Episode 90: Seids, Making it Happen

Episode 90- Seids, Making it Happen

Dive into the world of influencing with Seids! Driven by a genuine passion to make musicians' lives easier, she introduces her followers to exciting tech innovations that make production and music creation more accessible to the public.

You may already be familiar with her through social media posts where she teaches about Logic Pro, new plugins and production tips.

Unlike those who paint a picture-perfect image, Seids keeps it honest, relatable, and educational.

Mike Meiers and Seids share a passion for entrepreneurship, discuss the changing landscape, and reflect on lessons learned from being in the public eye.

With three years of dedicated daily posting, Seids has gained tremendous insights. She fearlessly embraces feedback, comments, and challenges that come her way. Her experiences will inspire you and give you the courage to unleash more of your own entrepreneurial and musical spirit onto the world.

In this episode, Seids offers practical advice and strategies to help you navigate tricky moments, reminding us that whatever we do, we won't receive unanimous love or hate. Neither of which should stop us from enjoying the process.

In an ever-evolving landscape of social media and entrepreneurship, tune in to this episode to empower yourself on your own journey!

 

Listen more on apple podcasts or read the ai.i generated transcription  below....

 

Mike Meiers 0:00
Hey, I'm Mike Meiers and this is the Songwriting for Guitar podcast which is geared to support songwriters and producers to gain confidence and turn pro. I bring on industry experts to help you improve and monetize your skills, Engage better in the writing process, and build healthy habits to create a sustainable career that you love. Caffeinated, inspirational, conversational.

Hey, What's up friends Mike Meyers here with the song rank for guitar podcast episode number 90. Sabrina Seidman aka sides. Now if you're someone that's dabbled in music production Logic Pro you've been starting to understand a little bit. I guarantee you have come across sides videos on Instagram Tik Tok, she has been documenting her entire process for the past three years yet from day one trying to tackle production to where she is now. She has built a tremendous following a brand companies flocked her being like, Hey, can you demonstrate our product because she has made music accessible for everyone. She has helped break down the myths of music production. And here's the thing. She's got haters too. And we talk about that as well. So we're gonna talk about entrepreneurship haters, the whole nine yards. So we're gonna dive into this episode, episode. Number 90, Sabrina Seidman.

I'm sure everybody tells you I found you on Instagram. And I just love your breakdowns of logic tutorials, making it to me really accessible, and not loading it with jargon. That's the one thing that's very unappealing for me when it comes to anything on the technical side of music and recording is always where it's just like, it's certain DBS Dibble rubbish. And it's like, okay, can you just like explain that to me in like a sentence. And I want to get into how you built all this. But I want to get to your background too, of like, how you got into music? I know, I think you went to Berkeley like was music just always the thing that you were like, This is my thing. This is the thing that I use to communicate my ideas, my feelings, it's where I want to express myself.

Speaker 2 2:23
Well, for me, it was yeah, it was music and also kind of performing. I was singing kind of before I was ever doing like anything else. So I was a singer and would just like always be like singing around. Or if I was like, even as a kid, like at a nursing home. My parents were like saying and be like, oh, you know,

Mike Meiers 2:45
so what were your two songs?

Speaker 2 2:47
What were your go to skosh who knows what it was probably something from Annie. I was kind of like a musical theater kid like growing up not too but more. Okay, yeah. And then, you know, I started doing piano, I was never really like good at piano. But I did it for a bit. And then I started writing songs just using like chords, then I really liked songwriting, and creating music that way. And then when I went to Berkeley, I really just wanted to like sing in a band. Yeah, that's what I want to do. I didn't study production at Berkeley at all, and looking back and kind of like, I roll up myself, like, why didn't I do it? And it really was, because even though I was at Berkeley, I wasn't really like invited into it or just didn't maybe it was a mixture of that or just not interest. I don't know, I had maybe a young, immature mindset where at that time, I was like, I can just be a singer. And like, everyone else can do all that stuff, you know. So that's I was just in a band. And then when I graduated Berkeley, I was like, well, I need to get a job. I had like a severe, like, mental breakdown about how I'm going to get one and funny story. I was backpacking in Europe by myself, because at that time, all I want to do is like travel and just like roam the world. And my last city was Porto, Portugal, and I was like, okay, like, this is it done traveling? Now I gotta get a job. Like, how am I going to do this? How am I gonna get a job singing? And yes, had the nervous breakdown, moved to New York City and just applied to every single thing applied to all these bands, all these auditions. And then I got a job. I saw a flyer, like, hey, audition for cruise ship singer, and I was like, This is great. I love to travel and I want to sing like I really want this job. So I auditioned, I got a gig and my first ship that I met was in Porto, Portugal. So it's just like, so weird how the unit like four months previous, I was having a nervous breakdown in that airport. How am I gonna get a job singing and then here I am on a ship singing seven nights a week on the high seas. And yeah, so continuing your my story. So basically, I did that for a year and some change. I was like 22 walked off the ship with 30 grand and I was like, hurray. Next stop the Grammys, you know, like, here I go.

Mike Meiers 4:57
What is it like to do that every night especially on a cruise ship? Does it feel like the cruise ship

Speaker 2 5:01
thing? Um, pros and cons? You know, like, even though I went to Berkeley for singing, I really learned how to sing on the cruise ship. Because it was every, like you can't, the way you learn singing is not in a classroom, right? Like, it's performing, you know, so, and then everyone on this, I was really lucky because I got, especially my first contract. The girls that were and the guys that were on that contract that did like, you know, the show, and like, the other parts were incredible singers. So I got to learn a lot from them. And I was the youngest one. So I learned so much. I mean, all of them are like, leads in the west end now. Like, they're still like doing like, they're Yeah, they're like, super successful. And it's basically it was just like, such a great like boot camp to, like, really learn and get paid to learn, like all these damn songs. And it's like the same songs that people want to listen to, like, even now. Like, it's the same two to 300 songs that everyone wants to listen to, over and over again.

Mike Meiers 6:00
I mean, it's just funny that like, you know, you go to school, but really, the schooling is where it's like, you're doing the thing, and you're learning from people that have been doing it for a while, and you're basically absorbing all of that. And yeah, adding that into your process a little bit.

Speaker 2 6:16
I wish I had been doing producing at that time, because I had a lot of free time on the ship. Like even though I was thinking like three to five hours a night it was still kind of like prison like the other times, you think it's like, oh, so glamorous, but it's like, you're not always at a port. Even when you're at a port doesn't mean you can always get off the ship because there's all these rules and stuff. So yeah, it was it was an interesting experience. But the longer you do it, the less glamorous it gets. And like, it's time to move on. And, you know, there's, there's some musicians I worked with, like 11 years ago, 12 years ago that are still doing cruises, you know, because it is a comfy, lazy gig for people that aren't ambitious. And as a musician, like it's a salary and you get free room and board. So it's definitely good for like a certain type of person, but that person is not me. I remember because I was vegetarian and like my diet. I called it the P P P diet. Yeah. So it was potatoes, pastries and pasta. That was my cruise ship diet because they didn't like serve vegetables. Like the crowd wouldn't

Mike Meiers 7:18
survive. I'm vegan. So it's just like, that would

Speaker 2 7:20
just be no impossible. I mean, I would try to bring like, you know, I mean, maybe it's better to these days. I'm like, different ships have different, like, rules and stuff. Like, my ship was kind of like a boozier ship. So we weren't able to eat like what the, you know, guests ate. But then there's a lot of ships that like you can eat with the guests eat like there's different rules for different people. It's very political. And then okay, so then after the cruise ship, I moved to New York again, I was like next up Grammys. So I was just like, hired producers hired photographers with my 30 grand, didn't get a job. And then, you know, I spent it all to zero in six months. So I was like, Fuck my life. Like, here we go back to zero. So then I needed to get a job. I started singing in I did like, you know, part time jobs things here and there. But I was singing in cover bands in New York, which made a lot of sense, obviously, because I already knew all the damn songs. Yeah, so I started singing in cover bands. And it was really good gigs for a while. But I've always been like an entrepreneur at heart. So I was like, Okay, I need to figure out how to make like something my own. So then I started building a girl group for cruise ships, girl group as a guest entertaining, and so that you get basically, as a guest entertainer, you get to go on the ship as a guest. But that's also like working. So you get to like work. It's kind of like a paid vacation. Because all you have to do is do your shows, like two times a week, the shows are 45 minutes long, and you get all the guests privileges. So it was like, perfect. Like every part of the ship I liked, I would get to keep on you get paid like three times as much. So it was like, amazing. So I did this girl group. I spent all my savings and like, built up the show for like two years. And you know, it was blood sweat and tears building up these shows and because you know, you have to do charges you costumes, like it's it's like a production, you know, and I built it from scratch. And then what do you know, our first ship was May 2020. No, yeah. So gutted. That didn't work out. You know, it just kept being like one of the one thing after another like first it was two weeks we'll be back then it was a month remember how it was like you thought you were coming back? It's just

Mike Meiers 9:31
like every time that you're just like Okay, seriously, by summer we're gonna on Eve not know about by next year. We're not going to buy two years. It's just like, kept on changing. Yeah. So yeah,

Speaker 2 9:43
so I was pretty disappointed. And then I eventually was like, I gotta do something else with my life because this isn't coming back and I can't just keep waiting. So I saw an ad on Facebook, learn how to produce in 30 days, and I was like, This is so stupid. I went to Berkeley and I didn't learn how to produce. But alas, I had nothing to do so I clicked on it, they have sale, took the class. And, like everything started for me pretty much I like once I learned how to program in drums. I was able I was like I can do this. So I just started like writing a bunch and then I started posting on Tik Tok. Actually, I know you found me on Instagram, but like Tik Tok was my first like, come up, really. And then I started posting on Instagram. And then that kind of took off. And I'm trying to post on YouTube. And now just trying to do like, as many businesses as I can, while also, you know, producing for myself and getting better at it and releasing new music, which I'm finally doing again, which is awesome. Thank you. And like, yeah, just like trying to, like do the thing.

