Episode 29, feat Lindsay and Jake, Owners of TerraNova, and Operators of NOVA FEST. Get ready for their 2nd Annual festival for local creators, connecting Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and those in between.

If you want to learn about building stages, lightings, visuals, sound production, connecting creatives of physical art and music, this is the episode for you. They create a huge platform for up incoming artist in central Texas.

Terranova Website:

Terranova Instagram:

TerraNova (@terranova_tx) • Instagram photos and videos

Terranova tickets - use "PH7" Code for 18% discount:

NOVA Music & Art Festival 2024 (ticketspice.com)

Summary

Jake and Lindsay, the operators of NovaFest, discuss their journey in setting up the local festival and their focus on creating a unique and immersive experience for attendees. They emphasize the importance of community and collaboration, as well as their commitment to supporting local artists and giving back to the community through the Nova Foundation. They also highlight the challenges they faced in the planning and execution of the festival, including stage design and logistics. Overall, their goal is to create a platform that brings people together and fosters creativity and connection. In this conversation, Jake, Lindsay, and Donpairion discuss their experiences with planning and organizing a festival. They talk about the importance of finding balance and sustainability in their personal lives while managing the festival. They also discuss the challenges they faced and the lessons they learned from their first festival. The conversation ends with Donpairion sharing a preview of his song called 'Midnight Pulse' .

Cheers,

Donovan

PH7 Records Manager

Episode 28 feat Xillabeats. Based in Houston, TX.

Xillabeats Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1915vb1I562tJDi11VpfoN?si=TMNDmlaeRlGqpObr6uVdOg

Xillabeats Instagram:

Summary

In this episode, Donpairion interviews Xilla, a Houston-based producer and DJ. They discuss Xilla's background in music, his journey into production, and his love for dance music. They also talk about their favorite artists and influences, the differences between audio engineering for dance music and bands, and their experiences working in the Houston music scene. Xilla shares his passion for entertaining and making people feel good through his music. They also discuss Xilla's collaboration with visual artist Killian and their work at Black Lotus studio. The conversation ends with plans for a future podcast episode featuring Xilla and Killian in pirate outfits. In this part of the conversation, Donpairion and XILLABEATS discuss the origin of XILLABEATS' name and the process of changing artist names on music platforms. They also talk about their favorite festivals and underground clubs. They then listen to two unreleased songs by XILLABEATS and discuss the sound design and structure of the tracks. In this conversation, Donpairion and XILLABEATS discuss their collaboration on a remix and the different feelings and inspirations they experienced while working on it. They also talk about the importance of finding a sustainable medium for promoting and socializing as a producer and DJ. XILLABEATS shares his advice on surrounding yourself with supportive people and building a team to help with promotion. They also touch on the importance of exploring different genres and styles of music for inspiration. The conversation ends with XILLABEATS mentioning his upcoming shows and his plans for renegade events.

Episode 27, Feat. Donpairion, Producer/DJ, based in Austin, TX.

Summary

In this episode, Donovan explores the Austin, Texas electronic music scene and shares his knowledge of event companies, festivals, venues, and sponsors. He discusses the event companies Real Music, Disco Donnie, and Illfest, and the festivals they own such as Seismic Dance Events and Freaky Deaky. Donovan also highlights local concert groups like Baked Up, Viridian, and pH7 Records, and the venues Etika, In Cahoots, Kingdom, The Venue, Superstition, and Summit. He emphasizes the importance of getting involved in the community, building relationships, and choosing gigs and venues carefully.

Episode 26 feat Chris Gooding. Based in Houston, TX.

Chris Gooding Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/54deGWDs0IIoaL83kLuih8

Chris Gooding Beatport:

https://www.beatport.com/artist/chris-gooding/987188

Chris Gooding Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/iamchrisgooding/

Summary

In this episode, host Don Pairion interviews producer and DJ Chris Gooding. Chris shares his unique journey from being an athlete to pursuing music full-time. He talks about his early exposure to dance music through his older sister and how he transitioned from making rap beats to producing house music. Chris discusses his experience with signing to LA-based label Illustrate Records and the success of his track 'Tienate'. He also talks about his passion for teaching and helping others learn music production. Chris expresses his love for Houston and its diverse culture and discusses his aspirations to play in other cities like New York and Chicago. In this conversation, Chris Gooding discusses his experiences as a DJ and producer, his brand, and his musical influences. He talks about the importance of connecting with the crowd and creating a sense of acceptance and unity. Chris also shares his thoughts on finding a balance between performing and maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. The conversation concludes with a discussion about his upcoming shows and collaborations.

Episode 25 feat. Aman Kahlon, Producer/DJ, London, UK.

Aman's social media: https://www.instagram.com/amankahlonmusic/

PH7 Records social media:

https://www.instagram.com/ph7recordsmedia/

Donpairion social media:

https://www.instagram.com/donpairionmusic/

Takeaways

Episode 24, ft. Racket Club. Based in Los Angeles, CA.

Takeaways

1. Finding balance as a creative in the music industry requires a strong mindset and the ability to prioritize and make sacrifices.

2. Building relationships, both online and in person, is crucial for success in the music industry.

3. Jon Gilman's journey as an artist started with playing drums in elementary school and eventually led to DJing and producing music.

