Mentor My Mix

Yihao Chen is a Music AI researcher and the founder of of OctAI, now GenreX a Generative AI company building the Mid Journey of music. Yihao is a classical flutist, a composer, and an AI music researcher. He was a music AI researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an undergraduate researcher at Cornell University where he worked on automatic harmonization using machine learning. His company, GenreX, has been funded by AI2 a research institute founded by Paul Allen and led by Ali Farhadi, conducting high-impact research and engineering to tackle key problems in artificial intelligence.

In this episode, we're diving into the career of Johnny5, a DJ, Promoter, and producer who's been shaking up San Francisco's music scene. We talk about his transition from his Chicago-based Hip Hop routes to the Bay Area to pursue his passion and the influence his formal education had in propelling him to new heights. After moving to San Francisco in 2005, Johnny5's sound quickly evolved, blending grimy bass and house elements, and he became a force in the city's bass music scene, hosting a prominent bass music night at Temple SF and making his mark on the festival circuit. He also played a significant role in the dubstep scene, co-founding "Ritual Dubstep," a weekly event that grew to be the largest on the West Coast. As a producer, Johnny5 founded Irie Cartel Recordings in 2011, achieving success with releases that climbed the Beatport charts. His productions, like the "Thuggin" EP, offer a diverse range of bass-heavy sounds, showcasing his versatility and impact in the industry. Join us as we listen to his hottest soon-to-be-released tracks and explore Johnny5's remarkable journey in the electronic music world, from his early influences to his thriving career in San Francisco's music scene. Johnny5 CONTACT/ INQUIRIES: Management/Booking/ Collab:BookJohnny5@gmail.com Beatport: www.beatport.com/artist/johnny5 Owner @blendsandtrendsrecords (Tech & Bass House) Owner @IrieCartelRecordings (Dubstep & DNB) •Founder @bayareaphonk (Phonk Music Monthly) For all the MMM Podcasts visit: www.mentormymix.com Learn to Produce: http://www.pyramind.com

In this episode, we speak with Mr. Bill about his focused approach to electronic music production and touring and how to develop multiple revenue streams with a sample pack company, a website-driven education business,  a label, a podcast and most recently collaborating with a plugin developer, Yum on the VST plugin "Slap".  Learn why he transitioned out of using  Ableton for his live sets and his approach to using over 82 tracks in a one-hour set. We talk about the impact AI is having on music creation and why Mr. Bill doesn't consider it a threat to his career. We even talk about managing anxiety as an important process for all artists to get through their self-limiting beliefs. At the end, Mr. Bill reveals the collaborations on his upcoming release on a yet-to-be-disclosed label. For more on Mr. Bill visit: https://linktr.ee/mrbillstunes Opening & Closing Music: Sol Potion Remix By Imaginate and Gregory J. Gordon, AKA CODE369 https://open.spotify.com/track/2tOdcFvDqwljvfpASSA2DI?si=54f22d9b3da0426b For more MMM Podcasts visit: www.mentormymix.com For information on Pyramind Music & Audio Production Institute visit: https://pyramind.com

Marieme is a Senegalese-American artist whose music focuses on themes of Self Love, Revolution, and Empowerment.  Being uprooted by war at 6 months old shaped Marieme into a messenger of Love who has learned to manifest her way to success in the music industry through strong networking, perseverance, and trust in Flow. Learn how Marieme's talent for singing and songwriting has created numerous opportunities for her as a performing artist and landed her a coveted deal as a Universal Music Group publishing artist being placed in film and television. The podcast opens with her recent hit song "Built For Greatness" which was recently placed on the Michelle Obama and Oprah Netflix special as well as Apple TV campaigns. The podcast highlights Marieme's willingness and ability to call in serendipity to help guide her through career-defining moments including working with Lady Gaga stylist, Nicola Formmichetti and being invited to perform on the infamous art car, Robot Heart at Burning Man. She thanks Greg for the music production classes she has taken through Pyramind that have empowered her in the studio and in her songwriting collaborations. In 2020 she created a video that went viral in Brazil creating a large fan base for her there. The first single from her first full-length album comes out September 2023 with the single "Changing" which has already been licensed to "Grey's Anatomy". Www.Marieme music.com Socials @mariememusic https://hoo.be/mariememusic Built For Greatness https://open.spotify.com/album/3nR4q9NK8GcHYcXPZmMKRl?si=k1bRoUFGS2an-b_ddncOuw It's Me https://open.spotify.com/track/3CSxXvWjAR5oSNQ37GhoSH?si=480wEaMARIquLpawCedxLw  Watch on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fihrKqiWGd0

In this episode of The Mentor My Mix Podcast, we had the opportunity to meet with producer, audio engineer, and studio owner Mckay Garner. We discuss his studio setup and the Pros and Cons of Mixing in Dolby Atmos. The interview begins with an analysis and breakdown of the pre-mastered track “Bright Dark”, Written and produced by Ben Flanagan from the rock band “Black Map” with Mckay in the roles of co-producer, arranger, and mixer. Mckay goes on to discuss his day-to-day work life, how he has built an impressive Dolby Atmos configured studio, and how his experimentation with sound design has shifted the way he works and collaborates with artists and musicians.   Learn about object-based mixing and binaural rendering, as well as the optimal environment to set up an Atmos system. The interview concludes with an in-depth discussion of technological advancements in music and the customization of individual listening experiences. Songs Played: Bright Dark By Ben Flanagan: https://www.mckaygarner.com/ Envelopes By Mckay Garner:  https://open.spotify.com/track/77mplqop2qGC8VUdSxA8z1?si=caa8a8d48e0b44bc Find out more about Mckay Here:  http://mckaygarner.com http://goldengatemixers.com http://how-to-make-a-record.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckayallday/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mckaygarnermusic

In this episode, we had the pleasure to sit down with Rob Garza from the trailblazing electronic duo Thievery Corporation. Rob shares how he has built an extraordinary enduring career in the music industry, from Thievery Corporation to his own solo project Garza and now the creation of a soon-to-be-released musical documentary telling the story of musicians from war-torn Yemen. Formed in Washington D.C., almost 30 years ago, by Rob and partner Eric Hilton, Thievery Corporation carved its own lane in electronic music by creating a genre-blending sonic gateway unifying diverse cultures. We begin the interview with a brief analysis and breakdown of Thievery Corporation's popular track Lebanese Blonde to better understand the sound design and musical styling that went into creating their biggest hits. Garza takes us back to the very beginning of his musical journey and what led to his passion for electronic music and producing at an early age. He shares the evolution in technology he experienced firsthand that has shifted from the way electronic music was created over twenty years ago to what it is today.  Deepening his international reach, Garza touches on his courageous efforts to amplify the story of the Yemeni people through their rich musical heritage. Garza shares the story of his journey through Yemen and the recordings he has created with select Yemeni musicians to help tell their story through his efforts with the United Nations World Food Project and how that opportunity has opened his eyes to the privilege of making music without social or political limitations.  Lebanese blonde: https://open.spotify.com/track/6k5VMHrwv7mgPpkQSRQtQr?si=Dhsu-5-hRB63xWTH1fspBA Summers , ours (G's dust up): https://open.spotify.com/album/4sk2k0cvOe7MPIePypjWAC?si=K7xJoA_LRi-9uJhiSn-YMg Amerimacka: https://open.spotify.com/track/55HeOFek7Rylb7FtNy5hli?si=IvWl2x56QPWUtbHLDZtcMg

In this episode, we get to know Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Shepard, the dynamic duo who lead the children's music collective Alphabet Rockers, and who just won a Grammy for their latest album The Movement. The collective was born out of their passion for Hip-Hop music and culture, social justice work, and letting the young people in their community be a driving force in the media made for them. The collective includes Kali De Jesus, Tommy Shepard III, and Maya Fleming, as well as other collaborators like DJ Roza Do and Samara Atkins. Kaitlin and Tommy talk about how the goals of the collective have been shaped, deciding early on that young people are sophisticated enough to enjoy authentic Hip-Hop and giving them opportunities to write songs from their perspective, as well as choosing not to compromise their focus on racial justice and bring up uncomfortable topics just because they make children's music. They also talk about what led up to their Grammy win, how the landscape in their field has been changing, and how the win has opened up new opportunities for them, and how they plan to make sure to keep those doors open for others. They talk about their working dynamic and the business model they have developed and how a policy of giving people a chance when it comes to input for the project has led to discovering new talent. Listen to the Grammy-winning album The Movement here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6OJMNs9bxCaxUc72OfzcO9 Check out Alphabet Rockers Website: https://www.alphabetrockers.com/ Learn more about their projects: https://www.alphabetrockers.com/links Listen to more Mentor My Mix episodes here: http://www.mentormymix.com

