben-burnes.gumroad.com/l/write-a-song-in-two-hours Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Ben's Website - https://www.abstractionmusic.com "If I Had a Hi-Fi" by Ben Burnes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=764uUMKuHTE Artifacts - Sunset Frequencies by Ben Burnes - https://abstractionmusic.bandcamp.com/album/artifacts-sunset-frequencies "Back at it Again" by Ben Burnes and Devin Henderson - https://abstractionmusic.bandcamp.com/album/back-at-it-again Frozen - Two Hour Track Challenge Album - https://2hac.bandcamp.com/album/frozen-2hac-volume-35 SoopurKul - https://www.twitch.tv/soopurkul On Writing Well by William Zinsser - https://amzn.to/46F0gfP Getting Things Done by David Allen - https://amzn.to/46F0gfP The Four Agreements - https://amzn.to/3Vqqhga Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert - https://amzn.to/4cI8AyN Elastic Stage Vinyl Pressing - https://elasticstage.com Struthless - https://www.youtube.com/struthless The Troubadeck by Charlie McCarron - https://troubadeck.com Charlie McCarron on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/charlie-mccarron Ben's First Appearance on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/2017/3/28/9-ben-burnes Ben's Second Appearance on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/2019/10/9/ben-burnes-wisdom-on-200-2-hour-track-challenges-music-production-podcast-131 Ben's Third Appearance on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/ben-burnes-3 Ben's Fourth Appearance on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/ben-burnes-4 Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
Howard Benson is a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum producer. With 15 platinum records, 10 gold records, and over 150 billion streams, Howard has shaped the sound of modern rock and alternative music. Howard has worked with Hoobastank, POD, My Chemical Romance, The All-American Rejects, Daughtry, and many more. He is also the co-founder of Judge and Jury Records. Howard spoke to me about his work with some of the biggest names in modern rock, and the importance of songwriting and vocal performance and production. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Howard's Website - https://www.howardbenson.com Howard's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@hbenson Howard's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howardbenson/ Judge & Jury Records - https://judgeandjuryrecords.com Howard Benson Vocal Plug-in - https://joeysturgistones.com/products/howard-benson-vocals Howard Benson Vocal Multiplier Plug-in - https://joeysturgistones.com/collections/vocal-plugins/products/howard-benson-vocal-multiplier Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
Dennis DeSantis is a composer, percussionist, sound designer, author, and educator. He is a professor of Music and Technology at Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, where he is developing an all new BM in Music Creation and Technology. Dennis worked as Head of Music Learning at Ableton, and wrote Making Music 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers. Dennis and I spoke in depth about his work at Eastman School of Music. We shared thoughts on finishing projects and overcoming creative challenges. Dennis reflected on his work at Ableton and how it has prepared him for his newest chapter in cutting edge music education. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Dennis's Website - https://dennisdesantis.com University of Rochester's Music Creation and Technology Program - https://www.esm.rochester.edu/go/soundarts/music-technology/ Making Music 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producters by Dennis DeSantis - https://makingmusic.ableton.com Learning Music - https://learningmusic.ableton.com Learning Synths - https://learningsynths.ableton.com Dennis's Max for Live Devices - https://dennisdesantis.com/max-for-live-devices Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk