Mike Melodia, born Michael Mendez, is a Guatemalan rapper and singer from Stamford, CT. An artist with an impressive set of skills, he writes and engineers his own music which encompasses various genres such as reggaeton, Latin trap, and R&B. Mike discovered his passion for music when he stepped into a recording studio for the first time at age twelve. After a near-death experience in 2016, his artistic ambition was fully realized and his music career took off. He released his debut album that year, appropriately titled Sin Limites, or “limitless.” He showed no signs of slowing down in 2017 with the release of his second album King Melody, which displayed growth and a more focused stylistic direction. Stamford-based independent label, Elise Music Group, recognized Mike’s potential and signed him onto their artist roster in Summer 2018. Mike has opened a few studios and now owns his current studio, First Class Studios, in Stamford.

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

To get 30% off your first year’s membership, check out: http://distrokid.com/vip/mikesquires

Crazy Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Melodia:

https://www.instagram.com/mikelamelodiaa/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

00:00:00 - Intro

00:03:36 - Getting Into Music

00:05:32 - The Creation of First Class Studios

00:07:38 - Upgrading to First Class Studio

00:09:34 - Elevating the Artist and Pushing Out of the Comfort Zone

00:11:24 - Frustrations with Unprofessional Artists

00:13:07 - Elevating the Recording Process

00:14:43 - Awkward Moment in the Studio

00:16:29 - The Lack of Respect for Engineers

00:18:13 - Learning Production in Engineering

00:20:02 - Self motivation and manifestation in the music industry

00:21:49 - The Passion in Music

00:23:39 - The Persistence and Time Investment in Art

00:25:32 - Using Remixes to Gain Attention

00:27:13 - Getting into Music

00:28:57 - Embracing Experimentation and Pushing Boundaries

00:30:44 - The Emotional Impact of the Accident

00:32:40 - Building a Business in the Music Industry

00:34:29 - The Sacrifices of Being a Musician

00:36:24 - Overcoming Difficult Moments

00:38:10 - Surrounding Yourself with Motivating People

00:39:51 - Reaching for the Bigger Picture

00:41:38 - Transition to Diddy and Future Plans

00:43:29 - The Importance of Performing

00:45:12 - Hot Music Video Shoot

00:47:04 - Charging It to the Game

00:48:48 - Creating for Yourself vs. Creating for a Career

00:50:23 - The Business Side of the Music Industry

00:52:09 - Don't be scared to help others

00:53:52 - Insider Tips and Connecting with Mike

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Mike Squires & Friends, Ekoh and Chris Webby delve into their dynamic careers. From Ekoh's collaborative efforts on a Tech N9ne collab to touring with Cage, he share how these experiences shaped his artistic identities. They discuss the highs and lows of their journeys, including Ekoh's Vans collaboration and his remix of Crazy Town's "Butterfly." They also explore topics like manifesting success, battling burnout, and staying motivated in the industry. Ekoh reveals his future plans, concluding with a heartfelt message about authenticity and staying true to oneself.

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

To get 30% off your first year’s membership, check out: http://distrokid.com/vip/mikesquires

Crazy Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Ekoh:

https://www.instagram.com/ekohmusic/

Connect with Chris Webby:

https://www.instagram.com/chriswebby/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

0:00 Webby & Ekoh Algorithm

1:50 Intro

3:30 Setting The Tone

4:50 Tech N9ne Record

9:20 Supporting Cage on Tour

10:00 Find Yourself as an Artist

15:50 Ekoh & Webby Meeting

29:00 Career Elevating

30:45 Vans Collab

37:45 Crazy Town Butterfly Remix

41:40 Manifesting & Goal Setting

47:20 Burning Out

48:40 Motivation

54:20 Substances

59:20 What’s Next For Ekoh

1:01:08 Ekoh’s Message

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Mike Squires & Friends as they dive deep into the world of Joey Nato! From his early days to YouTube stardom, discover Joey's journey to success. They discuss everything from reacting to Falling In Reverse, starting his rap career, and navigating the YouTube music community. Uncover Joey's insights on trending topics, encounters with Mr. Beast, and his thoughts on the evolving YouTube landscape. Plus, insights on resilience, purpose, and what success means to Joey. Tune in for an inspiring conversation with Joey Nato on Mike Squires & Friends!"

