TCM #005 - Daunt

WEBVTT
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:06.160
That sense of freedom almost maybe gives you a sense of comfort to where you can just slip into that world.
00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:08.400
There's no resistance or friction, maybe.
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:09.199
Maybe that is it.
00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:10.160
I've never really thought about this.
00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:12.800
Like this is really psychologists.
00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.800
Creative mindset by Robin Mark.
00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:23.760
Oh, welcome to another episode of the Creative Mindset podcast.
00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.760
Today, my guest is one of the driving creative forces behind a large amount of music coming out of Perth right now.
00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:34.560
He's been a consistent part of the process behind lots of sounds and artists shaping the local scene.
00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.840
And he's worked with over 800 artists in the last five years.
00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:39.280
Daunt, thank you for coming.
00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:40.399
Wow, thanks for having me.
00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:41.359
That's quite an intro.
00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:43.200
That really uh really gassing me up here.
00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:48.799
Thank you as well for letting us do this in the Hive studio where you've been producing music for uh a couple years now.
00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:53.200
Yeah, I've had I've had this studio um for about three years now.
00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:53.600
Okay.
00:00:53.840 --> 00:00:56.000
Yeah, gonna be I've extended my lease as well.
00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:56.880
So we're gonna be here for another.
00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:58.880
We made it pop some shake.
00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:01.039
So I'll be here for another five years.
00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:01.920
So gonna be here.
00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:03.119
Gonna be here for a while.
00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:04.400
So yeah, I'm not not going anywhere.
00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:07.040
It is such a special vibe in here.
00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:15.920
Like just I I've got a few questions as well about the lighting and some other atmosphere stuff you've got going on, but honestly, don't just the energy you have walking in here.
00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:18.079
I don't know what it is, but you've done something.
00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:22.000
Maybe it's just the amount of work you've done in here, but there's something about this space.
00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:24.719
Yeah, I mean it's it's a lot of people do say this.
00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:28.000
I remember when I told people I was gonna be getting a commercial studio.
00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.840
I was recording just in my home studio, they said they really liked the home studio setup.
00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:36.400
And they didn't they didn't want me to kind of go into this kind of sterile, like you know.
00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:41.120
So I really wanted to keep the cozy, low-lit, neon vibe.
00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:45.200
Because I mean, music can be quite um like nerve-wracking.
00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:47.840
You really gotta uh make yourself vulnerable.
00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.760
So it's nice to have a room where you feel quite like cozy and comfortable.
00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:52.159
Yeah.
00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.840
So that was one of the main focuses of making the space.
00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:56.879
That makes so much sense.
00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:01.519
So and also having a spot that looks cool, visually aesthetic.
00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:02.000
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:10.560
You know, when people um, you know, put on their stories, that's all kind of advertising for me or getting the studio out there.
00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:15.360
So having a space that um looks nice, feels good to be in.
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:16.639
That's so super important.
00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:18.080
That's what we played into the marketing and stuff.
00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:18.719
Yeah, yeah.
00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:20.479
I've got a few questions about this space.
00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:28.159
Okay, I think the first one I'm gonna start with is mostly just what made you realise you wanted to do music than more than just a hobby?
00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.240
What made you realise you wanted to do this as a career path?
00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:37.280
When I was a kid, when I was about 12, that's probably when I was, I want to be Skrillex.
00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:40.240
I want to be uh, you know, making being a music producer.
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:40.479
Yeah.
00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:44.639
And I think I heard bangarang, and I was like, this is the coolest thing I've ever heard in my life.
00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:46.159
My family's very musical.
00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:48.719
My older brother's a professional drummer.
00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.439
My other older brother's a band manager.
00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:54.639
My mum sings, plays clarinet, my dad plays guitar.
00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:56.719
So this was very musical family.
00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:58.560
From birth, I've been surrounded by it.
00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:04.479
And my older brother was already, I'm gonna be a professional drummer, I'm doing music as a career.
00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:07.280
He's four years older, so he was 16 and I was 12.
00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:11.840
So it was kind of like normalized in my family to pursue a career in music.
00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:19.520
When I was 17 and I was doing like my A-tar and kind of get, I was having that get real, you know, you're not gonna have a career in music, right?
00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:20.080
Yeah, yeah.
00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.680
And then I went to uni and what uni you go to?
00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:24.719
I went to UWA.
00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:25.199
Oh, okay.
00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.199
And I did nothing to do with music.
00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:29.680
You I did neuroscience and psychology, no way.
00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:40.560
Did my honours degree, and when I graduated, it's well, you need another four years to pursue you need to do your PhD and masters to like pursue a career in that.
00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:41.039
Uh-huh.
00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:45.199
And it was um a big kind of epiphany moment for me.
00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:49.599
I was just thinking to myself, I just don't think I can do this for another four years.
00:03:49.840 --> 00:04:05.199
And I always knew I wanted to do music, but I was kind of suppressing it, didn't know how I was gonna do it, and then COVID hit, and I just was sitting around, you know, doing nothing all day, just thinking to myself.
00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:05.599
Yeah.
00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:10.400
And I kind of just, you know, thought, man, I'll just try.
00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:12.000
I'll just put an ad up.
00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:13.840
Because I've been, yeah, load up, load up FL.
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:15.439
I've been making music for 10 years at this point.
00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:19.120
I'd already been doing shows and knew a lot of people in the music scene.
00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:20.639
It was more of just this is fun.
00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:22.480
This is just doing my free time for fun.
00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:25.279
I didn't think I would ever be able to do it as a career for sure.
00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:28.079
But then I just thought, man, I'll just give it a shot.
00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:33.360
And if it doesn't work out um by the time I'm 30, that was like the deadline I gave myself.
00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:37.920
If I don't make it by 30, I'll re-evaluate then and I'll just go back to uni.
00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:40.639
That was kind of the agreement I gave myself.
00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:44.399
So yeah, and once I started, I mean, my fiance really motivated me as well.
00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:48.800
She said, um, you know, just put the ad up and just see what happens.
00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:50.959
Um, you got nothing to lose, kind of thing.
00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:55.920
And yeah, once I did that, I got a few bites on um well, gum tree and that.
00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.279
And some people came to my house, just did a little home studio.
00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:01.920
And some of those people I still record to this day.
00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:03.519
That's what's after like five years.
00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:11.519
And once I started doing that, um, and seeing, oh, I actually can run a studio and you know, can actually make money making music.
00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:16.639
How long did it take for you to get to that point where you could be like, okay, this can be a career?
00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:22.959
Like if you started 2020 and you're like, all right, I'm gonna do this, how long did it take until you were like, okay, I'm definitely not going back to uni?
00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:27.439
Yeah, so I think I was working at a bar at this time.
00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:37.120
That's how I was fun through uni, I was working at a bar, and when I was doing my home studio, I was working at a bar, probably doing four or five days a week, so 30-ish plus hours.
00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:41.120
So I was pretty much full-time just bartending.
00:05:41.360 --> 00:06:04.240
And then I would get a couple of clients like doing music a week, and then I could drop a shift because I had, you know, I was getting a couple extra hundred bucks, and then I would get some more people, and then over the course of probably two or three years, I went from four to five shifts a week to one to two shifts a week.
00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:09.040
Once I quit the bar and I was here and I had a commercial studio, I wasn't doing home studio anymore.
00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:12.800
You know, that was obviously where I was really locked in.
00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:15.839
Like it was a three-year lease that I signed up for.
00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:16.959
There's no going back.
00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:22.079
You know, I'm paying the bills on this place for another three years if I'm going to uni like I can't afford that.
00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:25.120
So, but at that point, I was already full-time making music.
00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:27.199
That's such a smart way of doing it though, bro.
00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:47.199
The whole I'm gonna, instead of just being like, I'm gonna quit my job and do music full-time, you were like, okay, let me actually just mathematically slowly move into this new life of okay, I can just full-time make music instead of because I feel like a lot of people may have that of, I'm gonna quit my job, I'm gonna do this, and then there's the whole starving artist and stuff like that.
00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:53.600
But you were like, No, yeah, I'm gonna still like live while I'm transitioning into this new phase.
00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:58.800
I definitely agree with that, and I think it's a big mistake because we all know the arts is very expensive.
00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:04.240
Yeah, obviously, studio time is expensive, but for me to build this studio was incredibly expensive.
00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:11.759
It was very expensive, you know, and the rent on it is expensive and all the gear, um, it really adds up.
00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:24.079
So if I wasn't working two jobs to make that work and to fund it, I wouldn't have been able to fund myself building a commercial studio and taking that plunge.
00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:32.319
So I really think it is important that you have a foundation stable solid income while you pursue your dreams.