Episode #33 of the Mentor My Mix Podcast brings us Vital Powers, a performing artist Born to Jamaican parents and from Wolverhampton, England. Pyramind's social media director initially discovered VitalPowers through engaging and well-produced content on his Instagram & Youtube channels. He sparked our curiosity enough to DM him and invite him down to the studios where his charm & talents convinced us to invite him on as a podcast guest to share his path to success by becoming a BBC talk-show host and a content creator and rep for DITTO Music, one of the UK's leading digital distribution platforms. The interview begins with a world premiere preview of his newest track, Too Savage. Topics range from strategies for hosting festivals and using social networks to book & promote tours with similar artists to using his presenting skills to diversify his visibility and earnings as an artist. They analyze and discuss Vital's various vocal styles and then Greg creates a beat on the spot in Ableton Live using the Push 2 for Vital to freestyle too. Vital's influences & styles come from Grime to Rap and Drill to Dancehall. Vital's influences & styles come from Grime to Rap and Drill to Dancehall. He's been a BBC Presenter and is now a DITTO Music Video Content Creator & Mentor. Affiliated with: BBC R1 / 1X / AN / WM / Introducing / Three, MOBO's, Help Musicians, PRS, Multiple Charities + more. Releases like 2016's “POWERS" hit the iTunes Hip Hop top 20 charts Performing on over 200 stages like MADE Festival 2016 + BBC Radio 1's BIG WEEKEND Festival 2016 alongside artists such as: Stormzy, JayKae, Lethal B, Dappy, Stylo G, Big Narstie, Alkaline, Wiley, and J Hus. In 2018 BBC West Midlands gave VITAL Powers his own Radio Show. ‘The Midlands Source' VITAL has over 2 million+ Youtube views collectively including on his personal Channel. 5 music videos featured on Channel AKA & television appearances on #MADEinBrum + BBC 1's Midlands. • SEARCH "VITAL POWERS 力" or @VITAL0 Spotify Playlist: I Came Here For VITAL Tracks Played: ● https://youtu.be/uALU35Y83pk (Too Savage - VITAL Powers) (UNRELEASED) ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gljz4ZmLEbU (CAMMY RIDDIM - VITAL Powers) ● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbBTrn4Po28 (WAKE UP - VITAL Powers) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bay Area Hip Hop legend Big Rich started his career making beats at a young age, which is how he first met a young San Quinn. He quickly developed his love for producing and rapping in the group Fully Loaded, which became the breakout group on San Quinn and Charlie Kelley's record label. In 2002, Big Rich released San Francisco Anthem with San Quinn and producer Traxamillion, which became the most requested song on 106.1 KMEL and became the theme music for the Giants and 49ers. Big Rich went on to work with other bay area legends like Mac Dre and E-40 and had a number of hit songs in the greater Bay Area.  Rich made the decision to diversify his career in the industry first by starting a marketing agency with his girlfriend and business partner Danielle, by offering label services. They then pivoted to education and artist discovery by launching Project Level and 1015 Management. Project Level is an educational organization that trains underserved youth in San Francisco about jobs at many levels of the music industry, including music production, videography, photography, choreography, talent management, and record label A&R work.  Rich came up with the idea for Project Level because he believed music saved his life at a young age, and he wanted to be able to share that gift with a new generation of young people in the community. 1015 Management is geared toward finding the next generation of talent to help them get developed and signed like 24KGoldn, a Bay Area superstar who Big Rich helped make the introduction to get signed by Columbia Records and go multi-platinum. With a combination of training, management and a discovery showcase called "The Next Big Thing" Project Level is well poised to deliver on its promise. Add to that funding sources and partnerships including Atlantic Records, Time/Warner, YouTube, The Golden State Warriors, and Pyramind Institute, and Big Rich is well on his way to creating an amazing ecosystem of opportunities for career development and finding the next generation of superstars. See the video recap and blog from the interview here: https://pyramind.com/big-rich-discovering-the-next-generation-of-talent Follow Big Rich https://www.instagram.com/big.rich/?hl=en Listen to the music from the podcast https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lkPydJppIPd2K9jJkfmMC Check out Project Level https://www.projectlevel.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was live-streamed to the PyramindSF.TV Twitch channel. Greg speaks with Smasheltooth, a West Coast Dj, artist, and producer whose new album Smashel of Liberty comes out spring of 2023 on Mal Label Music. Smasheltooth, or “Smash” for short, gives us a look into how her life experiences and musical influences shaped her DJ career and her first full-length album, which includes both unreleased music from nearly a decade ago, and new songs from the past few years including collaborations with Rappin' Forte and other notable artists. Her career has taken her from editing Pornography in LA to being a touring DJ and performer, and now working in Tech in Portland. All the while, Smash has unapologetically brought her love for Hip-Hop, Hyphy, Punk, Dance Hall, and especially Mac Dre to the Bass and Dance music scene. After this episode was recorded, Smash headlined Pyramind live, a VIP live audience & streamed event, playing her first-ever set of all original music, with support from fellow female DJ, Source Zero. Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/smasheltooth IG: www.instagram.com/smasheltooth FB: www.facebook.com/smasheltooth TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@smasheltooth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we get to know Dylalien, a San Francisco based artist who writes West Psy, a style of dance music born out of the Goa Gil parties in Northern California. As a founding member of the Fractal Cowboys, with his musical partner, Quasar, the two have played around the world on 5 continents and at some of the largest festivals in Europe. Dylalien shares the Fractal Cowboys song "Backdoor Dinosaur," the first West Psy release put out with his musical partner of many years, Quasar. They also listen to and discuss his latest solo creations, "Clocktower" and "Waken and Baken", recently signed with Dome Of Doom Records. He and Greg discuss the hallmarks of this emerging genre as an evolution of Trance music and its influences from traditional Psy Trance and west coast Bass music, as well as Dylalien's personal inspiration from artists like Negativland and from creating "psychedelic propaganda" sound collage art before being introduced to Psy Trance at Burning Man. Dylalien talks about his experience putting on events, from his first time meeting Goa Gil at Burning Man and now touring the world and performing in front of 10,000 plus crowds in South America and Israel. The discussion focuses on the importance of evolving a genre and how that happens and the emerging regional differences in the popularity of Psy Trance, West Psy, and other genres around the world. Dylalien has recently joined the LA-based Record Label Dome of Doom, and is excited about the opportunity to grow a larger audience here at home in California! Check out Dylalien Here: https://linktr.ee/dylalien Check out Dome of Doom Records here: https://www.domeofdoom.org/ Listen to The tracks from the episode: https://open.spotify.com/track/3z6SPG1L6ecmaBz5SUnMhG?si=d3f930b0e4c345a3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Greg talks with Phil "Rene" Collis and Lukeino Argilla two members of the Drum 'n Bass group Bachelors of Science, who just released a brand new LP Within This Moment. The trio, including Chris Doe, was originally formed in San Francisco but is currently based mostly in southern California. They open up the conversation by talking about the process of collaborating on this fourteen-track LP and the challenges of working together while in different cities and across different platforms, and how they've spent years working together and coming up with a group process that works. One of the members, Luke Argilla, also works for Dolby as a mix engineer using their ATMOS Spatial Audio system, and Bachelors of Science has been releasing ATMOS mixes of their music since the remixes of their Space Between album from 2015. Luke also has an atmos-capable studio in his home. He talks about the strategies for creating spatial audio mixes of their songs and creating interesting listening experiences that will also translate to different listening environments. Phil weighs in as someone closer to an atmos music consumer and talks about experiencing atmos