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Joey:

https://www.instagram.com/luckyboynato/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

0:00 Intro

4:50 Who is Joey Nato?

6:15 Success

7:18 Falling In Reverse Reaction

11:00 How Joey Started Rapping

14:30 YouTube Music Community

21:30 Rapping About Trends

24:50 Mr. Beast

30:03 Trends

33:30 Kendrick Lamar & Drake Beef

39:20 YouTube Community Fizzling Out

44:10 Atlus 

49:50 50 States Song Secret

52:00 Eggs In One Basket

53:50 BTS PR Scammer

57:20 Twitter Scam

1:04:00 Being Yourself

1:09:30 What’s Success To You

1:20:00 Resilience & Purpose

1:24:20 Where To Find Joey

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Murda is a talented audio engineer from Stamford who turned his passion for music into a successful career. His dedication and resilience helped him persevere through tough times, achieving significant milestones in his journey.

Murda stays grounded while working with notable artists like Jim Jones, Rah Swish, Dusty Locane, and Young Thug. Despite challenges, including living in his car and overcoming arrests, his professionalism ensures productive studio sessions.

Operating out of First Class Studios, Murda continues to push the boundaries of his craft. He advises aspiring engineers to remain professional and dedicated. Known for his relentless hustle, Chris Murda leaves a lasting legacy in the music industry.

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Murda:

https://www.instagram.com/chris_murda/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

0:00 Intro

3:00 Who is Chris Murda?

3:20 Growing Up In Stamford

4:00 What Got You Into Music

5:10 Squires & Murda Meeting

6:20 What Motivates Murda

7:15 Crime City Entertainment

9:16 Walk Before You Crawl

10:20 Get With It Or Get Gone

11:00 Becoming an Engineer

13:00 Perseverance

14:00 Early Shows

14:30 Learning From Crime City

15:40 Pushing Through Tough Days

16:30 “I Made It” Moment

17:50 If You Didn’t Have Music

19:00 Getting In Trouble

20:50 Being A Father

23:00 The Artists Murda Works With

23:40 First Empire Session

25:05 Jim Jones Session

26:20 Rah Swish

26:40 Dusty Locane

27:00 Young Thug

28:50 Out of Pocket Studio Session

30:00 Bad Vibes In Studio

31:30 The People Around You

32:00 Living In His Car & Arrested

37:20 The Hustle

37:50 Lion’s Den

39:30 First Class Studios

41:18 Advice to A Younger Murda

42:50 Kevin George

44:40 Professionalism

45:30 Making Your Craft A Career

46:20 Engineers

48:18 Dusty Locane Call

49:30 Murda’s Sleep Schedule

50:50 The Next Level

52:10 Getting Paid

53:00 Message To The World

53:30 Murda’s Name

54:10 Last Men Standing

55:24 Thought of the Day

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doss's artistic journey is shaped by his upbringing in Stamford, where early life experiences and lessons from sports instilled teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. Discovering his passion for music, he recorded his first song and continuously improved his craft, with early success validating his efforts. Despite facing anxiety, he set and achieved goals, creating significant projects like "For Life" and collaborating with artists like Mike Squires, Anoyd, and Wax. Lessons from music, viral videos, and handling critics and supporters have shaped his career, while memorable shows and creative projects showcase his talent. Expressing love and emotion through his music, Doss is committed to giving back and using his platform for positive impact. Guided by intentionality, he offers valuable advice to aspiring artists and looks to the future with excitement, concluding his journey with a message of inspiration and determination.

