·S1 E14
Episode 14: Michael Beinhorn on Soundgarden's Superunknown, Creative Friction, Remote Production, AI, and the Producer’s Role
Episode Description
Send a Message to Stuck on Sound
In Episode 14 of Stuck on Sound, Joey Stuckey sits down with acclaimed producer, musician, author, and creative strategist Michael Beinhorn for a wide-ranging conversation about records, risk, taste, technology, and what a producer is really there to do.
Michael reflects on his early years co-founding the New York musical collective Material with Bill Laswell, his work on Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit,” and the path that led him into producing era-defining records for artists including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Hole, Marilyn Manson, Soul Asylum, Korn, and others. Joey opens with a personal story about discovering, after meeting Michael, that he had produced one of Joey’s favorite albums of all time: Soundgarden’s Superunknown.
From there, the conversation explores the deeper craft of record-making: how to recognize the emotional center of a song, why great records often require discomfort, and how a producer must sometimes serve as captain, translator, psychologist, and truth-teller. Michael talks candidly about band dynamics, the pressure of high-stakes sessions, the danger of mediocrity, and the importance of helping artists push beyond their first or easiest ideas.
Joey and Michael also discuss the evolution of recording from live band performance to modern editing, the creative value of limitations, and the difference between using technology as a tool versus allowing it to flatten human expression. Michael offers a nuanced take on AI, arguing that the real issue is not simply the tool itself, but the way it is being marketed, deployed, and used to replace rather than deepen human creativity.
The episode closes with Michael’s current work in remote production and artist development, showing that the producer’s core job has not changed: listen deeply, respond honestly, and help artists make the strongest work they are capable of making.
⸻
Stay Connected with Stuck on Sound host Joey Stuckey
Follow Stuck on Sound host Joey Stuckey to stay up on all things going on in the Stuckeyverse.
⸻
Shadow Sound Studio
With over 30 years of experience as a musician, recording engineer, and producer, and serving as the official music ambassador of Macon-Bibb, Georgia, Joey Stuckey can service all your professional audio needs.
To learn more about working with Shadow Sound Studio and Joey Stuckey, visit the website or email Joey directly.
Shadow Sound Studio Website
joey@joeystuckey.com
⸻
Subscribe, Rate, and Review
Enjoyed this episode of Stuck on Sound? Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a rating or review, and share the episode with someone who loves music, recording, creativity, and the stories behind great sound.