audio for the first time in studios and nightclubs, and how the focus of the technology has begun to shift from those environments to streaming music at home. Bachelor's of Science, both as a group and individually, have previously worked with Pyramind on a few occasions, Luke's first release was on one of Pyramind's Test Press compilations drawn from the events under the same name that Pyramind produced in the mid to late 2000's. Bachelor's of Science was also previously featured as the opening track on the 2009 LovEvolution Compilation (along with many notable artists including Miguel Migs, Bassnectar, and Lee Coombs) which was released to benefit Pyramind's annual scholarship. Their track, The Ice Dance, became one of their most played tracks but due to metadata mistakes on the Lovevolution compilation, the album was listed as a Bachelor's Of Science release rather than a compilation. The three joke about it now but this was a problem that took some time to finally get resolved with the distributor, InGrooves, highlighting the importance of getting your metadata right the first time! In 2012, They founded CODE Recording, in order to publish their own music, as well as publish other standout Drum 'n Bass artists. The tracks "Stomp" and "Brighter Days" from the latest LP, are also played and Phil and Luke talk about the inspirations for the tracks and their experiences working with the vocalists featured on them. Now that the record is out, the group has a full lineup of concerts everywhere from Denver to Sardinia and are already getting new tracks produced and mixed for their next release. Stream Within This Moment here: https://open.spotify.com/album/45gM8mKFlUM2U1dzj4mUpU Learn more about Bachelors of Science here: Linktr.ee/BachelorsOfScience Watch their Pyramind Live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdn8aPwvMic Check out CODE Recordings here: http://www.coderecs.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gizma is a Psy Trance artist and a MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) research physician. She is a native Mexican who grew up both there as a young child but is now based in SF. Gizma recieved her M.D. from the University of Michoacan in 2009, and comes from a family of doctors. She talks about coming to San Francisco to attend Pyramind Music & Audio Production Institute because of her passion for music and love for the city. "The Opening" is the first track played, and she credits the instructors at Pyramind that helped her learn the sound design techniques and Apple's Logic Pro that gave her the skills and creative workflow to produce at this level. Greg and Gizma discuss the influences that went into this track, and how her work as a research Physician for MAPS influences the music she makes. Being an indigenous Mexican drew her to her research with MAPS because psychedelic medicine is such a big part of her culture and has inspired the music she makes. They dive into the sound design process of her music, and she talks about many of the plugins and techniques that are staples of producing Psy-Trance music as well as how she likes to sit down and start a track, usually by choosing a vocal or spoken word sample. They then get into talking about the record labels that Gizma has worked with over the years, including Spun Records, and Antu Records where she releases music now. The conversation turns to collaboration with fellow label artist, including the next track they listen to, "Cognitive Liberty" produced in collaboration with Psy Trance artist Ital. Gizma talks about the inspiration for the song, as well as the collaboration process that went into making the track. The Psy-Trance scene in Mexico is discussed, and how it's no longer the underground thing it was back in 2003 when she started going to events there, and why it's now a great thing that it's much more visible and accessible. The conversation then turns to how the psychedelic medicine of her culture and family influences her work and music, and how she applies that knowledge in her medical practice. They close out the episode by listening to the track "Ainu" by Gizma and Amplify, which was inspired by the Aboriginal Ainu people of Japan. Check out Gizma at https://gizma44.wixsite.com/gizmamusic Listen to the songs in this episode at https://www.beatport.com/artist/gizma/767546 Check out Antu Records at http://www.anturecords.com Check out MAPS at https://maps.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Greg talks to Mal Label boss Mal Harper. They open the episode by listening to the song "Evil Aria" by Illexxandra on the latest Mal Label compilation Space Opera. Mal talks about putting the compilation together, and how they brought together a diverse lineup of both up and coming and established artists around a common stylistic theme. Greg and Mal then mention the Pyramind live stream scheduled for later that day featuring some Mal Label Artists, and how they will continue to work together on events and look for talent among all the many talented Pyramind students. They then talk about the origins of Mal Label in the live events and music promotion space. Mal talks about how she met El Diablo and The Genie, and how they put on their first shows, as well as the band Mal was in around 2008. Mal talks about how events like Burning Man inspired her and other event companies in the Bass Music scene to add more visual and art elements to live events. After this Mal talks about how she decided to go back to school to learn Music Business and Marketing, which allowed Mal Label to transform into both an events company and full-fledged record label. Mal credits two events that inspired her, Shambalah and Bass Coast in Canada. Both because of how fun they are and how they work hard to create a safe dance space for their patrons. Mal and Greg then discuss the meaning of safe dance spaces and how important they are for the scene, as well as how much progress has been made to create Safe dance spaces. Circling back to the record label, Mal talks about how Mal Label now has over 250 releases. They talk about how the label has gotten to this point by focusing on putting out material from up-and-coming artists, as well as prioritizing women and POC artists. Mal also talks about how the label has recently moved from putting out releases in rapid succession to focusing more on creating curated compilations in order for each release to get the proper time needed for marketing. She also talks about leveraging their large catalog to a music library that focuses on micro-licensing for internet ads and home-exercise content, and how doing so has created a consistent revenue stream for the label and its artists. Finally, they listen to another couple of tracks from Space Opera, first "The Dragon" by El-Diablo and Nim-1. Greg and Mal talk about the crossover potential between Bass Music and Hip Hop, and how it's been done so successfully over the years. Finally, they close the Podcast with the closing track from Space Opera, "Space Coast Boogie" by Bukkha. Pyramind Live with Mal Label artists, El Diablo and DJ LB: https://youtu.be/5NpLSaNoVxg Mal Label: https://www.mallabelmusic.com Send Demos to demos@mallabelmusic.com Space Opera EP: https://open.spotify.com/album/0C3Iukpu3ksSKuw5MwgPbP?si=h9c9qclyQjKw0tyR7-XvVw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Wilson, AKA Sinukus, has a long and storied Bay Area music industry history. This discussion starts with an introduction to The Ambient Mafia DJ collective, their compilation releases, and their move to streaming during the pandemic. Greg & Stephen discuss the use of different technology platforms to "stage-manage" all the DJs involved and their ability to seamlessly move from one set to the next all while re-streaming to multiple platforms. The conversation then moves to Stephen's background in tech and how he gained notoriety in the music tech sector by developing an embedded MP3 player in the browser for Live 365 Internet Radio. This then led to him being hired by Winamp to develop a system for accessing your music collection from the cloud and then Avid, the makers of Pro Tools, where he was originally a developer for 12 years and ultimately for the past 7 years became an architect. His development at Avid started with the challenge of latency compensation and went on to Elastic Audio, clip based gain, and cloud collaboration. All this while promoting and throwing multiple monthly parties and ultimately back to his passion for Down-Tempo chill electronic music with the Below Zero broadcast radio show on Energy 92.7 FM from 2008 to 2014. The podcast ends with a discussion of the formation of the "meta-collective", Unison, which is made up of multiple Bay Area DJ collectives that have come together to support each other and raise money for multiple charities. This super-organized, tech-forward crew also developed multiple education docs for the technology they use for supporting and managing large collective live streams. The closing track is from The Ambient Mafia compilation, Chillroom Culture Vol. 1, called Frog Pond by Mo Corleone, and featuring Beau Dream. Links: Unison https://unison.stream The Ambient Mafia https://www.ambientmafia.com Chillroom Culture Vol 1 https://ambientmafia.bandcamp.com/releases Ambient Mafia - Sunday Sundowns live every Sunday 5pm-10pm PST https://twitch.tv/theambientmafia Sinukus https://linktr.ee/sinukus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, singer-songwriter and recording artist, Lucia Lilikoi shares the experience of creating her latest album Luz and stepping into the role of producer and engineer for the project, Greg and Lucia discuss her musical career journey, beginning with her roots growing up in Sevilla Spain with the influences of a working musician and producer father, attending a music conservatory at a young age, and then moving to Los Angeles for High School, and attending Berklee College of music.   