In this ProducerHead Sample, Toru connects with Birocratic, a producer who took his passion from making beats in his dorm room to becoming a recognized name in the music industry. Birocratic shares how a chance encounter with BuzzFeed helped him reach a wider audience, the importance of building genuine relationships in the industry, and how patience and persistence play a crucial role in his career. He also talks about his long-standing relationship with Chillhop and how it influenced his journey as a music producer. This episode offers insights into navigating the music scene, staying true to your craft, and the power of being open to unexpected opportunities.

Throughout the episode we discuss:

* How releasing music under Creative Commons unexpectedly led to exposure on BuzzFeed.

* The importance of building relationships with video producers and other creatives.

* The impact of patience and persistence in Birocratic’s journey.

* Embracing the shift from YouTube to TikTok and adapting outreach strategies.

* The role Chillhop played in Birocratic’s career and his involvement with the label.

Three Meaningful Takeaways:

* The Power of Exposure: You never know who might be listening or watching, so make your work accessible and ready to be discovered.

* Genuine Relationships Matter: Building connections with creators and being sincere can lead to long-term collaborations.

* Adaptability is Key: The music industry constantly changes, and being open to evolving your approach can lead to new opportunities.

Timeline: 

0:00 - Introduction

0:57 - Birocratic's journey from making beats in his dorm room

2:28 - Decision to release music under Creative Commons

3:39 - How BuzzFeed discovered and used his music

3:57 - Discussing the impact of being featured in BuzzFeed videos

5:57 - Outreach to YouTubers and vloggers to expand his music’s reach

8:42 - The value of building relationships and the challenges of ‘cold outreach’

10:18 - Creating a frictionless experience for collaborators and fans

11:52 - The evolution and influence of Chillhop on Birocratic's career

14:27 - Transitioning from mastering and A&R work to touring

15:57 - Advice on taking a long-term view of one’s music career

Connect with Birocratic:

* YouTube: @birocratic

* Instagram: @birocratic

* Spotify: Birocratic

* Apple Music: Birocratic

Connect with Toru:

* Website: torubeat.com

* Instagram: @torubeat

* YouTube: @torubeat

* Spotify: Toru

* Apple Music: Toru

Credits:

This episode was co-produced, engineered, and edited by Matthew Diaz. Special thanks to Birocratic for sharing his story and insights. From ProducerHead, this is Toru, and in a way, so are you. Peace.

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to part two of this two part episode with Brian Funk.

Today's guest is Brian Funk, a New York-based musician, producer, and Ableton Certified Trainer. He hosts the Music Production Podcast. Brian teaches music production at Berklee Online. And, he is the author of 5-Minute Music Producer: 365 Music-Making Activities.

Throughout this conversation we discuss:

* The advantages of having a day job.

* Thinking about the opinions of others.

* The distinction between what you can and can’t control.

* How multiple projects can help you avoid burnout.

* Why you should have your own website.

* And, how Brian accidentally wrote a book.

That’s it for Part Two of this two part episode. Subscribe to ProducerHead wherever you are listening so that you don’t miss out on future episodes. Don’t forget to leave a review and share this episode with a friend.

Three Things I Learned From This Conversation:

1. WHEN YOU’RE WORKING, WORK. WHEN YOU’RE RELAXING, RELAX.

It’s OK to take a break and watch Netflix. Don’t ruin an episode of The Bachelor with guilt about how you “should be working right now.” Build relaxation and time away into your working routine to avoid burnout and create space for enjoyment. You and the quality of your work will thank you.

2. MAKING GETTING STARTED EASIER.

Once you are on the path, you will discover what exists on the path. Begin working and you’ll find that you can reshape and edit according to what you experience during the process. Your vision will reveal itself along the way.

I feel this one strongly. Here’s the proof: “Do it on purpose and find out who you are.”

3. HAVING A DAY JOB CAN BE AN ADVANTAGE.

Day jobs are often seen as obstacles to living a creative life. Do not overlook the fact that your day job provides at least two powerful opportunities:

* Constraints on your time: The decision on when to work is made for you. Embrace those windows with intention.

* Creative Freedom: Without relying on the art as your livelihood, you’re able to make what it is you want to make.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Substack:

Instagram: @torubeat

YouTube: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Tap in with Brian Funk:

Instagram: @brianfunkmusic

Brian’s Website: https://brianfunk.com/

Conversation Timeline:

00:00 Intro

01:19 Burnout And Creating Small Wins

04:06 Make Getting Started Easier

08:45 Brian’s values and approach to entrepreneurship

11:37 How to use your day job to your creative advantage.

