Sounds Visual is an acclaimed podcast featuring intimate, in-depth interviews and conversations with distinguished musicians, composers, producers, DJ’s, and crate diggers, with a particular emphasis on jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop.
It’s produced, hosted, and edited by Justin Meyer—a Portland-based music obsessive, drummer, and DJ originally from Los Angeles, with a decade-long run in Tennessee before landing in the Pacific Northwest. He grew up in and around the music business—his father worked at Capitol and MCA Records, while his stepfather was a producer who owned recording studios—giving him a front-row seat to the industry from an early age. His first drum lesson came from none other than Max Weinberg, and his next teacher was a drummer for Tower of Power, where he picked up the funk chops that would shape his playing for years to come. Not long after, he discovered James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” and “Mother Popcorn” on the Star Time box set, sparking a lifelong obsession with drum breaks and rhythm. In the early ’90s, he was already experimenting—trying to loop the opening break from Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks” on a beat-up, hand-me-down PC, teaching himself the foundations of sampling and beat-making. Around the same time, he was one of just four students from his high school accepted into its pioneering electronic music program, where he dove into MIDI, sequencing, and synthesis—skills that would later shape his approach to production and DJing.
In college, he cut his teeth at the legendary indie label Spongebath Records—helping shape releases that became cult favorites while learning the ins and outs of the indie music world. Since then, he’s spent 25 years in music sync and administration (placing tracks for Netflix, Hulu, Fox, NBC, and HBO), toured the world as a “hired gun” drummer (with stops on The Tonight Show and Letterman), hosted shows on KMHD-FM (one of the nation’s top jazz stations) and KBOO-FM, ran Portland’s first record store/bar hybrid, Hall of Records (RIP), and also shared stages as a drummer for hip-hop legends like Big Daddy Kane and Count Bass D.
Email: soundsvisualradio at gmail dot com
Instagram: @soundsvisualmedia
Facebook: @soundsvisualmedia
Mixtapes: Dusty Nuggets on Mixcloud
Beats: soundcloud.com/soundsvisualpdx
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“The best interview I have ever done.” -Lonnie Liston Smith
“I’ve easily done at least a hundred of these interviews, and this was, by far, THE best of all of them.” -Chuck Rainey, legendary session bassist
“…Nothing short of perfection…the best ever piece done on me…Thanks for more than excellent presentation of me, & my musical life; dare I say SUPERB? There, I’ll say it again. Superb! The world needs to know about this podcast.” –Ernie Hines, singer/songwriter
“It’s a great thing you’re doing…you are the real deal.” -Dizzy Reece
“Masterfully done…great music choices, and you asked some vital questions.” –Billy Harper
“Well done…a great interview.” – Charles Wright
“This was fantastic…Thank you.” –Milton Wright
“Loved it…an amazing interview.” -Craig McMullen, guitarist, Curtis Mayfield
“Let me just say I am excited and I am ever so grateful that you took an interest and that you have an interest. It’s not easy to get me on the phone, so I know I had to be in your heart. This is truly just amazing and I thank you so much!” –Marlena Shaw
“I’ve been listening to the show, and it’s really good…Who interviews people like Ronnie Foster? You’re doing great work.” -Prince Paul
“…The story was great…You know what you are doing…As good as always from you.” –Irma Thomas, the “Soul Queen of New Orleans”
“Wow…really great editing and assembly. Nice job.” -Bob Power, producer/engineer
“We were happy to be a part of it.” -Double Dee & Steinski
“A great interview, came out wonderfully.” -Wilbert Hart, the Delfonics
“Outstanding!” -Phil Morrison, the Stark Reality