They talk about her experience recording her first album in her father's home studio and another friend producing and helping to recruit session musicians for the project, while also playing her music live in the Los Angeles venue circuit. She goes into detail about her experience crowdfunding her second album in a time just before the current major crowdfunding platforms became prominent, and how engaging with her core group of fans helped her accomplish a successful crowdfunding campaign, and allowed her to work with Grammy winning producer, Malcolm Burn.   Lucia also talks about how she developed her specific sound and distilled it into a genre she calls Dream Folk, and how this lead her to learn the practice of sound healing. She gives us her insights about building a sustainable career in music while remaining niche in the age of streaming. Finally, they listen to the song “Angel of Mine” from her latest record Luz, and talk about her inspirations for the song and the meaning behind the lyrics. Songs played during the podcast: Black Seed & Luz from the album Luz. Website: www.lilikoimusic.com   Sound Healing: https://www.alchemicalsinging.com/ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3HKZMX5  Apple Music: https://apple.co/3uGc0wA Bandcamp: www.lucia.bandcamp.com  Videos  Light: https://bit.ly/3BcmzJ9  Angel of Mine: https://bit.ly/34Ora86  Live at The Center SF: https://bit.ly/3GJbhgD After the Wind: https://bit.ly/3uHBGcq  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Greg interviews musician, producer, mix engineer, and label boss Michael Starita. They discuss the power of saying yes even when you think you might not be ready and the importance of having the drive to learn as you go. Tracks from Michael Starita's latest release are highlighted to show his techniques for producing and collaborating with other artists, as well as the influence of spirituality and meditation practice on his music. Michael Starita also gives us insight into his personal journey to find fulfillment in the music industry as an artist/producer and engineer. Featured Tracks; Middle track, “The Dream” featuring Christan Scott aTunde Adjuah and Trent Park from his latest album The Wakeup Call Michael Starita Wrote produced and played keys on this track, with songwriting and trumpet playing from Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, songwriting, lyrics, and vocals from Trent Park, and songwriting and guitar from Robin Applewood. This song and album were released on Michael Starita's Be Still Records label, which is dedicated to spiritual music. Michael challenged himself and his collaborators to channel the music on the project from the heart, rather than overthink anything when writing and performing the music. Last track, “The Search” featuring Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band from The Wakeup Call Michael Starita wrote produced and played keys on this track, with songwriting and vocals from Sean Johnson of Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band. Sean Johnson sings a Mantra, from Hindu and Yoga Tradition, about the concept of the Guru, what it represents, and how it permeates everything, including each person. Michael Starita talks about the process of writing this song, by passing musical Ideas back and forth between him and Sean Johnson until they felt ready to send each other multitracks and get mixing. Michael Starita is an artist, producer, mix engineer, founder of both the Starita Music and Be Still Records labels, founder of Bay Area Music Collective, and the former president of the San Francisco chapter of the Recording Academy. He has produced and engineered tracks for a plethora of artists including Los Amigos Invisibles who were nominated for a Latin Grammy in the song of the year category, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Third Eye Blind, A Tribe Called Quest, Yo Yo Ma, and Childish Gambino to name a few. Michael Starita blends his influences and roots in Rock, Soul, and Electronic music with his spiritual practice and meditation to create genre-bending and introspective music. Website https://www.staritamusic.com/ Be Still Records website https://bestillrecords.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Greg speaks with Pyramind Alumni and recording artist, Sheridan Carter. Sheridan shares insight into his newest track "Toes Done" and how he meets and collaborates with the producers who have helped to craft his sound. They discuss the inspiration behind telling stories as a songwriter with his start singing in church and the influence his mother had on him pursuing his craft. Great tip on using his phone for writing to make sure everything's backed up in the cloud and accessible across all his devices. The loss of his mother and former producer Cosmo who tragically both passed away. How he turned inward for inspiration and dealing with the grief and wrote tracks like "I Miss You Mom" and "Lay Away" about his mother and how she continues to be a theme and source of inspiration. The importance of working on himself to better himself and sending that out as a message in his music. How the number one reason he came to Pyramind was to network and meet and collaborate with new artists and producers. Seeing the long arc of his career and the impact that collaboration has had in advancing his career opportunities including his collaboration with fellow Pyramind student Colin Sentz AKA Shrike on a track that they recorded & produced at Pyramind Studios for NBA 2K Games and how it's also been released as a single and on the Pyramind Records "Game Sound On" music compilation release. The importance of the business negotiations to make it all possible and keep up with the negotiations. The mixture of styles that made the sound pop and how that's such a driving force in the evolution of music. How "listening to more music" is so important to have as many different references and points to draw from. Cross-pollinating audiences to help drive interest to bigger audiences. The need for a "calculated push" and his business collaboration with Pyramind music business instructor Steffen Franz and Independent Distribution Collective to market and promote his releases. Peaking at #17 on the Itunes Hip Hop charts. Getting within the first five albums of the pre-release order charts. The creation of a virtual event in lieu of being able to tour during Covid. Breaking down the track, "I miss You Mom". and revealing his approach to songwriting with melodies & lyrics. They end with a sneak peak at up and coming releases and why smoking weed is an integral piece to activating his voice and feeling more comfortable and less anxious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Greg interviews Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Label Boss, and Ableton Certified Trainer, Kiva. They discuss both live and studio production techniques for producing Dub-style music using Ableton Live. Featured tracks from Kiva's new album are highlighted for various drum & Dub production techniques referenced in Kiva's Pyramind Youtube videos. Kiva explains the message behind his new record and how he has held true to his vision as both an artist & producer and discusses the business of running his label Adios Babylon. Featured tracks: Opening track, "Holy Mountain" from his latest album Odium Kiva played all instruments: piano, guitar, melodica, trumpet, live percussion, live drum set, etc and sing the vocals as well. The live drums and percussion were recorded using only a laptop mic on the other side of the room to catch a dirty textured recording to blend with the clean programmed drums. Middle Track: "Return to Your Silence" feat. Ancient King produced by Kiva from album Swords of Wisdom*the drums and percussion on this song were created using the specialized rack technique demonstrated in his drum rack tutorial for Pyramind Ending Track: Akae Beka (pronounced Ahh-Kay Beh-Kah) "Power of the Trinity" Kiva 321 remix*. This song features one of the greatest and most prolific vocalists in the history of reggae, the late Vaughn Benjamin of St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands who released over 70 albums with his bands Midnite and Akae Beka before he transitioned from this world in 2019. Kiva played all instruments and this song also features a beautiful acoustic guitar section near the end he composed using alternate string tunings. Kiva is an artist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and founder of the record label Adios Babylon. Founding his record label Adios Babylon circa 2004 in NYC, Kiva has released numerous albums and has produced and remixed for many underground soul, hip hop, reggae, & dance music artists. His style blends elements of dub, soul, hip hop, and futuristic electronics. He has delivered his music through high-energy performances and DJ sets through sound systems from Brooklyn to Tokyo, and is a regular performer at the renowned “Dub in the Rainforest” festival in St. Croix, USVI. He has