Be A Better Artist.

Are you feeling stuck in life — drifting, lost, and disconnected from who you truly are? In this episode, I share my personal story of how changing my physical environment — and eventually moving abroad — became the catalyst for profound internal change.We explore how emotional attachment to people and places can silently shape your identity, limit your potential, and keep you locked in outdated versions of yourself. I dive into the difference between reinvention and reconnection, why some environments make growth nearly impossible, and what it means to truly start from a clean slate.If you've ever felt trapped by your city, your relationships, or your past — this conversation is for you.Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.1-on-1 Coaching: https://markusjunnikkala.com/consultation/Become a member: https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/Want me to answer your question? Ask it on social media:https://youtube.com/@markusjunnikkalahttps://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/https://twitter.com/markusjunnikkalhttps://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkalahttps://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/Rating, subscribing, and sharing helps the podcast.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) - Feeling Stuck in Life (01:45) - Growing Up Trapped (03:31) - The Cage Is in Your Mind (05:11) - Place Holds Power (07:05) - You're Not Who They Think You Are (08:40) - The Smirks That Stop You (10:45) - Nowhere Left to Grow (13:04) - Getting Into Music School Abroad (16:42) - Friends on Purpose (19:00) - No Past, Just You (20:14) - Why Moving Cities Isn't Enough (21:01) - Make an Exit Plan (22:42) - Regret Hurts More (23:49) - Pick Your Place With Purpose (25:36) - New Place, Same You? (29:38) - Final Invitation (31:50) - When Locations Hold Feeling (32:45) - Call to Action

In this episode, we explore some of the mental causes behind creative burnout. We dive deep into the psychology of stress, the danger of unspoken expectations, and how your internal “mental software” might be running faulty code that leads to frustration, exhaustion, and creative stagnation. If you're a creative person constantly feeling depleted, stuck, or under pressure to “do more,” this episode is for you.Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.1-on-1 Coaching: https://markusjunnikkala.com/consultation/Become a member: https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/Want me to answer your question? Ask it on social media:https://youtube.com/@markusjunnikkalahttps://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/https://twitter.com/markusjunnikkalhttps://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkalahttps://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/Rating, subscribing, and sharing helps the podcast.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro: Facing Burnout (00:01:54) The Body Can't Differentiate Stress (00:04:49) How Expectations Fuel Burnout (00:06:46) Unspoken Expectations Destroy Relationships (00:13:01) Meet People Where They Are (00:17:53) The Hidden Burnout of Pleasing Everyone (00:23:37) Reprogram Your Mental Software (00:30:49) Break Patterns to Break Through (00:33:06) Why Creatives Need Small Wins (00:41:03) Burnout and the Battle With Time (00:47:14) You Can Only Do Your Best

