Artist Coaching Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Rebranding as an artist isn’t a quick fix; it’s a long, uncomfortable process. In this episode, Portuguese DJ/producer KURA opens up about shifting from his EDM past into a darker techno/tech-house identity, building his own Darkroom concept, and what it takes to escape the box the industry keeps you in.

We go all the way back to his resident DJ days in Portugal, before YouTube tutorials, before the EDM boom, and follow the journey from mashups and club edits, to big-room stages, to now rebuilding the foundations of his artist brand from scratch.

KURA shares how the pandemic frustration became fuel for a new chapter, why many DJs get stuck playing commercial sets, how Darkroom started in an abandoned warehouse, and why content (even if you hate it) is the most important tool in a modern rebrand.

We also dive into how he uses AI tools like Suno and ChatGPT for inspiration in his workflow.

If you’re an electronic music producer or DJ trying to shift your sound or identity, this one will hit home.

• His early days as a resident DJ in Portugal

• Learning to mix and produce before YouTube existed

• How mashups and exclusives opened doors to bigger gigs

• Discovering the Dutch EDM wave

• Feeling stuck in the “big room box”

• Starting Darkroom in an abandoned warehouse

• The messy reality of rebranding your sound

• The Portuguese club scene and why DJs get stuck playing commercial music

• Hosting your own parties to push your sound

• Why content is the core of a successful rebrand

• Using AI (Suno + ChatGPT) for ideas and inspiration

• Genre-hopping vs choosing a clear lane

• Whether trance and melodic styles are making a comeback

(00:00) Intro

(01:25) “I was just a regular resident DJ” in Portugal

(05:26) Graveyard shifts and learning FL Studio & Logic

(13:36) Moving away from big room – “It feels like KURA 2.0”

(15:40) The struggles of rebranding and escaping the EDM box

(23:52) Getting angry after the pandemic and creating Darkroom

(25:35) Darkroom events in abandoned warehouses & the future label

(31:18) The Portuguese club scene and why DJs get stuck playing commercial

(33:43) Hosting your own parties + why content matters more than ever

(38:19) How KURA uses AI (Suno + ChatGPT) for inspiration

(44:06) Community questions: one genre vs many

(51:36) What fans expect from your set + side projects

(54:14) Will trance and melodic styles return?

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When you’re starting out, self-belief looks like delusion.

Every artist goes through that stage, when no one believes in you yet, and you have to back yourself anyway. In this episode, Ralph and I talk about why that mindset isn’t arrogance; it’s survival.

We unpack what delusional self-belief really means, how it helps you push through rejection, and where the line is between confidence and ego. Ralph shares his own story from early wins like “Beat Cut” and “Mush Mush” to working with Martin Garrix during the “Cracking” era, and how staying a little bit delusional kept him moving when things got tough.

We also touch on:

• How to keep believing when results don’t show yet

• The pressure that comes after your first success

• What Showtek taught him about simplicity and momentum

• Afrojack’s take on copying vs. authenticity

• Community Q&A: finishing tracks, self-promotion, contracts & exposure

🎧 Listen if you’re in that early phase where doubt is loud. This episode will remind you why you started, and why belief comes before proof.

(00:00) Intro

(06:10) Brutal honesty and clarity

(10:59) The value of delusional self-belief

(13:38) After the breakthrough

(17:29) “Mush Mush” moment

(21:23) Pressure & the dip

(23:18) Collabs & the Martin Garrix era

(28:03) Afrojack on copying

(32:15) Q&A: finishing projects

(34:47) Q&A: promo without cringe

(38:29) Q&A: studios

(41:25) Q&A: release rhythm

(46:40) Q&A: contracts

(51:01) Roast: LEGND’s Instagram

(57:56) Wrap-up & next guest

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This week’s Artist Coaching Podcast kicks off with creator stamina: what daily music-making actually looks like, how to push past “I don’t like this” and still pull gold out of a 30-minute session. They hit branding with real examples—Dom Dolla’s consistent “guy-you’d-grab-a-beer-with” energy, Maddix’s rave-coded identity, Bassjackers’ bold red system—and talk about how looks, artwork, and show design all ladder up to a recognizable artist world. Oh, and ADE is sold out, and Joey’s book is up for free pre-order.

(00:00) Introduction

(08:38) Creative Process and Daily Music Challenges

(11:43) Book Release and Self-Publishing Journey

(14:44) Event Updates and Community Interaction

(18:08) Introduction to Clip of the Week

(19:37) The Bold Strategy of Going All In

(23:43) Branding in the Music Industry

(29:35) The Importance of Visual Identity

(35:36) Audience Engagement and Personal Branding

(39:40) The Evolution of EDM and DJ Rankings

(43:36) Vlogging Insights and Authenticity in Content Creation

(49:52) Creative Blocks and the Art of Music Production

(52:44) The Impact of AI on Music Production

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In this episode, we talk with Dannic! We talk about several topics that have been asked by community members of the Artist Coaching Discord.

(00:00) Introduction and Fonk Radio

(03:00) Evolution of Dannic's Career

(11:16) Starting as DJ Daan and Becoming Dannic

(19:27) Transition from Funkadelic to Dannic

(22:54) Changes in the Music Industry

(27:09) Music Production Process

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In this episode, we talk about regretting passing on demos that became hit records (Ralph and Jay passed on a few tracks that you might know by now), why everyone is making bootlegs instead of originals, and how an artist gets booked at Tomorrowland this year because both Jay and Ralph are playing there this year!