Mike Meiers 10:45
Okay, so there's so, so much so I want to backtrack before COVID. So, yeah, like to me, you said like, you know, I've always had like that entrepreneurial, kind of like I want to, was that always kind of the thing where you were just like, I if I'm going to do something needs to be my own thing. I need to create something.

Speaker 2 11:05
I will. Okay, so my part time jobs. So I was singing in the bands. Yeah. Okay. I've always kind of been like the star employee, you know what I'm saying? Like when I worked for people. And so my part one of my part time jobs, which is kind of like a life changing job for me was doing was actually like a full time job. But I also sang gigs, so I just worked like crazy. Yeah. And, but I was selling gym memberships at Equinox, right? So I learned sales there. And every single month, I hit double bonus. And I made like, 60 grand a year for that. And I worked like a slave pretty much like they had me working like Equinox is not a good company to work for I learned a lot. It was like a sales bootcamp and like everything I know is because of that job. But like, I got paid pennies for the amount of hours I worked. And I also made that company like millions of dollars, from liking from all the people I got signed up there. And then I was just gonna like, I'm done making other people money. Like, I want to make myself the money, right, like, okay, now I know, sales. I have all these skills, how can I turn it into like a product that I can sell. And my first thing was like the New York harmonics, which is the girl group that bombed and then I was like, Alright, next thing. And so I started doing producing, and I started posting on Tik Tok. And then I really realized, okay, I want to make content, music and video content for music tech companies. So now that's going to be the product. And pretty much every single thing I've posted for and built out for has been to work with music tech companies. Yeah. And so that's been my thing. So I kind of like found like, a loophole, you know, okay, now I get to make whatever music I want, I get pretty much all the gear I want, either for free or paid. Yeah. And I can learn, I can get paid to learn, essentially, because I'm learning production as I go, I get sent a plugin or something. And I learned about the plugin to make a video about it. So I'm like, I really like hit the nail on the head with this one. And it's just something I like created. I mean, to be an entrepreneur is to ask questions, right? What What can I offer? What can I create? How can I create my own opportunity, when so many people are just waiting for opportunities to come to them? And I don't know, anybody that's gonna give me any opportunities. I've never had anybody give me any handout ever. You know, I mean, I have my parents that will support me, you know, I didn't come from poverty. And like, I'm very, I'm very grateful that I have my parents who like, if shit hits the fan, I can live at their house or whatever. You know, a lot of people don't have that. So I know I have like, that luxury. But my parents are not musicians. Like they didn't have a friend to be like, Hey, can you help my daughter out? You know, like, every door I've gotten, I've had to like, bang down.

Mike Meiers 13:46
That's what's intriguing. Because, like, you know, certain things don't work out. And some people either choose to do one or two things. They either go like, Oh, well, I guess nothing will ever work out for me.

Speaker 2 13:59
Yeah, I've never been into, like, the woe is me mentality. You know, and like, even when I do you know, I'm not gonna say never spend time feeling sorry for myself, because, trust me, I do. But like, I still work through it, you know, like, I try to motivate other people to work through it. And I try to like, be really honest with my audience, and I try to show them everything. I'm going like, when people say, Oh, why do you show the hate stuff? And I'm like, because it affects me and I want people to see, you know, that I'm not just as glossy doll. That person, you know, like, yeah, non human. Like, I'm still a human behind all these videos and stuff. So and I am very honest about my story. You know, people get mad that they don't think I'm a good producer, or they don't think I'm worthy of X plugin, because I haven't been practicing sick and taught guitar 10 hours a day, 20 days, you know, 20 days a week and they're like, Well, you know, you you're not worthy of this. It's

Mike Meiers 14:53
me when those and I've watched those videos of you post. It's a lot of like this weird posturing like Oh, I deserve this more than you because I put in Yeah,

Speaker 2 15:03
I mean, the latest, the latest craze that I'm getting quite a bit of hate for is. So I do a lot of work with this company called fader, which is like a cutting edge like AI, sampling kind of company. And I and I love anything AI because anything, not anything I but I love things that are going to make music creation and music production more accessible to more people, right? Not all these people want to be pros, not all these people are going to release music period. I mean, think about all the songs we've written, how many that we actually released, and then how many songs that we've actually released and we make money off of, so people need to freaking cool their jets. But I like posted a video of like, here's how you can use jobs from another song at this company. And I made a mistake by phrasing it that way. It's a very like, Oh, this is stealing and like, I've gotten like death threats about people saying like, this is stealing data. And I'm like, sampling has been around since before I was born. Like literally,

Mike Meiers 15:56
it really has. And to me anytime they see like, hate comments, my mind just goes to like comic book guy from The Simpsons is just behind the computer being like, worst thing ever, and not doing anything literally. The spit. Like anytime that there's like a troll. I feel like they're always like comments at like, 3am in the morning. I'm like, I'm asleep. Why are you at 3am scrolling through like Doom scroll through all these things? But do you think that's why some people don't put themselves out there because they're really worried about