00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:41.040
I I think it's one of those cliches which is often goes wrong where I'm gonna quit everything, I'm gonna pursue full-time.
00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:52.000
I I it can be good in some essences, like to motivate you, I guess, in some ways, but really I think you need to have enough time to pursue it.
00:07:52.160 --> 00:08:03.519
You can't have a job that takes up all your time and energy, I agree with that, but something that's a bit more flexible, but that can pay your bills and you know keep you going while while you pursue your dreams.
00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:04.800
I think everyone has to have that.
00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:05.040
Yeah.
00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.439
Especially in this economy, you know, rent is the cost of the stuff.
00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:09.439
Yeah, cost of living.
00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:12.160
You'd gotta have a you've gotta have something that's paying the bills.
00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:12.879
For sure.
00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:19.920
But what we first met um when um you did the music for criminal helpline.
00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:21.920
You were sitting there and I was sitting here.
00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:22.319
Yep.
00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.879
He came in, I was like, okay, Wesley Black told me about you.
00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:25.600
He said you were the best.
00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.199
I'm like, okay, let's do this.
00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:28.319
Right, the best, aren't you?
00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.360
Uh I said, who who do you recommend for the music for the film?
00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:32.240
He only recommended you.
00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.360
He was like, he was like, This is your guy to do the music for the film.
00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:36.159
Damn, I appreciate that.
00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:36.399
Thanks.
00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:37.039
And that's fine.
00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:42.799
You know, I came in, I didn't want to waste any time, so I came in knowing as much information about the reference track as possible.
00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:44.879
Because I was like, I want to do something very similar to this.
00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:47.120
And I even researched like the beats per minute.
00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.559
Because I was like, okay, I'm just gonna come in with all the information so we just see the ground running.
00:08:50.720 --> 00:09:01.679
And we sat down and I played you the song, and literally you were just nodding your head listening to the song, and within 10 seconds, you just turned to me and went, it's 124 beats per minute.
00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:07.840
And then went back to Bob and here, and I was like, Well, how sorry, like how have you just done that?
00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:20.080
And then 30 seconds goes by, and the first section of the song stops, and you pause it, and you grab a guitar, and you perfectly played the song, like for the first time listening.
00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:25.840
And I was, even though I just saw it happen with my own eyes, I still had to ask you, how did you do that?
00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:26.960
Like it was a magic trick.
00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:28.879
I said, How have you what's going on here?
00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:32.960
I've studied before, but you know, I literally it looked like magic.
00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:35.360
I was like, How have you just like in front of my eyes?
00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:36.720
You pulled a rabbit out of a hat.
00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:37.519
How have you done this?
00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:42.720
Have you always just had an inherent skill for this, or has that come from just working for over a decade?
00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:44.639
Yeah, yes, definitely time.
00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:54.159
I mean, obviously, I coming from a musical family, I've been surrounded by music, so I do understand music, or I had a good starting point.
00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:57.440
When I calculate, you know, they say like the 10,000 hours thing.
00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:03.039
Um, and I think last time I calculated it, I think I've been on FL Studio for over 20,000 hours.
00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:06.240
So I'm just so entrenched in the software.
00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:14.399
And I mean it's if when I when you get a song, you can like see the the waveform, and most of the time I can just figure out the BPM from that.
00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:18.000
I can just instantly drag and just see where it aligns on the grid and I go, yep, 124.
00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:22.799
Obviously, I can I can probably get a from ear, I could probably get like a 10 BPM range.
00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:24.399
Oh, that's 120 to 130.
00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:27.759
I don't think I could be like 126, you know, like that, that'll be pretty crazy.
00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:38.639
And then I guess for the the melody stuff, like I mean, there's only seven notes in a scale, so it's you kind of you kind of hear it and you just go, oh well, I know.
00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:50.000
Yeah, but you're I'm not like Charlie Pooth where I've got the perfect pitch thing, but you know, you can most like most musicians where they're if they've been playing their instrument for like years.
00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:51.279
It's still insane though.
00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:53.840
You sound like it's so simple, you're like, Roman, there's only seven notes.
00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:55.919
I'm like, oh chuck us a guitar, I'll give it a go.
00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.200
Like that's that's insane.
00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:59.519
Yeah, I mean I guess it's like that for everything though, right?
00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:04.720
You do something a lot and then you just get quicker at it and stuff.
00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:11.759
I'm sure if I tried to do some video editing stuff or some film things, I would just be pulling my hair out for three hours and you just go click click.
00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:28.639
Well, bro, you had when we were using FL Studios, you like whenever you would click onto a new thing to add to the song and the pop-up bar would come up, you would so the pop-up bar would come up, you would click something on it and click it off before it even fully came onto the screen.
00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:32.720
Like I had absolutely no idea what you were doing because it moves so fast.
00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:36.000
And I asked you, I was like, have you just been using this for so long?
00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.200
You know exactly where all the little sliders are on the screen.
00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:40.480
And you were like, Yeah, pretty much.
00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.600
And I was like, that efficiency must come.
00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:56.639
Because obviously, knowing the technical skill, like using FL Studios, that comes with time because it's just the layout, you've got to learn the layout, but just almost like the ear and timing, that is just something I feel like within.
00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:03.120
Like, I feel like while you can do it, if someone did it for 25, I mean, fuck, you'd hope if they had 25 hours, they could do it.
00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:09.039
Just how this efficiency and the swiftness with how you worked, bro, it made me realize I was working too slow.
00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:13.440
I was like, if this what Daunt does in an hour, like this is insane.
00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.320
Just the quickness, you were moving at everything.
00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:18.639
There was no like, oh, what should we do now?
00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:24.799
And you're like slowly moving the mouse around, or you're like, oh, let me grab the guitar and you're slowly playing the guitar.
00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:32.240
Everything was just moving so quickly, and it made me realize, okay, especially if you're gonna charge by the hour, this is what you need to be doing.
00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:34.559
You need to be working at 100 miles per hour in the hour.
00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:39.600
But my next question was with music, there's always so much things that you can add.
00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.519
How do you know when a track is finished?
00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.480
It's a good question.
00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:43.120
Thanks for having us.
00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:43.600
We've got one.
00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.000
There's always the chase for the perfect song, right?
00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:56.240
You get the law of diminishing returns where you reach this point where you go, I've spent another, we spent five hours on this track, I've spent another five hours in this track, and I think we've just made it worse.
00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.679
It can be hard to know.
00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:08.960
I just think if you listen to a song and nothing sounds like it needs to be fixed, and you have no ideas of things that could be added, then it's probably done.
00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:12.320
And is that a skill that you've developed over time though, like that confidence?
00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:13.519
I guess so.
00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.879
It's I mean, it's also taste and stuff too.
00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:20.320
Yeah, it's kind of one of those subjective things, right?
00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:29.120
There's not really a definitive answer of I'm sure that some people might want to add more, some people want to add less.
00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.480
It just yeah, kind of.
00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.080
It's gonna come down to style as well.
00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:35.120
Like some producers might just add like a hundred tracks.
00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:35.440
Yeah.
00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:38.080
Whereas some might keep it to 20 or around that range.
00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:38.799
Yeah, yeah.
00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:45.679
And I mean, if you look at popular musical um Platinum Records and stuff, there's Platinum Records where there's five tracks.
00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:48.080
It's just vocals, drums, bass, and whatever.
00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:48.639
That's it.
00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:52.639
And then you there's others where there's a hundred and something.
00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:55.200
So it just, yeah, really just.
00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:10.080
It's done.
00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:10.639
You know, yeah.
00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.080
You could keep going forever.
00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:12.320
Yeah.
00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:16.879
If you don't, you I think you have to have that mindset a bit where there's no such thing as perfect.
00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:19.440
So if it sounds great, then it sounds great.
00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:23.759
And when you sit down to start a song, what is your bedrock?
00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:25.840
So is it emotion?
00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:26.799
Is it melody?
00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:27.759
Is it drums?
00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:30.799
What what is the antithesis of all of your songs?
00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.919
How does it always start for you?
00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:38.799
Years ago I was quite drum focused, whereas now I think I'm much more melody emotion focused.
00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:48.080
Especially if someone plays you a reference song or they say they want something that's dark or they want something that's moody or cinematic or any of those things.
00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:52.159
Like instantly certain chords and melodies are gonna come into my head.
00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:56.720
It would be probably the melodies and the chords first.
00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:59.519
And so you build it up from a and I'll build it from that.
00:14:59.600 --> 00:14:59.840
Yeah.
00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:03.759
I'll build it most mainly a chord progression, probably.
00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:10.240
I'll probably start with a chord progression, because that's the bedrock of what emotion or story you're gonna tell.