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

To get 30% off your first year’s membership, check out: http://distrokid.com/vip/mikesquires

Crazy Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Doss:

https://www.instagram.com/realdoss/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

0:00 Intro

4:14 Growing Up In Stamford

5:20 Lesson From Sports

7:00 Motivation

8:09 Getting Into Music

10:20 Recording First Song

12:30 Leveling Up

13:40 First Moment of Success

19:00 Perfect

22:00 Art is Opinionated

24:10 Success to Doss

27:15 Flo Ride Anxiety

30:30 Anxiety

27:16 Goals

38:17 For Life (Shmeat)

43:40 First Doss x Squires Song

46:14 Lesson From Music

49:00 Viral Videos

52:30 Haters

56:50 Some Love

1:02:11 Albuquerque Show

1:08:20 Yay High Music Video

1:13:40 Anoyd

1:16:36 Talk is Cheap with Wax

1:20:10 ❤️

1:21:10 Doing For Others

1:27:45 Intention

1:29:29 Advice for Artists

1:33:05 What’s Next

1:36:34 Outro

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danimal Lector, born Dan Yatsinko, is a hip-hop artist from Stratford, Connecticut. Known as D. Lector, he views hip-hop as a lifestyle integral to his identity. His music journey began in childhood with a remix of Nas’s “Street Dreams” and evolved through DJing and producing.

Despite a challenging period where he considered quitting music, Danimal found his way back, now thriving as a graphic designer and full-time musician. Influenced by artists like Royce 5’9”, Vinnie Paz, and Wu-Tang Clan, he remains fiercely independent, controlling his creative process.

Danimal has performed at venues across the US, including Toad's Place in New Haven, CT, and has collaborated with notable artists like Crooked I and Statik Selektah. His favorite producers include RZA and Alchemist, with “Belly Up” featuring Apathy being one of his standout tracks.

Upcoming projects include his new album “Bars Attack PT 5” and an animated hip hop/horror series called “Half Dead” on YouTube. For Danimal, creativity and fun are at the heart of everything he does.

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

To get 30% off your first year’s membership, check out: http://distrokid.com/vip/mikesquires

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Danimal:

https://www.instagram.com/danimallector

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

0:00 Intro

3:30 Getting Familiar with Danimal

4:30 Squires and Lector Connecting

6:35 Trading Value

8:18 Learning From Danimal

10:40 Working on First Album

12:10 Danimal’s Albums

12:40 Danimal’s First Album

14:30 Becoming Danimal

16:00 Features

17:50 Success

22:50 What Keeps You Going

24:20 The Power of Music

26:16 Getting Out of Dark Mindsets

47:40 Aha Moment

30:25 System of Beliefs

32:05 Positivity

32:50 Losing Brother & Mother

34:10 New Album

36:16 Being A Father

39:20 Getting In Your Own Way

40:42 Capturing The Moment

43:40 Advice

45:50 Learning More Skills

51:20 Proud Music Moments

53:20 Believing In Yourself

56:30 Danimal’s Message

59:00 What’s Next

1:01:20 Connect with Dan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a 15+ year veteran of the rap game, Connecticut native Chris Webby has garnered an independent career which has yielded 9 mixtapes, 3 EP's, and 7 albums to date all while establishing himself as an international touring powerhouse. His career has amassed him a fiercely loyal and continuously growing fan base across the globe.

With no sign of letting up, Webby's unwavering independent spirit continues to generate new releases and sold-out crowds around the world.

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

To get 30% off your first year’s membership, check out: http://distrokid.com/vip/mikesquires

Crazy Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Chris Webby:

https://www.instagram.com/chriswebby/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