Speaker 2 16:31
it's tough. You know, like, I just that video that exact video I'm talking about just got reposted today by some other drum company. That's definitely like, they know the game they're playing, we all play the game. I'm not mad at them for playing the game. I'm I'm in the game myself, but like they're posting this controversial video because they know it'll get views. They're a drum company. So it's definitely poking the bear. Because here I am saying, here's how you can take songs and sample them and like they know what they're doing. Again, no shame on them. You know, like, this is a controversial topic. But here, here comes all these hate comments and the DMS and the death threats, literally death threats over this stuff. And I'm like, I am always going to post about stuff that makes music more accessible to more people. And if that ain't like, think about a person that's disabled, yeah, and can't physically actually play the drums, should they not be allowed to make music? Because you think sampling is stealing? Like, it's just kind of comes down to it right? And so everyone's calling me, you know, all these horrible things in the comments. And you'll get some people with like a brain being like, well, this is sampling. So love it or hate it. It's been around since the 70s.

Mike Meiers 17:39
But to me what you're talking about right there is you're you're talking about a mission, your goal is to make music more accessible for more people. And when you're making it more accessible, you're you're thinking beyond kind of your walls, and it seems the people that are leaving the hate are trying to confine it to this wall that only a few do to separate the masses from those that really really do it. Which is really fucking dumb.

Speaker 2 18:04
Yeah, I mean, I can understand to a certain degree, if someone was like, you know, whatever, people are angry, you know, I, I, it's just kind of like tricky stuff, you know, anything that comes down to like, auto tune, you know, AI sampling, whether or not you need to play an instrument is all going to be like music theory. These are all like hotspots. And this is this is controlled controversy, really, like, you're always gonna get people that are gonna, like, go one way or the other. But ultimately, in the face of like, the greater humanity like it just does not matter, right? We're not talking about anything that like, actually matters. So yeah, go ahead and lose your gasket over this send me a death threat, but like, people are gonna sample no matter what, like it is what it is. And I do I do learn from the mistakes, you know, also, like the men and the women, if I've poked the bear a few times on the internet, and I usually regret it. But like, it's also kind of like, it's kind of part of my job. Yeah, you know, if I want visibility, you have to kind of put like, this is how the Kardashians have said, stayed relevant all these years is by doing these controlled controversies. Like, every few months, there's a Kardashian controversy, right? And that's where they get a boost of use and abuse the spikes, but it's never about anything super important. Like they never actually get canceled. Yeah, you know, like, I can't actually get canceled over telling people that they can sample music. Oh, so ridiculous, split like, but it's enough for people to talk about it, and to talk about me and to talk about my opinions. So that's the name of the game. You know, it is tough when you do that, but not everybody has to poke the bear. You know? No, there are many people that don't poke the bear and they they just do fine. But regardless if you poke the bear or not, you're still gonna get a combination of people's opinions. And the more I learned that I can't get everybody to like me and I can't get everybody to agree with To me, and I can't get everybody to like my song, the easier it's going to be, you know, and it has been easier, like, even a company I work for, like, I know, they don't like my music. They've they've said it in so many words and they don't like my music or whatever. And it's kind of like, no, like, a couple years ago, that'd be something that I'd like, lose sleep over, you know, and now I'm just kind of like, well, I like my song. You know, I like my music. I know, I don't sound like Diplo. I don't have that fine report, you know, I've only been producing three years, you know, but everything's in tune. You know, I'm saying like, it's like, it's everything's on the rhythm. You know, the song resonates? You know, what, I don't know, I don't know what makes like a great song.

Mike Meiers 20:38
What really is interesting is how you said that progression like years ago, that would have kept you up at night and just bothered you. But now it's just like, you're like,

Speaker 2 20:48
Well, yeah, it just comes down to like, the acceptance of it. And once you kind of accept, I mean, I've been posting now every single day for almost three years. And I've learned a lot. You know, I've learned a lot. I've learned that you're not going to get unanimous love. And you're not going to get unanimous Hey, either, you know,

Mike Meiers 21:08
I like that spin. Because I think that's where everyone goes to. They're afraid if they post something that either no one's gonna like or no one's or they're gonna get that one come to shucks. And it's like, yeah.

Speaker 2 21:20
And you have to decide where you want to lay the value. And that's hard. That's really hard. Because the hay is always going to sound louder than the love.

Mike Meiers 21:30
How do you get past those moments?

Speaker 2 21:32
I you know, it's so weird. And it's also kind of like full circle, because it's like, This is so funny for me to say out loud. But if we if I post about the Hey, then I'll get comments, or DMS, don't worry about the hate, like, You're too good to get mad about the Hey, and then they kind of like say something kind of negative about me to be like you're wasting your time and you're wasting your energy and don't post that crap. They're actually kind of like hating on me hating on the hate. And then it's kind of like, full circle of it. But it's like, let me just post what I want, like period, like, let me do what I want with my platform. And it's like, I wrote a song, my new song that's coming out is the song I wrote about the hate comments and how I've dealt with the hate comments. And I feel like it's kind of like a chapter for me to kind of like, experienced this. And I feel like now, after this song, and after all this stuff, like I'm able to, you know, because music for me, it's always been therapeutic. So now it's like, okay, now I'm doing this, and I have to promote the song and talk about it. And then with that people are gonna say, Don't even bring attention to it. And it's kind of like, no, I need to bring attention to like, I could choose what I want to bring attention to you like, it's still, when you get hate comments. It's still bullying. It's still trauma that you have to process and everybody's gonna process it differently.