00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.840
You want it to be uplifting or sad or whatever.
00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:18.240
And then once you hear the chords, a melody will pop into your head.
00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:26.879
And then once you have the melody and the chords, a bass will pop into your heads, and then the drums will come to you, and then and then it all just organically will you'll just hear it.
00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:30.639
How much of your music is emotion over technical skill?
00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.840
It's a good question.
00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.120
It's very good.
00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.200
The last year no one said that, so I'm like, yes, we've got two already.
00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.840
Let's go.
00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.399
I think that's That was following my girlfriend's question as well.
00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.279
I gotta say thank you, Caitlin.
00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:48.159
Shadow, shout out I think in Perth we There's not a huge scene.
00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:53.840
In in LA, there'll be ten different producers or people working on a track.
00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.679
Here it's just me.
00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:02.080
So I'll have to put my creative emotion hat on, and I'll make a beat.
00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:09.200
And then I'll put my mixing hat on, and now it's a technical and I mix it, I get the drums right, I set on my side chains, I EQ it all.
00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:16.879
And then the they'll record and then again it's the technical side of recording, and then it's creative.
00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.080
What effects do we put on it?
00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:18.960
Do you know what I mean?
00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.840
You kind of gotta do there are two different stages almost.
00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:27.519
How do you transition in between those two stages to where one doesn't negatively impact the other?
00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.519
I don't know, it kind of just goes back to what we were saying before.
00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:32.879
I'm just so lost in the source, it's just instant.
00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:33.360
Yeah.
00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:41.200
I just hear something I don't like, I'll mix it, and then I'll just a melody upon my head, I just put it in, then I hear a guitar, I just chuck a guitar and then I'll just Where do you think those ideas come from?
00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:54.879
I mean, if you think of how much music everyone listens to in their life, you've probably heard this melody somewhere in the past or something in a similar song, but you've Chinese whispered it and now it's a kind of not quite right to true to what it was.
00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:59.120
You're remembering it incorrectly, but then it's made it something new now.
00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:05.119
And you kind of Yeah, I guess it is just you're kind of recycling these ideas that have been floating in your subconscious and they just come to you.
00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:09.759
And do you reckon maybe creative ideas then are misremembered memories?
00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.119
Kind of, yeah.
00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.759
That's my theory.
00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.799
Yeah, that's your theory.
00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:23.279
Because I've heard um I can't remember who told me, but someone told me that ideas they said something like ideas aren't always original.
00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:29.279
Like almost like ideas are out there, almost like a uh energy wave.
00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:36.240
And if you don't grab onto it and put it into real life, someone else is gonna get that idea and put it into real.
00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:38.240
What's that book, The Creative Act?
00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.680
Maybe I've no idea.
00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:41.200
Oh, I'm having a mind blowing out.
00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.640
Who's that really famous producer works like with Kanye and all that?
00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.440
Metro?
00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:47.359
No, no, and it's like the old guy.
00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.000
Dre.
00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:52.400
Chat, if or not chat or YouTube comments, they're gonna destroy me right now.
00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.759
Rick Rubin, I think.
00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.240
Oh, yeah.
00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.240
He has a book, The Creative Act.
00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:58.079
And I think he talks, I think it might be.
00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:08.799
He talks about how there's ideas that energy and like you grasp onto it and Because even in the uh MJ movie, there's a scene where he's in the pool trying to think of ideas, and his brothers are like, I'm playing.
00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:12.240
He's like, if I don't write this down now, God will give it to Prince.
00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:19.279
And he truly believed that if he didn't take on those ideas in the moment when they were given to him, then some or Prince would get them instead.
00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:34.799
I feel like as well, because there'll be sometimes I'll have an idea for a scene or a movie, and I just don't just years go by, I didn't do it, and then something similar will come out and it'll be like so similar to what the ideas, and I've I've spoken to a few people and they felt the exact same.
00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:42.480
Yeah Have you had that where you had an idea for a song and maybe you just didn't act on it or whatever, or a concept, and then someone else in the world has done something very similar?
00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:50.480
I do believe in the whole if I don't do it now, the idea will never come to me again, and I'll never be able to get the same sound that I was about to get.
00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.240
I am big on that in the moment.
00:18:52.559 --> 00:19:00.960
Every time you can't ever the exact energy and just the the vibe you got in that moment, you'll never be able to recreate.
00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.000
Like a flow state?
00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.960
Kind of, yeah.
00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.319
You'll never be able to recreate.
00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:07.119
What do you think gets you into that situation?
00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:09.920
I'm pretty automatic now with my flow state.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.240
Like I think I kind of just teach me.
00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.799
I mean, yeah, how did you get to that?
00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:19.119
I feel like if I was on my own and someone was like, make me a song, I would really struggle.
00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:28.480
Whereas if someone goes, I want some I want this or I want to convey this idea or this emotion or this song.
00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:40.160
If someone gives me a starting point, and also I have all my with every artist, I'll have an idea of what kind of music they make, how their voice sounds, what kind of what they like melodically and stuff.
00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.880
So I have all this info to kind of go off.
00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:51.519
And then so someone gives me an idea and I can just go bang and I'll make something, and then I'll just be flow state because I'll once I add one thing, another idea comes, and another idea, and another idea, and it just comes through.
00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:55.920
Let's say you've just had like a bad day and your mind might be thinking about something else.
00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:58.400
How do you snap into that flow state?
00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:01.680
It's like what you're saying before with me playing the instrument.
00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:06.720
Once I hear something, instantly my brain will just start analyzing it.
00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.680
What cause do they use?
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.319
What is this?
00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.440
And it it's automatic.
00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.480
I can't even control it.
00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:14.960
Like if someone was trying to talk to me, I would probably struggle.
00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.319
And sometimes I do feel bad about that.
00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:19.680
People trying to talk to me in a session, and I'll just be like, Yeah.
00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.160
Yeah, yeah.
00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.200
Like, sorry, what was that?
00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:24.319
Yeah, and then a couple of times I always like, I'll leave him alone.
00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.839
Yeah, yeah, he's locked in, you know.
00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.039
I do get like that.
00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:30.640
It's very um, it's just very automatic.
00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:34.319
I kind of, you know, my missus reckons I have ADHD, you know?
00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.279
Like, maybe I do.
00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.880
It's I mean If it works, it works.
00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.960
Yeah, as long as it works, it's super power in some aspects.
00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:41.440
So but yeah, I think the ideas just come.
00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.559
I don't really have to force them.
00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:54.319
So And do you reckon that's the same as when you were working, let's say when you're working in your home studio, did you were you able to still get into the flow state as accessible?
00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:56.799
I think yeah, probably.
00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:59.279
So it doesn't really matter where you are.
00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:01.920
Nah, I think it's just the music, really.
00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.599
I think I've always had that.
00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:08.880
But like I've always when I was a kid, I would just sit on FL for like six hours, but just sit at home on my own.
00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.279
Yeah.
00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:12.319
But I've always just been super So you just have it.
00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.279
You just have it.
00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:20.880
Like there's no like because one of my questions was are there any like habits or rituals that you do to get into that flow state?
00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:26.319
But for you, it's just sit in front of the computer and we're there, kind of and you're just off.
00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:28.960
Yeah, it kind of it really is, I think.
00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:30.480
I never really thought about it that much.
00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.880
I never really thought about it that much.
00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:42.240
Because like for me, you know, with writing, right now, writing a feature film, I'll sometimes I'll sit in the in the garage, which has become like the new office.
00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.079
You know, sometimes it'll just be going.
00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:47.440
You'll just be going, but then sometimes you're like slugging along.
00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:50.079
It's just like, and do you have that where you're just slugging along?
00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:52.640
Oh, for sure, for everything else in my life, a hundred percent.
00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.599
Not for anything.
00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:56.799
Yeah, well, so let's say I'm practicing guitar.
00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.279
Yeah.
00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.640
Yeah, it's a slug, you know.
00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.440
Or practicing piano.
00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:02.000
Like a really Brilliant motivate myself to get there.
00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:07.680
I mean, and I've studied like Japanese and stuff, and sometimes I'll be really into it, and other times I'm like, oh, nothing's sticking.
00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.559
Like, this is brutal.
00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.759
I know exactly what you're talking about.
00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:15.039
And when I used to study, sometimes I'll be doing great, sometimes I'll be, how do I get in that flow state again?
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:18.640
Nah, music is definitely on FL.
00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.759
Just on FL.
00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:26.400
I've it's just I've been doing it for so long that I'm 100% free in the software.
00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.920
I don't have to.
00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:36.079
If you play me, if you play me a sound or someone wants a certain effect, I don't have to think of like the technical how do I achieve this sound.