0:00 Intro

5:05 The Dawn of Chris Webby

16:05 The Vindictive Days

21:55 White Noise LP

25:50 Teenage Mutant Ninja Rapper

27:11 Optimus Rhyme

28:15 The Underclassmen

30:15 Mac Miller

33:15 Crashing Datpiff - Best in the Burbs

36:25 Webster’s Lab

41:15 There Goes The Neighborhood

45:15 Porter Robinson

45:55 Toad’s Place

48:25 Blueprint Management

50:35 Studio Session with Dame Dash

52:35 Bars on Me

53:55 Getting Kicked Out Stripclub

55:43 Homegrown

58:25 Studio with Scott Storch

59:50 Chemically Imbalanced

1:00:55 Method Man & Prodigy

1:02:15 106&Park

1:03:00 Meeting People in the Industry

1:05:55 Riff Raff

1:06:25 Fall Out Boy

1:07:15 Andre 3000

1:08:25 J Cole Snubbing Web

1:10:15 Travis Barker

1:11:36 Diplo

1:12:07 Touring with Tech N9ne

1:16:35 Drug Use

1:18:35 Jamo Neat with Sap

1:19:45 Gronk

1:22:25 Sway in the Morning

1:25:15 Taking Over Career

1:28:15 Chris Fury

1:29:35 Bouncing Back

1:36:45 The Start of Wednesday

1:39:35 Advice for Artists

1:41:55 Pixar Studios

1:43:25 Anoyd

1:44:45 Dave Chapelle & John Mayer

1:46:45 Gold Plaque

1:47:45 Changing Gears

1:53:45 Communication

1:57:45 Stickup Music Video

1:59:30 Raw Thoughts

2:02:55 Lil Xan

2:06:45 Raw Thoughts

2:15:15 Shoey in Australia

2:20:55 Touring Europe

2:25:05 Big Jon Pepper Spray

2:30:45 Next Wednesday

2:31:25 Ekoh

2:34:35 Jelly Roll

2:40:15 Wednesday After Next

2:42:30 Quarantine

2:45:05 Web Sesh with Pete Davidson

2:51:05 Meeting Pete Davidson

2:51:34 JP on da Track

2:52:45 Donating

2:57:35 Drugs in a Suitcase

2:59:35 28 Wednesdays Later

3:00:25 Still Wednesday

3:01:25 Collabing with DMX

3:06:15 Red Rocks

3:08:05 Busta Rhymes Collab

3:10:05 Wednesday Before Last

3:12:53 Last Wednesday

3:15:15 50 States Project

3:16:39 Best Advice

3:18:45 Parents

3:22:05 What’s Next

3:25:15 Webby’s Message

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corey Hales has an unexpected voice considering his style and stature.

At this stage in his career gigging around his hometown of Boston MA, or his new home of Los Angeles, he's accustomed to people staring. If they're hearing Corey for the first time, they're struck by the gentle warmth coming from this big bearded man. The patient songwriting and touching melodies call John Mayer and Ed Sheeran to mind. Those who have heard Corey before, know he's only setting you up for the fiery passion of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Allen Stone. Mark Baxter, voice coach for both Corey and Steven Tyler, puts it best.

"Every note Corey sings is flavored with heart and soul. Like grandma's good cooking - the sound of his voice is nourishment for your ears.

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

To get 30% off your first year’s membership, check out: http://distrokid.com/vip/mikesquires

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Corey:

https://www.instagram.com/coreyhalesmusic/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

00:00:00 - Shrimp Water Mishap and Introduction to Cory Hailes

00:03:05 - Introduction to the Mike Squires and Friends Podcast

00:07:06 - Memories of Milton Academy

00:10:49 - Senior Year of High School

00:14:40 - The Power and Beauty of Musical Moments

00:18:24 - Beginning of the Music Journey

00:22:15 - Hyped to go to LA

00:26:20 - A Nightmare Road Trip

00:30:06 - Orchids and Taco Trucks in MacArthur Park

00:33:52 - Meeting Macky Mock Kid and a Coolest Person in Boston

00:37:37 - Connecting with Olivier Basell and working on songwriting

00:41:31 - Equality and Team Collaboration

00:45:19 - Meeting Flo R

00:48:28 - Making Connections in the Industry

00:51:54 - Connecting with Artists Around the World

00:55:33 - Finding Yourself in Tough Times

00:59:28 - Driving on a Suspended License

01:03:04 - Finding a Better Fit in Atlanta

01:06:20 - The Story of Shrimp Water

01:10:07 - Comedy in Unfunny Moments

01:13:52 - Passing on Knowledge from Older Mentors

01:17:41 - Pursuing What You Want

01:21:48 - Moments of Connection

01:25:44 - Seizing Opportunities

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A great voice will tell you exactly who's behind it. When Michael Minelli sings, you know it's him. With show-stopping delivery, dynamic range, and timeless panache, the Connecticut born & raised singer/songwriter immediately sets himself apart. It's no surprise he's earned the praise of everyone from Ryan Seacrest to BuzzFeed. For Minelli, it's all a matter of soul. "Soul is the core of everything," he affirms. "It's that thing you can't put your finger on. Anytime somebody hears my music, I want them to immediately say, 'That's a Michael Minelli record? With over a decade of experience as an artist, Minelli seems to finally have hit his stride gaining millions of views, hundreds of thousands of followers & a 300% increase in streams all during the first month of being active on tiktok singing his song in public all over the country. This has even got him on the bill for national tours, big festivals & even fox news! With the world at his fingertips, Michael set the foundation for 2022 to be the long awaited explosion he dreamed of as a kid. With major label deals, huge sponsorships, viral videos & an experienced team in his back pocket, there's no telling where you might see him next!