Mike Meiers 22:50
Hey, it's Mike. I'm jumping in the middle of this episode to let you know that we're doing something really cool. We're gonna do an amazing giveaway. Because we're approaching the 100th episode of the songwriting for guitar podcast. Can you believe that 100 episodes, so many podcasts don't even make it to 50. But here we are approaching 100. And guess what? We're moving on to the next 100. And we want to celebrate that. And if you have not left us a review on Apple podcasts yet, here is your opportunity to do that right now. So all you got to do leave us a five star review, talk about your favorite episode, then screenshot that review and send it to us at support at song rank for guitar.com. So you can be entered into the giveaway. So what are we given away Sweetwater gift cards, GH s strings, a one on one coaching session with me plus, giving away one of our courses, guitar essentials. So those are going to be our giveaways. And you have until August 18 to enter. So all you got to do five star review, talk about your favorite episode, screenshot it and send it to us at support at song rank for guitar.com Winners will be announced August 18. Again, Sweetwater gift cards GHS strings on top of that one on one session with me and someone is going to win access to one of our courses, guitar essentials. Again, my friends. Thank you for listening. I love this. I love all the guests that I've talked to. I can't wait to keep on doing even more of this. So to celebrate, leave us that review. And you know what? I'm going to stop my jibber jabber and we're going to go back into the Episode

What do you think there is that mystique of just like,

Speaker 3 24:34
clouded in like, you have to add this de Esser and you have to add it's really doing

Speaker 2 24:39
I just think that's just the way the industry has been right? And people. It's that kind of thing that like, I had to do this. So they have to do this. Like I had to go through all this hard work. So they have to go through all this hard work. Why should somebody be able to make a drum groove in seconds when I've had to practice drums for 10 years to learn how to play this drum groove. Like, it's not fair. That's kind of the thing that I think people say. And that's the mentality and my mentality. And I'm not a martyr here, I don't want to say that, you know, I'm an angel from the heavens, because I'm definitely not, I could be nicer, I could be a better person, I'm not gonna sit here and say that I'm great person. But I do genuinely want to leave the world a better place. And I left, right. Like I don't want to I, I had to deal with. So as a woman in the music industry, I had to deal with so much more crap than girls have to deal with now. I mean, they still deal with crap, but not the same, you know? And it's not like I would want them to go through those horrible experiences, just because I had to go through it. Like, it's just so dumb. And it's the same with like, unpaid internships, right? I had to do an unpaid internship. So now, anybody that works for me does not get paid. And it's like, well, first of all, like the cost of living is significantly higher now than it was when you were an unpaid intern. And like, literally getting paid minimum wage is basically like not getting paid at all. I mean, pretty much wherever you're living. So it's just kind of it's just that whole mentality. And anytime I, you know, post anything to poke the bear, I'll get all the raging people. I don't want to say that they're all boomers, because they're not like there's boomers that support and there's rumors that don't support but yeah, it's typically guitar players. And like instrumentalists, so

Mike Meiers 26:18
sorry. No, it's okay. You know, it's interesting, because the way I've done a lot of guitar, a lot of people don't like, because they'll say, you're making it too simple. Or it's just like, No, I'm not gonna talk about shredding arpeggios.

Speaker 2 26:34
Honestly, like, I probably would have played piano better if my teacher didn't make me like, learn all this music that I wasn't interested in. Because that was the way that it like had to be taught, you know, like, I do not listen to classical music. I do have no interest to do classical music. Why are you teaching a seven year old classical music?

Mike Meiers 26:52
Because that's what I've always done in that's how we'll do like,

Speaker 2 26:55
why are you doing that? You know, how would you maybe have taught me like cool comping or cool jazz chords that I can like write music to as a singer, I would probably have stuck it out. You know what I mean? If I learned to make it fun for people, and then they would probably suck it out. But I didn't want to play any classical music. And when my mom was like, practice, practice, I was like, I don't want to learn this song.

Mike Meiers 27:15
What's interesting about that, because I think we've all had a teacher, you know, I, when I took piano, it was definitely a teacher where it was like, was in it just for the the check that they would get from here.

Speaker 2 27:27
I remember, like my first my teacher, I did it. Like, I first had a teacher, I had a lot of piano teachers, because I kept trying. But there was a teacher that was like, alright, you just like move your hand like this. And for like, the first like, whole 30 minute lesson, you're just you just move your hand, like in the way to be, like, proper? And I'm like, This is so boring. Why would I stick with this?