00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:37.519
I already probably know.
00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:41.680
The ideas can come and I don't have to stop and think about how to enact them.
00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:51.119
I can just And that sense of freedom maybe opens up the mind to where you have that 20,000 hours more than anything else you've done.
00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:51.519
Yeah.
00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:57.599
That sense of freedom almost maybe gives you a sense of comfort to where you can just slip into that world.
00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.920
There's no resistance or friction, maybe.
00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.720
Maybe that is it.
00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.680
I've never really thought about this.
00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:04.160
Like this is really psychology.
00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:13.519
A big point of this podcast is to see if there are any similarities in the creative process between different creative disciplines.
00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:16.400
So for example, right now you're a music producer.
00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:19.359
The last person I interviewed was a martial artist.
00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:19.920
Oh wow.
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:24.720
The person before that was Ollie, the producer for Helpline, another filmmaker, writer.
00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:30.880
And it's to see if there's any similarities with, especially with getting into the flow state.
00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:34.240
Because that's if there was a way to get into the flow state on command.
00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:34.960
Magic pill.
00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:41.039
And have that elevated work just accessible, enabled to unlock in your own brain.
00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:41.839
I'd want that.
00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:44.799
I think that you need to be able to.
00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:54.480
Like you can't have Because it feels like that when you're in the flow state with whatever you're doing.
00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:57.680
It does feel like it's automatic and second nature, and you don't have to think about those things.
00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.480
You're not thinking.
00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:01.279
You're all you're thinking about, you're 100% present.
00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:06.079
All you're thinking about is what's next in the task that you're doing.
00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:11.039
You're not worrying about it's like what you said before about you had a bad day.
00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:13.920
I won't think about what I've done.
00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.759
Like I won't think about anything.
00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:24.640
I mean, maybe something really bad has happened, but 90% of the time, if it's just your general day-to-day, stuck in traffic, something really frustrating happened.
00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:25.920
You just leave it at the door.
00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.519
Yeah, I'll just be fully immersed.
00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:30.960
As soon as I get into FL, but yeah, it's just automatic.
00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:34.480
If someone Because whenever I hear something, I'll go, oh, we could add this, that could be fun.
00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.759
Or we could add that, that could be cool.
00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.000
Yeah.
00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.279
Just try that.
00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.359
And that's all I'm thinking about.
00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.720
Well, I was gonna ask as well.
00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:44.400
So you're obviously in the studio for many hours a day working on music.
00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:49.039
When you're not in the studio, do you are you still constantly hearing music inside your head?
00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.240
Am I hearing it?
00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.440
Yes, and no.
00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:54.480
I wouldn't say that I hear it more than anyone else.
00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:56.799
I feel like I constantly have a song playing in my head.
00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.640
Yeah, I feel like we all do, don't we?
00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:00.240
Oh no, someone's some annoyance.
00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.200
Some people don't.
00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:05.839
Okay, maybe some people don't, but I feel like it's quite normal to just have a song.
00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.880
You say you do.
00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.279
Yeah.
00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:13.039
I'm sure a lot of people would just they got s a Sabrina Carpenter stuck in their heads.
00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:13.680
Whatever's on the radio.
00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:15.839
Yeah.
00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.200
I think that's pretty normal.
00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:22.319
I mean, I will have it for music I've made in sessions, definitely.
00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:26.079
If someone's made a real catchy song in the session, that'll be stuck in my head.
00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:32.960
So you like, like as you mentioned before, you like to work, you prefer to work with another artist in the studio.
00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.359
Yeah.
00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:36.559
What do you think makes a great uh collaboration?
00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:38.720
That's a good question again.
00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.680
Free for free.
00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:40.880
It's great.
00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:50.160
I think probably being open for it to sound bad before it sounds good is big.
00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:59.119
I know sometimes you can collaborate with people and they'll maybe shut an idea down before you've given it a shot.
00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:04.160
Yeah, having a mindset of just trying random stuff is really good.
00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:09.519
Obviously, having a kind of clear idea of what you want is very helpful for me.
00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:23.680
Having an idea of a clear sound or like references of what kind of vibe you're trying to achieve makes it a lot easier for me because someone might say they want dark, but that could mean a million things, depending on who it is.
00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:27.680
That could mean piano, that could mean synth, that could mean bass, that could mean anything.
00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:31.519
And in terms of like energy, you have to meet a lot of new people.
00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:31.920
Yeah.
00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.519
For the first time a lot.
00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.160
Yeah.
00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:36.880
Which can be kind of daunting to some people.
00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.119
Yeah.
00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:40.160
I'm very scary.
00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.799
You know me.
00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.920
I'm a scary guy.
00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:51.119
Uh I guess if someone comes in with maybe not the best attitude, but you're trying to still uphold your quality of service.
00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.880
How do you deal with that situation?
00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.640
It's pretty rare for me these days.
00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.079
People just come in with a good vibe.
00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:58.240
Most of the time, because it's all word of mouth.
00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.359
I don't advertise.
00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:03.599
People only know me from someone, they've always been recommended by someone.
00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:03.920
Yeah.
00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:06.799
Sometimes they get through Google, but it's pretty rare.
00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:14.079
Most of the time it's from a recommendation, which already, you know, they're probably gonna be good because it's a friend of a friend.
00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:25.839
Back when I had a home studio, I would have it more because people will kind of see you as this guy serious, it's just a hobby, he's just doing it out of his home, he's not the real deal.
00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:32.480
But when now that I have a commercial space, people go, Oh wow, this is this guy must be doing something.
00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:36.480
So people I think it brings a different perspective or attitude for people.
00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:40.880
Say you're in a session with another artist and you guys kind of hit a wall.
00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:46.640
Let's say you have different ideas or or whatever you're trying, the more wood you put on the fire, the less it's getting good.
00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:46.880
Yeah.
00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:49.039
How do you get yourself out of that right?
00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:51.359
How do you inspire creative ideas?
00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.279
Just start a different track.
00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.480
Just start again.
00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.519
I that's what I think.
00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:59.759
Because you can always come back to it, and when you listen to something with fresh ears, you'll get ideas.
00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:08.319
Throughout your career, um, you know, starting from the home studio to now hive, I'm sure you've dealt with some setbacks throughout your career.
00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:12.880
How have you dealt with setbacks to m push you forward through your career?
00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:19.920
I mean, I guess everyone has their failures and stuff, and you just gotta learn from them.
00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:28.240
I think back when I started, I d definitely had a few people who didn't provide the service that they were looking for.
00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:33.759
But that's fine, you can't let it ta damage your ego or make you think you're not good anymore.
00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:53.759
You just gotta improve and figure out how you can be better for next time and those issues, and as also kind of the running a business thing of I never I'm you know, I'm just a musician, so I'm trying to figure out how to run a business and um from that aspect, that was a whole new thing as well.
00:28:53.920 --> 00:29:03.839
And you know, a lot of admin and tax and headaches and stressing out that I'm not gonna meet the deadlines that the ATO wants me to and things.
00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:07.200
As I say, you just learn from it and how did you deal with it emotionally?
00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:09.119
Because I'm sure it can be quite upsetting in the moment.
00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.799
I feel like I'm quite lucky.
00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.400
I have a good support network.
00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:16.400
Um, you know, I have a loving fiance, great family.
00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.519
It's good for me as well.
00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:25.759
My older brother is also a musician, so he gets it, and he also runs well, he's a sole trader, you know, as well.
00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:33.519
So all of the tax stuff, he was straight from the start, do this, do this, you know, um, set up your bank this way.
00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.920
And so I I did have a lot of help along the way.
00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:38.319
And probably encouragement when things aren't going good.
00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.200
So you've got these people.
00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.559
I was very fortunate.
00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:50.559
I know a lot of creatives have to win over their family, you know, their family as the ones being saying, get a real job, you know.
00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:58.559
So I kind of had the reverse where I was almost my family was around me saying, Go for it, do what you want to do.
00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:03.359
Um I found it so unique, which is very unique, which is very uncommon.
00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:08.079
So I think I was very lucky, I was very blessed in that sense.
00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:19.279
Um, I think my yeah, my journey to doing it was I had I had failures and hardship like everyone, but I think I had a lot of support as well.
00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:22.880
I can't um I can't undermine that as well.
00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:29.119
You know, I have to definitely acknowledge that I had a lot of yeah, shout out to my family and my friends and stuff.
00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:34.160
So one thing you mentioned earlier as well was the design of the studio.
00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:34.720
Yeah.
00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:42.640
How do you think, because it's so cool, how do you think the design has affected the music you make?
00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:49.359
Like, for example, if the design was completely different, do you think your music would be different?
