girli signed her first record deal at 17.

She got told she'd be mega famous within a few months, then watched that label try to smooth all the messy, punky bits out of her.

Ten years in she runs her own show, and she's very open on here about what she'd do differently.

Loads in this one about picking a team who actually get you over the team with the biggest names on their roster.

Plus how to build an artist world out of lyrics you've already written, and why merch is the only reason her tours don't lose money. And the best merch idea we've had on the show yet, involving ten Polaroids and a broken drum head.

GIRLI INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/girlimusic/
OUR INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/

Episode Features:

• What girli wishes she'd known on the day she signed her first deal at 17
• Why the only person who can ever be an expert in you, is you
• How to work out what "sticking to your guns" means when you're still figuring yourself out
• Why the people around you work for you, not the other way round
• How big promises and impressive rosters distract you from finding the right people
• The case for a hungry manager over a famous one
• Building an artist world without forcing it, by writing first and finding the themes after
• Why "brand" doesn't have to be a horrible corporate word
• How asking your fans questions gives you real insight and pulls them closer at the same time
• Why being open about your goals, wins and struggles turns listeners into people who are rooting for you
• What makes merch sell to someone who doesn't even know your music yet
• Why limited, weird and one-off merch beats a logo slapped on a t-shirt

New episodes every Monday x

Manila Killa doesn't stay in one box. 👀

He went from Hotel Garuda to making outrageous Euro dance techno as Chromebodies, and rn he's deep in his drum and bass era.

No rules to any of it, which is kind of the point.

The upward trend you see online is a highlights reel with all the friction edited out, and he's v open about that. He signed things early on he probably shouldn't have. And he'll still tell you to get a good manager before a lawyer, which is the opposite of what a lot of our guests say.

We talked about how to actually get in a room with someone you rate. Turns out he reads his DMs. Most people do. The message just can't be copy paste.

Then touring, where he gets blunt. Promoters are booking a brand, not just a producer. And the 4am hotel room after the high wears off is coming for everybody, so have a plan for it.

Also in here: building a character so the comments can't reach you, why the song you love flops and the one you're unsure about flies, the LA driving set, and why replying to every message is the whole community strategy.

MANILA KILLA INSTA - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/manilakillamusic/?hl=en

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- Why success in music is never a straight line, even when someone’s career looks effortless from the outside.

- How to work out what “success” actually means for you when there are so many different ways to build a life in music.

- Why choosing the right manager can completely change your career, and what Manila Killa learned from signing the wrong things early on.

- How to get over the fear of collaboration, protect your ego less, and focus on what’s actually best for the song.

- Why cold DMs genuinely can work, and what makes Manila Killa actually want to reply to a new artist.

- How trying totally different genres and side projects helped him grow creatively instead of boxing himself into one sound.

- Why good music alone is no longer enough to sell tickets, and how branding and personality affect whether people actually want to see you live.

- How creating a “character” around an artist project can make branding easier and protect your mental health from online criticism.

- Why once a song is released, it no longer belongs to you, and how to stop letting streams decide whether you’re proud of it.

- How simply replying, participating and actually talking to people can turn an audience into a real community.

New episodes every Monday x

An epic show this week - Sammy Rae of Sammy Rae & The Friends joins us to break down how you build a fanbase of proper diehards - the money you actually need saved before going full-time, and why getting paid to play keys for kids was one of the smartest industry moves she made.

We also get into the Discover Weekly night that kicked everything off (26,000 streams while she slept, zero marketing plan) and the album she cut at the iconic Sun Studios in Memphis - live takes only, no editing allowed. Her advice is blunt in the best way: you're the only person who can't fail at being yourself, so stop trying to be anyone else.

If bums in seats matter more to you than follower counts, this one's a beaut.

SAMMY RAE NSTA - https://www.instagram.com/sammyraemusic/?hl=en

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- Why having some money behind you early on can help you pay collaborators, rehearse properly and build a team that wants to grow with you.

- How to know when it is finally time to quit the day job and go full-time in music.

- Why your “in-between” job should ideally still build useful skills, contacts or community around your real goal.

- How buying someone a coffee and asking to pick their brain can be more valuable than chasing mythical industry connections.

- Why authenticity beats blindly following short-form trends, and how fake-feeling content can actually work against your career.

