David Trumfio: The Future of Studio Ownership

About this episode

David Trumfio discusses his innovative approach to studio ownership and music production.

Dave Trumfio doesn’t just make records, he builds the rooms where records come alive. A Los Angeles–based producer, mixer, engineer, and musician, Trumfio has quietly shaped decades of indie and alternative music, with a sonic fingerprint that runs through artists like Wilco, Built to Spill, OK Go, and Sia. He first broke through in the 90s as co-founder of The Pulsars, a cult synth-pop duo with his brother Harry that earned a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of greatest one-album wonders. At the same time, he embedded himself in the underground as bassist and co-songwriter for the long-running post-punk collective The Mekons, adding grit to an already unruly legacy. Behind the console, Trumfio became a go-to architect for artists chasing character over polish, with credits spanning My Morning Jacket, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Dogstar. But his biggest innovation might be the spaces themselves. As founder of Kingsize Soundlabs, he pioneered a modern “producer-driven” studio model, later expanding that vision through partnerships with Gold-Diggers and 64 Sound, blending hospitality, community, and high-end recording into a new creative ecosystem. Outside the studio, he channels his…

People in this episode

Host: Mike Indovina

Guest: David Trumfio

Topics covered

• studio ownership
• music production
• indie music
• alternative music
• creative ecosystems
• post-punk
• recording technology

Keywords

• studio ownership
• music production
• David Trumfio
• indie music
• alternative music
• Kingsize Soundlabs
• Damaged Disco
• post-punk

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kingsize Soundlabs, Gold-Diggers, 64 Sound, Damaged Disco, Rolling Stone

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