00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.880
Yeah, I do for sure.
00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:56.880
It's like what I was saying before with the in that exact moment you'll never recreate that.
00:30:57.119 --> 00:31:05.920
I think if I was in a glass room down in Margaret River looking at some vineyards, I would make different music.
00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:10.000
Or if someone brought me an idea, I would think of it differently.
00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:17.119
You definitely feed off the environment and the atmosphere around you, so which is also why I think it would be cool to have a very different study.
00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.720
This studio is like a spaceship.
00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.599
That's what I wanted.
00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:21.839
I wanted to feel like you could be flown to another world.
00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.119
To another world, yeah.
00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:25.359
Or just anywhere in the world, because there's no windows.
00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:29.759
Yeah, it's no windows, it's fully dimmed, like blacked out, no light.
00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.359
I'm a bit of a vampire in here.
00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:34.880
I think it definitely does influence the music that I make.
00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:36.559
What made you pick this colour choice?
00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:39.279
I mean, I love the matte black, like dark.
00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:46.880
I could never have my house like this without my uh my fiance would never let me do that, but um probably for good reason.
00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:48.079
But I just love it.
00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:50.000
It'd be tough at night trying to get around it.
00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:52.160
Yeah, it's anything.
00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.200
I love it though.
00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.400
I think it looks so aesthetic.
00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.920
Yeah, and it's really cool.
00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:04.880
So it was fun for me to just fully create a vibe that I could never really have in any other setting, all fully blacked out, all neon lit.
00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:09.359
But for example, if that purple light was red, yeah, you'd you'd make different music?
00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.000
Probably.
00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:13.599
So how do you know that the purple light is the best choice?
00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:15.680
Well, I did a vote for that, didn't you know?
00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.079
No.
00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:19.599
So I had a blue one originally, because ice blue is like my favourite colour.
00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:24.319
So I went with ice blue because that's just what you know my gut was telling me.
00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:24.480
Yeah.
00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.920
And then that one broke.
00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:36.799
So I put up a poll and I said, Alright, guys, do I go purple, neon, uh sorry, like ice blue or red for my for the neon.
00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:41.599
And the votes were in, purple got the highest amount of votes, so I went with that.
00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:43.279
And that was that was pretty much it.
00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:45.599
I let the energy of the people decide, I guess.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.720
I put it up to the universe.
00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.799
Yeah, I put it up to the universe.
00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:50.319
I couldn't make the call myself.
00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:50.640
Yeah.
00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.599
I think it looks great.
00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:53.839
I think it's a really cool colour and a really cool vibe.
00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:55.119
The people made the right choice.
00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:55.359
Yeah.
00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:57.440
You know, it is a big responsibility, I guess.
00:32:57.599 --> 00:33:05.279
And in five years, when the lease runs out and you may move on to another space, do you reckon you'll design it differently?
00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:07.039
I mean, I might want something similar.
00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:15.279
I really do like the the blacked out, but something maybe more industrial or something with maybe some more plants, I think, could be cool.
00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:16.160
That'd be nice.
00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:17.920
Yeah, bit of bit of oxygen.
00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.319
Yeah.
00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:23.759
As I said, I would love to have a getaway Airbnb studio down south somewhere.
00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:25.200
Entertainment Parla does that.
00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:26.240
I think they do, yeah.
00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:26.559
Yeah.
00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:29.440
He has like a studio in Margaret River or something.
00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.319
Yeah, yeah.
00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:32.079
Yeah, it's just so interesting though.
00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:39.839
Like you you genuinely definitely believe then the design of the environment that you're working in could has an impact on the work you create.
00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:40.160
Yeah.
00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:45.279
Let's say you were producing a song at King's Park with your laptop on FM.
00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:45.519
Yeah.
00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.400
Different song.
00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.519
For sure, yeah.
00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.240
For sure.
00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:48.720
Okay.
00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.680
Because that's important.
00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:52.480
That's something that that, again, with the podcast, it's very interesting.
00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:58.880
That's something I ask all my guests is have you noticed a difference in the music you create compared to where you're working?
00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.200
Yeah.
00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:03.519
So, how different was the music that you create here compared to when you were at your home studio?
00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:06.160
The thing is, is that I guess I don't know.
00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:17.599
You making music is kind of this automatic subconscious thing where there's all these thoughts or influences or ideas floating around and you're just randomly grabbing at them.
00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:22.079
And that pool of ideas will be different for wherever you're at.
00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:29.119
If you're in King's Park, certain thoughts, feelings, emotions, ideas, memories will be floating in your subconscious when you're there.
00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:31.519
So when you pull on them, they're gonna be different.
00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:37.119
I could never say that making music here makes my music more futuristic.
00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:41.920
I mean, possibly it does because it's like a spaceship, but I can't know that for certain.
00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:46.000
I just know that wherever you're at is gonna have an impact on your music.
00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:53.519
You might not know why or how, and you can't really control it, but you've got to be aware of it.
00:34:53.760 --> 00:35:00.079
Because even for like songwriting, I've asked people have you noticed a difference in how you write a song compared to where you are?
00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:06.880
And like if you went to a place that had significant emotional impact and just sitting in that energy, yeah, that affects the song.
00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:07.840
It would, yeah.
00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:21.599
And I think maybe because you've been in here for a few years now and you've had so much success in the room, just the energy is almost like it feels different walking in here from when I was outside to when I'm in this room, there's something special like in the air.
00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:24.639
Like that's really cool, you think that a hundred percent.
00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:30.239
Like even just walking in before I set anything up, I was like, it's just nice to be back in here as well.
00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:32.480
I think what you said about the comfortability.
00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:37.760
I mean, you've got the sofa, yeah, you've got this soundproof padding, and then you've got the music, like the microphone in there.
00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:46.400
If someone was wondering how they could develop a not a safe space, but a a successfully creative environment, yeah, what advice would you give them?
00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:53.199
Obviously, certain things, the dim lighting, the cool lighting colours, stuff like that will make an impact.
00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:57.599
I think if it was really bright and white, like a laboratory, you would feel very exposed.
00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:59.199
You wouldn't feel very comfortable.
00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:01.039
So there has to be comfort.
00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:03.199
I mean, when people go to like clubs, right?
00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:11.679
And then the lights come on at the end and it's like, oh my god, I lost and everyone, you geez, I look shambles, like what the hell's going on?
00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:15.519
Whereas before when the lights were really dim and there was the music playing, every you were in a vibe.
00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:15.760
Yeah.
00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:22.639
And I mean that doesn't have to be neons, like that could be candles or that kind of warm orange ambient lighting or stuff like that.
00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:27.199
You could get a nice cool lo-fi, maybe industrial vibe or something.
00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:36.159
Do you reckon, as well, to maximize the space, only do what the room so, for example, you don't use this room for anything else besides making music.
00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:36.719
Yep.
00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:39.119
Like, do you reckon that plays a part in it as well?
00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:44.159
That when you come in here, this spaceship is designed for making music.
00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:44.639
Yeah.
00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:47.039
There's no you don't like do other work in here.
00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:49.119
There's no, you don't do great like grocery shopping in here.
00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:49.760
No, no, no.
00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:53.599
Like it's literally just that contained creative space.
00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:55.519
Do you reckon that plays a role in it as well?
00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:57.440
I'm pretty sure they've studied this a bit.
00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.880
There's a bit of science, the research like that.
00:36:59.119 --> 00:36:59.599
I need to find the list.
00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:02.559
I sort of read a book about that.
00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:03.039
Oh, wait.
00:37:03.199 --> 00:37:05.679
Where it was kind of saying You want to put me on your book game, bro.
00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.239
Oh.
00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:07.039
What are you saying about that?
00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:07.840
I haven't read that many.
00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:10.719
Atomic habits is the one that I remember the most clearly.
00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:13.119
I also read one that was the organized mind.
00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:14.800
That might have been the one that said it.
00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:27.360
But essentially, like if you can kind of segregate your activities to like certain rooms and things, it can make you more productive because there's obviously less distractions and you can get in the flow state easier and things.
00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:28.960
This room is for music.
00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:32.159
Well, as soon as you walk in, as I say, that it might be the acoustics, you know.
00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:37.360
It's like when you walk in, the room sounds different, it feels different, the air moves differently in here.
00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:42.880
So you're gonna instantly have this like wow kind of feeling or take your breath away almost or something.
00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:47.599
Yeah, like when you go in the booth and it's fully dead, you know, you you can hear in heartbeat.
00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:49.599
You know, it's like a it's like a strange feeling.
00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:53.599
A room set up specifically for one task really makes it easier.
00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:55.760
Um, there's no distractions, you know.
00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:58.800
You're in here for music, and that's what you're gonna do.
00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:03.199
Some songs just completely break through everything, break through the noise.
00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:08.559
Like for an example that springs to my head is the latest Bad Bunny album.
00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:10.639
Song's in Spanish, you know what I mean?
00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:12.639
But I'm still listening, I don't even know what he's saying.
00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:16.159
Yeah, but it's the biggest song in the world, he's doing the Super Bowl, he's winning Grammys.
00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:20.000
What do you think makes a song break through everything?
00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:21.119
Breaks through genre.
00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:22.719
What do you think is special about those songs?
00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.679
This is a good question.
00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.719
Again, this is another one.
00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:26.000
I don't know how many we're at, but let's go.
00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:28.000
It's like five or something, maybe I don't know.
00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.480
That's pretty good.
00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:28.960
We did it.
00:38:29.199 --> 00:38:29.440
We did it.
00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.800
These fucking cameras keep up.
00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:38.400
Obviously, the song has to be good, it has to connect with people, having some sort of like meaning behind it.
00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:44.719
I like that you say how um you don't even know what he's saying, but you still can feel the emotional.
00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:46.239
It makes me think it's not about the lyrics.
00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:47.280
Yeah, I agree.
00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:49.440
I'm actually very big on this.
00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:51.440
I don't really hear lyrics much.
00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.639
I never remember lyrics.
00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:56.159
I'm one of those people who I'll have listened to the song a hundred times, I don't remember any of the lyrics.
00:38:56.320 --> 00:38:56.559
Wow.
00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:58.559
People always ask me, Oh, do you get that bar?
00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:01.119
Do you get that little like rhyme I put there?
00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:02.320
I'm like, what rhyme?
00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:03.039
I didn't remember that.
00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:03.840
Not even listening.
00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:14.880
Because all I'm focused on is the timing, the pitch, the emotion, the energy, the volume, just the overall delivery, where that sits on the beat.
00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:16.239
You know, that's what I'm thinking about.
00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:18.480
I'm thinking about from a purely musical.
00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:22.000
If this was all in another language, does it sound good?
00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:24.559
Does it sonically sound good to my ears?
00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:26.239
That's what I'm most worried about.
00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:30.960
The lyrics can really connect with you if it's like a shared experience and someone can really relate.
00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:33.679
That can obviously kind of take it to the next level.
00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:37.679
I'm sure a lot of Spanish people might enjoy those songs in another level to you.
00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:42.239
So I think lyrics are very important, but I think lyrics are almost the icing on top.
00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:45.119
You've got to have the foundation, the cake has got to be.
00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:52.000
Because you can say some really profound, cool poetry completely out of time over a beat, and it sounds awful.
00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:52.320
Yeah.
00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:52.800
You know?
00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:53.119
Yeah.
00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:58.000
Whereas you can say some really stupid stuff over a beat and it can sound incredible.
00:39:58.239 --> 00:40:02.480
Like think of how many hits there are where they're saying the dumbest things, right?
00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:07.360
But the song's catchy and it's good, it's musically good, and that's what matters.
00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:12.719
So you reckon sonically, yeah, the minimum is it has to sonically sound good to your ear.
00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:13.280
Definitely.
00:40:13.679 --> 00:40:21.920
Outside of lyrics, is there any way or anything that you can do to further almost guarantee that it will be a hit and connect with people?
00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:23.920
Well, I mean, guarantee it'll be a hit is impossible.
00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:24.480
Yeah, yeah.
00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:28.559
No everyone wants to do this, make a hit, but it's a secret source.
00:40:28.800 --> 00:40:29.119
Not true.
00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:37.440
I mean, obviously, labels, promotion, money, marketing, there's a lot that goes into the back end, pushes something to blow up or become successful.
00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:49.599
There's a lot of the TikTok blow-ups now, and there's a whole different kind of economy for it now where you know you really need a six-second catchy moment that people can use on a reel or a TikTok, and then that'll blow up the song.
00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:53.760
Versus having a four-minute long masterpiece where it used to be like that.
00:40:54.400 --> 00:40:57.679
Now it's much more short attention, something catchy.
00:40:57.840 --> 00:41:00.960
You really want that simple but magic.
00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:08.320
Like there's certain songs where you hear them and it's just like not even that complicated, but it's just magic.
00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:08.639
Yeah.
00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:10.639
Just that six seconds, you're just hooked.
00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:11.840
You just want to listen to that all day.
00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:13.840
Have you noticed a change?
00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:15.039
Like you mentioned, TikTok.
00:41:15.119 --> 00:41:19.199
Have you noticed a change in music production over the course of your career?
00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:19.760
Yeah.
00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:22.000
Songs get sh have been shorter and shorter for shift.
00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:22.320
For sure.
00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:24.800
Like definitely, like just consistently beginning shorter.
00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:25.679
Yeah, yeah.
00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:28.079
Like everyone's trying to make shorter songs now.
00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:32.239
What was like an average song maybe 10 years ago compared to now?
00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:34.079
People used to aim for three minutes.
00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:35.760
That was like a good starting point.
00:41:35.840 --> 00:41:36.800
Now people want two.
00:41:36.880 --> 00:41:38.159
Sometimes people want less than two.
00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:40.559
Is that just for repeatability as well, maybe?
00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:43.119
Yeah, probably I think two, because you get more streams.
00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:43.360
Yeah.
00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:45.280
So there's like lots of reasons why.
00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:51.280
Also, let's say you have a really good verse and you well, let's say you have two really good verses.
00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:53.039
That could be two songs for you, kind of.
00:41:53.360 --> 00:41:53.920
Do you know what I mean?
00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:54.400
Yeah.
00:41:54.559 --> 00:41:56.639
Why wouldn't you double your chances?
00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:57.840
Roll the dice twice.
00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:58.239
Yeah.
00:41:58.480 --> 00:42:00.639
Versus just having both verses on one song.
00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:11.440
For an artist that is trying to blow up or like is in that building phase where they don't have an established big audience, you've got to have more volume of work, more catchy.
00:42:11.679 --> 00:42:14.800
Because people don't know you, they're only going to give you five seconds of their time.
00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:22.559
Whereas if people everyone knows Drake, he dropped three albums, you know, and everyone listens to them all because they know him and they're going to give him time.
00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:22.960
Yeah.
00:42:23.199 --> 00:42:27.039
You have to keep that in mind when you're making your songs.
00:42:27.360 --> 00:42:37.840
Is there any advice that a producer or a musician, when you were coming up, is there any advice or any wisdom that you heard from any of those that really helped you with your career?
00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:40.880
I mean, the one that comes to mind is probably Skrillex.
00:42:41.360 --> 00:42:47.440
Just his philosophy of he kind of just made what he thought was cool, and then everyone was hating on him.
00:42:47.679 --> 00:42:52.800
He was making dubstep and everyone was saying, Oh, it's transforming, it's washing machines having sex and whatever.
00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:53.360
You know what I mean?
00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:54.960
They're saying all this hate, right?
00:42:55.360 --> 00:42:56.960
And he just made it because he thought it was cool.
00:42:57.039 --> 00:43:01.840
And then he dropped this kind of like pop stuff with Justin Bieber.
00:43:02.079 --> 00:43:05.840
Oh, he's a sellout, he's not making dub, where's the drop?
00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:07.039
Hate, hate, hate.
00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:10.880
And then he went and now he's he's making like house or something with Fred again or whatever.
00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:18.159
And then, oh, you know, like he used to have meaning in his music, now it's just a uh four on the floor drum.
00:43:18.239 --> 00:43:32.159
You know, whatever he's always doing his thing, and everyone's chatting, and he just makes what he thinks is cool, and he just doesn't worry about any of the the politics of it or and I think it's like a very good philosophy for like being a creative in any space.
00:43:32.400 --> 00:43:35.920
Just trust your instincts and what you think is cool.
00:43:36.239 --> 00:43:39.440
Because in filmmaking, a lot of people say, make the film that you'd want to watch.
00:43:39.840 --> 00:43:41.280
So with music, is it kind of make the song?
00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:43.119
I would say exactly the same.
00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:45.199
Like, what what do you wish there was more of in the world?
00:43:45.599 --> 00:43:45.920
Music.
00:43:46.320 --> 00:43:48.480
It helps being in a comfortable place.
00:43:48.960 --> 00:43:52.320
The last guy who I interviewed was he's a world champion Muay Thai fighter.
00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:52.800
Yeah, wow.
00:43:52.880 --> 00:43:55.119
And I asked he's just my boss, he's one of the guys I didn't know.
00:43:55.280 --> 00:43:55.679
That's crazy.
00:43:56.239 --> 00:43:59.119
One of my questions was let's say he trains at two gyms.
