Janek Gwizdala Podcast

We're taking a look into the new Bass DI and preamp from Walrus audio in collaboration with Ian Martin Allison. Spoiler alert... It's a beautiful piece of gear, and the minor meltdowns about the price happening in the comments below the launch video are a little puzzling. For the most part though, the feedback is hugely supportive and positive which is both great, and greatly deserved.Hopefully this Episode gives you some perspective, some sounds, and a few things to think about when choosing the right gear for you. Besides sending me the unit to try, Walrus Audio are not a sponsor in any other way. I’m never paid for my opinion, and Walrus have no say in what I present to you. As you well know, I just like to make cool sounds with cool stuff. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Following on from our most recent discussion on the subject, I get a little deeper into the weeds on the state of streaming, the music industry as a whole, and some of the ethical decisions we face when considering how to release our music and share it with the world. I have gone back and forth on the subject for many years, and endeavor to update my thinking on it as and when the information changes. It’s currently less of a negative thing than a positive thing for what my long-term goals are as an artist, and that’s what I get deeper into detail about in this episode. Far more so than the latest article published in my newsletter. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

To close out the year I’m counting down my top ten YouTube shorts for 2025 and revealing all the numbers from both 2024 and 2025 for comparison. It won’t buy me any beachfront property, but it’s not all doom and gloom, and it doesn’t signal the end by any stretch of the imagination. Don’t forget, that for the next 24hrs only, the entire store is on a 20% holiday sale, with all discounts added automatically at checkout. See you in 2026!Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

Looking back on two emotional weeks on the road with Mike Stern's band featuring Dennis Chambers on drums. I'm diving deep into how the new pedalboard held up on tour, how the past creeps into my present sometimes, and what the future holds.More soon, JanekOur year-end holiday sale is now on! Get 20% off storewide with discounts added automatically at checkout: https://janekgwizdala.myshopify.com/ Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I can’t believe I haven’t utilized this function on any of the pedals or amps I’ve owned. I’ve been getting so deep into the clean signal of my bass lately, especially with the addition of the Wetter Box from GigRig, and this week’s episode of the podcast takes a look at the latest mission to clean up the signal chain even more! More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

With a rare trio gig tonight that doesn’t have a chordal instrument besides me in the band, I’m re-booting the partition of my brain that gives me access to a ton of harmony, melody, and comping. All on the bass! In this episode we’ll take a look at both an extended range 5-string with a high C string, and a standard 4-string tuning.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

I just built a brand new pedalboard from scratch and share the signal chain and some of the sounds with you in this episode. We also get into some much more important topics on the subject of our health and mental well-being as musicians. As I mention in the episode, I want to hear from you in the comments, get feedback on what you would like to hear more about, and moving forward it would be great to include elements of the behind the scenes of daily musician life. A life that doesn’t have to be sedentary and unhealthy, and that can lead to you being around way longer to make way more music.More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe

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

What happens when things are kind of crumbling on a session and you need the advice of someone who is close to doing more sessions than any other living bass player? You call Sean Hurley.This is the three part story of how we ended up subbing for each other on gigs we’re pretty well know for doing, and how we approach them in very different but very musical ways. 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

It can be tough to admit you’ve made a mistake or done something wrong, not least of all when it involves something you pretend to actually know a little about.In this week’s episode I come clean about a pedal blunder, discover my brain doesn’t work the way I want sometimes, and find comfort in the simple things in life.I also mention in the episode that two pieces of gear are leaving the studio and are up for sale in The Gear Store. If you’re subscribed to my newsletter you’ll see them before many other people listening to the podcast. They are pieces that simply aren’t getting used anymore, and with so many new things arriving in the coming months, it’s time to make some space. It’s gear that has meant a great deal to me for a multitude of reasons, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it ends up and how it gets used. As always, I’m offering them with free shipping worldwide. 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

I haven't been this excited about a pedal in a very long time, and thought I would be waiting much longer to get my hands on one. The entire run of 400 sold out instantly a couple of months ago, and I imagine the next run in October will do the same. From its small footprint to the incredible depth of functionality, this reverb is musically very inspiring and I look forward to bringing you more updates on my progress with it soon.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

With more than 30 years invested in the process of learning and playing music, I'm still trying to get better and improve my technique. If you’re a fan of cycling like me, you may have heard about Tadej Pogačar and his zone-2 training revelations, as discussed by Peter Attia and Tadej's former coach Inigo San Millan. I've tried to start applying similar concepts to my daily practice routine, and I'm starting to see improvements, even after more than 30 years of playing. I'm excited to be able to share some of my progress from the past few weeks in this episode. More soon, JanekP.S. The pre-order for my new book “How To Transcribe” is now open. Transcription is the single most powerful way to train your ear and unlock your musicianship. This book is more than a manual—it’s a complete system for learning how to listen deeply, recognize musical language, and translate sound directly to your instrument. 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

In today's episode we get into some Django Reinhardt, the ii-V-I, and a pedal that's been at the top of my wishlist ever since it dropped a few weeks ago and sold out instantly!More soon, JanekNew Book Bundle Available Now! 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

Cannonball Adderley is one of my biggest jazz heroes and in this episode we're taking a look into how he's helped me with all aspects of my playing, not just jazz and improvisation. Find and trust a process that works for you, and then get into great habits like consistency, listening, and repetition. I have also found throughout the decades of working on all music, that the less I expect in terms of results, the more I end up achieving. It’s so easy to get sucked into that vortex of impatience when you first start working on something new. But trusting the process, letting it come to you rather than forcing the issue, and being okay with it not sounding or feeling that great right away are all key elements of what is going to help you succeed. Iconic Lines could be a great place to start if you're into material like this. Even if you're not, it could be the challenge and the discipline you've been looking for to take your daily routine in a new a more productive direction. Get ready for new music tonight at midnight with the release of the new album “Found” available on all streaming platforms!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