13:50 Motivation

15:15 Control

16:27 Embracing Your Perspective and Finding Your Voice

18:30 Video Creation

19:40 The value of variety in projects

22:00 Origin Story of Brian’s book: 5-Minute Music Producer: 365 Music-Making Activities.

25:10 My amazement at Brian’s productivity and creation of his book.

25:45 Evidence of the day job enhancing music projects

27:00 Why you should have your own website

30:45 Brian’s Class on Sampling through Berklee Online

32:03 Quick Hits

42:35 Brian’s Personal Encouragement

43:50 Outro

Referenced:

Rick Beato

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to part one of this two part episode with Brian Funk.

Today's guest is Brian Funk, a New York-based musician, producer, and Ableton Certified Trainer.

Brian hosts the Music Production Podcast, teaches music production at Berklee Online, and is the author of 5-Minute Music Producer: 365 Music-Making Activities.

Throughout this conversation we talk about

* The value of embracing structure in songwriting.

* Decision making in the music production process.

* How limitations in your production process are a good thing.

* Working hard and not taking yourself too seriously.

* And Brian teaches me about anaphora.

Also, Brian brings us a mix of old and new for the ProducerHead Listening Room.

That’s it for Part One of this two part episode. Subscribe to ProducerHead wherever you are listening so that you don’t miss out on Part 2. Don’t forget to leave a review and share this episode with a friend.

Don’t miss Part 2 of this conversation with Brian Funk, where we will get into:

* The advantages of having a day job.

* Thinking about the opinions of others.

* The distinction between what you can and can’t control.

* How multiple projects can help you avoid burnout.

* And, how Brian accidentally wrote a book.

Top 3 Gems From This Conversation:

1. SELF-IMPOSED CONSTRAINTS AND LIMITATIONS LEAD TO FINISHING WORK.

If you have a computer, you can do anything, and that’s too much. Limit your options. Making decisions propels you forward.

2. A VISION IS NOT REQUIRED TO BEGIN A PROJECT.

Once you are on the path, you will discover what exists on the path. Begin working and you’ll find that you can reshape and edit according to what you experience during the process. Your vision will reveal itself along the way.

I love this one. Here’s the proof: “Do it on purpose and find out who you are.”

3. SHARE WHO YOU ARE.

In Brian’s case, he believed his musical identity should remain outside of school (he also teaches English). He has come to find that the two can live together. The world of education appreciates his musical talents and vice versa.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Substack:

Instagram: @torubeat

YouTube: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Tap in with Brian Funk:

Instagram: @brianfunkmusic

Brian’s Website: https://brianfunk.com/

Conversation Timeline:

00:00 Intro

01:45 Track 1 And Discussion

15:30 Track 2 And Discussion

25:05 Track 3 And Discussion

36:40 Drops In The Bucket

42:28 Following Personal Interest And Excitement

43:51 Becoming an Ableton Certified Trainer

46:45 Separation Between Music and Professional Life

47:50 Burnout (Episode 16 Preview)

48:00 Outro

Referenced:

How To Write One Song

The World Within A Song

Anaphora

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to part two of this two part episode with Chenoa Tarin.

Today's guest is Chenoa Tarin, a Brooklyn based, producer, vocalist and songwriter whose sounds are an homage to the music that formed her. Chenoa Tarin also runs “Bouquet,” a monthly femme forward artist showcase in Brooklyn with resident DJ Dewy ‘87.

As you’ll hear throughout this conversation, Chenoa believes deeply in self-expression and the importance of art.

Throughout this conversation, we will discuss:

* Chenoa’s experience at SAE Institute.

* Complementary career paths as a music producer.

* The importance of being competent AND kind.

* What is technically correct versus what is true and authentic to you.

* Chenoa’s experience and ideas for starting an event of your own, wherever you are.

* And, Chenoa tells us that you can do whatever you want, forever.

Top 3 Gems From This Convo:

1. REGARDLESS OF YOUR TALENT, ARE YOU KIND?

Yes. Make good music. Also, there is no substitute for kindness and connection to a community.

You can fail alone, but no one succeeds without the support of others.

