A lot of artists want the outcome. Fewer artists want the process. The posting, the reaching out, the showing up to jams, the awkward early gigs, the constant question of, “Am I being genuine or am I marketing myself?”

Lasalle and I talk about that exact push and pull: wanting a bigger platform, wanting your art to matter, but not always wanting to do the public-facing stuff it takes to build momentum. And the best part is he doesn’t pretend it’s easy. He’s honest about perfectionism, about the awkwardness of “networking,” and about what actually helped this project go from an idea to real shows, fast.

A few things we dig into:

• Going from drummer to frontman, and the uncomfortable parts of suddenly being the “face” of a project. Lasalle - Full Episode
• How he met his bandmates: showing up to jams, being consistent, building trust, and making real friends instead of trying to leech off the scene.
• Art vs. business: how to promote shows without sounding like you’re copy-pasting the same post, and why “excitement” is the best marketing strategy when it’s real.
• Why there’s no release yet, and how he thinks about timing when opportunities come before the recordings are ready.
• A simple mindset shift I loved: if you treat the local scene like something you’re lucky to be part of, it tends to treat you well right back.

Lasalle is also playing First Avenue’s Best New Bands of 2025 alongside Chutes, GR3G, Maygen & The Birdwatcher, Mother Soki, Sallyforth, and Sophie Hiroko on January 17, 2026.

Full show notes, links, & mentions

Interested in working with us on your next song?

👋 ⁠https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect⁠

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 https://www.instagram.com/lasallesounds/

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

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Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠stephen@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠podcast@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠

Ever walk out of a recording session feeling like it should have gone better?

Not because the song was bad, but because the session felt rushed, tense, or just… off.

Or maybe you are on the front end of it. Nervous for your first real studio experience, wondering what you are supposed to bring, what you are supposed to know, and whether you are actually ready for a serious session.

This week on Secrets From the Scene, I sat down with Tony Williamette, owner and head engineer at Minnehaha Recording Company, to talk about what actually makes a studio session successful. Tony and I both run recording studios and work closely with local artists, so this conversation comes straight from years of real sessions, real mistakes, and real wins.

We get into how artists can prepare for the studio in ways that actually matter, not just showing up with a song, but showing up with clarity. We also unpack the producer’s role and the many hats producers and studio owners wear, from engineer to creative partner to coach to business owner.

If you are an artist who wants better recordings, smoother sessions, and more confidence in the studio, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What being “prepared for the studio” really means
• The difference between a producer and an engineer, and why it matters
• How demos, references, and communication save time and money
• Dealing with nerves and pressure in recording sessions
• How producers balance creativity, psychology, and business
• Why great sessions are built on trust, not perfection

If you have ever wondered how to show up better for your recording sessions, or what producers are actually doing behind the glass, I think you will get a lot out of this one.

Full show notes, links, & mentions

Interested in working with us on your next song?

👋 ⁠https://helvigproductions.com/letsconnect⁠

Connect with the Guest:

🔗 Minnehaha Recording Company

Connect with Me:

✉️ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠

📷 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🕺 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on TikTok⁠⁠⁠

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Give Feedback:

📬 Send me a message: ⁠⁠⁠stephen@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠

💬 Suggest a guest or topic: ⁠⁠⁠podcast@secretsfromthescene.com⁠⁠⁠

🧡 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

✍️ ⁠⁠⁠Write a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠🎙️ Brought to you by Helvig Productions⁠

Production, videography, and coaching to help you sound your best, tell your story, and promote your music. Think of us like your extra bandmate, 100% focused on helping you create something special that you and your fans will enjoy for a lifetime.

🙏 Thank You

This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

Theme Music: "Thankful" Courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠LUEDVIG⁠⁠⁠