Mike Meiers 27:46
That sounds the worst. It's like, have your hands flutter up and down. It was just like 30 minutes. It to me like that, sort of, I'm just getting this, this is just my paycheck. And I could I couldn't care less is different than you're describing right now. Because mission, really, you see something in the grand scheme of things of why you do it, and who you're doing this for. And you're committed to showing up. People that receive kind of like, oh, this is just the check to me, I could care less about the person on the other side, they may be care a little bit, but like they're not losing. So they're not thinking of new ways to engage them and make this interesting. But as you're describing, like, why you create on a mission to make music accessible, you have to have that because that's the energy that comes through. And I think has made it why people are gravitated to your videos, your breakdowns, tutorials, because it's like, oh my god, this is easy for me to understand. Oh, that's why the practical aspect of making it accessible is huge.

Speaker 2 28:52
Yeah, and I mean, like, again, I'm, like, very strategic about, like, how I make money. Because like, like, I mean, I still, I'm not gonna lie to you, I still want to be rich, I want to be like one of those, like, really, really rich people. And I think it'll be a very good really, really rich person, honestly, like, I'll give back. But it's also like, Okay, so here's, here's what I really believe in. And I really believe in free education, right? I don't think people should pay have to pay hundreds of 1000s of dollars a year to become a good musician. And, you know, so I believe in free education. And I make money by working with the music tech companies. I have the music tech companies sponsored classes, or sponsored certain things so that it can be free. And then in return, people learn the skills and then buy products from the music tech companies. So it's like a full circle, right? Everybody wins. It all comes back. You know, like, it's kind of like how Cardi B says, like, I don't know, I just want to interview with her. She's like, everyone in this country wants people to be like professionals. They want them to be lawyers and doctors, but then they charge them to go to school to learn how to do this job like you Why wouldn't they just teach them this for free? And then they could go and do this job and then help the people. And then therefore the civilization civilization gets better. Yeah. Like, I don't understand how institutions are such for profit. Don't even get me started on that.

Mike Meiers 30:14
But what I find interesting too, is your declaration of like, yeah, I want to make money. I think that's also so difficult for musicians to say,

Speaker 2 30:22
Yeah, well, I think money is freedom, right? Yeah. If you have money, then you have the freedom to make decisions. That, you know, when you don't have money, you kind of have to be motivated by money. I would love to get to a point where I'm not motivated by money at all. Yeah, I am a little bit not gonna lie. But I've turned down a lot of things. You'd be surprised like I've get I get things all the time. Hey, can you post about, you know, anywhere from CBD gummies, to colored contacts, to fashion wear to sneakers, to brain pills. I don't care if someone pays me 10 grand to post about brain pills. Like I'm not posting on my page. I

Mike Meiers 31:00
have these mega just writing pills. Yeah, like,

Speaker 2 31:02
it's, it's wild, you know? So you can't just do everything for the money. You know, it has to come down to what you believe in and you know, your true fans and doing what's right by them.

Mike Meiers 31:14
In your journey of production. What were some big myths that you crushed yourself, like you thought about that this is what it was going to be. But as you started to discover it and build you were like,

Speaker 2 31:25
so I think it's okay, it's easier than I thought it was to get started. It's harder than I thought it was to get really good. And I mean, really good is I mean, really commercial. Because like, here's how I view it like my my productions. I like my little songs. I think they're cute. You know what I mean? But they do sound homemade. It's like, if you get a pizza at like a pizza shop, it looks like very pro. But if you make a pizza at home, it looks like homemade, you know, or like a Sunday. So it doesn't mean that it tastes better or worse, necessarily. It just looks homemade. And I feel like that's where my songs are at. Like, they're cute. They look, they sound homemade. And literally, it just takes time to get to that sound. Yeah. And that's what I tell myself like, Okay, I'm 33. Now, I say by the time I'm 40, like when I'm 40 I'm going to be like an undeniably like, great producer.

Mike Meiers 32:21
The fact that you're giving yourself that which is more important, you're allowing yourself time to develop a process is awesome, because it's like, that's the key to great things is like being patient with yourself. Have you always been that super patient with just allowing No. Okay.

Speaker 2 32:38
I mean, I think definitely not. I've not always been like the most patient person. But I think I've learned also, as I've gotten older, I think when I was younger, I remember being like when I turned 25 Like, I'm basically like, senile, you know what I mean? Like, it was I literally remember being on the bus with my friend when we were like 18 being like, 25 is like the end of our life like we were going on and on and on about it. And like the more and then, you know, I really grew up with this idea that like time is running out. And it was like crazy, because it's like, you were dying to be 18. Right? I was dying to be 18. So I can get I can make my own decisions, like no more parents telling me what to do. And then when you're 18 you're like, Oh, I just want to stay at you know, like how long I'm gonna be 18

Mike Meiers 33:29
Well, it's funny, because what you're describing, too, is like, Yeah, I thought like, 30 was the end, like you hit 30 And it's like, music closes its doors and goes, you can't do anything anymore.