- The difference between building big follower numbers and building fans who actually buy tickets, travel to shows and stick around.

- Why artists should stop wasting time trying to become a weaker version of somebody else and commit fully to what only they can do.

- How Sammy Rae & The Friends used the limitations of Sun Studios to create a raw record with no endless editing, punching in or perfectionism.

- Why a great live show is an exchange of energy, and how to make every person in the room feel like you are looking them in the eye.

- How the band built a sustainable career by prioritising community, authentic expression and putting actual bodies in seats over chasing vanity metrics.

New episodes every Monday x

Sometimes, when trying to describe these episodes for ya, it is easiest just to use one of the taglines the artist has, and this is one of those examples: "The Happiest Band on Earth" - The 502s are today's guests.

So many fun, interesting topics covered on this one - the importance of being proud of the music you make, why if you truly love a song, you'll never get bored of it, the importance of community. PLUS why having a TikTok alarm might be really good for you. 👀

THE 502s INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/the502s/

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- How The 502s built a world fans understand almost instantly.

- Why writing songs you’re genuinely proud of matters more than chasing “the one”.

- How finding the right bandmates can completely change the journey.

- Why “the happiest band on earth” became more than just a good tagline.

- How to promote your music without feeling like you’re selling your soul.

- Why 'Your Nonsense Makes Sense' connected.

- How one clear idea, “your weird best friend”, gave fans a reason to share.

- Why posting the same song again and again is not the crime artists think it is.

- How replying, hanging out, and showing up builds real community.

- Why enjoying the little moments might be the thing that keeps the whole career alive.

New episodes every Monday x

Arguably one of the most interesting episodes we've ever had on the show - todays guest has made a living from the music world in lots of fascinating ways - and is very open about those income streams and what you can learn from those in this episode.

Robot Koch - who we speak to today as part of his Foam & Sand Project - is an incredibly talented musician - and one of the most important names in ambient / experimental music He's also worked alongside some of the most important names in the neuroscience/ mental wellbeing in music space, and that's just a teeny tiny insight into the cool experiences he talks about on todays show.

FOAM & SAND INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/foam_and_sand/

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- How to stay curious enough to find the version of music that actually fits you

- Why your career should be an expression of your life, not something that destroys it

- What burnout from late-night club shows taught Robert about building a healthier path

- How he turned planetarium dome shows into an immersive new live format and revenue stream

- The difference between making music for sync briefs and getting your own artist music placed

- Why music supervisors often want to feel like they discovered you, not like you spammed them

- How side projects can give you freedom to experiment without overthinking your main artist brand

- Why collaborations can help streaming algorithms understand where your music belongs

- How to think strategically after you’ve made something honestly from the heart

- Why his new album Quieter is intentionally built to calm the nervous system in a noisy world

New episodes every Monday x

A voice that you will almost definitely recognise - considering that said voice has been listened to over a billion times 👀

Today's guest is the cool as f*ck Bipolar Sunshine - incredibly talented songwriter, performer, vocalist, and all round creative G.

We get into all sorts of value on this show - the importance of creative identity, the importance of discipline, plus why a 4am studio session could be a good idea...

BIPOLAR SUNSHINE INSTA - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thebausa/⁠

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- Why friends and family can be useful early critics, but they can’t be your whole feedback system

- How finding the “character” of your sound can shape your music, visuals, name and whole world

- Why the weirdest thing about you might actually be the most powerful part of your artist brand

- How Bipolar Sunshine built a creative identity around highs, lows and “the light at the end of the tunnel”

- Why trying things publicly is less scary than you think, because people forget faster than artists realise

- How to stop treating playlists and streams as proof that a song is good or bad

- Why the best collaborations often start with a proper conversation before anyone opens the laptop

- The wild 4am Jamaica session that turned into “Brown Skin Girl”

- What years of touring taught him about sleep, discipline and actually delivering on stage

- Why collecting emails at shows might be one of the smartest habits young artists ignore

New episodes every Monday x

Unless you've been living under a music industry rock, your ears will have been blessed by The Bausa's recent sun-kissed euphoric bangers 'Addicted To Your Love' and 'Magnetic' .