00:43:59.280 --> 00:43:59.760
Did he know?
00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:02.559
A difference in how we trained comparing at the gym?
00:44:02.639 --> 00:44:03.199
And he said, Yeah.
00:44:03.360 --> 00:44:05.920
And I was like, Well, what was what made you train better at one?
00:44:06.239 --> 00:44:12.079
And he said, The environment, like the people who you're training with, if they're friends, you're gonna have more of a good time and all of that.
00:44:12.159 --> 00:44:22.159
And it was like what you're saying about that comfort, so and especially what you said about how building a space and how there's no and how the air is literally different.
00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:25.199
Like, I didn't even think about that, but yeah, you're right.
00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:39.119
There's the ventilation is different in it, so the atmosphere is physically different, and because you've turned that space into when the air is like this, I make fucking cold music coming in, yeah, everyone feels that.
00:44:39.280 --> 00:44:42.480
Yeah, you walk in, and it's almost like you're walking taller, yeah.
00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:44.800
Because you're like, we're in a different location, yeah.
00:44:45.039 --> 00:44:45.760
We're in a different space.
00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:50.639
Definitely, and you I feel like that really translates into what music you make.
00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:55.920
And it's made me realise because right now I'm working in the garage because yeah, girlfriends moved in, so I needed a man cave.
00:44:56.000 --> 00:44:56.400
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:44:56.480 --> 00:44:59.679
So I'm in the garage now, and I've put a desk in there.
00:44:59.840 --> 00:45:02.000
And I one thing I fucking love about your lights, bro.
00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:15.199
So when I moved here four years ago, I lived on Murdoch campus in the uni village, and I had half the room, I had the LED lights were purple, and half the room was blue, which is why I really fucked with this room because it reminded me so much.
00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:16.559
I called it the lavender haze.
00:45:16.719 --> 00:45:25.840
Yeah, one of the very first podcasts I did with Wes, when I asked him, Do you reckon that plays a part if you had a red light or a blue light or something like that, how that makes a difference?
00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:27.039
And he wasn't sure at the time.
00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:30.000
I've asked you now, and you said, Yeah, definitely like it plays a part.
00:45:30.079 --> 00:45:30.239
Yeah.
00:45:30.559 --> 00:45:34.480
And building that level of comfort, I feel like I definitely need to do that.
00:45:34.559 --> 00:45:39.119
I need to fucking like soup up the garage a bit more so it has that level of comfort.
00:45:39.440 --> 00:45:39.920
You know what I mean?
00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:48.000
Like kind of on that note where when I was building the studio, I was like, I want people, because especially in rap, which is my main demographic.
00:45:48.320 --> 00:45:56.880
Rap is all about confidence, and people want to like feel cool and look cool, and they're like, I'm the man, I'm him, I've got the money and the whatever, right?
00:45:57.039 --> 00:46:01.519
You want people to come in here and be like, I recorded a proper studio, like I'm a legit.
00:46:01.760 --> 00:46:06.079
It's like if someone went into like one of the million dollar Sony studios, they'll be like, I've made it.
00:46:06.320 --> 00:46:07.440
They haven't even made the song yet.
00:46:07.519 --> 00:46:07.599
Yeah.
00:46:07.760 --> 00:46:08.719
You know, they haven't even made the song.
00:46:09.519 --> 00:46:12.880
But they would feel that sense of I'm him just by being in here.
00:46:13.199 --> 00:46:13.599
For sure.
00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:17.840
And I think that's something that I wanted where it's like, when you walk in here, you're like, yeah.
00:46:18.159 --> 00:46:19.440
And it gives it to you as well.
00:46:19.679 --> 00:46:19.920
Yeah.
00:46:20.159 --> 00:46:25.039
Like compared to when you're in the home studio, you now come in here and you're like, okay, I'm not doing this in my own.
00:46:25.280 --> 00:46:26.159
This isn't a hobby anymore.
00:46:26.239 --> 00:46:28.159
This is like I'm a you're in a proper space.
00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:29.679
Yeah, for sure.
00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:30.239
Yeah.
00:46:30.480 --> 00:46:31.360
Definitely, mate.
00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:31.840
Definitely.
00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:32.239
Yeah.
00:46:32.480 --> 00:46:32.719
Yeah.
00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:36.079
No, I definitely am like, because writing in the garage has been fun.
00:46:36.159 --> 00:46:38.079
It's definitely allowed me to write more.
00:46:38.239 --> 00:46:38.559
Yeah.
00:46:38.719 --> 00:46:40.400
Just having that designated space for it.
00:46:40.559 --> 00:46:40.880
For sure.
00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:43.039
But it still is in my garage and my house.
00:46:43.280 --> 00:46:46.639
Like having another like space designated writing space.
00:46:46.880 --> 00:46:50.400
I mean, you can, I mean, even just making it more aesthetic, you know, and just making it like a bar.
00:46:50.880 --> 00:46:51.760
The LED lights and stuff.
00:46:51.840 --> 00:46:52.239
I've got to.
00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:53.039
Put them in there, man.
00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:54.239
Put candles in there and shit.
00:46:54.320 --> 00:46:57.519
Like get those um, what is it?
00:46:57.599 --> 00:46:59.280
Those like star lights.
00:46:59.440 --> 00:47:03.760
You know, the night sky ones with like the whole um they do like the nebulas and stuff.
00:47:03.920 --> 00:47:04.159
Yeah.
00:47:04.320 --> 00:47:05.360
Like just random stuff like that.
00:47:05.440 --> 00:47:08.800
Like it can only it can be like a$30 Amazon T-Mu thing, you know.
00:47:09.039 --> 00:47:11.039
But just something so that you can.
00:47:11.280 --> 00:47:16.320
Also that I like the ritual of here, like when I come in, it's like lights on, outside light, da da da.
00:47:16.559 --> 00:47:20.159
You kind of like boot everything up, and now you're like, okay, now I'm ready.
00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:25.199
And I guess even like having that little ritual of So there is kind of like a little bit of a ritual?
00:47:25.440 --> 00:47:29.519
Well yeah, I guess like booting everything up and turning it all off is a little bit inconvenient.
00:47:29.599 --> 00:47:39.760
Like it takes me a couple minutes because I have to like turn all of that on, turn that on, turn that on, turn that on, calm down, turn both the neons on, turn the PC on, turn the speakers on, turn my interface on, go in, turn the booth on, right?
00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:40.960
Turn the TV on.
00:47:41.119 --> 00:47:43.920
So there's enough things that it like kind of takes me like a minute or two.
00:47:44.079 --> 00:47:50.719
You know that kind of resistance concept where if I was to stop and leave, I would have to turn all of that off.
00:47:50.880 --> 00:47:51.760
It's kind of annoying.
00:47:51.840 --> 00:47:53.920
So I might as well just keep on for a little bit longer.
00:47:54.480 --> 00:47:55.199
Do you know what I'm saying?
00:47:55.519 --> 00:48:00.719
Whereas if you can walk in and out and not all you've got is your laptop, walk in, sit down, do it, walk out, don't.
00:48:00.880 --> 00:48:04.159
There's no setup or pack up which doesn't lock you in.
00:48:05.360 --> 00:48:11.280
Whereas sometimes having a little bit of a it only has to be a minute or two because too much will stop you doing it.
00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:16.719
But just having a little bit of a setup, just turning the knee on on, turning the light on, setting it up.
00:48:16.880 --> 00:48:17.920
Okay, now I'm ready.
00:48:18.400 --> 00:48:19.760
And then now you can go.
00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:24.639
And do you feel your mindset changing from before you set everything up to when you've set everything up?
00:48:24.800 --> 00:48:24.960
Yeah.
00:48:25.280 --> 00:48:27.920
Now you're like, ah, everything's ready.
00:48:28.079 --> 00:48:28.960
Let me begin.
00:48:29.199 --> 00:48:32.639
And then when you stop, you can't just walk out of the room.
00:48:32.800 --> 00:48:33.840
It's not that easy.
00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:35.599
You have to turn everything off again.
00:48:35.760 --> 00:48:36.880
You have to pack down.
00:48:37.039 --> 00:48:43.679
So you're gonna you've kind of got, well, I could do it, I've got 15 minutes to do, but maybe I'll do it tomorrow.
00:48:43.920 --> 00:48:48.320
But then you go, oh, I might as well, because then I'm gonna have to turn everything, I'm gonna have to reset up the space and stuff.
00:48:48.400 --> 00:48:49.920
So I might as well just smash down now.
00:48:50.079 --> 00:48:50.239
Yeah.
00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:51.519
Kind of like secure.