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

To get 30% off your first year’s membership, check out: http://distrokid.com/vip/mikesquires

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Minelli:

https://www.instagram.com/mrminelli/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

0:00 Intro

3:30 Mike vs Michael

5:50 Being Present

6:19 Growing Up Michael Minelli

8:20 Jobs Before Music

12:00 Sacrifice

13:00 E3 Dance Crew

19:00 Losing

20:10 The Goonies

24:50 All Of Me

28:30 The Doubters

30:20 Motivation

32:32 Decompressing

36:50 Setbacks

42:20 First Moment of Success

45:11 Your Image

49:40 Futuristic Collab Album

54:40 Artists Looking Out

59:30 The Guy Who Sings In Public

1:06:20 Tour Getting Cancelled

1:09:04 Almost Getting Kicked Out

1:12:15 Give It A Try

1:14:30 Being An Artist is Hard

1:18:40 Touring with Anees

1:29:20 The Highs & Lows

1:32:20 Long Time Coming Tour

1:39:00 What’s Next For Minelli

1:42:46 Disrespectful After Our Talk at 3:30

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chazz, also known as Carlos Menendez, was born in 1963 to Cuban parents who fled Havana in 1963, seeking a better life in the US. He grew up in New Jersey and later moved to New York City to pursue a career in the film industry. Chazz worked in various roles including as a sound designer and eventually transitioned into stunt performing and coordination, working on popular shows like "POWER" and its spin-offs. In 2001, he volunteered at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks and later survived a life-threatening tumor, which led him to focus on nonprofit work supporting the people of Cuba. Through his nonprofit, he aims to provide hope and aid to the struggling communities in Cuba, a cause he is deeply passionate about.

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

To get 30% off your first year’s membership, check out: http://distrokid.com/vip/mikesquires

Join The Squires Squad (Early Access):

https://app.grouped.com/mikesquires

Connect with Mike Squires:

https://set.page/mikesquires/

Stream Mike Squires & Friends:

https://pods.to/mikesquires

Connect with Chazz:

https://www.instagram.com/supportcubans.life/

Merch:

https://lifeismerch.com/

0:00 Intro

3:40 Getting Into Stunts

5:30 Some of Chazz’s Credits

6:00 First Big Gig

7:30 Safety First

8:50 Family Came Here From Cuba

10:20 Growing Up In Porchester

11:15 Volunteering at 9/11

11:40 His Wife Saved His Life

14:25 Sopranos

15:02 How To Get Gig

16:20 Dr. Strange

17:35 Set Expectations

19:00 Most Dangerous Stunt

20:50 POWER

24:06 Craziest Thing On Set

25:45 Meeting Bradley Cooper

27:45 Bruce Lee

29:30 Kung-Fu Class

31:10 Acknowledgements

32:00 Meeting Jackie Chan

34:00 Standing In For Actors

36:20 Getting Hurt

37:40 Liam Neeson

39:20 TV vs Movies

41:00 Daredevil & Spiderman

42:25 How The Business Works

44:20 Working with Directors

46:10 A Day On Set

47:10 Longest Day on Set

48:10 Staying in Shape

50:35 How Often Are Gigs

51:00 Memorable Scene

53:00 Law & Order

55:30 Shame

57:20 Precious

58:00 Levels of Stunt Coordination

58:50 Music Videos

1:02:20 The ‘IT’ Factor

1:03:20 Joaquin Phoenix

1:04:10 Getting The Role

1:06:10 Dublin Destroyer

1:06:40 Stunt School

1:07:00 Carlos Lopez

1:09:44 Walking Dead

1:11:11 Stunt School

1:16:20 Biggest Stunt Mistakes

1:19:00 Advice for Dreamers

1:20:50 What Took It To The Next Level

1:22:20 Chazz’s Non Profit

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices