Studio Radicals Podcast: Exploring the Innovators Behind Modern Music

In a landscape where audio content is booming and storytelling is evolving across platforms, a new podcast is breaking barriers in sound, creativity, and representation. Studio Radicals, hosted by veteran music journalist and broadcaster Kate Hutchinson, is not just another behind-the-scenes music series. It’s an intimate, electrifying tour through the studios, minds, and methods of some of the most trailblazing producers, sound engineers, and composers redefining how music is made—and how it’s heard.

Kate Hutchinson interviewing Marta Salogni in a music studio for Studio Radicals podcast

As the global conversation around representation and innovation in music deepens, Studio Radicals arrives as a cultural document: one that doesn’t just listen to sound, but studies the people behind it.

Contents hide
1 🎧 A Sonic Pilgrimage Across Continents
2 🎙️ Featured Episodes: Spotlight on Audio Alchemists
2.1 1. Marta Salogni – The Polymath Producer with a Sonic Signature
2.2 2. Catherine Marks – Rock Royalty with a Mixing Console
2.3 3. Ebonie Smith – From Choir Halls to Hamilton Soundboards
2.4 4. Suzanne Ciani – Synth Pioneer and Sonic Sculptor
2.5 5. Maria Elisa Ayerbe – Genre-Bender with Latin Soul
2.6 6. Hannah Peel – Composer of Nature, Noise, and Nostalgia
2.7 7. Ramera Abraham – The Voice Behind the Voice
2.8 8. Cicely Balston – Mastering Engineer at the Iconic Abbey Road
3 🌍 The Bigger Picture: Redefining the Studio and Who Belongs In It
4 🎛️ Why Studio Radicals Matters Right Now
4.1 🚀 Rising Trends That Make This Podcast Timely and SEO-Relevant:
5 🔊 A Word from dCS Audio: Celebrating Sonic Visionaries
6 🎧 Where to Listen
7 🚀 What’s Next: Building a Movement, Not Just a Podcast

🎧 A Sonic Pilgrimage Across Continents

For its debut season, Studio Radicals traverses the globe—from Hollywood studios to historic halls like Abbey Road—to interview eight audio visionaries who are reimagining the future of sound. The podcast is produced in collaboration with high-end audio brand dCS Audio, renowned for its premium digital audio converters and a long-standing commitment to audio fidelity.

🎤 “This podcast has been such an incredible adventure in sound – what started as interviews with radical minds has evolved into a series that, I think, illuminates the different ways we listen to and hear music,” says Hutchinson.

From the first episode, the series feels less like a conventional interview podcast and more like a sonic expedition, complete with textured field recordings, studio snippets, and evocative conversations that span personal journeys and technical mastery.

🎙️ Featured Episodes: Spotlight on Audio Alchemists

Each episode of Studio Radicals is a character study—an audio documentary that captures not only what these professionals do but why they do it. Here’s a glimpse at the standout voices featured in Season One:

1. Marta Salogni – The Polymath Producer with a Sonic Signature

  • 🇮🇹 Based in London, Origin: Italy
  • Credits: Depeche Mode, Bon Iver, Björk, Black Midi
  • Notable Awards: Mercury Prize (with English Teacher)

Marta Salogni is described by Pitchfork as the “luminary your favourite artists want mixing their records.” A master of analogue and digital manipulation, her approach blends technical precision with experimental flair. She talks to Hutchinson about the art of listening, her immersive mixing philosophy, and the joy of crafting unique audio textures.

2. Catherine Marks – Rock Royalty with a Mixing Console

  • 🏆 Grammy Winner
  • Recent Project: boygenius’ chart-topping 2023 release

From engineering heavyweights to leading full productions, Catherine Marks brings a fierce and emotive presence to modern rock. In her episode, she reveals how being bold in the studio has helped her shape iconic albums, as well as the importance of advocating for other women in production.

3. Ebonie Smith – From Choir Halls to Hamilton Soundboards

  • 🎹 Founder: Gender Amplified
  • Credits: Hamilton soundtrack, Roberta Flack, Angela Davis collaborations

A multitalented engineer, producer, and activist, Smith shares her unique musical journey—from singing gospel in Brooklyn to engineering Broadway hits. Her initiative, Gender Amplified, is spotlighted as a model of empowerment for underrepresented talent in audio production.