2. FOCUS ON COMMUNICATING WHAT YOU FEEL, NOT WHAT IS “CORRECT.”

Notice if you are imposing rules and limitations about what is technically “correct.” Prioritize the communication of your energy and feeling through your music.

3. YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, FOREVER.

Remember that when other people say you that you cannot do something, it is not necessarily true.

It is something that they said, nothing more.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Instagram: @torubeat

YouTube: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Tap in with Chenoa Tarin:

Instagram: @chenoatarin

Chenoa’s Website: https://www.chenoatarin.com/

To jump to a specific moment in the conversation:

0:00 Intro

1:38 Another's Success Is Not Your Failure

2:50 Quitting Too Early

4:40 Formal Education and Chenoa's Experience at SAE

14:03 Balancing Competence and Kindness

18:45 How and Why to Start Your Own Show

21:40 Self-imposed Limits and Rules

26:20 Caught Up In Music As Technically Correct

29:40 Comparison

34:10 Save Everything

37:30 Quick Hits - Get to know Chenoa

43:20 Chenoa's parting message

44:30 Outro

Referenced:

The Creative Act: A Way Of Being

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to part one of this two part episode with Chenoa Tarin.

Today's guest is Chenoa Tarin, a Brooklyn based, producer, vocalist and songwriter whose sounds are an homage to the music that formed her. Chenoa Tarin also runs “Bouquet”; a monthly femme forward artist showcase in Brooklyn with resident DJ Dewy ‘87.

As you’ll hear throughout this conversation, Chenoa believes deeply in self-expression and the importance of art.

Throughout this conversation, we will discuss:

* Community and how Chenoa actively builds it through Bouqet.

* Expressing your values and creating inclusive spaces through events.

* Why Chenoa decided starting her own show was important.

* That you are ready before you think you are.

* And, that the success of another is not your failure.

And, Chenoa shares a few bangers across genres in today’s edition of the ProducerHead Listening Room.

That’s it for Part 1 of this two part episode with Chenoa Tarin. Take a quick second and subscribe to ProducerHead wherever you are listening so that you catch Part 2. Don’t forget to leave a review and share this episode with a friend:

Don’t miss out on Part 2 of this conversation with Chenoa, where we will get into:

* Chenoa’s experience at SAE Institute.

* Complementary career paths as a music producer.

* The importance of being competent AND kind.

* What is technically correct versus what is true and authentic to you.

* Chenoa’s experience and ideas for starting an event of your own, wherever you are.

* And, Chenoa tells us that you can do whatever you want, forever.

Top 3 Gems From This Convo:

1. ANOTHER PERSON’S SUCCESS IS NOT YOUR FAILURE.

Other people are not your competition nor in your way. When you witness another’s success, make it a point to congratulate them.

No one controls whether or not they succeed.

However, they do choose how to treat themselves and others when they do.

2. THERE ARE MANY WOMEN MAKING MUSIC.

We all have a responsibility to include and make space for one another.

You have more power than you think you do to make an impact.

3. WE ARE UNABLE TO SEE WHAT ANOTHER PERSON IS GOING THROUGH.

Social Media gives us the impression that we know how and what other people are doing.

Before you compare or place judgments on another person’s life, keep in mind that you are viewing curated surface-level snapshots.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Substack:

Instagram: @torubeat

YouTube: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Tap in with Chenoa Tarin:

Instagram: @chenoatarin

Chenoa’s Website: https://www.chenoatarin.com/

To jump to a specific moment in the conversation:

0:00 Intro

1:45 Listening Room Track 1

4:40 Listening Room Track 1 - Discussion

8:08 Listening Room Track 2

12:22 Listening Room Track 2 - Discussion

15:35 Listening Room Track 3

18:30 Listening Room Track 3 - Discussion

26:20 Bouqet and Creating Safe Spaces for Performance

29:00 Philosophy behind Boquet

31:20 Inspiration for starting Boquet

36:55 Another's Success Is Not Your Failure

38:29 Add'l Context and Outro

Referenced:

Bouqet: The Monthly Show Run By Chenoa and Dewy ‘87.

Heart Beats: The Monthly Show Run By A. Sarr

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to Part 2 of this two part conversation with Wrex Mason.

Today's guest is Wrex Mason, a Hip-Hop producer from Hartford, CT; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. Wrex began producing at age 11, and for the past 13 years, he has released both solo and collaborative projects with a wide range of artists.

