Janek Gwizdala Podcast
Dive deep into the music universe with the podcast that unveils the journey of one of the most influential bass players in the music industry – Janek Gwizdala. Designed for bass enthusiasts and musicians alike, each episode is a sonic exploration into the world of groove, gear. technique, and artistic evolution.
Janek Gwizdala, renowned for his mastery of the bass, shares his life's narrative – from the early days as a budding musician to his current status as a sought-after sideman and solo artist. Whether you're a seasoned bassist or simply appreciate the magic of live music, join us as we unravel the layers of Janek's experiences, revealing the secrets behind his signature sound.
Expect in-depth conversations with Janek and special guests, offering unique perspectives on music, composition, and the art of creating an unforgettable groove. Explore the challenges and triumphs of a professional bass player, gain insights into the creative process, and discover the stories behind some of Janek's most iconic performances.
Whether you're looking for inspiration for your own musical journey or simply want to bask in the rich tones of the bass, "The Janek Gwizdala Podcast" is your backstage pass to the world of bass and music.
Subscribe now for an intimate look at the life and legacy of Janek Gwizdala's bass-centric career.
janekgwizdala.substack.com
Surviving the Music Business
2023-12-18 20:04:08
It is definitely possible to survive and thrive in the music business/industry, no matter what your entry point and no matter when you started. I’m sort of living proof of that, and despite many ups and downs along the way, I’m happy to report that I still love doing what I do all these years later. It’s a bummer that the movie file corrupted for anyone watching on YouTube. One of the big parts of surviving in any field I guess is maintaining your equipment, and today mine just gave out on me at a crucial moment. We’ll be back with video in the next episode though! Before I leave and wish you happy holidays, don’t forget to check out our 2023 holiday sale happening now! 25% of all bass courses , and 30% off all digital books , book bundles and HX stomp presets! Signed books continue to ship worldwide, and I can’t wait to bring you news of new projects in the works for 2024. Happy Holidays, and more soon! Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
It is definitely possible to survive and thrive in the music business/industry, no matter what your entry point and no matter when you started. I’m sort of living proof of that, and despite many ups and downs along the way, I’m happy to report that I still love doing what I do all these years later.
It’s a bummer that the movie file corrupted for anyone watching on YouTube. One of the big parts of surviving in any field I guess is maintaining your equipment, and today mine just gave out on me at a crucial moment. We’ll be back with video in the next episode though!
Before I leave and wish you happy holidays, don’t forget to check out our 2023 holiday sale happening now! 25% of all bass courses, and 30% off all digital books, book bundles and HX stomp presets! Signed books continue to ship worldwide, and I can’t wait to bring you news of new projects in the works for 2024.
Happy Holidays, and more soon!
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
What Can You Learn From Listening To Yourself?
2023-12-11 16:05:00
If you watch the podcast on YouTube, let me know what you think about it being back on the main channel. I put up a clips channel and a YouTube channel like I was some kind of YouTubing empire… in hindsight, it might be easier to stick in my little bass-niche lane and manage everything from one place. Must remember my last name is Gwzdala and not Rogan…
If you watch the podcast on YouTube, let me know what you think about it being back on the main channel.
I put up a clips channel and a YouTube channel like I was some kind of YouTubing empire… in hindsight, it might be easier to stick in my little bass-niche lane and manage everything from one place.
Must remember my last name is Gwzdala and not Rogan…
Reacting To My Own Playing
2023-12-05 18:38:05
I'm reacting to my playing on the first five "Could I play bass with" videos from my main channel, and discussing how I go through the process of transcribing, learning, and ultimately performing the music. Janek. Tour Dates Bass Books Bass Courses Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
I'm reacting to my playing on the first five "Could I play bass with" videos from my main channel, and discussing how I go through the process of transcribing, learning, and ultimately performing the music.
Janek.
Tour Dates
Bass Books
Bass Courses
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
New Gear Time | But is it for Studio or Touring?
2023-11-01 20:06:04
I just took delivery of the new Caveman Audio CP-1 compressor, and make a quick announcement of it in today’s episode. I’m also going over cover songs, how I pick a setlist for a tour, and what I’m doing less than 24hrs before my flight to Europe tomorrow to be in the best condition for my short tour of the UK. Tour Dates November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
I just took delivery of the new Caveman Audio CP-1 compressor, and make a quick announcement of it in today’s episode. I’m also going over cover songs, how I pick a setlist for a tour, and what I’m doing less than 24hrs before my flight to Europe tomorrow to be in the best condition for my short tour of the UK.
