BESPOKEN

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack sits down with Louis Posen, Founder & President of Hopeless Records, and Christina Johns, the label’s VP of Operations. Hopeless is one of the most influential independent record labels of the last 30+ years, and a long-time partner of A to Z. In this conversation, Louis and Christina share Hopeless' origins, evolution, and their continued impact on music and culture.

The episode ...

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack sits down with Darryl Norsen, a graphic designer and art director known for his distinctive work with numerous estates and artists, including the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Joni Mitchell, Little Feat, and contemporary groups like Phish, Green Day, Kurt Vile, and many more.

This conversation dives deep into the art and inspiration behind album, poster, and merch design, exploring Dar...

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack sits down with Ryan Mitrovich, General Manager of The Vinyl Alliance, the international industry organization uniting labels, pressing plants, hardware makers, and retailers to shape the future of vinyl.

This conversation dives deep into the state of the vinyl industry, exploring how Gen Z is driving the vinyl resurgence, why young collectors are investing in physical media, and what ...

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack sits down with Josh Bonati, the Brooklyn-based mastering and lacquer cutting engineer behind Bonati Mastering. With a discography that spans indie icons, cult classics, and high-profile reissues, Bonati has become a go-to mastering engineer for artists and labels who value precision, depth, and analog character.

This conversation dives deep into the often misunderstood world of audio ...

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack welcomes Ken Shipley, co-founder of the influential reissue label Numero Group. Known for its meticulous packaging, deep archival research, and genre-spanning catalog, Numero has spent over two decades preserving overlooked artists and forgotten underground music scenes, from soul and funk to punk, post-hardcore, early emo, and beyond.

This conversation centers on Sequoia, Numero’s am...

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack welcomes Mo Shafeek, co-founder of Mutant and a visionary force in the world of film soundtracks and collectibles. Mo discusses his long-standing partnership with A to Z Media, spanning nearly 15 years, including his previous role as Creative Director of Music at Mondo, to the present day with Mutant.

Mo dives deep into his creative approach, sharing how he collaborates with studios, ...

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack catches up with Dr. Portia Sabin, President of the Music Business Association and former President of the groundbreaking indie label Kill Rock Stars. Dr. Sabin, who also hosts "The Future of What" podcast, shares essential music industry knowledge that independent artists and labels need to succeed in today's competitive landscape.

The conversation includes the collection of music roy...

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack welcomes Lewis Griffin, the owner and principal designer of Blackout Studios. Based in the UK, Blackout Studios specializes in creative media production, particularly vinyl record and CD packaging for independent artists. In this episode, Lewis shares insights into his creative process, discussing how he immerses himself in the music to craft distinctive designs emboldened with a DIY ...

In this episode of BESPOKEN, host Scott Pollack welcomes renowned Zoetrope animator and artist Drew Tetz.

Drew, known for his mesmerizing zoetrope artwork for vinyl records and slipmats, shares his journey from graphic design to becoming an influential figure in the field of zoetropes. The conversation delves into Drew's creative process, his notable projects, and his innovative experiments with animation and technology. Drew discu...

Welcome to BESPOKEN, a podcast that delves into the world of independent music and physical media culture. In each episode, we'll be talking with industry experts and dedicated creators who are bringing music to life in every format imaginable. I'm Scott Pollack, your host and the president of A to Z Media.

For 30 years, A to Z Media has been working with countless record labels and artists to meet their manufacturing and printing ...