Above all else, Wrex prioritizes being a "perpetual student of the craft" and a stark advocate for creative independence.

His influences include J Dilla, Madlib, Flying Lotus, DJ Premier, Easy Moe Bee, 9th Wonder, and Pete Rock.

WrexMason.com is a one-stop shop for Wrex's discography, merch, and marketplace for artists in search of beats.

Welcome to part two of this two part episode with Wrex Mason.

If you haven’t already, I invite you to listen to Part 1 of this conversation, where Wrex shares his Sketchbook Mentality and his philosophy on how to keep good and bad days in perspective.

Today, in part two of this conversation, Wrex shares how he identified the grooves of his self-talk to improve his practice and his art. How he combines structure and free-flowing time to capture inspiration, and what producers can learn from the world of cooking. Wrex also emphasizes the prioritization of making music for yourself first.

Before you soak-up another episode of ProducerHead, please subscribe and drop a rating as well as a review wherever you are listening. This helps ProducerHead find its place and its people. After all, without you, there is no ProducerHead.

Top 3 Gems From This Convo:

1. SCHEDULE CREATIVE TIME THAT NATURALLY PLAYS TO YOUR STRENGTHS.

What works for others may or may not work for you.

Look for patterns in what has led to fulfilling creative sessions in the past and try to recreate those.

If you don’t know where to start, pick an approach or copy another routine and try it out.

Adjust for youself along the way, but keep experimenting. The idea is to stay in motion.

2. IF YOU CAN’T CREATE, CLEAN.

You’re in a creative session and nothing is happening.

Take this time to clean your studio while you listen to samples.

Re-organize your digital studio.

Listen and organize samples you have to set yourself up for a future session.

3. BE OPEN TO INSPIRATION FROM NON-MUSICAL SOURCES.

Wrex uses chefs and culinary arts as a model to draw on inspiration. What else interests you outside of music?

Maybe it’s sports, fashion, design, comedy, or something completely different?

Give yourself the opportunity to appreciate how others approach their craft.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Instagram: @torubeat

YouTube: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Tap in with Wrex Mason:

Instagram: @wrexmason

Website: WrexMason.com

To jump to a specific moment in the conversation:

0:00 Preview / Intro

2:02 There's A Yesterday...

4:12 How Wrex Discovered This Philosophy

5:45 Wrex's Routine

7:45 Saving Ideas

8:12 What Makes A Good Sample

8:50 Inspiration From Non-Musical Sources

11:40 Make Music For Yourself First. Inspired by Madlib

13:00 How Do You Develop Taste?

17:55 Surprising Sample Sources

20:15 The Difference Between an Artist and a Producer

22:00 What To Do When You Get Stuck

24:00 What To Do When You Are Overthinking

28:30 Upcoming Projects

30:00 Where To Get Beats

31:10 Quick Hits

38:23 Closing

Referenced:

Madlib Speaking on Making Music For Himself First (@4:02):

Brasilintime Documentary (Full Doc)

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to Part 1 of this two part conversation with Wrex Mason.

Today's guest is Wrex Mason, a Hip-Hop producer from Hartford, CT; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. Wrex began producing at age 11, and for the past 13 years, he has released both solo and collaborative projects with a wide range of artists.

Above all else, Wrex prioritizes being a "perpetual student of the craft" and a stark advocate for creative independence.

His influences include J Dilla, Madlib, Flying Lotus, DJ Premier, Easy Moe Bee, 9th Wonder, and Pete Rock.

WrexMason.com is a one-stop shop for Wrex's discography, merch, and marketplace for artists in search of beats.

Welcome to part one of this two part episode with Wrex Mason.

In this conversation, Wrex shares his Sketchbook Mentality, the importance of maintaining sustainable working habits in order to produce our best work, and the power of a broad perspective in our day-in and day-out work.

Before you soak-up another episode of ProducerHead, please subscribe and drop a rating as well as a review wherever you are listening. This helps ProducerHead find its place and its people. After all, without you, there is no ProducerHead.

That’s it for Part 1 of this two part conversation with Wrex Mason.

Make sure you come back for part two of this conversation, where Wrex shares how he identified the grooves of his self-talk to improve his practice and his art. How he combines structure and free-flowing time to capture inspiration. What producers can learn from the world of cooking. And, the prioritization of making music for yourself first.

