📝 Episode Description

In this episode, Dee Kei and Lu get real about the biggest mindset shift you need to survive and thrive in the music industry. Spoiler: it’s not out to get you.

They break down the common myths that cause people to become bitter and give up — from ideas about gatekeeping and parasitic elites to survivorship bias and luck. You’ll learn why success in music has less to do with who you know and more to do with being practical, reliable, and emotionally aligned with the life you're building.

This episode dives deep into the psychology of rejection, ego traps, and the hard truth that many people don’t want to hear: you’re not owed anything — but you can earn everything.

🔑 Topics Include:

• Why most people misunderstand how the industry works
• What bitterness, gatekeeping, and “the game is rigged” narratives miss
• How low conscientiousness sabotages creative careers
• Why success favors the reliable, not just the talented
• The myth of selling your soul to make it
• Passion vs. alignment — and why some should keep music a hobby
• The survivorship bias in music success stories
• What "selling cool" actually means in branding

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HIRE LU

⁠HIRE JAMES⁠

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Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixes

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The Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by ⁠Izotope⁠, ⁠Antares (Auto Tune)⁠, Sweetwater, ⁠Plugin Boutique⁠, ⁠Lauten Audio⁠, ⁠Filepass⁠, & ⁠Canva⁠

The Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.

This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

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