Tour Dates
November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music
November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight
November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Do Demos Really Matter?
2023-10-02 17:13:46
From the beginnings of an idea, all they way through to it potentially being on an album, there are a lot of steps in the process. One of them is demoing. I think it’s probably way more important in the pop music world, and just vocal music in general, than for instrumental music like the majority of mine. But it has had its place for me over the years, and this episode deals with the journey of the latest single, “13 Fathoms”, from the new album. Trace the song back to its roots and see what I added and subtracted from the initial idea in order to come up with what you hear on the new album. Enjoy, Janek New Album Pre-Order Tour Dates November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight Bass Books Bass Lessons Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
From the beginnings of an idea, all they way through to it potentially being on an album, there are a lot of steps in the process.
One of them is demoing. I think it’s probably way more important in the pop music world, and just vocal music in general, than for instrumental music like the majority of mine. But it has had its place for me over the years, and this episode deals with the journey of the latest single, “13 Fathoms”, from the new album.
Trace the song back to its roots and see what I added and subtracted from the initial idea in order to come up with what you hear on the new album.
Enjoy,
Janek
New Album Pre-Order
Tour Dates
November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music
November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight
November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight
Bass Books
Bass Lessons
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
The Janek Gwizdala Podcast
2023-09-25 15:05:00
It’s kind of crazy to think that over the years I’ve now made 263 episodes of this podcast. Sadly not all of them are still available, but having just gone back through the archives to count up the episodes, it reminded me that this is the thing I’ve been doing online the longest in terms of communicating with my audience. The original episodes, recorded with the built-in mic of an old laptop went out sometime in the fall of 2006. I was by no means first. I think podcasting started at least 2 or 3 years earlier. But I remember thinking “this could be something…”. Well here it is, some 17 years later, still hanging in there. Obviously, had I been consistent over the years, we could have been on episode 2,630 and not 263, but I’m still very motivated to keep doing it and very much appreciate the support you all continue to give it. All the links you need from today’s episode are below. More soon, Janek New Album Pre-Order Tour Dates November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight Bass Books Bass Lessons Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
It’s kind of crazy to think that over the years I’ve now made 263 episodes of this podcast. Sadly not all of them are still available, but having just gone back through the archives to count up the episodes, it reminded me that this is the thing I’ve been doing online the longest in terms of communicating with my audience.
The original episodes, recorded with the built-in mic of an old laptop went out sometime in the fall of 2006. I was by no means first. I think podcasting started at least 2 or 3 years earlier. But I remember thinking “this could be something…”.
Well here it is, some 17 years later, still hanging in there. Obviously, had I been consistent over the years, we could have been on episode 2,630 and not 263, but I’m still very motivated to keep doing it and very much appreciate the support you all continue to give it.
All the links you need from today’s episode are below.
More soon,
Janek
New Album Pre-Order
Tour Dates
November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music
November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight
November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight
Bass Books
Bass Lessons
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
My First Ever Cover Video
2023-09-06 15:05:00
I'm breaking down what it took to put together this love letter to my wife in the form of a cover song as an anniversary gift last week. It was one of the most challenging projects I've ever taken on, and also one of the most emotionally rewarding when I saw the outpouring of love for my wife and the willingness of everyone involved. Check out the epic marriage proposal and the full song as I presented it to her on our anniversary… New Album Pre-Order Tour Dates November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight Bass Books Bass Lessons Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
I'm breaking down what it took to put together this love letter to my wife in the form of a cover song as an anniversary gift last week. It was one of the most challenging projects I've ever taken on, and also one of the most emotionally rewarding when I saw the outpouring of love for my wife and the willingness of everyone involved.