shared stages with reggae and dubstep artists Lee Scratch Perry, Midnite, Pressure Busspipe, Mykal Rose, Akae Beka, I Grade Dub, Kode 9, Joe Nice, RSD, and many more. His latest full-length solo instrumental album “Odium” was released mid-2021. DJ Kiva is also a world-renowned Ableton Live Certified Trainer with over 15 years teaching experience. He has taught Ableton and music production to over 7000+ students worldwide, from novice producers just beginning to pursue the craft, to legendary top professionals looking to embrace new music technology. website: www.adiosbabylon.com online music store: https://adiosbabylon.bandcamp.com/ Book Kiva for a private one on one session here: https://pyramind.com/product/kiva/ Kia's Youtube tutorials: Specialized Drum Racks in Ableton Live: https://youtu.be/IJ7myDC-338 Slice To MIDI sample chopping: https://youtu.be/_7k4o3_ChUI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Todd “Kush” Kushnir is an artist and creative explorer who has been free-diving at the intersection of sound, video, and experience design for more than 30 years. A native of Silicon Valley, a graduate of Humboldt State University, and bus-traveler and sonic-manipulator with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, Kush and Greg talk about the real-world experiences that brought them together professionally and the foundation that led to his career-altering decisions that laid the foundation for his twenty-plus years in the recording industry and his recent foray into the world of NFT's. Kush has created multimedia experiences for DJ Shadow, Meat Beat Manifesto, Dream Theater, and numerous other artists. His extensive experience as a live and studio engineer, video producer, multi-instrumentalist, 2D/3D graphic designer are all on display in his latest work in the NFT world.  Kush's latest audio releases include Everyone Orchestra releases found here: https://everyoneorchestra.bandcamp.com/ Kush NFTs are scattered across the Metaverse: https://linktr.ee/kushnadas  Beats with Visuals: https://metashrooms.io https://foundation.app/kushnadas The latest Drop is here: https://knownorigin.io/kushnadas Abstracts Collection here: https://opensea.io/collection/kush-abstracts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jef Stott, Global Bass and ambient music recording artist, producer, and educator. In this episode Jef discusses his transitioning sound from hard hitting Global Bass to the more ethereal and ambient sound of his most recent collaboration with Mah Ze Tar for The Zikr Project, and their latest release, Ishq on Black Swan Records. Jef also talks about his series, "The World is Sound", and how he seeks to bring rich music culture to a wider audience. The meaning of Global Bass Music. How to infuse ethnic instrumentation into electronic music. The Oud and percussion, and how to integrate that into live sets. An Ableton Live breakdown delineating the difference in stylistic approaches between his tracks Osiris and Ishq. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob Duskis, president and co-founder of Six Degrees Records looks back on 25 years of music and experience running a record label. How to get a smash hit song with TikTok and the impact it has on an artist's visibility and sales. How to find and select international artists for your music label. How to work out record deals from an independent label perspective. How to work with global distribution deals for varying international markets. Developing and nurturing a new audience based on instrumental tracks recorded and produced specifically for guided meditations. Music from Dom La Nena, Karsh Kale, and Bombay Dub Orchestra. How 2020 pushed independent artists to evolve and produce music on their own. A retrospective look at Six Degrees Records with Bob's upcoming new podcast. https://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/ https://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/dom-la-nena/ https://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/karsh-kale/ https://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/bombay-Dub-orchestra/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gavin Hardkiss, electronic musician, DJ, label owner, producer, remixer, author and artist who has performed under the name "Gavin Hardkiss" and "Hawke", shares his journey as a pioneer of electronic music in San Francisco in the 1990s. Gavin talks about the formation of the Hardkiss Brothers, with partners Scott and Robbie. He shares stories of the underground rave scene from Philadelphia, to Brooklyn to the UK to the San Francisco Bay Area. Pre-Internet raving and getting to San Francisco in the summer of '91 to light a fuse in the dance music scene. Renting San Carlos airport to throw a rave from 10 PM to 8 AM the next morning in a hanger. The formation of the Hardkiss Music label and Sun Burn Recordings. Signing with Sony Music. The importance of retaining the rights to your own music, and how it helped him run a profitable label while under Sony. Gavin talks about producing and releasing his most recent Album: The Dark Art Of Light Work and Greg and Gavin debate Spotify and other streaming platforms. Gavin talks about NFTs and how they could change the future for artists and musicians. Greg and Gavin break down the Ableton session for his newest Hawke track played at the opening and closing of the Podcast, Ping Pong. https://www.hardkiss.org/ https://soundcloud.com/gavin-hardkiss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heather Christie & Gregory J. Gordon discuss "music-preneurship", remixing songs for more reach, the negative effects of American Idol, and the Hero's Journey in music. Heather shares her range of artistic experiences in dancing, acting, producing, and performing, as well as her transition from musical theatre to singing and songwriting. Heather talks about her influences from Latin American culture, her travels to Mexico, Ecuador, and Guatemala, and writing songs in Spanish. She then reflects on her experience on American Idol, and how that sparked her to learn music business and take control of her own career. Heather talks about practicing, performing and producing music with her husband and partner, multi-instrumentalist Vir McCoy and using the stems of many differents world instruments from many of his recordings to create new and exciting dance music geared towards the ecstatic dance community. Opening and closing music is Space Between, by Heather Christie. Book a Mentorship session with Heather. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Schmidt & Gregory J. Gordon discuss Pyramind partnering with The Game Audio Network Guild for a full-ride scholarship for Pyramind's Sound for Picture and Games program. Brian goes on to share his deep insight on working on more than 130 titles for most of the major game developers in the industry, being the program manager of the Xbox Audio and Voice Technologies division at Microsoft, patents he has helped develop and strategies for immersive audio. The conversation also covers the genesis of the annual GameSoundCon conference, game audio employment and freelancing, and Brian’s continued work as the acting President of GANG. Opening and closing music featured by Brian Schmidt for Mutant Football League. Click here to learn more about the scholarship Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martin Luther McCoy: singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and native San Franciscan. Martin Luther shares stories of his career starting from a gospel music childhood in San Francisco’s Bayview, to performing and touring with Philadelphia-based Hip Hop Band, The Roots, and being cast as Jo-Jo in the Hollywood musical, Across The Universe. Experiences and lessons learned, including adapting to an industry shift from physical to streaming services, and networking and making opportunities in the competitive music industry. Learning to balance what feeds your soul and the business savvy required to nurture the relationships that drive success. Building his "team" including influential Bay Area attorney Michael Aczon. Martin Luther talks about his development as a singer, producer, and entrepreneur with his label, Rebel Soul Records, and the empowering messages he aims to deliver through his music. Touring and performing with Kev Choice and being invited by Randal Kline, (founder of SF Jazz) to join the SF Jazz Collective and performing with an all-star group of top players on their respective instruments. This Podcast features Martin Luther’s most recent production at the time of this recording, "Warmth of Other Suns", co-produced and arranged by Minna Choi, and featuring The Magik*Magik Orchestra, String Quartet, and Kev Choice on Piano. Warmth Of Other Suns Music Video Martin Luther Mccoy on Band Camp SFJAZZ ALONE TOGETHER: MARTIN LUTHER MCCOY & KEV CHOICE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn Mercado, aka SHDWS, producer, DJ, engineer, and sound designer. A Bay Area native and Pyramind Alum. Shawn shares his experiences with DJing and promoting for iconic San Francisco clubs like EPR, Ruby Skye, and City Nights. He’s produced music previously as M3RC, and spent years honing his craft and discovering his signature style, leading into rebranding and releasing a polished sound under the SHDWS. He’s released music for Night Bass and Divided Souls, and has collaborated recently with Blossom. Shawn talks about his experience with Wax Motif’s Park ’N Rave Livestream, and what it was like performing for a socially distant audience and tens of thousands of viewers on Insomniac’s Twitch and YouTube streams. And Shawn breaks down his debut release with Divided Souls, Vixen.