Janek Gwizdala Podcast

It’s incredible that a pedal which creates literally no sound at all, can be so sonically life-changing when it comes to my pedalboard and signal chain. The Wetter Box by Gigrig is by no means a new release, and it’s something I wish I’d tried many years ago. Kudos to Dan and the gang (not a sponsor of the podcast) for getting it so right when many others failed.Here are some other videos I mention in the episode for your reference. Earthquaker Devices Swiss Things was something I used for a long time when my board was in mono. Check out Josh Scott from JHS explaining parallel signal routing. And hear from the creator of the Wetter Box himself, Dan of That Pedal Show fame, talk about exaclty how you might use it. Again, none of these people are sponsors of the podcast, but it’s nice to have the best references when you have questions that go way beyond my security clearance. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I’m always tinkering with new ways to record and find sounds I’ve never produced before. Today I’m experimenting with ways of using a mic to capture more nuance and articulation in my picking hand when I record.The results are pretty startling in terms of how the dynamic range of the instrument is extended. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

My collaboration with RKM basses is now shipping to the lucky few who were able to grab one in our short run of the instrument. In today’s episode I go into some detail about the venture with RKM, play the bass a ton, and also have a look at some of the challenges we face when using synth pedals as bass players.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

We get to some new stereo sounds in the pedalboard and even a short lesson on outlining dominant chords in today’s episode… But first, in a music industry dominated by the internet, streaming, social media, and ten-second clips, I’m trying something a little different.I’ve always had the red light on when I’m playing live. I’ve recorded hundreds of shows over the past two decades, many of them as a bandleader performing my own music.Now, I’m sharing them in a new project I’m calling The Record Store. I get so many emails asking why I’m not on Bandcamp or where people can buy my music because they don’t use streaming services—and this is my answer.All the live shows from the past, every studio album, and as many new live recordings as I can add in the future will be available for download in one place: The Record Store.As I mention in today’s episode, if just 1% of this channel’s subscribers bought one album, it would fund one—possibly even two—new studio albums within the next 12 months.So, as I continue my quest to write, record, and release as much music as possible while I’m still here, I hope this project will help fuel the creative side of my career and make it possible to bring you new music on a regular basis.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Special guests on this week's episode are my great friends and musical collaborators Justin Vasquez (who you will find on my albums Live at the 55bar, It Only Happens Once, and Found) and Gabriel Santiago who is a phenomenal Brazilian guitarist and composer I've worked with for many years, and appears on "Night Watch" as a vocalist. Check out Gabriel's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@GabrielSantiago⁩ Stream Justin's music: https://open.spotify.com/album/4TKrrFy4Ga39ugWx1ZObOI?si=StqQEUpmQCyHNESD-RH47Q🎧 In this episode, we dive deep into the future of music, technology, and legacy. The conversation explores what it means to create art in a rapidly changing world—where analog gave way to digital, and digital is now colliding with AI.We discuss:🎶 AI in music: from remixing classic tracks to generating entire albums in the style of legendary artists. Is this innovation, sacrilege, or simply inevitable?📀 Shifting mediums: the journey from vinyl to CDs to streaming, and what happens to music when platforms like Spotify or Apple Music may not exist 100 years from now.⏳ Time capsules & legacy: the idea of preserving music on titanium, planning “future releases” for anniversaries, and confronting the question of how long art truly lasts.🧑‍🎤 The human element: why feel and imperfection still matter more than ever in a world of modeling amps, auto-generated songs, and algorithm-driven content.🎭 Audience & authenticity: from being “canceled” online for offhand comments to the rise of “organic music” labels in the future—how will listeners define what’s real?This is a raw, thought-provoking conversation about creativity, disruption, and why the best artists will always find a way to leave their mark, no matter how technology evolves.Before we hit record I had no idea we would get so deep into all of this, so if you’ve ever wondered about the next 50 years of music, art, and storytelling, this could be just the thing for your commute or workout today!Don’t forget to check out the new album now streaming on all platformsAND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR I'LL CHANGE ALL THE SETTINGS ON YOUR PEDALSMore soon,Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Don't ignore your ears! They're the most important part of the process when it comes to playing, learning, communicating, interacting, and producing music of any kind. The word transcription has some things associated with it that might put you off thinking it's right for you, but in today's episode I'm going to break down some of those barriers and give you an explanation of the term that might help you incorporate it into your routine more easily. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Even if your pedal doesn't have them built in, I have a fix to get you the sound that "trails" open up on time based effects. And when it comes to some of the hippest pedal sounds for bass, a momentary switch can make all the difference in your performance. We get to both trails and momentary switches in this episode, as well as some tasty pedal combos and a vintage octave pedal you may have never seen before... As I mention in the episode, four of my favorite pedals are up on the chopping block, and my loss is your gain right. I have a few new things I want to bring into the pedalboard, and I'm trying to be good about not hoarding pedals just for the sake of it. They have served me well, have been on several of my own albums as well as on this channel many times, and now the road veers in a different sonic direction which requires a change of pedal scenery for me.Check out these beauties on the store before they’re all gone.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Ever wanted to sound just like your bass heroes? We all have those iconic players who shaped the way we hear and play bass. For me, it started with revisiting Voodoo by D'Angelo and getting lost in Pino Palladino’s buttery tone. That led me down the rabbit hole of dialing in his sound—and others—using the HX Stomp. The result? A custom collection of 5 HX Stomp presets inspired by five of the greatest to ever do it: Marcus Miller, Pino Palladino, Tim Lefebvre, John Patitucci, and Victor Wooten. These players have shaped entire genres—and my own musical path—with tones that are instantly recognizable yet always evolving. Rather than chase every tone they’ve ever played, I zeroed in on some of their most iconic recorded moments. These presets are my best attempt to capture those sounds—the ones that made me stop and rewind.Check out all the HX Presets I have in the store, including this new collection of Bass Legends. They’re designed as a starting point for your curiosity, and I highly recommend diving deeper into each artist’s discography to better understand their origin story. As the years unfold, the fascinating part for me is where they’ve all ended up on the journey. With John Patitucci you might be a huge fan of the 80’s/90’s Ken Smith/Yamaha records, but haven’t explored the recent albums with the hollow body instruments. Marcus Miller might mean SLAP to you, but perhaps you missed his incredibly melodic finger style playing on fretless on records like Tales and Marcus. Wherever you’re at in your listening and discovery, just remember that curiosity is key, and these sounds could open up a whole new world of music. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe