RSR516 - David Kalmusky - Inside the Ultimate Dream Studio, Addiction Sound, and the Future of Music Production

2025-07-25

What does it take to build the ultimate dream studio? Grammy-winning producer, engineer, and guitarist David Kalmusky returns to the show to share his journey of designing Addiction Sound Studios and how it’s shaped his approach to music production. Known for his work with John Oates, Journey, Shawn Mendes, and many more, David talks about the importance of studio setups, the magic of drums and microphones in recording, and how technology has changed the way we make records.
We talked about drive-by sessions, archiving sounds for future inspiration, and why it matters to always have gear ready to capture a great performance. David also reflected on Nashville’s rich musical history, the legacy of instruments, and personal connections with legendary artists.
In the second half, we talked about quality over quantity when it comes to instruments, the creative use of high-strung guitars, and the process of setting up an Atmos room for immersive mixing. David shared his thoughts on curating a creative space, navigating sound libraries, and how streaming has impacted music careers. We also got into the business side of things—like understanding royalties and publishing—and why internships can be such a valuable path for new producers.
It was great to catch up with David and hear what he’s been working on—lots of cool stuff in this episode.

Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.com

My guest today is David Kalmusky, a Multi-Diamond producer, songwriter, guitarist, mixer, and engineer. His credits include Joss Stone, Shawn Mendes, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Keith Urban, Mickey Guyton, Mötley Crüe, Nate Smith, Warren Zeiders, Parmalee, Rita Wilson, K. Michelle, and many more. By 2025, his catalog has amassed over 40 billion streams.

Let me know if you’d like any tweaks!
Dave has been a guest on the podcast in episodes RSR052 and RSR371.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.com

https://usa.sae.edu/

https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!

https://www.adam-audio.com/

https://www.makebelievestudio.com/mbsi Get your MBSI plugin here!

https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academy

https://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/

Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusic

Listen to this guest's discography on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2xWtNo5m9U6zq6c90Q6sz6?si=7cbe860dc3b94e79