In this episode we explore the effects of deleting your social media apps from your phone.Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/Want me to answer your question?Ask it below in the comments or on social media:https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/https://twitter.com/markusjunnikkalhttps://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkalahttps://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) – The Decision to Delete the Apps (00:01:44) – The Power of Getting Fed Up (00:02:44) – Scrolling in the Bathroom (00:03:34) – Breaks That Don't Recharge (00:04:56) – Information Overload Isn't Learning (00:06:30) – Willpower is Limited, Use It Wisely (00:07:48) – You're Fighting Tech Giants (00:08:23) – A Moment in Nature and Self-Reflection (00:09:25) – Saving Willpower for What Matters (00:11:42) – Protein Bars and Mindful Choices (00:13:28) – Addicted, Quit, Repeat (00:14:44) – Can Social Media Be Fixed? (00:16:14) – Strategic Consumption (00:17:48) – Failed Experiments in Self-Limiting (00:30:04) – Someday, You'll Wish for That Time (00:32:13) – The Poison is in the Dose (00:33:02) – Delete the Apps, Keep the Account (00:33:50) – Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Magnus Pålsson is a composer best known for their soundtrack for the video game VVVVVV under the artist name Souleye. He opens up about ego death, creativity, and building a gamified platform for personal growth. A raw, inspiring conversation about transformation, vulnerability, and what it means to live truthfully in a digital age.MAGNUS LINKS:Website: https://www.magnuspalsson.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wguicPfR7ne0MDX7mYPRq?si=z153KlHtQPGc0SzT4I1KSwApple Music: https://music.apple.com/fi/artist/magnus-p%C3%A5lsson/806918599Bandcamp: https://souleyedigitalmusic.bandcamp.com/album/pppppp-the-vvvvvv-soundtrackX: https://x.com/MagnusRenderMarkus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/Support this podcast by becoming a member:https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/Want me to answer your question?Ask it on social media:https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/https://x.com/markusjunnikkalhttps://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkalahttps://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) - Technical Issues and Settling In (00:02:00) - Moving to Portugal for Economic Reasons (00:04:00) - From Music to Investments and Personal Growth (00:08:00) - Gamifying Personal Development (00:12:00) - Transparency, Public Growth, and Personal Accountability (00:16:00) - Magnus's Ego Death Experience (00:24:00) - Living Without an Ego and Resetting Perceptions (00:28:00) - Integrating the Shadow and Emotional Maturity (00:34:00) - Impact on Creativity and Expressing a Wider Emotional Range (00:40:00) - Music, Hopefulness, and Emotional Complexity (00:46:00) - The Return of the Inner Voice (00:53:00) - Managing the Ego's Influence in Daily Life (00:57:00) - Relational Meditation and Circling Practice Explained (01:03:00) - Building a Gamified Growth Platform (01:09:00) - Truth, Trolling, and Documenting Transformation (01:17:00) - Philosophy, AI, and the Search for Truth (01:19:00) - Facing AI and Redefining Human Connection (01:23:00) - Human Imperfections and the Future of Authenticity (01:27:00) - AI Adapting to Mimic Humanity (01:31:00) - The Futility and Beauty of Seeking Truth (01:35:00) - Finding Joy in Simplicity and Process (01:39:00) - Early Music Career and Unexpected Opportunities (01:44:00) - The Strange Story Behind Magnus's First Game Soundtrack (01:49:00) - Creative Integrity Versus External Expectations (01:55:00) - Sustaining Creativity Amidst Day Jobs and Long Commutes (02:00:00) - Using Old-School Trackers to Compose Legendary Music (02:04:00) - Evolving Creativity and Embracing New Horizons (02:10:00) - Gaming, Childhood Inspirations, and Musical Beginnings (02:15:00) - The Role of Play and Joy in Developing Skills (02:20:00) - Building a New Life Focused on Passion Projects (02:30:00) - Creating a Gamified Platform for Growth and Connection (02:38:00) - Life Philosophy: Living Authentically and Courageously (02:45:00) - Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Mudeth is a composer from Bangalore, best known for his soundtrack for The Binding of Isaac Antibirth OST.MUDETH LINKS:Website: https://www.mudeth.org/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mudeth'The Unsung' (Mudeth's podcast): https://unsung.mudeth.org/The_Good_and_the_FlawedSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ERwcThkHmFXYHH3TagPOY?si=AjEodAaXRZOAEUhbS4fZLAApple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mudeth/1189772212Bandcamp: https://mudeth.bandcamp.com/X: https://x.com/htedumLINKS FOR THINGS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:The Bioacoustics podcast: https://india.mongabay.com/2024/07/podcast-wild-frequencies-find-wildlfe-with-bioacoustics/Knytt (video game): https://archive.org/details/KnyttIji (video game): https://www.remar.se/daniel/iji.phpMarkus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/Support this podcast by becoming a member:https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/Want me to answer your question? Ask it on social media:https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/https://x.com/markusjunnikkalhttps://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkalahttps://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro & The Binding of Isaac Mod Origins (00:05:00) Burnout from Ad Work & Discovering Creative Joy (00:12:00) Artistic Integrity vs Client Expectations (00:20:00) Artist vs Craftsperson: Personal Philosophy (00:25:00) Fan Favorites and Musical References (00:30:00) Cultural Influences Growing Up in India (00:35:00) Host's Background and Creative Journey (00:43:00) Making Indie Games: Breachway Development (00:49:00) Perfectionism, Releasing Music, and Artistic Growth (00:56:00) Creative Process and Avoiding Overthinking (01:04:00) Knowing When to Let Go of a Song (01:10:00) Early Childhood, Curiosity, and Synth Exploration (01:20:00) Computer Music, Trackers, and DAW Evolution (01:30:00) Creative Confidence and Trusting Instincts (01:40:00) Learning Through Releasing Music (01:50:00) Mixing Tricks & Gaining Perspective (02:00:00) Fixing Weak Sections and Structural Flow (02:10:00) Letting Go & Binary Nature of Art (02:20:00) Music, Emotion, and Avoiding False Satisfaction (02:30:00) Playfulness, Simplicity, and Authenticity (02:45:00) Final Reflections on Growth and Creativity