“The most comprehensive and informing interview anyone has ever done with me.” -Caesar Frazier
“High praise for the podcast…it turned out excellent.” -Redd Holt, drummer, Young-Holt Unlimited
“Fantastic…loved it.” –Lincoln Ross, The 3 Pieces
“…I am blown away with the show’s production, the music sections you chose, and your very direct and cool hosting skills.” –Les DeMerle, jazz drummer/bandleader
“My friends and fans will love this interview.” -Sir Joe Quarterman
“A beautiful production…a treasure.” -Charlene Stepney, daughter, Charles Stepney
“Well done!” –Randy Brecker
“Thanks Justin…you did an excellent job.” –Mike James Kirkland
“Thank you so much Justin for this great piece of historical art you created.” –John Buchanan, the Soul Searchers
“Fantastic podcast! Thanks so much for inviting me on your show.” –Mike Nock
“Great and informative…5 stars.” –Henry Franklin
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Past guests on the Sounds Visual podcast include:
Dizzy Reece • Lou Donaldson • Ron Carter • Cecil McBee • Sonny Rollins • Sergio Mendes • Bob James • Gary Bartz • Steve Gadd • Chuck Rainey • Al Kooper • Prince Paul • Fred Wesley • Randy Brecker • Redd Holt • Julian Priester • Syl Johnson • David Matthews • Lamont Dozier • Mike Stoller • Reggie Workman • James Spaulding • Billy Nichols • Billy Cobham • James Gadson • Mixmaster Mike • Kurtis Blow • Grand Wizzzard Theodore • Lonnie Liston Smith • Eddie Henderson • Roy McCurdy• Irma Thomas • Charlie Chalmers • Calvin Keys • Ishmael Butler • Monty Alexander • Craig McMullen • Azar Lawrence • Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis • Adrian Quesada • Greg Errico • Wilbert Hart • Geoff Barrow • DJ Andy Smith • Dexter Wansel • Charlene Stepney (daughter, Charles Stepney) • Wilbur “Bad” Bascomb • Slimkid3 • Bob Power • Diamond D • Buckwild • Kool Moe Dee • Kool DJ Red Alert • Omar “O.C.” Credle • Malcolm Catto • Kevin Lassiter • Harvey Averne • King Errisson • Alan Leeds • Dan Charnas • William DeVaughn • Frank Abel • Gerald Calhoun and Craig Baldwin • Lewis Hitt • Maxayn Lewis • Alan Shacklock • Binky Griptite • Caesar Frazier • George Porter, Jr. • Dennis Coffey • Rick Marotta • Lee Fields • Martin Perna • “Sir” Joe Quarterman • Manzel Bush • Charles Wright • Lee Lovett • Dwight Richards • Hollis Googe & Michael Pelzer • Houston Person • Phil Morrison • John Manuel • Paddy Corea • Keb Darge • Jerome Derrickson • Keith Killgo • Willie West • Don Randi • Double Dee & Steinski • Lyrics Born • James “Plunky” Branch • Harold Greene • House Shoes • Curtis Pope • Samm Culley • Joe Bataan • Billy Martin • Sam Beaubien • DJ Amir • Amerigo Gazaway • B Plus • Miles Tackett • Cool Chris • Eddy Senay • Kelly Finnigan • Todd Simon • Jared Tankel • Ben Lamdin • JJ Whitefield • Shawn Lee • Steve Haney • Farnell Newton • Larry Crane • Geoff Gallegos • Joey Altruda • Lincoln Ross • Jeff Babko • Joe “the Tone Poet” Harley • Allen Thayer • Charles Burton • Gilbert Rivera • Ernie Vincent • Ruby Andrews • Emilio Castillo • Bobby Broom • Michael Davis • Joe Arnold • Betty Harris • Peter Hess • Tommy Brenneck • Geoff Hazelrigg • Arthur Adams • Ernie Hines • Clarence Alonzo Oliver • Esther Williams • Marlena Shaw • Harold Brown • Culture Freedom • Clinton Fearon • Mike James Kirkland • Ricardo Marrero • Barbara McCoy • Leroy Sibbles • Gideon King • Gene Anderson • Les DeMerle • Joe Espinosa • John Buchanan • Rodney Brown • Sugar Pie DeSanto • Jimmy Owens • George McCrae • Lenny White • Mike Nock • Russell Thompkins, Jr. • Keith Harrison • Henry Franklin • George Cables • Milton Wright • Hailu Mergia • Steve Weakley • Luis Gasca • Del the Funky Homosapien • Fred Thomas • Cymande • Buster Williams • Lewis Porter • Billy Harper • Lord Finesse • Young MC • Leon Rubenhold • Eddie Gómez • Cecil Bridgewater • Kenny Barron • Ernie Watts • Charles McPherson • Leon Sylvers III • Millie Jackson • Harvey Mason • Woudy Hughes • Candi Staton • Count Bass D • DJ Cut Creator • William Bell • Brian Blade