In this episode, we sit down with legendary producer, mixer, and guitarist Dave Fortman (Ugly Kid Joe, Evanescence, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Godsmack, Down) for a raw, unfiltered look behind the mixing board and inside the studio.
Dave opens up about:
- The Slipknot All Hope Is Gone Era: What really went down during the recording sessions, managing band dynamics, why he didn’t record the “Studio B” material, and setting the record straight on Joey Jordison’s brilliant songwriting contributions.
- Evanescence & Diamond Success: The early studio days recording Fallen, record label pressure to change “Bring Me To Life,” and what it feels like to produce tracks that still fill stadiums today.
- Down’s New Album & Louisiana Roots: Working with Phil Anselmo, Kirk Windstein, Pepper Keenan, and Jimmy Bower on the upcoming Down record, plus how Phil captures his iconic, aggressive vocal takes using just a Shure SM58.
- Producer Psychology: Why Mudvayne dubbed him “Diplomatic Dave” and how to balance massive egos in the studio.
- Social Media & Modern Music: His thoughts on content creation, viral reels, dealing with online trolls, and why he’s currently skipping Atmos spatial audio mixes.
Connect with Dave Fortman:
Instagram: @FortmanDave
Don’t Miss an Episode!
🔗Head to the website for all the info
📺 Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and hit that notification bell so you never miss a legendary interview.
🎧 Listen on the Go: Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all your favorite podcast platforms.
📱 Get Social: Follow the journey by searching Hear 2 Zen on all social media platforms!
#DaveFortman #Slipknot #AllHopeIsGone #JoeyJordison #Hear2Zen #MusicPodcast #RockProducer #BehindTheMusic #PhilAnselmo #DownNOLA #SuperjointRitual #Pantera #VocalRecording #StudioSecrets #DolbyAtmos #MixingEngineer #ProTools #AudioEngineering #StereoVsAtmos #Hear2ZenPodcast #ProducerLife #DiplomaticDave #Evanescence #Mudvayne #Godsmack