And a lot of that international momentum has happened super recently - we're talking the past five months. So this is a super interesting and valuable episode, where you get to hear the stories and tips from humans going thru the very thing you're probably dreaming of, in real time rn.

Also some great insights on the power of building locally - in their case in Norway. And why lawyers are always a good idea 👀

THE BAUSA INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/thebausa/

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- Why enjoying the early studio days matters more than you realise

- How being in a band helps you stay confident when pressure kicks in

- Why “delusional confidence” can be useful when you’re chasing big goals

- The risk of switching from Norwegian music to English music

- How one English demo unexpectedly changed the direction of their career

- Why they made multiple demos quickly before pressure could creep in

- How their studio videos helped turn songs into real momentum

- Why recognisable visuals and aesthetics made the band easier to remember

- The importance of finding a team that wants to build with you, not just cash in

- Why working with friends can make experimenting feel safer and more natural

New episodes every Monday x

An incredibly talented, producer, DJ, and human being - Jake Shore basically gives you a masterclass on all the things you need to be thinking about if ya wanna start making a living from your music on this episode.

The importance of not moving the goalposts, why working on yourself is actually the greatest project, and the importance of building a niche fanbase, not a massive one.

We love love LOVE this show - and hope you do too. x

JAKE SHORE INSTA - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/itsjakeshore/

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- Why you should “stop and smell the roses” before chasing the next milestone

- The trap of comparing yourself to others - and why it’s a game you can’t win

- How competing with your past self is the only metric that actually matters

- The importance of “moving like nobody’s watching” even after you get a team

- Why working on yourself (mental, physical, emotional) is just as important as making music

- The truth about consistency: there’s no magic pill, just showing up repeatedly

- How to make content that actually connects by doing what you’d do off camera

- Why trying to appeal to everyone kills your growth - and how to build a cult fanbase instead

- The power of small reps: why 100+ pieces of content is where things start to click

- How to think about branding authentically by pulling from your real life influences

New episodes every Monday x

Two billion (yes, B) streams. World tours. But most importantly, an incredibly humble, open, warm human being. Today's episode is with gnash - who you almost definitely are familiar with the music of ('i hate u, i love u' 'imagine if' 'the broken hearts club').

Arguably one of the most empowering episodes we've ever had on the HMP - as a lot of this chat is about the importance of being of service to other people - why you need to make people feel seen - and why there's always two paths to take.

Lock in, this is a special one x

GNASH INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/gnash/

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- Why tying your identity to success can quietly ruin your creativity (and how to avoid it)

- The mindset shift from “is this good?” to “is this honest?” that changes everything

- Why your job as an artist isn’t to impress people - it’s to make them feel seen

- The unexpected truth about building a career: your life has to come first, not your music

- How focusing on service instead of success can actually lead to both

- The danger of chasing numbers and why they rarely translate into real fulfilment

- Why going viral and making meaningful music are often pulling in opposite directions

- The simple habit that can unlock better ideas than sitting in the studio all day

- What gnash learned from nearly quitting music to become a lawyer (and why he didn’t)

- How honesty, not perfection, is the thing that actually builds connection with fans

New episodes every Monday x

Sometimes the bio of our guest does the best job of summarising why you should listen to the episode - and todays guest - Zack Gray - has a line that does just that - 'I help EDM producers become headliners'.

And not just that - Zack is a v talented musician / songwriter / DJ himself so has a lot of empathy for the struggles. But at the same time, shares all of what he's learnt, both from his own journey and the artists he's helped build up.

Also - even if you're not in electronic music - this episode is still full of actionable insights and gems to help ya move a few steps closer to the whole making a living thing.

ZACK GRAY INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/zackgray/

OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Features:

- Why “good music” still matters, but is nowhere near enough on its own anymore

- The reason so many talented producers stay stuck, even when the songs are there

- What Zack means by helping EDM producers become headliners, not just better producers

- Why understanding the music business properly gives artists a huge edge in 2026

- The difference between building a fanbase and just chasing vanity numbers online

- How to think about content in a way that actually supports your music instead of draining you

- Why most artists do not need a manager or label as early as they think they do

- The mindset shift that helps artists stop waiting to be discovered and start building leverage

- How to know whether a song deserves a bigger push, and when to keep going with it

- What separates the producers who eventually headline from the ones who never break through

New episodes every Monday x