Have I Made It

In this episode of Have I Made It?!, we sit down with Julia Stone to explore family dynamics, creativity, and the evolution of making music with her brother Angus. From performing onstage at an early age to navigating the pressures of being liked, Julia reflects on growing up in music, the influence of her parents, and learning to separate external markers of success from what truly matters.

Alongside her brother Angus, Julia has built a musical world all their own, from their early releases and breakthrough albums to their work with legendary producer Rick Rubin. She opens up about the balance between performing and songwriting, the importance of making space for individual creativity, and how a song written for one moment in life can take on an entirely new meaning years later.

Julia also shares the joy of hearing strangers sing her songs back to her, the unexpected magic of karaoke, and the pinch-me moments that remind her why she makes music in the first place. With reflections on criticism, comparison, sacrifice, and the songs on their latest album 'Karaoke Bar', she offers an honest look at what it means to keep creating, find happiness in the present, and imagine what comes next.

Check out our featured artist:
@juliastone__ @angusandjuliastone
Listen to their new album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/7DLnvF...
Director of Photography: Jordan Law | @jordan.thomas.law
Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

In this episode of Have I Made It?! Sameer Gadhia, lead singer of ‪@YoungtheGiant‬, reflects on a journey that has taken the band far beyond anything he originally imagined, from leaving Stanford to pursue music to watching songs like “Mind Over Matter” find their audience over time. 

He opens up about redefining success, navigating doubt from others, accessing joy, and finding a sound that feels entirely their own, including the creative processes behind "American Bollywood" and their newest album "Victory Garden."

Sameer also shares his perspective on radical empathy, the power of lyrics, and the responsibility of spotlighting emerging artists through his podcast, Point of Origin. He highlights the importance of support from his parents and partner and what it was like becoming a father and rediscovering childlike wonder. Plus, he discusses AI in music, avoiding the pitfalls of the industry, and the lasting impact of Young the Giant’s music on the Indian community. 

Check out our featured artist:
@sameergadhia @youngthegiant
Director of Photography: Jordan Law | @jordan.thomas.law
Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

The Paradox is reclaiming the pop-punk scene, and their rise has been anything but ordinary. Formed in July 2024, the band went viral almost overnight, gaining over 100K followers within their first month and earning opening slots for Green Day and Jack White, plus a performance at When We Were Young Festival and playing NPR Music’s Tiny Desk.

On this episode of Have I Made It?!, The Paradox gets candid about what it’s like to experience success at full speed. From the moment they first heard their music on the radio to being accused of being industry plants, Eric Dangerfield, Donald “Rayman” Bryant, Christopher “Xelan” Bernard, and Percy “PC3” Crews reflect on building something they believed in, even when they weren't sure the world would get it.

The band shares how they found each other through Facebook, what it felt like for drummer PC3 to play as an opener for Jack White when he had never been to a large live concert before, and why they hope their journey inspires more people of color to find their place in alternative music.

Listen to the latest episode of Have I Made It?!, Sofar’s series featuring honest conversations with artists about success, the journey behind it, and everything in between.

Check out our featured artist:
@theparadoxband
Host: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Director of Photography: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co
Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

For Martin Luke Brown, signing a record deal at 21 felt like making it. 

Growing up in Leicester, England, where money was tight, locals already thought he had “made it.” But behind the excitement, he was learning that someone else’s definition of success doesn’t necessarily become your own.

In this episode of Have I Made It?, Martin reflects on signing his first record deal, studying to become a therapist, and how lockdown gave him unexpected time to develop his songwriting when the idea of a music career felt uncertain. 

He also opens up about the cathartic process behind "damn, look at the view!", the role therapy played in exploring heavier themes, and his latest album, "life&death etc", an exploration of mortality that finds the balance between the silly and the profound.

So, has he made it? Maybe that’s a question only Martin can answer.

Listen to full conversation and get to know Martin Luke Brown beyond the music.

#MartinLukeBrown #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds #Sofar #success

Check out our featured artist:
@MartinLukeBrown
Host: Yaz Akyol | @yazakyol
Director of Photography: Omri Dagan | @omridagan
Second Camera: Etai Shomri | @etaishomri 
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

“The core of my identity and what I really pride myself on is the music I make and the songs I write” – Prateek Kuhad

So, has he made it? For  @prateekkuhadmusic , it depends.

The singer-songwriter has built an international career around intimate, cinematic songwriting, from “Kasoor” and “cold/mess” to his latest album, Full Moon Chamber. But his path to music wasn’t exactly linear. 
He studied math and economics at NYU, got fired from a consulting job after graduating, and took it as a sign to finally give music a real shot. He’s now one of India’s most popular and recognized artists. 

After sold-out tours and years of growing into his craft, Prateek has had moments where he’s felt like he’s made it. But he still feels there’s more to achieve. For him, ambition is a practice in itself.

At the core of it all is the same thing that started it: the songs. No matter how his career evolves, Prateek wants the focus to stay on his songwriting and for his music to stand on its own.

#prateekkuhad #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds #Sofar #success

Check out our featured artist:
@prateekkuhad
Host: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Director of Photography: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co
Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

“We really couldn’t imagine doing it as a solo act. We’re so grateful to do it together.”

For  @daundrylay , “making it” isn’t about checking a box. The band, who formed in high school through a music program, is on the come up while still dreaming bigger: headlining large festivals like Coachella and Gov Ball, and maybe even having their own TV show. 

From naming their touring van Bertha to using wheelofnames.com to decide sleeping arrangements on tour, the band has built a unique sense of community both with each other and with their fans. 