Check out the epic marriage proposal and the full song as I presented it to her on our anniversary…
New Album Pre-Order
Tour Dates
November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music
November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight
November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight
Bass Books
Bass Lessons
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Time & Sound | Talking Watches and Music
2023-08-28 15:04:00
With a piece of technology strapped to my wrist that’s somewhere in the region of 300 years old, I’m gently reminded on a daily basis that old things don’t have to become obsolete. I’ve felt lately that the current state of the music business is much like the “Quartz Crisis” of the 70’s and 80’s watch industry. Wearing this centuries old analogue technology, that still functions to help me make the most out of what little time I have here on earth, has helped me keep faith in the fact that we’re not antiquated as musicians just yet. There is hope that people will still continue to want to hear real musicians live, despite the fact they have access to the entire recorded history of our industry for free, and much like the growing appreciation for mechanical watches over the past three decades, there is hope of a resurgence in the value of both live and recorded music. Janek. Tour Dates November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight Album Pre-Sale Bass Books Bass Lessons Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
With a piece of technology strapped to my wrist that’s somewhere in the region of 300 years old, I’m gently reminded on a daily basis that old things don’t have to become obsolete.
I’ve felt lately that the current state of the music business is much like the “Quartz Crisis” of the 70’s and 80’s watch industry. Wearing this centuries old analogue technology, that still functions to help me make the most out of what little time I have here on earth, has helped me keep faith in the fact that we’re not antiquated as musicians just yet.
There is hope that people will still continue to want to hear real musicians live, despite the fact they have access to the entire recorded history of our industry for free, and much like the growing appreciation for mechanical watches over the past three decades, there is hope of a resurgence in the value of both live and recorded music.
Janek.
Tour Dates
November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music
November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight
November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight
Album Pre-Sale
Bass Books
Bass Lessons
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
Argentina Was A Huge Success!
2023-08-13 17:19:37
The sessions in Argentina were a huge success, and I got more out of the studio days that I could have possibly imaged. Cliff and Tom gave the performance of a lifetime on this incredibly challenging music. Juan Pablo captured it all beautifully in the control room, and flexed his Asado skills away from the studio, making this not only one of the best musical experiences in recent memory, but also one of the best food trips I've ever taken. The next two months will be spent editing and mixing the album, as well as creating the documentary film to show you how it all came together. The Pre-Sale is still running , so make sure you get your copy now, and gain access to features like bonus tracks that won't be released to the public, sheet music for the album, live recordings from our trip to Argentina, and a poster commemorating the making of the album. More soon, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
The sessions in Argentina were a huge success, and I got more out of the studio days that I could have possibly imaged. Cliff and Tom gave the performance of a lifetime on this incredibly challenging music.
Juan Pablo captured it all beautifully in the control room, and flexed his Asado skills away from the studio, making this not only one of the best musical experiences in recent memory, but also one of the best food trips I've ever taken.
The next two months will be spent editing and mixing the album, as well as creating the documentary film to show you how it all came together.
The Pre-Sale is still running, so make sure you get your copy now, and gain access to features like bonus tracks that won't be released to the public, sheet music for the album, live recordings from our trip to Argentina, and a poster commemorating the making of the album.
More soon,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
High String Action | Sharing My EXACT Setup in 2023
2023-07-31 15:05:00
I just had my bass setup for what I think is the first time since it was made... Not exactly a good example as a professional I know. But what that means is, besides the fact it feels and sounds great for the new album sessions in Argentina next week, I can now share all the exact numbers with you! I was fortunate to be introduced to a great bass tech here in Los Angeles a few days ago, Ryan Gleason, who snuck me into his busy schedule to help get the bass ready for the studio. Check Out Ryan’s Luthier Business in Los Angeles. Let me know in the comments if you think this setup up is on the high side, or maybe just normal for you. Get the new album via the pre-sale! Enjoy, Janek Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe
I just had my bass setup for what I think is the first time since it was made... Not exactly a good example as a professional I know. But what that means is, besides the fact it feels and sounds great for the new album sessions in Argentina next week, I can now share all the exact numbers with you!
I was fortunate to be introduced to a great bass tech here in Los Angeles a few days ago, Ryan Gleason, who snuck me into his busy schedule to help get the bass ready for the studio.
Check Out Ryan’s Luthier Business in Los Angeles.
Let me know in the comments if you think this setup up is on the high side, or maybe just normal for you.
Get the new album via the pre-sale!
Enjoy,
Janek
Get full access to Janek's Newsletter at janekgwizdala.substack.com/subscribe