00:48:51.679 --> 00:48:51.840
Yeah.
00:48:52.079 --> 00:48:56.000
In a way, because you're like, okay, I've set everything up, we've powered up, and now we're ready to go.
00:48:56.079 --> 00:48:56.320
Yeah.
00:48:56.480 --> 00:48:57.119
You know what I mean?
00:48:57.440 --> 00:49:02.880
Whereas before, if it was just like you said, walk in, put the laptop down, oh, I'm not really feeling it today.
00:49:03.119 --> 00:49:04.079
Yeah, let me walk out.
00:49:04.159 --> 00:49:05.039
It's too easy to leave.
00:49:05.119 --> 00:49:05.199
Yeah.
00:49:05.360 --> 00:49:07.360
So you've got to make it hard to not just leave.
00:49:07.599 --> 00:49:08.320
Kind of, yeah.
00:49:08.480 --> 00:49:08.800
Okay.
00:49:08.960 --> 00:49:11.039
But as I say, it only has to be a minute.
00:49:11.119 --> 00:49:12.320
It can be 30 seconds.
00:49:12.400 --> 00:49:16.639
It doesn't have to be just not just convenient inconvenience too inconvenient.
00:49:16.880 --> 00:49:18.000
Slightly inconvenient.
00:49:18.079 --> 00:49:18.159
Yeah.
00:49:18.400 --> 00:49:19.840
Just ever so slightly inconvenient.
00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:25.920
Once I turn everything off, someone messaged me, oh man, like, can you quickly do this for me?
00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:28.559
Sorry, bro, I've got to do it tomorrow because I'm already out of here.
00:49:29.199 --> 00:49:29.599
I'm done.
00:49:29.760 --> 00:49:30.400
It's like work.
00:49:30.480 --> 00:49:31.840
You clock in, you clock out.
00:49:31.920 --> 00:49:33.360
You know, you've got to respect that.
00:49:33.440 --> 00:49:35.119
So having that power up.
00:49:35.440 --> 00:49:36.800
Yeah, that power up, power down.
00:49:37.039 --> 00:49:37.599
You've got to.
00:49:37.760 --> 00:49:40.480
And then so you have your online hours and you have your offline hours.
00:49:40.639 --> 00:49:41.679
I think that's very important.
00:49:41.840 --> 00:49:44.079
Not working 24-7, because it's impossible.
00:49:44.400 --> 00:49:47.519
Say there's someone who wants to get into music producing.
00:49:47.679 --> 00:49:48.639
Let's let's say perf.
00:49:49.360 --> 00:49:51.119
Someone who wants to get into music producing and perf.
00:49:51.519 --> 00:49:56.320
What would be the best advice from someone who went from scratch to now full-fledged career in the business?
00:49:56.719 --> 00:49:57.920
What advice would you give to them?
00:49:58.239 --> 00:50:00.960
I guess I would say just start, just do it.
00:50:01.119 --> 00:50:03.519
Obviously, you need to be good at what you're doing.
00:50:03.599 --> 00:50:04.719
You need to know what you're doing.
00:50:04.880 --> 00:50:12.480
I guess if you start too early, you could burn bridges, or like people might think, oh, he's not that good, and you might improve over that year, but they already have that opinion.
00:50:12.719 --> 00:50:13.599
They already have that opinion of you.
00:50:13.679 --> 00:50:18.400
It can be hard to change, especially Perth is very reputation, it's very small, everyone knows each other.
00:50:18.719 --> 00:50:26.239
But in saying that, I think you do have to back yourself and you do have to understand that you will have, like we said before, those failures.
00:50:26.400 --> 00:50:28.800
You might not provide what they want, and that's fine too.
00:50:28.960 --> 00:50:33.440
Just getting out there and starting, because you can't ever plan for the stuff you'll need to know.
00:50:33.599 --> 00:50:37.599
You'll have an idea of what you think it's going to be like, and it will be very different.
00:50:37.920 --> 00:50:45.039
In terms of getting new artists to work with, obviously posting on your Instagram and stuff like that can be useful.
00:50:45.119 --> 00:50:47.280
But what other advice do you reckon could be good?
00:50:47.599 --> 00:50:51.119
Definitely going to shows, going to local events and things.
00:50:51.199 --> 00:50:52.559
That's what I did a lot at the start.
00:50:52.800 --> 00:50:54.639
And just telling them produced music.
00:50:55.280 --> 00:51:16.079
Yeah, like I I mean, in a bit of a segue of my really true origin of how I got into the scene and how I met everyone that I made music with was I was making dubstep and I was doing dubstep remixes for this Perth rap group, Rich Valentine, which is they haven't made music in a while now.
00:51:16.159 --> 00:51:19.199
But if you're in the Perth rap scene from years ago, you would know them.
00:51:19.440 --> 00:51:28.000
They did a clothing launch or something, and they invited me to just come through and um they did a collab, I think, with Banks Clothing, I think.
00:51:28.159 --> 00:51:31.920
It was one of the things I just went to this face-to-face event and I didn't know anyone there.
00:51:32.000 --> 00:51:35.039
I'd only chatted them on SoundCloud, I'd never even met any of these guys.
00:51:35.519 --> 00:51:37.519
And I go to this event and I know no one.
00:51:38.000 --> 00:51:44.079
But I just had that feeling of, oh, I should really get outside of my comfort zone and just try and meet some people.
00:51:44.400 --> 00:51:48.320
And I struck up some chats, I met some like local artists there.
00:51:48.480 --> 00:51:51.519
Well, I said I made music and then they showed me their music and stuff.
00:51:51.599 --> 00:51:55.199
And then from there, that was my first kind of connect.
00:51:55.440 --> 00:52:09.760
And then I went to more shows, met more people, and oh yeah, I'll I'll come through and check out your little home studio and and then one person recommends the next, and then you go from there, and then after like five years, now it's yeah, like my full-time thing.
00:52:09.920 --> 00:52:13.519
So I think you know, face-to-face interaction is really important.
00:52:13.840 --> 00:52:18.400
People really want a face to the name and it's free to go to some of these shows.
00:52:18.639 --> 00:52:21.280
Yeah, you just literally pull up and be like, yo, I make music.
00:52:21.519 --> 00:52:21.920
Yeah, exactly.
00:52:23.119 --> 00:52:28.000
And you'll meet someone, and then if you can just say, Oh, record you for free or whatever, that's what I was doing.
00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:32.480
And then I'll say, Oh, I'll record you for 20 bucks an hour or something, you know, real cheap.
00:52:32.639 --> 00:52:40.320
And then once people go, Oh, this guy's actually good, and they recommend you, then you got the ball rolling, and then from there you just keep going.
00:52:40.400 --> 00:52:58.559
It's just a slow consistency game, and then you meet more and more people and your network expands, and then you know, it's like that multiplying concept where two people recommend you and then four people, and then now it's eight, and then like now I've worked with almost a thousand people or something.
00:52:58.639 --> 00:52:58.800
Yeah.
00:52:58.960 --> 00:53:02.800
So I mean, obviously, Instagram and social media is very important too, but just going to the shows.
00:53:02.960 --> 00:53:04.400
Yeah, going to events, meeting people.
00:53:04.639 --> 00:53:07.039
Well, yeah, thank you so much for doing this today.
00:53:07.360 --> 00:53:08.239
My pleasure, thanks for having me.
00:53:09.199 --> 00:53:11.280
I've definitely learned so much.
00:53:11.519 --> 00:53:17.440
Like, I I think definitely with what you're talking about with the flow state and that sense of comfort and all of these things.
00:53:17.519 --> 00:53:24.079
Like, I'll I'll rewatch the tape, but I've definitely learned a lot and there's immediately stuff I can implement to improve.
00:53:24.480 --> 00:53:25.280
So I really appreciate it.
00:53:25.519 --> 00:53:26.000
Oh, my pleasure.
00:53:26.079 --> 00:53:27.280
I'm glad that it's helped in some way.
00:53:27.360 --> 00:53:28.719
I mean just yapping on it.
00:53:28.800 --> 00:53:29.360
So it's great.
00:53:29.679 --> 00:53:36.320
Yeah, and this is we're at the Hive Studios with Daunt Studios that you can book through Daunt's Instagram, which will be linked in the description.
00:53:36.480 --> 00:53:39.119
Um Best and Path, come through for real.
00:53:39.519 --> 00:53:40.800
Come through, you'll have a good time.
00:53:40.880 --> 00:53:42.000
But yeah, thank you so much, Dawn.
00:53:42.480 --> 00:53:42.719
My pleasure.
00:53:42.800 --> 00:53:43.360
Thanks for having me.
00:53:43.440 --> 00:53:43.920
It's been great.