In this episode, Laundry Day opens up about the trust, honest conversations, and shared ambition that keep them moving forward, all while intentionally embracing a more analogue approach to making music in an increasingly tech-driven world.

Have I Made It? is a candid interview series exploring what success really looks and feels like. Through honest conversations with artists and creatives, we uncover the moments of doubt, ambition, growth, and perspective that exist beyond the highlight reel.

Subscribe for more conversations with the artists shaping music today.
#LaundryDay #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds #Sofar

Check out our featured artist:
@DaundryLay
Host: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Director of Photography: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co
Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

“Is any artist fully satisfied? To be like ‘You know what, I made it. It’s time to do something else.’"

 @sawyerhillmusic dives into the failures, risks, and instincts that have shaped his path as an artist, and why it’s important to listen to your inner voice.

When a band he was a member of dissolved, he decided to maintain the course and go “scorched earth” to pursue music as a career. In our conversation, Sawyer reflects on trusting himself, his early experiences (some negative) with social media, and why going along with what everyone else likes can mean ignoring your own destiny.

He also shares about his Pentecostal roots in Arkansas and Texas, how his parents went from encouraging him to get a degree to fully supporting his music, and how they even signed an affidavit so he could play shows in bars at a young age.

From having law school as a backup plan to learning that success is built on “many, many failures,” Sawyer opens up about the realities of building a career in music today, including why artists increasingly have to think like entrepreneurs.

After opening for  @yungblud and working with some of the music industry’s greats, Sawyer is entering a new chapter with his latest album, "Everybody’s Home, Nobody’s Happy".

Have I Made It?! is a candid interview series exploring what success really looks and feels like. Through honest conversations with artists and creatives, we uncover the moments of doubt, ambition, growth, and perspective that exist beyond the highlight reel.

Subscribe for more conversations with the artists shaping music today.
#SawyerHill #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds #Sofar

Check out our featured artist:
@sawyer.chill
Host: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Director of Photography: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co
Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

In this episode of Have I Made It?, we sat down with Yeemz, a cellist, singer-songwriter and composer from Sofar LA. Yeemz reflects on forging her own path as an artist, from her roots in classical music to redefining what her instrument and career could look like. 

She also opens up about overcoming the feeling that she needed permission to pursue music, finding the confidence to share her work beyond social media, and breaking the rules by playing her cello sideways like a guitar. Yeemz also explains why she stopped seeking validation from certain people. And while she doesn't feel like she's "made it" just yet, Yeemz shares why continuing to chase new goals keeps her inspired.

Yeemz also released a new single on Aug. 12 that explores the feeling of constantly preparing for the worst, from expecting the person you're dating to lose interest to questioning what you're willing to sacrifice to succeed. The deeply personal track offers another glimpse into Yeemz's honest approach to vulnerability, ambition, and self-doubt. 

Have I Made It? is a candid interview series exploring what success really looks and feels like. Through honest conversations with artists and creatives, we uncover the moments of doubt, ambition, growth, and perspective that exist beyond the highlight reel.

Subscribe for more conversations with the artists shaping music today.

#Yeemz #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds #Sofar

Check out our featured artist:

@Yeemz.cello

Host: Lucas Flood | @lucasfloodpresents

Creative Direction: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag

Director Of Photography: Will Houlihan | @willmhoulihan

Second Camera: Sophie Bruza | @sophiebruza

Sound: Will Houlihan & Sophie Bruza

Editing: Yuval Yosha Cohen | @big.fable

Location: Duncan Birmingham @duncanbirm

Set design: Will Houlihan, Sophie Bruza, Lea Geschwinder

“I will sometimes just lay there and think about how many people know my music and listen to it and it wigs me out.”

In this episode of Have I Made It?, we sit down with Ruth B. to explore how her definition of success has evolved in the years since “Lost Boy” became a global hit. From posting Vines to earning billions of streams, Ruth B. reflects on the lifelong journey of "making it" and why she's accomplished far more than she ever imagined.

She also shares what it feels like to release deeply personal music into the world, why her newest album, “Peace to Make” marks a new chapter in her artistry, and how she's shifted her focus away from numbers and accolades toward creating music that feels true to her. It's an honest conversation about growth, ownership, and finding fulfillment in the art itself.

Have I Made It? is a candid interview series exploring what success really looks and feels like. Through honest conversations with artists and creatives, we uncover the moments of doubt, ambition, growth, and perspective that exist beyond the highlight reel.

Subscribe for more conversations with the artists shaping music today.

#RuthB #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds #Sofar

Check out our featured artist:

@RuthB

Director of Photography: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag

Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__

Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

"Waiting makes you unhappy. If you’re able to take control of what you view as ‘your problem,’ I don’t think you’ll be as unhappy as if you’re at least working towards finding a solution.”

In this episode of Have I Made It?, we sit down with KELS, the self-proclaimed Dirty Blues Princess, also the title of her newest EP, to talk about the winding road from cleaning houses to touring the country and sharing her music with audiences around the world.

KELS reflects on taking ownership of her career, why waiting for the "right moment" can hold you back, and the mindset that helped her create opportunities instead of waiting for them. Along the way, she shares what success looks like to her today and why believing in yourself often starts with trusting yourself to take the first step.

Have I Made It? is a candid interview series exploring what success really looks and feels like. Through honest conversations with artists and creatives, we uncover the moments of doubt, ambition, growth, and perspective that exist beyond the highlight reel.

Subscribe for more conversations with the artists shaping music today.

#KELS #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds

Check out our featured artist:

@KELSMusicChannel on YouTube

Director of Photography: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag

Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__

Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co