LEON MICHELS- Partner
Partner Leader of El Michels Affair. Co-founder of Big Crown Records. Former co-founder of Truth & Soul Records. Former co-owner of Soul Fire Studios. Leon’s 20 years of instrumental music and Lee Fields albums have been pervasively influential among other artists, producers, DJs, and music supervisors. This has lead to a steady stream of samples and syncs, and ensures that he is constantly producing someone else’s record (Clairo, Norah Jones, Leon Bridges), often for his own label Big Crown Records.
Primary Instruments: ORGAN, SAX, FLUTE. Also plays keyboards, bass, guitar, percussion, drums, programming.
NICK MOVSHON- Partner
Partner Known foremost as an extraordinary session bassist, Nick is also a skilled studio drummer, having played on countless songs during his close associations with producers including Leon, Tommy, Mark Ronson, Dan Auerbach, Jeff Silverman, and Phillip Lehman. He becomes a contributing songwriter and arranger in any ensemble he plays for, and he can also produce and engineer. Versatile collaborations have included Antibalas, The Black Keys, Ghostface Killah, and Lana Del Ray. While Nick can be congenial with almost any artist or band, he is equally at home building entire instrumental tracks without anyone else in the room.
Primary Instruments: BASS, DRUMS. Also plays guitar and percussion.
HOMER STEINWEISS- Partner
Partner One of the best-known and most distinctive-sounding groove drummers of the past 20 years, having been an indispensable beat maker behind all of New York’s revered funk and retro-soul outfits (Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band, Lee Fields & The Expressions), while lending his talents to mainstream artists such as Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar and Jonas Brothers. Behind the scenes, Homer is also a prolific songwriter and producer, engineer, and arranger. He co-founded Dunham Records and Dunham Sound Studios with Tommy, and continues producing artists in addition to his project entitled Homer.
Primary Instrument: DRUMS. Also plays guitar, bass, banjo, keyboards, percussion, programming.
THOMAS BRENNECK- Partner
Partner Leader of Menahan Street Band. Co-founder of Dunham Records. Former co-owner of Dunham Sound Studios. Best known for developing Charles Bradley’s recorded catalog over many years, as a founding member and producer of Budos Band, and as a former guitarist for Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. Tommy likes to work entirely on tape, even when it comes to editing and mixing. Most of his productions find a home at Daptone Records and its subsidiaries. Tommy owns and operates Diamond West Records in Los Angeles, CA.
Primary Instrument: GUITAR. Also plays bass, keyboards, percussion, lap steel, drums.
LUCAS CARPENTER- Studio Manager and Engineer
Lucas Carpenter is a recording engineer, producer, and mixer working across both analog and digital formats, with a focus on live tracking and performance-driven recording. His work centers on capturing authentic performances in real time while maintaining clarity, depth, and character.
As Studio Manager at Diamond Mine since 2023, Lucas oversees day-to-day operations, session coordination, and studio workflow, ensuring a smooth and reliable experience for artists, producers, and visiting engineers. In his role as Studio Engineer, he leads tracking and mixing sessions, collaborating closely with artists and creative teams across a wide range of projects. His work at Diamond Mine spans multiple genres and includes sessions with both established and emerging artists. Lucas is known for creating focused, efficient recording environments that support strong performances and enduring records. Additionally, Lucas is co owner of a studio in Putnam County, NY which he designed and built. Credited on works from Cameron Winter, Geese, Leon Bridges, Norah Jones, Cuco and many more.
Primary instrument: Electric Bass, programming.
LOREN HUMPHREY- Associate partner
Associate A fellow retro-analog enthusiast who keeps a complete set of equipment at The Diamond Mine and uses the studio whenever he can. As a producer, engineer, drummer, and arranger, Loren works with an entirely different set of artists including Miles Kane, Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, Florence + The Machine, Adam Green, and Willie J Healey. Loren has been busy producing and engineering, some notable releases as of 2025 include Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter, Deadbeat by Tame Impala and Is It Now? by Automatic.
Primary Instrument: DRUMS. Also plays guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion.
JENS JUNGKURTH - Former Chief Engineer (available freelance)
Jens is now an in-demand mixer working out of his home studio, but will still take select recording calls from trusted producers.
Jens previously served as Diamond Mine’s defacto chief engineer, technical director, and studio manager from 2015 until 2023, after helping to build the studio during 2013-2014. The partners had known him as an equipment designer and repair technician during their Dunham Sound days.
Primary Instrument: EARS. Doesn’t play anymore.