4. Suzanne Ciani – Synth Pioneer and Sonic Sculptor

  • 🎛️ Buchla Synth Innovator
  • Legacy: Quadraphonic compositions, film scores, commercial sound design

A legendary figure in electronic music, Ciani speaks candidly about her 1970s breakthroughs with synthesizers, the gendered challenges she faced, and how her work in spatial audio is influencing today’s immersive audio trends.

5. Maria Elisa Ayerbe – Genre-Bender with Latin Soul

  • 🌴 Base: Miami
  • Mixed Genres: Salsa, Rock, Reggaeton, Pop

Known for her genre-defying mixes and fearless sonic experimentation, Ayerbe takes us into her hybrid workflow, combining Latin roots with global influences. She discusses her mission to make Latin alternative music resonate across borders.

6. Hannah Peel – Composer of Nature, Noise, and Nostalgia

  • 🧬 Focus: Environmental soundscapes, human connection themes
  • Known For: BAFTA-nominated scores, electronica-infused orchestral work

Peel’s compositions blur lines between music and emotion. In her episode, she unpacks the role of ambient sounds in storytelling and her commitment to eco-conscious composition.

7. Ramera Abraham – The Voice Behind the Voice

  • 🎤 Vocal Engineer for: Adele, Little Mix
  • Expertise: Vocal production, performance engineering

From fine-tuning pop vocals to building vocal layers, Abraham’s behind-the-scenes insights into how chart-topping vocals are engineered are eye-opening. She reflects on her journey from being mentored to mentoring others.

8. Cicely Balston – Mastering Engineer at the Iconic Abbey Road

  • 🎚️ Works With: Nubya Garcia, David Bowie catalogue
  • Skillset: Audio mastering, final mix preparation

Balston offers a rare glimpse into the last but crucial stage of music production—mastering. Her role in translating emotion into final sonic form is a testament to the often-invisible talent behind iconic recordings.

🌍 The Bigger Picture: Redefining the Studio and Who Belongs In It

Produced by a gender-inclusive team, the podcast not only features underrepresented voices but also challenges traditional ideas about who gets to sit behind the glass.

The series highlights how each guest overcame gatekeeping in the audio industry—from lacking opportunities to fighting for space in male-dominated environments. Their resilience and artistry shine as examples of what it means to break molds and set new standards.

📢 “It’s a series that shows what happens when you don’t accept the lack of opportunities open to you and how being bold pays off,” Hutchinson shares.

🎛️ Why Studio Radicals Matters Right Now

🚀 Rising Trends That Make This Podcast Timely and SEO-Relevant:

  • Increased demand for audio storytelling in the podcast market
  • Surge in interest for behind-the-scenes content in music
  • Women in audio production becoming more visible in mainstream and indie spaces
  • Growing appeal of spatial and immersive audio formats

Studio Radicals delivers on all these fronts, making it highly relevant for:

  • 🎵 Music producers & sound engineers
  • 📱 Audio tech enthusiasts
  • 👩‍🎤 Women in music & creative industries
  • 🎙️ Podcast lovers & audiophiles

🔊 A Word from dCS Audio: Celebrating Sonic Visionaries

The podcast is co-produced with dCS Audio, whose high-fidelity systems are staples in elite music production circles.

💬 “We’ve always tried to honour the artists we work with by creating products that reveal the full breadth of information in a recording. With Studio Radicals, we celebrate a new generation of visionaries who bring originality to every note,” say Krysti Hamilton and Rachael Steven of dCS.

Their collaboration emphasizes how cutting-edge gear intersects with creative minds to push sound into new dimensions.

🎧 Where to Listen

Studio Radicals is available on all major podcast platforms including:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts
  • Amazon Music
  • dCS Audio’s official website

🚀 What’s Next: Building a Movement, Not Just a Podcast

Season One may be the beginning, but the series signals a larger shift in how we celebrate creators in music—not just for their fame, but for their form, experimentation, and purpose.

It sets the stage for future seasons that might explore AI in music, immersive sound in gaming, or next-gen mastering tools. Most importantly, it keeps the focus on the human behind the machine, the story behind the sound.

🧠 Key Highlights:

  • 🎙️ Studio Radicals explores groundbreaking music production stories
  • 🎧 Hosted by Kate Hutchinson, in partnership with dCS Audio
  • 🔊 Features Marta Salogni, Catherine Marks, Ebonie Smith, and more
  • 🌍 Emphasis on women, non-binary creators and inclusive production culture
  • 📍 Available globally starting April 23 on major podcast platforms

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