Damjan Mravunac is a Croatian composer and musician, best known for his music for the Serious Sam video game series, as well as the Talos Principle 1 and 2 video games.DAMJAN LINKS:Website: http://www.damjanmravunac.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4JCHmi2aI31AP3VsVKE2ks?si=dCSHw9drRGa0doPgjPReJAApple Music: https://music.apple.com/fi/artist/damjan-mravunac/726774063Bandcamp: https://damjanmravunac.bandcamp.com/TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Parenting(00:05:02) Music Tech & Production(00:14:05) Personal Music Journey(00:24:50) First Gig, Croteam, Serious Sam(00:31:24) Dreaming Big, Creative Restriction(00:38:25) Procrastination, Workflow, Routine(00:45:07) Sound Design(01:01:09) Studio Setup, Remote Work(01:14:00) Networking, Game Music Industry, Advice for New Composers(01:28:15) Talos Principle 1 and 2(01:45:07) Inspiration, Composition, and Mixing(02:00:45) Approach to Game Soundtracks(02:07:31) Mixing and Composing Simultaneously(02:16:15) Evolution of Technology in Music(02:27:29) Impact of War on Creativity(02:30:03) Digital Technology's Impact on Creativity(02:34:06) Work-Life Balance and Parenting(02:41:07) Passion for Music and Creative Process(02:48:20) Fitness Journey and Health(02:56:24) Future Projects and Aspirations(03:00:42) Definition of an Artist(03:10:13) Message sent to Everyone's SmartphoneMarkus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/Want me to answer your question?Ask it on social media:https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/https://twitter.com/markusjunnikkalhttps://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkalahttps://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

Paul Kilduff-Taylor is a composer and artist known for his music as nervous_testpilot as well as _ensnare_. He is also the co-founder of Mode 7, an indie game publisher and development company, known for titles like Frozen Synapse, Fight in Tight Spaces, and Tokyo 42.PAUL KILDUFF-TAYLOR LINKS:https://www.nervoustestpilot.com/https://www.mode7.games/X: https://x.com/mode7gamesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mode7games/nervous_testpilot Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7zhakwCorTNUwe17WxD3kh?si=Iuf-uikKTKqr9BTCqhe_5A_ensnare_ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1XYSXyGl3WXrHN7EPBQ1fc?si=bPiDLZzqQHq5Ood8dbfUAgnervous_testpilot Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/fi/artist/nervous-testpilot/192738401_ensnare_ Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/fi/artist/ensnare/888028958TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro(02:19:00) Emotional and Spiritual Connection in Music(05:02:00) Podcast Goals(07:52:00) Branding Challenges as an Artist(12:30:00) Game Development background(15:04:00) Personal Background(15:12:00) Early Life and Family(16:46:00) Technology Exposure in Childhood(18:00:00) Relationship with Technology(21:30:00) Childhood, Family(24:21:00) Risk Management, Anxiety, Collaboration(30:20:00) Early Music Exposure(32:23:00) Music as a Career Consideration(39:04:00) Humour in Music and Life(47:27:00) Early Career in Game Development and Music(56:02:00) Frozen Synapse (2011)(01:02:03) Mixing music, Sound selection, Retaining Emotion(01:06:53) Dynamic Music in Video Games(01:11:15) Creativity vs. Technical Precision(01:20:30) Approach to SNES Style Music(01:34:01) Music Technology in Composition(01:37:01) Inspiration(01:42:01) Compositional process(01:45:01) Musical Influences(01:53:22) Non-musical Influences(01:57:50) Time Management and Work Structure(02:00:30) Balancing Work and Personal Life(02:05:54) Challenges with Sleep and Coping Mechanisms(02:15:00) Emotion and Decision Making(02:23:33) Music Tech Talk(02:30:02) Mixing Techniques(02:45:02) Upcoming Exciting Music Tech(02:49:42) Balancing Work and Life(02:56:05) Future Plans and Projects(02:59:12) Definition of an Artist(03:18:33) Message Sent to Everyone's PhoneMarkus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/Want me to answer your question?Ask it on social media:https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/https://twitter.com/markusjunnikkalhttps://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkalahttps://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