Speaker 2 33:41
Yeah. And so for me, 30 was just the beginning, right? I when I turned 30 I didn't know how to produce. I didn't post on social media. I didn't even own an interface. I didn't even really know what an interface did. I'm not lying. You know, I knew what a MIDI keyboard did. But I didn't know what an interface it. I didn't know what the point I didn't know any of this stuff. So that's when I really learned like, I'm not running out of time, you know? And it's the same thing like, Okay, think of somebody like, I don't even know like Billy Eilish, right? Maybe she started singing when she was like, 11. And then she started getting famous when she's 16. So she's she did that in four years? Who's to say that you can't do something in four years when you're 50? You know, you're 50 and then you become famous when you're 54. Like who's to say that? You can't? You can't use that a lot of time in a different time of your life. Why are we so obsessed with as a society making children famous? Literally? Oh, why is it always been that way? It's weird.

Mike Meiers 34:38
To me this is refreshing because I think people just have those. I don't know these false narratives like oh, it's like if it's not by you know, 25 If it's not by 30 If it's not by Dota it won't happen yet, like 30 I still had no fucking clue what I wanted to do. Like I was still figuring things out. And it wasn't like 3334 For like, licensing slowly has started to happen. But honestly, it's it's an I know, it's an ever, it's not going to end like I'll you know, maybe in five years I'll be really, really good. But I just need to keep on doing the same thing and learn and progress. Yeah. With you. It's just refreshing to hear it because I think people always want growth very quick, because they want the results now. Now now now

Speaker 2 35:33
they want to be like, constant validation. And the validation has to come, it really has to come from like enjoying the process, really, it's tough, it's really tough because it's like, you know, think about yourself. Like, I remember me when I was when I was in college, I used to cater weddings, and I used to see the band up there being like, I wish I was in that band, and then you get to it, and you get in the band I got in the band. And then it was kind of like, I wish I was like this, you know, the minute you get you don't you don't even get to feel the excitement once you get to the point you get to where you get to. So that's why you have to really enjoy the journey. And that's why I love being an entrepreneur, because I love creating not only music, but creating something and have like thin air, like a business and a reason for people to like buy it and to like get and I think it's so interesting, like, how you get people to buy stuff from you in general and how you sell things. And I find like all of that super interesting. So, you know, that's when that's when it all becomes a thing. And it's like, once you get the sale doesn't really feel like much. It's more exciting, like creating it. You know, I

Mike Meiers 36:40
think what you're describing, I guess is like understanding what do people want? Why do they want that? And how can I connect with them in a way? And yeah,

Unknown Speaker 36:49
that's more exciting for me. Yeah,

Mike Meiers 36:51
it's a problem solving. It's a lot of questions, a lot of puzzles,

Speaker 2 36:55
a lot of asking questions, a lot of listening. A lot of you know, I always say this a lot. And people don't like this, but it's like selling a dream. You know, how can we sell a dream and obviously you want to, you want to help people get to the actual dream, but a lot of it is up to them, you know, to do it, you're providing

Mike Meiers 37:11
the resources and being like, you still have to put in the time. You still have to show up every day. Like we can't be by your bedside and be like, Hey, wake up. Hey, hey, it's yeah, it's time to create, you got to do sprint. Yeah.

Speaker 2 37:23
And it's tough. You know, like, it's tough to do it and to stick with it and stay consistent. But it's, it doesn't like feel that great when you reach the goal you want, it doesn't feel as great as I imagined it to feel. So that's kind of how I really learned like, I really got to enjoy the process.

Mike Meiers 37:39
I think that's important. Because no matter how much money you make, too, it's like, especially with creation, music and learn. It's like this is it. This is the process. This is the thing if you hate it, yeah, I've got terribleness This is

Speaker 2 37:52
mean really, this is the idea of making money is it's it's a metric of success. Right? Yeah. It's also like a, what you get to do with the money and it is freedom. Yeah. But ultimately, like, it's kind of an illusion in my mind as far as like humanity goes, because literally the only thing we get to do on this earth is like spend the time. Yeah, right. We're basically like spending time until we die. So it's just kind of like, how do you want to spend that time? And I think about that a lot? Like, what do I want to be doing to spending that time? And, yeah, that's kind of like, when it comes down to it. For me,

Mike Meiers 38:26
I think just having that grander scheme and like bigger picture idea really pulls you out of those modes to create the things that you want to do. And think about the problems that you find interesting that you want to solve. And also for those moments where you get comments that are great, awesome comments that are like shit, because in the grand scheme, it's processed them

Speaker 2 38:48
you know, I mean, ultimately, nothing matters.

Mike Meiers 38:54
We'll put that as the title of this, this is nothing, but

Speaker 2 38:59
it's kind of dark, but it is also kind of true like people make these big deals, you know, like the little deals,

Mike Meiers 39:08
they make it but it's true it's just then what really does matter when you realize that like my allotted time is 7080 something years on this planet, how am I going to spend it and even if you you know, maybe not everyone knows me or will remember but if I can help a couple people along the way start to discover the thing that they get excited about and they start to go realize like oh, this is something I want to do. Awesome. Yeah, that's perfect.