4. Running a music blog and organizing events like Pizza and Techno provided valuable opportunities for networking and promoting artists.

5. It's important to offer something unique and valuable when pitching ideas to venues or promoters in the music industry.

6. Throwing events involves various costs, including DJ fees, promotion, and ticket prices.

7. Providing a unique experience for attendees, such as free pizza and a vibrant atmosphere, can set events apart.

8. Jon Gilman balances his roles as a DJ, producer, and artist developer, finding fulfillment in helping others in the music industry.

9. Jon's journey as a DJ and producer started with DJing and later delving into production.

10. Preparation and referencing other tracks are important aspects of Jon's creative process.

11. Storytelling and creating unique experiences are valued in Jon's music and DJ sets.

12. Jon Gilman shares his favorite music festivals, including ARC festival and Northern Nights.

13. He expresses his desire to explore international festivals and collaborate with artists from different parts of the world.

14. Jon discusses his remix of a Beyoncé and Jay-Z song and the creative process behind it.

15. He talks about his track 'Run It Back' and the personal inspiration behind it.

16. Jon mentions his upcoming move to Colorado and his plans to continue building his artist development company.

17. The episode concludes with a preview of Jon's track 'Oh Shit Oh Fuck.'

Thank you for listening. This one has many nuggets to learn from. Enjoy the convo!

Cheers,

Donovan

Donpairion

Episode 23, ft. HERZO. Based in Austin, TX.

Key Takeaways

1. Herzo is a tech house Producer/DJ influenced by Trap and Bass early in his caeer.

2. Herzo made a name for himself by staying consistent in the Austin, TX scene since 2015.

3. Herzo is a cosmic Academy alum, who says it helped his production and branding.

4. Hezo got his biggest stage experience at Concourse Project venue when he played at ILLfest!

5. Herzo shared two songs he worked on during his time at Cosmic academy. One song had original vocals with some tech influences, and the second song was house music with trap influences.

Thanks for tuning in!

Cheers,

Donovan (Donpairion)

Episode 22, ft. Om Shiva. Based in Houston, TX.

In this conversation, Om Shiva discusses his love for dance music and the energy it brings. He shares his top five favorite artists and talks about his DJing style. They also discuss the special aspects of the city of Houston and the importance of family and connections in their lives. Om Shiva expresses his desire to get into music production and talks about the Om Shiva brand. They also discuss their favorite dance music festivals and dream locations to play a scenic set. In this conversation, Donovan and Om Shiva discuss their love for trance music and the importance of balance in the life of a DJ. They share their favorite artists and festivals, and talk about the different subgenres within trance. They also discuss the importance of self-awareness and taking breaks to recharge. Om Shiva shares some upcoming gigs and plans for his music career.

Takeaways

Episode 21, ft. Tristan ChantZ. Based in Los Angeles, California.

Summary

Tristan ChantZ, a West Coast LA producer and DJ, shares his journey into music and the underground scene. Recently signing songs to Space Yacht and Repopulate mars, now joining the family at PH7 as well. He talks about his inspirations, his approach to producing, and the importance of community in the music industry. Tristan ChantZ discusses the events and festivals he has played at, including Underwear, Blind Tiger, and upcoming at Avalon. He also shares his branding philosophy and the meaning behind his name. Overall, Tristan ChantZ emphasizes the importance of being present, taking risks, and enjoying the music. Tristan ChantZ discusses his upcoming shows and the importance of keeping promises to oneself as an artist. He emphasizes the need for balance and preparation in order to build confidence and deliver a great experience to the audience. Tristan also shares insights into his creative process and the stories behind his tracks 'Feel It In My Heart' and 'Party Till Lights Go Off'.

Takeaways

Episode 20, ft. Ross Gott. Based in Houston, TX.

In this episode, Don interviews Ross Gott, a musician based in Houston, Texas. They discuss Ross's transition from his old project to his new one, his love for dance music, and his experiences at music festivals. Ross shares his journey as an artist, his inspirations, and the lessons he learned from attending a music production retreat in Ibiza. He also talks about his upcoming releases and his plans for the future. In this conversation, Don and Ross discuss their experiences in the music industry and the importance of finding balance in life. They talk about the thrill of long DJ sets and the inspiration behind Ross's music. They also discuss their love for Houston and its vibrant music scene. Ross shares his plans for future releases and the importance of keeping promises to oneself.

Takeaways

Ross Gott transitioned from his old project (L.I.V.) to his new project (Ross Gott) to refine his sound and be more intentional as an artist.

Attending a music production retreat in Ibiza helped Ross learn new techniques and gain a different perspective on music production.

Ross draws inspiration from artists like Dennis Cruz, Eddie Amador, and Pasa.

Music festivals like EDC Vegas and ARK in Chicago have been memorable experiences for Ross.

Ross values the therapeutic and transformative power of dance music and the sense of community it creates. Finding balance in life is crucial, especially in the music industry.

Long DJ sets can be thrilling and a milestone for DJs.

Houston has a vibrant music scene with many talented artists.

Keeping promises to oneself is important for building confidence and trust.

Ross has exciting plans for future music releases.