WCA #567 with Gena Johnson – Listening to Artists, Keeping Overhead Low, Career Champions, and Glitter Walls

Working Class Audio

In this episode of Working Class Audio, Matt welcomes Grammy Winning producer/engineer/mixer Gena Johnson who has worked with Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, and John Prine.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Leave your ego at the door
• Make people feel comfortable
• Listen to the artist
• Labels are business partners
• Word of mouth work
• Feminine energy in production
• Women in the industry
• Classical voice training for 12 years
• Internship at Welcome 1979
• Learned tape machines and soldering
• Assisting at Nashville studios
• First number one record
• Working at RCA Studio A
• Rewiring Studio A intensively
• Mentor Michael Wagner's influence
• Champions Vance Powell and Daryl Thorp
• Walls painted with glitter
• Keep overhead low
• Good attorney and manager combination

Links and Show Notes:

• Gena's Website
• Gena on Instagram
• Vance Powell on WCA
• Matt Ross-Spang on WCA
• Darrel Thorpe on WCA

Matt's Rant: Sonic Intrusion Revisited

Credits:

• Guest: Gena Johnson
• Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau
• WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
• The Voice: Chuck Smith