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Excerpts from different episodes of the Mentor My Mix Podcast, hosted by Gregory J. Gordon. Brought to you by Pyramind, America's premier Music Production School. http://www.pyramind.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shane's seven years of education (including studying with Miller S. Puckette, inventor of MAX MSP) at UCSD, where he received his undergraduate degree in Music Interdisciplinary Computing in The Arts followed by his MFA at Cal Arts in Experimental Sound Practices and Integrated Media, led him down a path of visionary development. His idea for creating a matrix-based touch controller for clip launching and integration with Ableton Live led him to share that vision with multiple developers and was eventually embraced by Akai, and led to the creation of the APC 40. Pre-college he was influenced by the likes of Marilyn Manson and Nirvana and then discovered Raves, Psychedelics, and the intense desire to create electronic music. Inspired by Brian Crabtree at UCSD, inventor of The Box, led to shopping around the idea for a matrix controller. Going to work for Allesis/Newmark/Akai and developing Max patches to test their audio products. Making a video for the APC to "get shows" and having Steffen Gordy (The son of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy) from LMFAO reach out to hire him to come to Las Vegas to help develop their live performance with Ableton. Partying with the duo in Vegas but being influenced by his girlfriend to make a bad career decision and the backlash that brought him to the SF Bay Area. Being influenced by the level of consciousness in the SF Bay Area and a noticeable "psychic field" that was creatively stimulating. Working with the "Mind Machine" and Performing in Quad to create a different kind of live performance. Breaking down his track "On Top Of The World" and discussing MAX For Live and custom patch creation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From New York bands to the University of Miami and back. Working through the tech boom of the late nineties to support a growing music career. Trying to get signed to the German label Studio K7 producing Trip Hop, Drum & Bass, Jungle and experimental Hip Hop. Getting referred to the sales division of OM records. Building the relationship with OM over a period of a year to getting signed as MING & FS. Being a "student of the game" and going out on "The Deep Concentration" tour with OM. Subsequently getting signed for a three-record deal with OM records all while playing in a rock band and making electronic music under the name Beat Tree. Working full time to fund the music career. Going out every night to make connections and network. Getting signed for the "weird" electronic music but not what MING & FS thought would be a major label deal with Beat Tree. Rewiring & re-eq'ing sound systems to make them sound right when on tour. Music business is 90% failure. Understanding the concept of failing forward and never giving up. Ten year run with Ming & FS, disbanding in 2006. Being in a Nissan commercial creating the music from car sounds to fund the tour. Going on tour while filming the Nissan spot that ran through the Superbowl and joining the screen actors guild. Creating Habitat music production company to create original scores for commercials until the bubble burst in music licensing. Making money from multiple streams and shifting with the times. Learning from the mistake of overselling. The numbers of self pressing and why vinyl is never really coming back. Using any merch that doesn't sell for promo. Throwing huge parties and promoting to the Mavens to create the right word of mouth buzz. Making mix CD's to give away at every show and getting them sponsored by clothing brands to building a significant production business for touring artists. Struggling to get back on tour as a DJ post Ming & FS but building such a strong production business producing that when Covid hit it brought into focus that the work was coming in steadily. Commercial work, scoring and producing keeping all the irons hot. Getting nominated for a Grammy for a remix but not seeing any upside and crickets the next year. The Grammy bump is for major label "1 percenter's". Studio design and working with singers right in the room without headphones. Preparing the room to work with different singers. "I just vomit music at this Point!" Watch MING breakdown his remake of White Horse: https://youtu.be/f8-CqwFYGsk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking down the funky Dubstep infused track, Skunked. Evaluating the current trends in modern Dubstep & Riddim. Playing shows in France & Budapest before Covid. Signing with Maximum Boost Agency. Playing the content game and releasing on the "regular". Live streaming shows from the Social Sanctuary in LA. Mentoring with Pyramind. Mixing & Mastering services business and assorted "random audio jobs" and releasing new Antiserum music. Releasing on Subsidia Records with a whole new approach to putting out music. Staying at the forefront of Dubstep with Excision. Putting out lots of huge compilations. Being consistent and working on multiple platforms. Using Twitter to connect with his fans. Producing in the arrange view in Ableton. The nuances and intricacies of sampling. How to use the free app soundflower as a virtual mixer for your computer for inspiration, sampling and accessing lots of content. The pros & cons of self-releasing vs. signing label deals. Producing the ultimate Antiserum album that combines multiple styles into the Antiserum "Sound". What it looks like to have a mentorship session with Antiserum. Learning from failure as much as success. Failure as success training. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The evolution of The VIBE: Vibrational Individualized Body Enhancement System and using Sound, Light Frequency Vibration for Wellness. Growing up in New Jersey with a father who was a pharmacist and pursuing sports medicine and then studying to become a chiropractor. Drawn to moving West and moving to Denver Colorado to establish a wellness practice. Invited to move to San Diego to help develop a Bioharmonic feedback system. Manufacturing first round of vibrational technology. Going from being a chiropractor to being a technologist. Tuning into being an artist and creative, working with patients and developing a process around using Sound, Light Frequency Vibration for Wellness. Working with inflammation and cellular memory. Researching and developing technology to optimize human potential and clearing neurological imbalances. Being a channel. Being introduced to sound healing and Vibroacoustic sound lounges by Mentor Ed Bender. Creating vibroacoustic music without even realizing it and diving into vibroacoustic research from around the world. Identifying specific frequencies for different physiological effects. No formal training in music production. Non-traditional chiropractic practice as a Kinestisiologist. Early stages using "vibrational signatures" placed into the patient's biofield to check for changes in neurological response affecting change in allergic responses and other wellness problems. This set up a new delivery system. Using music as a delivery system. Using Ableton to develop the music and being inspired to use the clips to recreate his protocols. Creating a biofeedback system and music. Visualizing his future as a sound healing rock star and developing seven albums. Writing a book called Primal Resonance with a focus on Chronic inflammation as an epidemic in America. The connection between chronic inflammation and its connection to the Covid 19 pandemic. Foundational research working with the living connective tissue matrix. "Hydrate, Vibrate & Gyrate". The keys to the universe. Importance of cellular hydration for cellular conductivity. People die of lack of cellular communication that leads to many diseases. Optimizing "cellular communication". Boosting the immune system through yoga, acupuncture, anti-viral plants & herbs, & the VIBE. Vibrational Indivuduaized Body Enhancement System. Controlling anxiety stress & overwhelm. Formulating specialized music to influence your "field". Making harmonically aligned vibrational music that's attuned directly to the connective tissue with specific mathematics of the connective tissue, specific brainwave frequency patterns, sacred geometry, physiological frequencies and I formulate specialized music so we can influence your field. Because If negative stimulus creates negative chemistry if we put positive stimulus into your field it creates positive chemistry it's just really that simple. Creating a music catalog called "Sonic Ceuticals" meaning healing through sound. Assisting & shifting human physiology to optimize human performance and experience. Working with brain wave states using different frequencies to move negative energy. Tuning the nervous system using music to address the deeper aspects of neurological disfunction. The visceral somatic reflex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Releasing on Synesthesia Records, Inspired by a love of baroque music and making bangers with harpsichord melodies and the original OG: J.S. Bach. Scoring an original track for the video game, Sunset Overdrive. Working with Reason and loving the interface, the look of the mixer and racks and the block arrangement views with block arrangement view with entire section color coding to create a great arranging tool. Choosing a DAW for the user experience because all the audio engine's sound so good now. Breaking down the production techniques of each of the stems ( Bass, Drum Bus, Melodic Bus, Blur FX, SFX Bus, Vox Bus) from the Social Kid hit track: Epica. Using the Blur FX (sweeps up and down and heavy impacts) to transition between sounds and sections. OTT for multiband upward and downward compression on the blur FX bus to glue the entire track together. Vocal processing techniques using panning and pitch shifting on each track and OTT and EQ (to cut out the low end) and delay & reverb on the group to create an "Epic" otherworldly sound. The concept and history of K Theory. Meeting Dylan at Pyramind. Partnerships and collaborations. Falling in love with Dubstep early on. Looking for accessible exposure by bringing Dubstep to a "new level" by electrifying it and modernizing it in 2010. Pivoting to a lower tempo experiment with Glitch hop and mid tempo in 2011. Releasing tracks on Simplify, Mal Label and getting great exposure in the underground dance scene. Experimenting with 808's and Trap with vocalist Malcolm Anthony. Cutting edge EDM with Rap vocals and Trap production launching K Theory to a whole new level. Playing lots of festivals like Red Rocks to Coachella, Electric Forest, Lightning In A Bottle, Snow Globe and Lovelution. Producing remixes for lots of artists posted on Trap Nation. Getting nominated for a Grammy for the GDFR remix. Having a great dynamic in the K Theory partnership with dual productivity. Dylan networking & doing shows while Dusting stayed back to produce tracks. Creative differences and getting disillusioned making very poppy music. Wanting to make heavy dance music. Getting kicked out of K Theory despite producing all the music. Experimenting by slowing down progressive house to mid tempo creating the Social Kid sound. Rez blowing up on the Deadmouse label creating a conduit for Mid Tempo and making Transmissions to be released. Releasing Chrystal Satellite on the Blood Moon EP and blowing up Social Kid. Breaking down Transmissions. Taking all the Pyramind classes twice and bringing 20 years of production chops after graduating from Pyramind in 2007 and becoming a mentor on the Pyramind Network! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Live sound and national touring to theater sound to assisting and running sessions in LA recording studios to the scoring stage at Universal Studios. Getting lucky with a gig in Editorial, laying in backgrounds and sound effects for TV shows and movies. Developing custom sound design for the Weird Science TV series. Getting exposed to working in Dolby Surround and using that experience to transition to the SF Bay Area Film and Post world. Being warned how that was going to be very hard in the Bay Area. Seeking council from engineers working at The Saul Zaentz Film center. Getting introduced to Murray Allen, a Chicago Ad legend, president of AES and founder of The Recording Academy (The Grammys). Finding common ground with Murray that led to contract work with EA working on Wing Commander 3 and mixing on ADAT. Eventually being hired on the team with Don Veca, Rob Hubbard and other Game Audio industry legends. Going on to work on many sports titles. Figuring out the concepts of granular sound design for interactive sound. Meeting the memory challenges of early gaming consoles. Grinding 12 hour days, 80 hour weeks and building long lasting relationships. Going from twelve years at EA to Sony in 2006 to work on the Socom franchise on the PS2 console and becoming Audio Director for The Godfather Project. Building a twelve man audio team for an open world game. The importance of engineering support in the audio design process. Porting to the second generation XBox 360 with expanded memory and using the additional RAM to up-sample the effects for higher audio quality causing the game mix to sound off requiring each sound design event to be re-mixed. A deeper dive in mixing a game title. The many challenges of working on a "launch title". The need to be agile , working with multiple departments and meeting multiple deadlines and challenges. Supporting outside developers as a service team. Working on Sly Cooper with Greg Debearde and "becoming the audio team". Working on Uncharted and The Last of Us by supporting "The Santa Monica Team". Working with Dolby Pro Logic & Pro Logic 2 with EA sports out of Canada and then on the SSX Snow Boarding titles encoding four channel DTS for live, real time Quad mixing. Moving to a nice to have feature to a must have that enhances the experience and sales of the games. Detailed description of creating an immersive audio demo to compare three tools for immersive audio mixing: Dolby Atmos, FB 360 and Dear VR. Using the Dolby Atmos render to create a realtime Binaural mix. Differences in HRTF and headphones affecting the results of a mix. Check out the blog for more detailed info and all three Binaural mixes side by side: https://pyramind.com/mixing-a-track-on-dolby-atmos-facebook-360-and-dear-vr-comparison/ Opening Music Credit: LGTBLTS by Dylan Seligman from his soon to be released Game Music EP, Acronym. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remixing for political action with Dubfire and The Bishopgame, The Sound Of Change, The Four Track Remix EP, the universal human condition, loneliness, the impact of Covid-19 and the current election cycle, the Affordable Care Act. An homage to nineties melodic rock meets contemporary electronic production. Production techniques creating variations and twists in the remix but honoring the original intention. Creating controllers that influence the music being made designed to give more expressive live performance that balance technology and live real time performance expression. The evolution of The Mojo, The Robocaster, and The MC1. Embracing musical influences from "the younger self". East Coast transplant to the SF Bay. Studying Jazz, orchestration & Theory at Berklee College of Music. Moving to New York to be part of the scene. Coming to The SF Bay Area for a different quality of life and a different creative aesthetic and its legendary art scene. Going to Burning Man and finding a new radically inclusive approach to art. The changing face of San Francisco. Inspiring others to express their own creativity through interactive and innovative packaging like custom circuit boards for album artwork. Achieving "blow up successes" with indie releases. Performing with Ableton but not having the laptop visible on stage. Time management to stay focused. Meditation, Vipassana ten day silent meditation retreats. Daily meditation & yoga practice. Spirit Rock & Dharma talks. Turning off distractions and building a barrier around yourself with no email, phone or messaging in order to create. "Nobody's perfect", being kind to yourself, self care. Taking a giant mushroom to Las Vegas and working with Meow Wolf. A level of unprecedented interactive art. The Octo Masher and Jamboxes. The "Guitar Wing" and working with Livid Instruments and thebishopgame. Planning to start a consultancy firm. Working with Mickey Hart from The Grateful Dead. Finding joy in teaching and mentoring and helping people enable their own creativity. Teaching and mentoring for Pyramind. Continuity through community. Covid-19 creating Big changes in the Bay and the transforming landscape. Music Credits: Four Track Remixed Intro Edit : Alone (Dubvirus Remix) & Shut Me Down (Aquiline Scope Remix) Track One: Alone (Dubvirus Remix) Track two and closing track: ust Like You (thebishopgame Remix) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Greg and DJ Celeste discuss the transition of the current live music industry from venues and festivals to online live-streaming, Twitch and VR parties, including the use of Tiltbrush and Blender as a stage building tool for visual artist in collaboration with musicians and venues in the online space.  Collaborating with cello Joe in Oakland. Filming a music video pre-covid. The amount of musicians and producers in our orbit. Producing and releasing music during quarantine. Making vibrant music with Ableton for ecstatic dance parties. The Boutique Electronique label in Germany. Producing Hip-hop. Livestreams with costumes. The financial impact of Covid-19 on the artist community. Learning to adapt to the new normal. Social media marketing. Wanting to believe in the arts and the good of people. The cutting edge of music technology and its effect on the perspective of art imitating life and life imitating art. Making VR art with Tiltbrush for events in Second Life. Using Blender with help from a Pixar animator. The struggle of using Mac vs Windows when developing in VR. Learning how to use Unity. Learning new platforms like Roblox, while mitigating the concern of too much screen time. Missing Burning Man, adapting to the “Virtual Burn”. Love of Anime, love of Unicorns. Using Tribe XR as a VR platform to educate new and upcoming DJs, especially during quarantine. Different VR creative and performance platforms like Wave and AltSpace, different platforms integration with Rekordbox. Purchasing an Oculust Quest, and performing in VR at the Great Northern SF Nightclub. Live VR performance DJ set.