Speaker 2 39:34
Yeah, I mean for me, and this is what I think about a lot is always remember I think I said this earlier is always remembering the why Yeah, like why am I doing this? Why do I want to do this you know do

Mike Meiers 39:45
read Simon seeks find your why No, okay should i You should it's a great it's a great I'm probably screwing up his last name no my way. It he's just it's just stories about like that, like how he discovered his and and how he, you know, encourages others to like think but I think he has one of the when Ted Talks was getting started, he was one of the first ones and that was like one of the top ones. And he just talks about that constantly. And he said, you know, even I found that I always think about it. And when I watch people do things, I wonder, what's their why behind it? And because that's interesting to him. Because yeah, your wi has to be solid. You can't have like a cardboard thing. Why? Because it doesn't stand up. Like, when shit happens, like that's where the cardboard wire just falls apart, blows away because there was nothing substantial. They're kind of holding it.

Speaker 2 40:41
Yeah, just kind of gotta remember like, that's why when I do get hate, you know, for this, this one thing that's happening right now, there's people as we speak, commenting on this video of how horrible I am, I remember. Okay, yes, looking back, I probably could have reworded it a little differently. But ultimately, I still followed my mission statement, which is to make music more accessible to more people. So that anger some people let it anger them.

Mike Meiers 41:09
Which, again, is just like, your mission is clear. And I think that's where it's like more of a concrete foundational, like, why that's very strong, because it can weather something that is, here's the thing, like, a month from now, they're gonna forget about it, they're gonna be angry about something else. And here's the thing,

Speaker 2 41:26
even if it went like Mega viral, which I don't think it will, but like people, like things happen so quick. virality people think like, I'm dying to go viral. And it's like your 10 year, like 10 minutes of fame has turned into like five minutes, like, even less like a minute, you know what I mean? And the ages of, you know, people consuming so much content, so much things. I mean, it just passes over so quickly. I mean, what was the last week's thing, the submersible now people are over it? No one's talking about it. No more? Nope. I don't even call in Ballenger, gossip toxic train.

Mike Meiers 42:00
You didn't know that. I miss it.

Speaker 2 42:03
This is the thing like and then when like, see, that's the thing like that those two things went so incredibly viral. And probably most people you talk to you won't even know what they're talking about. So we make these things so heavy, you know,

Mike Meiers 42:14
but it's interesting because it that's an example you told me this this and I was like that was viral. You don't know either of those

Speaker 2 42:19
things you didn't hear about either? No. Are you serious? Are you living under a rock? I'm just kidding.

Mike Meiers 42:23
I probably Yeah, it's probably just been,

Speaker 2 42:26
I love you. I love honestly, that's the other thing I've been able to cope with, like all the hate and all like that stuff is like, I'm so busy. Like today, I have so many things on my to do list that I like must get done. It's like I don't even have time. I don't even have time to feel sorry for myself. Like that post just came up. And then I had a meeting with you. And I'm like, Well, I guess we'll just talk about it on the podcast, because I don't have time to talk about it with anyone else.

Mike Meiers 42:51
But I think that's the thing to those that are constantly creating and thinking about things or don't spend a lot of their time like, Oh, they're always just like up moving on to the next thing. Because what you described a week from now, two weeks from now, a month from now, those people are going to be like, they're going to be mad about something else. They're going to find something else that they're going to be like, Whoa, this is what is it like grandpa Simpson like, you know, old man, you know, shakes fist the sky, it's that sort of thing where it's just like, it doesn't matter. It really doesn't. If you would give like one piece so somebody's listening this and they're like, Man, I really need to get into production. I want to but I've just been putting it off. And I don't know why. What is some of the best steps to slowly get in.

Speaker 2 43:41
I mean, step number one is to get a DAW, right, if we're really talking about it, and like there's free ones, you if you have a lap, Mac computer, you can use GarageBand if you don't, you can use something like bandlab bandlab is great. And you can just start messing around and just start watching some tutorial tutorials, you know, shameless plug, you can watch mine there on YouTube. Or, you know, whatever, you know, like, just start doing it.

Mike Meiers 44:07
There we go. So it's like, just get the DAW. And just start I think the the key is what you said is like, starting making a conscious decision, because it's one thing to think about it, but to actually be

Speaker 2 44:20
like, and then to get very specific, like learn how to make an eight bar loop like learn how to program drums like I've bought like Tommy I've never had a drum kit in my life, but I bought Tommy egos drum book to start learning how to program drums like a drummer, right? So that's what I did. And I started learning that and you just learn how to kind of do that stuff as a producer. He learned how to play the computer

Mike Meiers 44:44
I think yeah, he's that's exactly what it is. It is playing the computer. So this was awesome. I feel like we could dynamic more because it's just like I want to kind of keep on going. But I really appreciate you just you know diving into your story being Be honest about the things that you know sharing the good the bad the awful your views on how you deal with it. I think this is really important for people to hear when they're even thinking about like, I want to post something but their their first thought is what happens if such and such happens? How am I going to deal with it? And to hear how you do with that how you deal with that, I think is super important for people to hear. Thank you

and that does it for this week. It was edited and produced by Chris Mathias. I'm Mike Myers. Thanks for listening.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai