In this ProducerHead Sample, Toru connects with Birocratic, a producer who took his passion from making beats in his dorm room to becoming a recognized name in the music industry. Birocratic shares how a chance encounter with BuzzFeed helped him reach a wider audience, the importance of building genuine relationships in the industry, and how patience and persistence play a crucial role in his career. He also talks about his long-standing relationship with Chillhop and how it influenced his journey as a music producer. This episode offers insights into navigating the music scene, staying true to your craft, and the power of being open to unexpected opportunities.

Throughout the episode we discuss:

* How releasing music under Creative Commons unexpectedly led to exposure on BuzzFeed.

* The importance of building relationships with video producers and other creatives.

* The impact of patience and persistence in Birocratic’s journey.

* Embracing the shift from YouTube to TikTok and adapting outreach strategies.

* The role Chillhop played in Birocratic’s career and his involvement with the label.

Three Meaningful Takeaways:

* The Power of Exposure: You never know who might be listening or watching, so make your work accessible and ready to be discovered.

* Genuine Relationships Matter: Building connections with creators and being sincere can lead to long-term collaborations.

* Adaptability is Key: The music industry constantly changes, and being open to evolving your approach can lead to new opportunities.

Timeline: 

0:00 - Introduction

0:57 - Birocratic's journey from making beats in his dorm room

2:28 - Decision to release music under Creative Commons

3:39 - How BuzzFeed discovered and used his music

3:57 - Discussing the impact of being featured in BuzzFeed videos

5:57 - Outreach to YouTubers and vloggers to expand his music’s reach

8:42 - The value of building relationships and the challenges of ‘cold outreach’

10:18 - Creating a frictionless experience for collaborators and fans

11:52 - The evolution and influence of Chillhop on Birocratic's career

14:27 - Transitioning from mastering and A&R work to touring

15:57 - Advice on taking a long-term view of one’s music career

Connect with Birocratic:

* YouTube: @birocratic

* Instagram: @birocratic

* Spotify: Birocratic

* Apple Music: Birocratic

Connect with Toru:

* Website: torubeat.com

* Instagram: @torubeat

* YouTube: @torubeat

* Spotify: Toru

* Apple Music: Toru

Credits:

This episode was co-produced, engineered, and edited by Matthew Diaz. Special thanks to Birocratic for sharing his story and insights. From ProducerHead, this is Toru, and in a way, so are you. Peace.

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Get full access to ProducerHead at producerhead.substack.com/subscribe