David Ryan Harris has forged a career as a solo artist, songwriter, producer, session musician and touring guitarist.

His list of credits is long and populated with hits, having written songs for Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy, played guitar on albums by Alicia Keys, James Bay and John Mayer, and produced records by India.Arie and Hanson, to name a few. He was also John Mayer’s long-time touring guitarist, all while forging his own career as a solo artist.

In short, he’s one of those artists who is incredibly successful and well respected, and yet has never crossed over to household name status.

Which makes his perspective all the more interesting. He’s had major label deals as a solo artist and with bands such as Follow For Now and Brand New Immortals, and he’s learned lessons from them all, which he shares in this interview.