Peppsen (Petter Sumelius) is a Finnish composer now residing in Sweden. He is known for his music mod for the video game Rimworld, as well as Shapez; a factory-building and automation game. He is also the composer for the upcoming and awaited Shapez 2.PEPPSEN LINKS:Website: https://www.peppsen.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PeppsenSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0VmuJa5WFTghyy3P2ng9HO?si=CbcW9Q5VQZS0jogbNYssiwApple Music: https://music.apple.com/fi/artist/peppsen/1439733884Bandcamp: https://peppsen.bandcamp.com/TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro(06:43:00) Background, growing up, family, hobbies(22:12:00) Video game influence(30:01:00) Music theory, Playing instruments(45:01:00) Early DAW experiences, Adolescence, Music mods(49:06:00) Pursuing music as a profession(01:02:05) Work process, Mindset, Networking(01:10:30) Creative freedom, Constraints, Feedback(01:42:02) Silence in music, dynamic/adaptive music in games(01:48:15) Full-time job and composition, finances(01:57:40) Profession VS Hobby(02:00:02) Expectations, Pressure, Criticism(02:17:03) Iterative Process of Creation(02:20:16) Sources of Inspiration(02:25:04) Avicii(02:30:05) Cost of living, Music gear, Software Updates(02:36:13) Inspiration (continued)(02:38:56) Life and work balance, Collaboration, Time management(02:47:47) Software and Virtual Instruments(02:50:19) Using Loops in Composition(03:03:24) Definition of an Artist(03:07:08) Message to Everyone's Smartphone(03:12:10) Wrapping upMarkus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/Want me to answer your question?Ask it below in the comments or on social media:https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/https://twitter.com/markusjunnikkalhttps://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkalahttps://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

Chris Christodoulou is a composer based in Athens, Greece, writing music for video games (Risk of Rain series, The Sea Will Claim Everything), movies and other media (audio drama Gospels of the Flood), as well as stand-alone compositions.CHRIS CHRISTODOULOU LINKS:Website: https://www.chrischristodoulou.com/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/63OPPk7uHFdcpTuOFYpNfV?si=ZChNAaDnQGenP5pdEDnWOwBandcamp: https://chrischristodoulou.bandcamp.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AstronautDownInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/astronautdownX: https://twitter.com/AstronautDownTIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Workspace, Workflow, Need for change, Gear Organization(14:01:00) Value of the long-form conversation format(25:04:00) Turning professional, Creative freedom, Work project selection(39:58:00) Early life, Upbringing, Parental influence on music, Cultural influences(56:25:00) Realizing and pursuing a career in music, Band Environment(01:06:30) Evolution of music culture, Formalized music education, Impact of social media on musicianship, Value of being an Instrumentalist(01:15:04) Understanding musical instruments as a composer, Importance of musical education(01:22:42) Creativity, Inspiration, and the Creative process(01:30:00) Originality in music composition, Studying music theory in Athens(01:38:22) Studying music for film in Amsterdam, Love for film editing(01:46:42) Reinventing yourself, Personal growth, Social pressure and expectations(01:54:35) Becoming a video game composer, Proactivity, Dealing with rejection(02:01:27) Taking risks, Trusting your creative intuition(02:05:06) Inspiration beyond music(02:14:32) Writing process, Creative block, Dealing with negative thoughts(02:21:03) Work-Life balance, Becoming a father(02:27:50) Lovecraftian themes and gaming(02:30:48) Risk of Rain soundtrack process(02:33:09) Daily routine and Creative process(02:39:11) Knowing when to step away, Taking breaks(02:44:30) Excitement about new audio gear, Thoughts on overreliance on modern tools(02:56:38) Lessons learned from cats(03:00:01) Lessons learned by becoming a parent(03:05:59) Definition of an Artist(03:10:13) Message sent to everyone's smartphone(03:12:02) Finland and Greece