Bridging the gap from '70's love & hate to rave culture. Born in the oil fields of Oildale California and coming to the Bay via Eureka. Coming to SF heart broken when his band broke up. Going to his first rave in Golden Gate Park and waking up to a whole new generation of music. Asking to buy a rave machine and walking out with two turntables, a DJ mixer and vinyl from Frequency 8. Going back north to Humboldt to start throwing parties on the beach. Connecting with El Jefe from the band NOFX and started throwing Planet Trance raves in the club with a smoothie bar. Getting offered a job managing the record store and becoming a sushi chef. Post 9/11 the climate shifted and so did Bruce. Moving to living from DJ'ing to healing the ego and starting to produce. Connecting with Pyramind as part of his evolution. Not having the backing to go to music production school. Teaching himself Reason v.1 and doggedly sticking with it. Having business mentors who were a major influence in his career. Going to London to work with his mentor and getting very real advice. Turning the glamor nob down and not being an aspiring producer and owning the title and the role. The importance of "feeling it" and not just going through the motions. Believing in yourself enough to own it. Making the shift from DJ'ing to producing and then producing for others. Having an awakening moment and deciding to cut the cord from the conventional work week. Focusing on personal happiness. Putting happiness first and finding "the spokes on the wheel" to drive it. Starting the label first to help generate clout. Not being able to afford mastering at that time and "just figuring it out". Then the tracks started charting and others started to inquire who was doing the mastering. Started with minimal techno but also composing for ad agencies to help generate working capital. Hustling to do what was needed going from mastering to mixing to producing and now artists development. Meeting Ryan Robbins originally as a client and then eventually having him intern and then working together to help drive the growth of the label. Making Ryan a partner in Fierce Animal Recordings. Years of cumulative experience and realizing the real value in what he had to offer was more than mixing, mastering and production but real artist development consulting. Getting consistent top 50 charting tracks. Cosmic Boys & Maksim Dark are currently two biggest artists. Not listening to the haters and the importance of staying positive. Getting "the crabs out of the bucket". Gifts from the universe to make you fight harder. What it takes to find your "soul song". The commonalities of the human experience and feeling that burning need to express yourself. Studying non-dual Kabbalah as a healer. Coming to the table without the ego and helping artists heal themselves from their limiting beliefs. Coaxing out their soul song and helping them get through failure and seeing it as nourishment. Holding the bitterness and sweetness together in relationship to fully experience life. Going deep with modular synthesis with Ivo Ivanov. The two roads of electronic Music: "Disposable Dance Tracks" and the need to keep writing vs. creating a memorable album in the vein of Daft Punk or Chemical Brothers. Not giving in to any limiting beliefs or fears. Learning to get happy with Covid and using this as a way to wake up to how we treat each other and needing to find a new way. Producing Headroom SF to help bring the Bay Are together and grow the community. Radical honesty over brutal honesty! Track Credits: "Chasing Rabbits" by Bruce Mac Vaughn and Deontology (Ryan Michael Robbins remixed by Mac Vaughn).

Jamming in Ableton to produce new music as Wavelux. Dealing with canceled tours and making the most of being given "a break from the road". High pressure lifestyle of the DJ and getting "a year off of Raves". Starting out as a young promoter as 17 and moving quickly to touring as a DJ. First big break with "mentors" willing to take him under their wing in the studio and the clubs. From small hits on Hope Recordings with help from Nick Warren from Way Out West to getting noticed by Anjuna Deep from self released tracks put out on vinyl. Being invited to Goa, India to play the first ever Sunburn festival at Anjuna Beach. Being invited to the UK by the team at Anjuna Records. From home studio to "legit": Above & Beyond's studio. Piano from 6 to 16 years old with the same teacher. Computer nerd from a young age. Being completely "oral" with perfect pitch. Learning by ear. No formal training in music production but an early adopter of computers & music. Started with Acid Pro then moved to Logic & Ableton. Falling out of love with finishing tracks in Ableton and now using Studio One for a more transparent sound. Live PA tour with tons of gear and realizing that it went over most people's heads and made his set too uncompromising vs DJ'ing with a USB stick that made it easier to play to the crowd. Re-designing his sets for live performance with fail safe backup systems. Pre-lease Jaytech track: The Axis. Influenced by Nile Rogers "Every track that needs to have a deep hidden meeting just for you and an outer meaning for everybody else". Being a Progressive Trance Producer & existing squarely between those two worlds: Progressive & Trance. Making that Big arena feel. Figuring the track out as you go along vs. mapping it all out first. Notes that linger and float into the atmosphere with 10 second decay times. Using Slate digital Reverb suites and Native Instruments Raum. Layered sub basses at different frequencies with different roll offs to make sure they don't cancel each other out. A dedicated sub bass, a main bass at 80-100 HZ, and a support bass at 200 HZ and up. Using a duck buss that runs to an LFO tool for everything that's ducking (side chaining effect) so long as the kick is playing and switching it off when there's no kick. Steering clear of sidechain compression in favor of the LFO tool. Sound bites made from vocal samples giving people who can't live without vocals something to latch on to. Sidechaining the reverb tails to the original vocal sample to create room when using long reverb tails. When and where to use loops. Finishing a new Jaytech album. Not the same Jaytech coming out the other side of 2020. Not being just a DJ and using that to adjust to the changes during 2020. Mentoring with Jaytech as a "judgement free zone". Creating a blueprint to work from. Creating his own corner of the music world weather with other labels or on his own. Collaborating with Steve Smith.

Meet Jor van der Poel: Originally from the Netherlands and now living, working and producing in Berlin. Jor has been working with Pyramind as a music production educator and course developer for over three years. Moving from bands to production work and transitioning from being a drummer to guitarist and now full 88 key pianist and keyboard player. Why starting with an instructor is so important and keeping the beginner's mindset. Super Powers and how they are driven by your passion and interests. Using personal challenges to drive the growth of skills that end up becoming your passions. Picking and choosing the Ableton Live features that work best for your needs. How to manage complicated sets, tempo and key changes and still be hands free to perform live. Maintaining a full schedule and the importance of strong time management for working, creating and always learning. Being disciplined but still keeping it fun. Favorite artists and influences. Experimental live streams, Jor's studio setup secrets and different favorite controllers. When and why to use Logic vs. Reason vs. Reaper vs. Ableton. Favorite synth plugins for creative sound design. Parametric composition with Opus Modus. The importance of collaboration even when you're fully self sufficient. Jor's favorite effects and how to personalize your live set with your own custom designed FX & device racks.