(00:00) Introduction

(05:15) Missed Opportunities

(07:12) Unfair Deals

(15:21) Lack of Originality

(21:30) Balance Between Bootlegs and Originals

(30:08) The Appeal of Remakes

(35:25) The Booking Process for Tomorrowland

(41:06) Debunking the Myth of Pre-Recorded DJ Sets

(48:07) Conclusion and Shameless Plugs

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In this episode, we discuss various topics including Coldplay's sustainability report, Reinier Zonneveld's AI project, and how to approach big artists for collaborations. They also explore the idea of taking advantage of a release on a major label. The conversation highlights the importance of building a community, sending demos, not dwelling on rejections and the need for artists to continue releasing music.

(00:00) Introduction and Catching Up

(09:58) Coldplay's Sustainability Report

(22:10) Reinier Zonneveld's AI Project

(28:01) Approaching big artists for a Collaboration

(35:06) Taking Advantage of a Release on a Major Label

(35:50) The Importance of Consistency and Momentum

(36:14) The Chain Smokers' Strategy

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In this conversation, Daan, Joey, and Ralph discuss various topics related to the DJing and music industry. They talk about managing expectations at festivals, dealing with negative feedback, meeting idols, and the revival of early EDM days. They also discuss the blurring boundaries in music genres, the increase in BPM in DJ sets, and the impact of BPM on song selection.

(00:00) Introduction and Gimmicks

(03:40) The Nostalgia of the Past

(05:16) The Changing Landscape of the Music Industry

(06:12) The Impact of Social Media

(07:36) Finding the Balance on Social Media

(08:18) Authenticity and Self-Security

(10:35) Creating Genuine Content

(12:04) The Challenge of Social Media

(13:07) Embracing Authenticity

(16:20) Overcoming the Fear of Judgment

(18:32) Rediscovering Sound and Showmanship

(21:00) The Challenges of Adapting to Social Media

(23:05) Balancing DJ Skills and Entertainment

(26:53) Rediscovering Sound and Identity

(29:20) Catering to Different Audiences

(33:39) The Importance of Showmanship

(36:33) Dealing with Negative Feedback

(40:54) Revival of Early EDM Days

Listen to this episode on your favorite streaming platform:

https://artistcoaching.podlink.to/podcast

Join the Artist Coaching Community on Discord!

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This is a recording of the very first community Q&A in the Artist Coaching Discord. This bi-weekly event will happen live in the Discord server so if you'd like to join and ask me questions next time, make sure to join HERE.

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This week's episode covers our New Year's resolutions, conducting a live audit, stepping out of the comfort zone, following trends, building a true fan base, and balancing time and reward. 

In this conversation, Ralph and Joey discuss various topics related to the music industry and building a brand as an artist. They talk about the shift in priorities to creating content for TikTok and reaching new audiences. They emphasize the importance of doing what you love and not solely focusing on gaining a following. They also discuss the value of investing in quality and deep relationships with fans, as well as the unsustainability of the current model. They explore the concept of building a brand and connecting with fans on a personal level. 

(00:00) New Year's Resolutions

(03:15) Live Audit

(10:11) Comfort Zone

(17:36) Following Trends

(22:38) Building a True Fan Base

(29:35) The Thousand True Fans Concept

(38:17) Balancing Time and Reward

(41:30) Shifting Priorities to TikTok

(42:19) Doing What You Love

(43:29) Investing in Quality and Deep Relationships

(45:00) The Unsustainability of the Current Music Industry Model

(46:09) The Value of Building a Brand

(47:37) Showing Personality and Connecting with Fans

(48:19) Using Socials to Showcase Passion

(49:57) Being a Normal Guy and Building Relationships

(51:08) Responsibility of Artists and Building a Brand

(52:37) Releasing New Music and Future Plans

Listen to this episode on your favorite streaming platform:

https://artistcoaching.podlink.to/podcast

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In this episode, Joey and Ralph discuss various topics related to the music industry and social media. They reflect on mistakes made on social media and the importance of not letting negative feedback stop you from posting. They also talk about using multiple social media platforms and the potential of YouTube Shorts. The conversation touches on the frustrations of the music industry, including the issue of reclaiming master rights from labels. They discuss the idea of relocating to a city or country where a targeted genre is popular and the benefits of being part of a music hub. 

Join the Artist Coaching Community on Discord!

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(00:00) Introduction and Small Talk

(03:00) Discussion on Using Illegal Plugins and AI Tools

(07:00) Exploring the Micromusic AI Tool

(12:00) Using AI Tools for Music Production

(18:00) The Challenges of Evolving in the Music Industry

(23:00) Staying Authentic as Established Artists

(29:00) Personal Growth and Constant Change

(36:00) Overcoming Procrastination and Taking Action

(38:48) Reflecting on Mistakes and Social Media

(39:06) Using Multiple Social Media Platforms

(40:09) The Potential of YouTube Shorts

(41:17) Authenticity and Passion in Social Media

(41:47) The Frustrations of the Music Industry

(43:30) Reclaiming Master Rights from Labels

(45:18) Relocating to a Music Hub

(51:18) The Benefits of Relocating

(55:06) Closing Remarks and Future Guests

Listen to this episode on your favorite streaming platform:

https://artistcoaching.podlink.to/podcast

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