Top 3 Gems From This Convo:

1. REMEMBER THAT TODAY IS ONE OF MANY DAYS.

There will be days where the work will come easier than others.

None of those days are necessarily better or worse than any other.

Show up every day with a curiosity and openness to what may happen.

2. UNCHECKED FEAR IS A POWERFUL AND OFTEN INVISIBLE FORCE.

If you notice yourself experiencing thoughts that are not encouraging you to move forward, ask yourself if you’re experiencing fear.

Asses that fear and re-label it according to its actual merit.

3. EMBRACE A SKETCHBOOK MENTALITY.

Remember: You don’t get to choose when good ideas come.

When an idea comes to you, even in a fragmented or incomplete form, write it down, record it, or make a voice note.

Show up regularly and pay attention to when ideas are presenting themselves.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Instagram: @torubeat

YouTube: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Tap in with Wrex Mason:

Instagram: @wrexmason

Website: WrexMason.com

To jump to a specific moment in the conversation:

Chapters

0:00 Preview

0:30 Intro

2:05 Listening Session Track 1

7:01 Listening Session Track 1 - Discussion

11:22 Listening Session Track 2

15:39 Listening Session Track 2 - Discussion

19:30 Adult Swim Context

20:58 Listening Session Track 3

24:35 Listening Session Track 3 - Discussion

26:45 Restraint In Music

27:45 Sketchbook Mentality

29:30 Discovery of The Long Term and Sketchbook Mindset

31:18 Managing stress and pressure.

34:12 Closing

Referenced:

Adult Swim: Wiki, Adult Swim Website

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome back to the first installment of ProducerHead Gems, where we will take a look back at some of the best that past guests have shared on ProducerHead.

This is Part 2 of a two part episode where we will hear from Birocratic, Nothing Neue, Ian Ewing, and Piklo.

First up is Birocratic, sharing a pivotal moment in his career and how he harnessed the momentum to build relationships along with his audience. He even goes so far as to re-contextualize what he learned for today’s state of the industry and offer potential strategies you can implement on your own.

To hear more from Birocratic, check out Episode 008 of ProducerHead (this excerpt was taken from Part 2).

Next we will hear from Nothing Neue, who was featured on Episode 009. Nothing Neue shares how being signed to Alpha Pup Records has impacted his perspective as an artist and his thoughts on motivation and encouragement.

To hear more from Nothing Neue, check out Episode 009 of ProducerHead (this excerpt was taken from Part 1).

Next up is Ian Ewing, who was featured on Episode 011 of ProducerHead. During the conversation, Ian spoke to the inter-connected nature of what’s happening in our lives and what’s happening in our work. This clip provides a glimpse into Ian’s experience with routines and how they have evolved to help maintain momentum in his creative process.

To hear more from Ian Ewing check out Episode 011 of ProducerHead (this excerpt was taken from Part 1).

Last but not least we are traveling back to Episode 002 of ProducerHead, which featured Piklo, who shared motivation and actionable ideas for creating products as an artist. If you feel like you’re lacking a spark of inspiration, here’s some free momentum from Piklo.

To hear more from Piklo check out Episode 002 of ProducerHead.

That's it for the second part of this two part episode of ProducerHead Gems. Let me know how you felt about this first edition of ProducerHead Gems by leaving a review and sharing your favorite moment.

To hear the full conversations with any of the past guests, a guide is as follows:

To hear more from:

* Birocratic, check out Episode 008 of ProducerHead.

* Nothing Neue, check out Episode 009 of ProducerHead.

* Ian Ewing check out Episode 011 of ProducerHead.

* Piklo check out Episode 002 of ProducerHead.

Subscribe and stay tuned, a new episode of ProducerHead is coming very soon.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Instagram: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to the first installment of ProducerHead Gems, where we will take a look back at some of the best that past guests have shared on ProducerHead.

This will be a two part episode and in Part 1, we will hear from Cryptic One, Jacuzzi Jefferson, Just Jared, and WEI.

First up is Just Jared sharing ideas for how to go about learning production whether you're just starting out or an experienced producer interested in expanding your existing knowledge.

What I love about Jared's approach is the emphasis on setting high-level goals to provide direction and aligning with your work through the application of what you learn in smaller pieces over time.

To hear more from Just Jared, check out Episode 004 of ProducerHead.

WEI came by on Episode 005 to round out the first season and share his perspective on how to be a good collaborator. Not only that, he left us with an important reminder to consider when thinking about music and the various platforms through which we interact with music and each other.

For more from WEI, tap in to Episode 005 of ProducerHead.

Here is Jacuzzi Jefferson, sharing a glimpse of what it's like to be a student in his college course, where he teaches electronic music production. Listen up to catch some ideas for expanding your own musical tastes and stepping up your game as a mixing engineer and producer.

For more from Jacuzzi Jefferson, tap into Episode 001 of ProducerHead.

Here is Cryptic One, who joined us in Episode 003 to share his take on Writer's Block as well as how to break through it. How does this compare to your own view? Is Cryp's position on Writer's Block as controversial as he thinks?

Tap in to the full conversation with Cryptic One on Episode 003, where we also get into How To Find Your Own Sound, Impostor Syndrome, and other topics.

That's it for the first part of this two part episode of ProducerHead Gems. I hope you enjoyed hearing some of these distilled moments and find a way to apply them in your own creative process.

Again, to hear more from each of these artists, you can refer to the previous conversations as follow:

Just Jared in Episode 004,

WEI in Episode 005,

Jacuzzi Jefferson in Episode 001, and

Cryptic One in Episode 003.

Subscribe and stay tuned for Part 2 of this first edition of ProducerHead Gems.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Instagram: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to part two of this two part episode with Ian Ewing.

Today's guest is Ian Ewing, a self-taught instrumentalist, producer and artist who blends a smooth mix of hip hop, electronica, and R&B to create a sound that has been supported and showcased by Chillhop Music, SiriusXM, BBC One Extra, Soulection, Complexion's Future Beats Show, and many others.

At a young age, the Southern California-based artist (by way of Wisconsin) fell in love with hip hop and the history behind it. This was his gateway into electronic beat production where he finds himself today, as he strives to create ambient compositions of sample-based sounds blended with his own instrumentation.

Ewing has headlined various shows across the US, and has both collaborated and toured with artists including Flamingosis, Louis Futon, Joey Pecoraro, Anomalie, Galimatias, and Cautious Clay.

In this conversation:

- The pro's and con's of having an over-analytical perspective.

- Making music that is true to who you are creatively and musically.

- The importance of the work behind the scenes.

- How creating art that is in line with what is interesting to you leads to a more sustainable path.

- And, we even get a little insight in to Ian's passion for hummus.

If you haven't already, I invite you to listen to Part 1 of this conversation, as we covered several topics from Ian's unique and experienced perspective.

Alright, with all of that said, let's drop in to Part 2 of this conversation with Ian Ewing.

Top 3 Gems From This Convo:

1. YOUR MUSIC IS A SELF-PORTRAIT AND OFFERS A REFLECTION.

If you’re wondering how you’re doing in general, observe what you make.

How does it make you feel?

Can you hear that you’ve skipped meals, rest, and other forms of nourishment that supports your creative work?

2. BE KIND TO YOURSELF IN THE WORLD OF CONTENT CREATION.

Making music and content are each challenging tasks on their own. Combining them, even more so.

Therefore, allow your content to flow naturally out of the way you work so that you can avoid creating unnecessary work for yourself.

By the way, make content that you enjoy making.

3. MAKING MUSIC THAT IS TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE.

Playlists offer an opportunity for growth and exposure.

And, may encourage fitting in over exploring your own artistic development.

Only you may really know when you are being honest to your artistic visions and personal principles.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Tap in with toru:

Substack:

Instagram: @torubeat

tiktok: @torubeat

Tap in with Ian Ewing:

Instagram: @ianewingmusic

Website: https://ianewingmusic.com/

To jump to a specific moment in the conversation:

0:00 Intro

2:38 Music and Music As A Career

10:50 Energy Sources of Motivation

15:40 Making Music That Feels Right and Ian's New Live Album

23:00 The Tension Between Music and Short Form Content

27:00 Alignment of Your Content and Your Music

31:30 Listening Session - Track 2/Discussion

37:27 Listening Session - Track 3/Discussion

41:20 Ian's New and Upcoming Projects

42:52 Quick Questions

55:20 Closing It Down

56:30 Outro

Referenced:

Below songs are archived here (along with all other episodes).

Chaka Khan, Lew Hahn - Move Me No Mountain

Dani Desh - Night Station

Thanks for reading toru’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.