What's That Sound?

Author: Stu Watts

Want to know what it's like to be an engineer or producer in the Australian music scene? Join Stu Watts as he interviews some of the best talent to come out of Australia. You'll learn about mindset, sessions, plugins and gear, and actionable advice from some of the best that Down Under has to offer.
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Language: en

Genres: Music, Music Interviews

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Tim Maxwell | What's That Sound? with Stu Watts Episode #59
Episode 59
Tuesday, 29 July, 2025

Stu Watts chats with Tim Maxwell, who is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, producer and mix engineer based in Melbourne, Australia. He first made his mark as the producer and frontman of the band Loser. Their debut album, Mindless Joy, was nominated for an Australian Music Prize in 2020, marking the start of Tim’s career as a producer. The follow-up album, All The Rage, achieved over 1 million Spotify streams, with two singles added to national radio rotation. The album was also nominated for Best Punk Release at the 2022 AIR Awards.In January 2021, Tim founded Restless Noise, his own studio and business. Through Restless Noise, he has worked with a diverse range of local and emerging artists, helping them shape their sound and reach their creative potential. Driven by a desire to collaborate with larger artists, Tim expanded his experience by working with Wrangler Studios, where he continues to refine his skills and position himself for high-profile projects.Tim’s growing reputation as a producer has led to opportunities with interstate bands, including Towns, Fangz, and Molly Rocket. Whether working in his own studio or collaborating with other artists, Tim remains committed to pushing creative boundaries and elevating the Australian music scene.Chapters:00:00 Intro/About Tim Maxwell02:21 What has changed over the past 3 years03:47 Working with interstate bands06:25 Rebranding and rebuilding Wrangler Studios07:30 Does the gear really matter?12:22 Make things sound good in the room13:21 Turning point moments16:12 Workflow improvements21:31 Don't compare yourself to others25:52 Does the mix translate everywhere?32:12 Inspiration/new habits34:42 What have you learnt about the music industry?38:23 Focus on enjoyment39:39 Advice to yourself from 3 years ago42:00 What continues to excite you?46:38 What Tim is focusing on in the near future47:34 Best bits of advice for producers/engineers and artists48:36 Conclusion/OutroHow you can support the podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy some merch⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate⁠⁠Follow on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠What's That Sound?⁠⁠⁠⁠Stu Watts⁠⁠⁠⁠Tim Maxwell⁠⁠Stu Watts website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Tim's work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Stu's work on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enquiries and suggestions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast.whatsthatsound@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