Music 3.0

Award winning composer Jacob Shea graduated from the University of California with a degree in Music Composition. After reaching out to composers he admired, Jacob landed an apprenticeship in the same studio campus as Hans Zimmer, and eventually assisted with scoring work on high profile projects like Inception, Despicable Me, and Ender's Game. On today's podcast we talk to Jacob about his life as a composer for film, television, and video games, the grueling work schedule that is sometimes necessary for large scale projects, as well as the importance of versatility when working with different directors and creators. You can hear his latest work on Seven Worlds, One Planet, and find more credits on his website.

Mara Kaye & Tim McNalley come from opposite coasts but bonded over their love of jazz music and performing. Hailing from Brooklyn with a background in jazz and musical theater, Mara has been performing for her entire life and is gearing up to release her first record. Tim studied upright bass at UCSD and went from a relentless gig schedule in San Diego to performing at the Grammys with Ariana Grande. Together they discuss the ways that they've been able to continue working as musicians in LA during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and even thrive off of the creative process of remote collaboration. 

Find them on Instagram @MaraKaye and @TimMcNalley

John Petrocelli, CEO of Bulldog Digital Media, believes in the mantra of "experiences first." A pioneer of the Livestream Industry, he started in collaboration with Prince after watching Prince tour an incredible three hour show for 40+ concerts. This partnership led to him developing the first major direct-to-consumer digital store, complete with digital concerts. In 2012, John founded Bulldog DM, which has produced over one billion audience engagements, and he continues to push streaming technology forward, believing in turning viewers into participants. Learn more about John and Bulldog DM here.

Jenn Grinel is a singer-songwriter from - well, everywhere, as she earned her stripes on stages across the country. Jenn talks getting her start in showbiz with theater in San Diego, California. When Jenn decided to pursue her passion of being a full-time musician, she hopped from city to city to play any stage that welcomed her. Jenn shares the successes she's had on Patreon, and the techniques she's used to sustain that success. She also discusses the trials and tribulations of artist management, and finding that perfect match with your representation. We also get virtual on this episode of the PlusMusic Podcast, and discuss topics such as Roblox, blockchain, and more.

Find Jenn on Instagram at @jenngrinels.

Austin Archer is a man of many talents. The Los Angeles-based musician is also an actor, screenwriter, director, and content creator. On this week's episode of the PlusMusic Podcast, we pick Austin's brain and talk about his creative outlets, including his mastery of the TikTok platform where he's amassed over 160,000 followers. We also discuss the business side of things, and how Austin has invested his time and money into his craft. Up next for Austin is his plan to release a film, Marty Has Cancer. You can check out his most recent releases, Beautiful Things, and Now That's What I Call a Bunch of Austin Archer's TikTok Songs Compiled Into an Album Vol. 1, on his Bandcamp page.

Find Austin on TikTok: @yourpal_austin, and on Instagram: @yourpal_austin.

Jabari Johnson, CEO of COLORS Worldwide, knows a bit about the music business. During our conversation with Jabari, he reflects on his time spent with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis during their rise to superstardom and the release of their hit single "Thrift Shop." He also talks about the origins of R&B Only, and how he turned the live show into a business in COLORS Worldwide. Jabari shares how the pandemic affected the R&B Only tour, and the creative methods he and his team used to keep the lights on, with producing both drive-in and virtual events. Jabari also emphasizes the value of direct communication with your fanbase, and the possibility of distributing ownership of your music catalog. Lastly, speaking of distributing ownership, you can invest in R&B Only today and be a part of their present and future success.

Check the R&B Only Instagram @rnbonly to see when Jabari is coming to your city.

Charles Fauna is a singer, songwriter and producer living in Brooklyn, New York. On episode 49 of the PlusMusic Podcast, we talk about the pros and cons to new-school promotion, including the pressures of self-marketing and branding. We also discuss the current generation of live-streamers, and how they might involve their fans in the recording process. The topic of NFTs also resurfaces, and its infinite possibilities.

Keep up with Charles on Instagram at @charlesfauna or via his website at charlesfauna.com, and click here to listen to his music on Spotify.

John Herguth is the founder, producer, and creative engine driving Farrows, a dark and bewitching indie/house project. This week on the PlusMusic Podcast with our guest John, we discuss the importance of setting the bar high for your career goals, introverts vs. extroverts in music, and artist-management dynamics!

Find Farrows on Instagram at @farrowsmusic, and listen to their music on Spotify.

Fictitious Professor started playing piano when he was 6, in the form of classical piano lessons. As he grew older, he expanded his interests to guitars and drums, but the keys never left his repertoire. College courses rounded out his talents, including classes on composing and arranging, and music tech such as Logic. It's also where he added jazz to his toolkit, a love of his that has seamlessly seeped into his music and beatmaking. This is evident in his latest release, 30, a lo-fi blend of hip-hop, jazz, and neo-soul beats. Fictitious Professor talks to us about the release of 30 coinciding with his 30th birthday, the current state of the jazz scene, and more on the PlusMusic Podcast!

Find Fictitious Professor on Instagram at @fictprof_ and listen to his latest release, 30, here.

Growing up in Beijing, Leo Xia didn't have "musician" at the top of his dream job list. That all changed in 8th grade when he took a "Rock Band" enrichment course that sparked the creative fire he was missing in the violin and piano lessons he had become accustomed to. Presently, whether making music as a singer-songwriter under his namesake, or rapping in Mandarin and English in the hip-hop group NITEMRKT, Leo has been unafraid to let his creative juices flow. It's leaning into that "bravery and courageousness" that Leo is most proud of. He discusses how his canceled tour devastated his urge to create, and how he shifted his mindset to move "beyond living in fear." Leo unpacks his fear of imperfection, and talks about his new desire to "move fast and break things" instead.

Find Leo on Instagram at @leoxiamusic, and follow his hip-hop group at @_nitemrkt.