Adam Fligsten is a composer for games and other media, based in Los Angeles, California. Video game credits include Outreach (Pixel Spill) and Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, and his music has been licensed to countless TV shows and commercials. He is the founder of Silen Audio, a full service video game audio house, and also now maker of virtual instruments.ADAM FLIGSTEN LINKS:Website: https://adamfligsten.com/Silen Audio: https://www.silen.audio/https://x.com/adamfligsten?s=20TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:09) - Creativity and sleep patterns(00:05:14) - Credits(00:07:03) - Silent Audio(00:10:12) - Background and upbringing(00:15:03) - Live music, studio music, working in a band(00:16:28) - Transitioning towards electronic music(00:18:59) - Music as a coping mechanism(00:21:14) - Music as a teacher and inspiration(00:24:05) - Pursuing music professionally(00:29:58) - Staying creative while working another job(00:35:03) - Negotiation skills(00:38:00) - Longevity in a career as a film composer(00:43:08) - Finding passion in media composition(00:49:42) - Experience working for a composer(00:52:52) - Adaptability and growth(00:59:03) - Managing stress in high-pressure situations.(01:01:28) - Leadership - Cultivating a positive atmosphere(01:11:23) - Experience at UCLA's music composition program(01:15:00) - Education and Transition to Entrepreneurship(01:19:25) - Business Lessons Learned(01:30:06) - Building Trust and Collaboration in the Creative Industry(01:32:45) - Selling Yourself as a Composer(01:36:00) - Understanding Clients' Needs and Expectations(01:45:04) - Pouring Heart and Soul into Work(01:46:17) - Commitment to Artistry(01:51:30) - Effective Branding as a Composer(01:56:20) - Transitioning to Full-time Entrepreneurship(02:00:00) - Existential fear and dread(02:11:19) - Time and the creative process(02:15:01) - Trusting instincts(02:19:01) - Challenges of maintaining inspiration(02:22:08) - Ego, humility, and the creative process(02:30:03) - Work and self-worth.(02:35:22) - Infinite Flow Synth(02:42:49) - Importance of interface design(02:45:03) - Silen Audio future plans(02:52:28) - Retaining creativity(02:55:52) - Definition of an artist(02:58:48) - Message sent to everyone's smartphone

Arnaud Roy is a composer, music producer, and sound designer. He has written music for video games and films, and is most notably known for composing the music for Amplitude Studios' Endless video game series, Humankind, and Neoproxima.ARNAUD ROY LINKS:http://www.arnaudroy.com/https://www.facebook.com/ArnaudRoyMusic/https://www.instagram.com/arnaudroymusic/https://twitter.com/ArnaudRoyMusicTIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:18) - The Harp, professional harp players, harp tech(00:11:04) - Early life(00:15:01) - Music education and classical music(00:19:14) - Finding the bass guitar(00:21:31) - Discovering improvisation(00:26:15) - Benefits of classical music education(00:28:00) - Hands-on instrument playing as a part of composition(00:29:04) - Early life continued(00:34:20) - Choosing a career path(00:39:02) - Discovering compositional potential(00:45:02) - Texture and flow as compositional elements(00:47:10) - Sound design and mixing for animation(00:54:00) - Perfectionism(00:57:23) - Reflecting on career milestones(01:02:34) - Childhood influences(01:09:27) - Non-musical sources of inspiration(01:12:05) - Musical influences(01:25:31) - Composition process(01:30:54) - Collaboration and Creativity(01:34:05) - Personal Limits and Style(01:39:06) - Balancing Work and Life(01:49:51) - Dealing with Creative Blocks(01:54:12) - Studio Setup and Gear(02:06:05) - Mixing(02:19:55) - Overcoming Challenges and Maintaining Perspective(02:25:40) - Live Music Performances(02:35:03) - Collaboration with Amplitude Studios(02:42:21) - Qualities in Collaborators(02:47:04) - Definition of an Artist(02:49:57) - Message to Everyone's Smartphone

Peter Dyer is an LA-based keyboardist, producer, and sound designer. He has toured extensively with artists like Mariah Carey, Adam Lambert, Aloe Blacc, & St. Vincent, as a keyboardist, musical director, and sound designer. He is currently in the house band for American Idol on ABC. Notable cowrites include Avicii's #1 hit “Wake Me Up”, "Shame On Me", & Flo Rida's “Wobble” & “Can't Believe It”. He also works as a sound designer and consultant for Sequential, Novation Music, Strymon Effects, Moog Music, & Pioneer DJ, and has scored commercials for B.M.W., Chevrolet, and WWE.PETER DYER LINKS:Website: https://www.peterdyer.net/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgfrmrO0pxm920zbVZw7mrQhttps://www.instagram.com/peterjdyer/TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:16) Audio equipment tech issues, SM7B and Cloudlifter(00:01:22) Sleep problems(00:07:21) Stress management(00:21:01) Benefits of exercise and diet, lifestyle changes, stoic philosophy(00:25:55) Change takes time(00:30:01) Pandemic, stress, insomnia(00:45:01) Adversity and change(01:00:01) Seizing opportunities(01:11:04) Creativity and artistic sensibility as an instrumentalist(01:17:11) Teamwork and social skills in professional music settings(01:30:01) Managing emotions and the ego, humility(01:34:14) Significance of Social Connections(01:37:30) Managing Expectations(01:39:15) Personal Background and Inspirations(01:45:05) Synths, Moving, Musician's Institute, networking, Van Hunt(01:46:23) Time at the Musicians Institute (MI), audition for Mariah Carey, stage fright(02:00:05) Humility and observation as skills(02:04:05) Career choices, honesty in musical preferences(02:09:02) Emulation, crossing boundaries, parental influence(02:15:04) Learning music theory by singing in a choir(02:17:08) Software vs hardware(02:19:06) Favourite synths(02:23:50) Music tech(02:30:03) General public understanding of an audio engineer(02:35:46) Collaboration with Strymon and Sequential(02:40:17) Creative retention(02:45:00) Purity of creation(02:47:03) Definition of an artist(02:52:04) Message sent to everyone's smartphone

Danimal Cannon (Dan Behrens) is an artist and musician best known for his guitar-driven Gameboy/chiptune music. He's also a mixing and mastering engineer, and has toured and performed live extensively.DANIMAL CANNON LINKS:Website: https://www.danimalcannon.com/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0AqwYovalxngrN9eVyiUXgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/danimalcannonmusicX: https://twitter.com/armcannonBandcamp: https://danimalcannon.bandcamp.com/musicSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1RFcDZxxdM1jEchZNxJMAs?si=wmbYBTnVT7K-teJIiioqCAApple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/danimal-cannon/617198535TIMESTAMPS:(00:00:00) Introduction(00:02:03) Finland trivia(00:03:59) About Danimal Cannon(00:09:37) Importance of music production(00:12:36) Working with non-musician clients(00:16:36) How people perceive music(00:20:30) Relationship between composition, arrangement, and orchestration(00:26:16) Danimal Cannon's mixing process(00:30:51) Danimal Cannon's reference audio tracks(00:33:11) Markus' musical background(00:38:51) Reference audio tracks (continued)(00:45:30) Thoughts on Hans Zimmer(00:52:30) Oblivion (movie) OST by M83 and Joseph Trapanese(00:55:29) Working on the video game Soundfall OST(00:58:52) Modern sample libraries(01:06:32) Soundfall OST continued(01:08:13) Creative constraints, creative block(01:17:15) Current work and life situation(01:21:23) Current gaming industry landscape(01:22:05) Balancing personal life with work(01:29:16) Luck and Preparation(01:31:28) Future of the industry and AI(01:45:01) Dealing with change(01:47:29) Staying a student and preparing(01:50:43) Perfectionism(01:54:07) Studying video game music(02:00:01) Chiptune music and the indie video game industry(02:01:30) Modern music technology(02:06:13) Music tool user interfaces, Sample libraries(02:10:12) How Danimal Cannon got into music(02:15:04) Central musical concepts(02:18:20) Musical notation/scores(02:30:02) Music engineering(02:33:04) Guitar playing(02:35:37) Collaboration, ego, competitiveness, trusting yourself(02:43:06) Retaining creativity; Obsession(02:49:13) Balancing personal life with work, Loneliness in creativity(03:05:03) Definition of an Artist(03:08:10) Sending a message to everyone's smartphone

Creatives need to be open. It's what allows them to see the depth and nuance of life. You then take those observations, and speak of them through your creative medium. But that openness is a two-way street. While it feeds your creativity, it can leave you open to attack. In this episode, we discuss why it's still important to remain open, and how one can manage this state constructively and effectively.

In this episode we talk about complaining and how it drains your time, energy, and willpower. I discuss my past experiences with it, as well as some of the approaches I've taken to reduce the amount of it, and how it has positively impacted my life.

In this episode we explore attitudes as tools that you should be able to deploy at will to explore and enforce certain perspectives against the outcomes you want to see in life.Despite our current emotions and feelings, we can choose to act in contrast to those emotions. We can choose to follow a set of actions that support us in moving towards the outcomes we want to see, despite how we're feeling right now.Attitudes are one of the tools that we can use to recontextualize the situations we're in, to rekindle a new, more empowering and energizing approach that supports us in getting to where we want to go.

In today's episode we explore the idea of how learning new things, expanding your understanding, equates to moving around to discover new perspectives. You must not let yourself become stagnant in life when it comes to your mind. You have to keep moving. Learn new things. Garner new perspectives. Observe problems from multiple angles. This is how you revivify your outlook on life and maintain a more realistic picture of what's possible and how to move past barriers. You do so by learning. By experiencing. By expanding your understanding. You must entertain the possibility that a different, better perspective is out there. Pick up that new book. Start listening to that new podcast. Change is possible. You just lack a key piece of information.

We're back. It's been a heck of a year, but for me there can be no life without BABA, so let's go.In this episode we talk about the need for management for creative people, especially for those who work alone, and how you can use a schedule to assure stuff gets done faster, more effectively, and more reliably.BABA interviews will be coming back, so let me know if there's an artist you'd like me to interview.Thanks for sticking around. Your interest means the world to me.

It's been a while since I released an episode, but I haven't been sitting on my laurels. I've been tremendously prolific, filming over 100+ episodes of this podcast, but the audio is not salvageable unfortunately. In this episode, we talk about how all creatives can look at these types of "lost and wasted work" -scenarios, and how to orient themselves towards these challenges in the most constructive and positive manner possible. I want to thank you for sticking around, and for tuning in once again. This podcast is a deeply meaningful and important mission for me. I want to do better in the future, and deliver you the best possible content I can make. As always, let me know if there's a topic you'd like me to discuss!

Stefan Runstrom is the owner and founder of Circles Drum Samples, a sample library development company focusing on drum sampling. He's also an audio engineer, a drummer, and is known from the band Tickle Me Pink. We talk about music, business, music business, sample library development, creativity, recording, dogs, life balance, finding the right business partners, marketing, branding, and drumming.

Chris Child is an electronic music composer and music producer, best known by his moniker/alias Kodomo. He's also an Emmy award winning TV composer, and has contributed music to games like Amplitude and Rock Band. We talk about his path in music, mindsets, philosophies, practical approaches to creativity, some synth nerd stuff, music tech, and mixing.

Kasson Crooker is best known from his work in bands like Symbion Project, Freezepop, and Splashdown. He has worked for the music video game company Harmonix, and lately joined THX as a Director of Product Development. We talk about his path in music, mindsets, philosophies, and practical approaches regarding it, some synth nerd stuff, music tech and how that inspires to creativity, as well as our upcoming collaboration on Symbion Project's next album 'Saturnine'. http://symbionproject.com/

How you use your money is a massive part of building success and happiness. We often waste a lot of our resources when we're not mindful of what we're doing, and how those resources could be used in other ways to play into building our dreams. In this episode, we explore the concept of 'luxuries' further, and where you might want to be allocating your money in the future.

One of the fundamental truths of life is change. Everything will change. And to expect relationships to be an exception is foolish. People choose different paths, and sometimes that means parting ways, and sometimes it means redefining the relationship. In this episode we talk about how to orient yourself towards that change in the most efficient and effective manner.

We've all felt the immense joy and pleasure of thinking about all the amazing things you'll one day achieve and fulfil. But then the day comes when you actually start doing something about it, and you feel uninspired, empty, and scared. It's so easy to fall in love with your romanticized ideas of how and what it will feel like to finally pursue your dreams, but what is missing from this conversation is a more realistic look of what it will look and feel like once you're in the trenches. Never confuse ideas with execution. Learn to understand the difference, and then fall in love with it.

You nailed it. You won. You succeeded. But how should you respond that? Go out and celebrate, or take the energy from that victory and keep going? In this episode, we talk about momentum and how to keep it alive in a lasting and balanced way. Support this podcast

Losing doesn't feel good. Even when you know that in the long-term it's just a part of the bigger game, it still sucks in the moment. However, you shouldn't judge those negative feelings as simply being bad, or you being bad as a result of experiencing them; Emotions come and go, and often we have little say in them, but what really matters is what you choose to do about them and how you handle them. That's what defines our character. Support this podcast

Laziness plagues most of us. But why? In today's episode, we explore perspective management as a tool for curbing laziness, so that you may start to aligning your longterm goals with your actual internal values. Support this podcast

2020 turns into 2021, and suddenly we come to the realization that yet again another year has passed by, and the change we want to see in our lives hasn't taken place. While wanting your life to change is great, what we want to avoid is unrealistic and romanticized ideas of how the change WILL happen and what it will FEEL like. In this episode I offer some alternative approaches of how to look at change overall, and how to start applying it more realistically on a day-to-day basis. Support this podcast

It's no mystery why we choose short-term pleasure over long-term dedication. The rewards are here, now, guaranteed, and pleasurable. But every time we choose those over our goals and dreams, we delay our arrival to them. In this episode I propose some ideas of how to stick to those long-term goals, and how one might even learn to get pleasure and happiness out of the process of pursuing them. Support this podcast

I've been disappointed in my performance lately. I've fallen out of habits that have previously been very lucrative for me. And I miss those days. But I know not to take it too heavily, because falling off the horse happens all the time. That's just life. What matters the most, is learning how to get back on. And a big part of that is setting up your day strategically. By simply designing your day in ways that you find inherently motivating and complementary, you get so much more done, and reserve your willpower for the moments when you absolutely need it. Support this podcast

The biggest hurdle when facing an obstacle often is that we refuse to accept what's in front of us. We didn't expect it, it makes us uncomfortable, or it doesn't fit our inner narrative of what we think 'should' be happening. It's this refusal to accept whatever's there that stunts our growth. We always think it's going to be something different. We think this is not what things are supposed to look like. But life will always be like that. Reality is complex and unpredictable. In this episode, I offer a mindset and strategy that assists you in facing whatever comes your way. Support this podcast

Financial stress is still stress, and a very strong one at that, as money has a hand in almost everything. As we talked about in the previous episode, stress puts you in survival-mode, and that will make accessing creativity increasingly difficult. In this episode, I share some of my basic concepts of how I think about money and expenses, and how those relate to pursuing a creative career as a musician. The information in this episode is not financial advice. I am not a financial expert. I am simply sharing my own experiences and story. Always consult a professional when seeking financial help. Support this podcast

When real life bears down upon you.. When you struggle to find time and energy for music.. Working on it can feel more like a depressing reminder of what you can't have, and it's very easy to feel overwhelmed and consider just ditching music altogether. But of course, I won't let you do that. In this episode we touch on a number of topics, but primarily focus on defining, categorising, and prioritising your goals so that you get CLARITY and CONTROLLABILITY back into your own musical journey. Support this podcast

Real life can be hard and taxing. You get home from work, and you don't have any juice left to fire up the DAW and get to work. We've all been there. It's a tricky beast to figure out. But we CAN do so much about this. In this episode, I lay out some fundamental perspectives and concepts for you to brew and contemplate on regarding your mental energy. Support this podcast

There are several theories of 'How to make it in music' out there. Some say you have to tread your own path, some say you have to study others in order to be able to figure out how to succeed. In this episode we inspect both perspectives, and in fact explore why you should explore and integrate BOTH approaches to your career as an artist. Support this podcast

Sensitivity is what allows artists to pick up information and patterns that they can leverage to create their art. But if your art isn't currently producing you any financial or other benefits, your view of sensitivity can turn on you, seeing it more as a curse and a burden. In this episode we talk about how that's not true, and how every single trait in us is a double-edged sword. Support this podcast

We've all been there. Sitting in front of the computer or our instrument, and feeling frustrated, hopeless, useless, or all of the above. Worry not, there's a solution. There's always a solution! https://beabetterartist.com/ Support this podcast

Artists are notoriously known for their instability and turbulent emotional life. But why exactly is that, can something be done about it, and why would you WANT to do something about it? https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Self-awareness is undoubtedly a superpower. When used correctly, it's the key to tremendous success. But what should you do when it turns on you? How to stop being overly self-aware and self-conscious in situations where it doesn't help at all? In this episode, as I walk through the streets of Florence Italy, not only do I explain, but also apply some of the techniques and approaches that have helped me overcome paralyzing self-awareness. It's not "just a part of who you are", and yes it can be defeated by training against it! https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 27 Apr 2019. The only thing that's guaranteed in life is change. https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 11 Apr 2019. We all need Love. But love comes in many forms. This is not the easy form, but it is one of the most important ones. https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 6 Apr 2019. Do you really wish to know who and what you are? https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 30 Mar 2019. We all want success. But are you actually aligned with that reality? https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 22 Mar 2019. We all are afraid to confront our fears. But what if you did? https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 28 Feb 2019. We all want to be less afraid. But how do you do that? https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 13 Feb 2019. We all want to grow, we all want to become better. But do you actually want to know what happens when you try? Support this podcast

Originally published 28 Dec 2018. So many of us think of optimism as a fool's errand, a pointless outlook that only idiots exercise. But how does it actually work and where does it come from? https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 21 Dec 2018. Your creativity is a magnificent, powerful force. But if gone unchecked, you will struggle to direct it in the right direction. https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 15 Dec 2018. It's so easy to get distracted by so many things. One thing's for sure: without focus, you have no chance of moving in a direction that's meaningful to you. https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast

Originally published 6 Dec 2018. We all can spin excuses about why that song isn't finished yet, what it needs, what we'll still do with it. But in most cases, you're afraid to confront the truth of it. https://beabetterartist.com/ (https://beabetterartist.com/) Support this podcast