Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Elevated Frequencies

After three years and 160-something weekly episodes, Elevated Frequencies is evolving, and this episode is Olivia walking you through exactly why, what's coming, and why the change means you get more out of her, not less.

Starting October 1st, the show becomes a monthly newsletter (first Thursday of every month) plus a monthly YouTube video essay and the occasional interview, all built to hand you specific strategies for building a real dance music career.

Key takeaways:

- How to tell the difference between "regular hard" you push through and "out-of-alignment hard" that's a sign to change direction, and why learning that faster saves you years

- Why doing less, more intentionally, often beats grinding out weekly volume that's just checking a box

- Why Olivia believes we're on the ground floor of something huge for dance music in America, and what that means for the moves you make now

- What's inside the new monthly newsletter: the Frequency Report, Anatomy of an Artist, the Lab, and the Plug, and how to use each one

- The mindset that lets you give something everything you've got and still know when it's time to change

📬 SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER,  the new home of Elevated Frequencies. First issue lands October 1st: subscribe here.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Josh Baker has built an actual empire around his music. He's a DJ and producer who's also built a whole world of businesses around his artistry — the You & Me party series, the Hide & Seek festival, and his artist education platform Synto — and each one feeds the others. In this episode, Olivia Mancuso sits down with Josh to break down how he built multiple income streams, learned to buy back his time by building a team, and created a career that doesn't depend on gigging every single weekend forever.

What you'll take away:

• Why treating your music career like a business is what actually makes it last
• How to build an empire where every venture you own lifts the others
• How to buy your time back by paying people to handle what doesn't need you, so you're free to focus on what actually grows your career
• Why the long game wins: give most of it away for free, build real trust, and sell the rest
• How to say no and protect your time, because not all money is made equal
• Why you should book your own events and grow in small increments instead of chasing big names too soon

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth: https://greenroomnetwork.com/creator/OliviaMancuso

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviamancuso__

👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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There are ten thousand other DJs competing for the same gigs, the same followers, and the same sound as you, and trying to be slightly better than all of them is a losing game. In this solo episode, Olivia Mancuso steals one of the most important ideas from the business world — Blue Ocean Strategy — and translates it for DJs and producers. Instead of fighting to the death in a crowded "red ocean," she breaks down how to build a "blue ocean," an uncontested lane that's so uniquely yours the competition becomes irrelevant, using a simple framework you can fill out for your own project the second the episode ends.

What you'll take away:

• The difference between a red ocean, where everyone competes on the same things, and a blue ocean you create for yourself 
• The ERRC grid — Eliminate, Reduce, Raise, Create — and how to actually fill it out for your own project
• Why trying to be a "better" DJ is a trap, and being the only you is the way out
• How to find your blue ocean by merging two worlds nobody's ever combined
• A step-by-step way to test your uncontested lane without overthinking it

Want help mapping out your own blue ocean and figuring out what only you could do? Book a one-on-one artist development call with Olivia on GreenRoom to work out exactly where your uncontested water is.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.

👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__

👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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The most talented producer in the room almost never wins. The most connected one does. In this solo episode, Olivia Mancuso breaks down the two things that actually build a lasting career in dance music — proximity and reputation — and why both get built in person, over the long game, not over a DM. She digs into how relationships compound over the years, why this industry has an access problem rather than a talent problem, and how to get into the rooms where careers are actually made, all of which is exactly why she co-founded Chicago Music Nexus.

What you'll take away:

-Why talent alone won't build your career, and the two things that actually do
-How relationships compound over years, and why the long game beats chasing quick wins
-How to build a reputation that opens rooms you're not even standing in
-Why the industry has an access problem, not a talent problem, and how to get in
-How to break through the two biggest things keeping artists out of these rooms: cost and travel, and feeling like an imposter

Chicago Music Nexus 2026 is November 20th and 21st in Chicago. Day one is Field Day at Concord Music Hall, a full day of hands-on activations built around what a working artist's career actually needs. Day two is Conference Day at The Joinery, with panels and workshops led by working agents, A&Rs, managers, and artists. Grab tickets at chicagomusicnexus.com.

👉 Want to come to Nexus and get paid to bring your people? The Chicago Music Nexus ambassador program is open, and it was built for the people who already carry this community. Apply, get your own code, and put it in front of your people — they save money buying through you, and you earn a commission on every ticket that sells. Sell enough and your pass to Nexus is free, on top of everything you've already banked. It's not about follower counts, it comes down to whether people trust your taste and show up when you tell them to. Apply here.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.

👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__

👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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Anyone can learn to drop a banger. Learning to actually build a night, to take a room from the very first record all the way through the peak to the close, is a completely different skill, and it's the one most artists skip. Mishell didn't. The Tel Aviv–born house and indie-dance artist came up playing all-night, open-to-close sets, and he'll tell you that's the only way you really understand what it means to be a DJ. 

Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with him to get into the craft most people skip, how he grew his Mess Makers events into a community that sells a thousand tickets in twenty minutes, and why building a real career in this industry is a marathon, not an overnight thing.

What you'll take away:

• Why the all-night, open-to-close set is how you actually learn to DJ, and what you skip when you rush straight to the peak-time stuff
• How to read a room and take a crowd on a real journey, instead of blasting the same high energy from the first record
• How he scaled his Mess Makers brand to a thousand tickets in twenty minutes, with no lineup and no link
• Why you shouldn't chase money at the start of building an event or a brand, and what to invest in instead
• How analog gear helped him build a sound that's actually his, instead of sounding like everyone else
• Why there's no timeline, and how to build a career that lasts instead of a moment that fades

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth 

👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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Every artist gets told the same thing: get bigger. Bigger rooms, bigger festivals, bigger numbers. But do you actually need any of it to be happy, or even to call it success? 

Deeper Purpose isn't sure you do. The Croydon-born house DJ and producer — championed early by Jamie Jones and Lee Foss — walked away from a management team that only wanted him to scale, and realized he was happiest playing 200-capacity, dark and dingy clubs. In this episode, he sits down with Olivia Mancuso to talk about figuring out what you actually want from a career, and building one, along with his label, In 2 Deep, entirely on his own terms.

What you'll take away:

• How to figure out what you actually want from your career before you chase someone else's version of success
• The power of saying no, and the six-month check-in he uses to course-correct
• Why becoming a great DJ - not just a producer - is what actually builds a career
• The honest, unglamorous truth about running your own record label
• How getting burned on money at 19 taught him to watch the business side early
• Building a career you can sustain and be happy in, instead of chasing scale

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth: 
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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In 2001, Lee Foss bought a one-way ticket to Ibiza with no plan and no way home — just a hunch that he'd find his tribe. He did. That summer, he met Jamie Jones, and the friendship that followed became Hot Creations, one of the most influential labels in modern house music.

In this episode, the Chicago-raised DJ, producer, and Repopulate Mars founder sits down with Olivia Mancuso the day after his Chicago birthday show to trace the whole arc — from DeKalb raves to Ibiza, from building a 15-year label empire and helping launch artists like John Summit, to getting sober and reinventing himself two decades into his career.

What you'll take away:

-How betting on yourself — even with no plan and no safety net — can change your entire trajectory
-How to build a music career (and a label) that stays sustainable for 20+ years
-What it actually takes to break out of a scene that isn't the industry's "center of gravity"
-How Lee spots and bets on new talent — and why being from Chicago is a calling card, not a crutch
-The reality of running a lean, independent label that outsells majors with 80-person teams

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth: https://greenroomnetwork.com/creator/OliviaMancuso
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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How do you build a career in dance music with no network, no language, and no safety net?

Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with Daniel Orpi — the Spanish DJ and producer topping Beatport charts and playing rooms like Amnesia, with cosigns from Pete Tong and the Martinez Brothers. Daniel traces the long road from leaving home for a country where he barely spoke the language to building a career on his own terms, and he's honest about what it cost.

He gets into why he started his own label, what happens when the numbers start to matter more than the music, and why he calls resilience the number one skill in this industry. It's a grounded conversation about ambition, mental health, and staying grateful when the thing you wanted finally arrives.

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

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This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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What happens when you stop chasing the young crowd and start making music for the audience everyone else ignores? Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with Party Pupils — the producer behind the Yacht House sound, newly signed to UTA and selling out rooms for the first time in a career that started back in 2001.

He's candid about the stretch where it wasn't working: time off the road, tickets that wouldn't sell, and getting bitter about social media instead of learning how it works. What turned it around was narrowing the scope — knowing exactly who his audience is, building a page people come to hang out on rather than be sold to, and finally getting years of unreleased work out into the world.

They also get into how sample clearing actually happens now, why labels want a ready-made package, and how to handle the hate that arrives with real reach. It's a grounded conversation about staying independent, aging in dance music, and defining success on your own terms.

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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What happens when a producer's biggest hit pulls her away from the artist she actually wants to be? Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with J Worra, the Chicago-rooted, LA-based DJ and producer behind releases on Insomniac, Repopulate Mars, and her own new label Dialogxe.

J Worra opens up about growing up closeted in a small town, finding herself in Chicago's house scene, and the label deal that boxed her in for two years and made her lose herself completely. She breaks down why some of her biggest tracks cause internal conflict, why she started her own label instead of chasing another deal, and how creative freedom became non-negotiable. They get into imposter syndrome, the sexism she still runs into in a male-dominated scene, why relationships now matter more than talent, and the actual playbook for launching a label today, including why paying $500 for promo can beat waiting for someone to sign you.

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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You don't have to make music to build a respected underground label. Olivia Mancuso sits down with Nick Alatriste, founder of PNK Records — the Miami minimal/tech house label that grew from an anonymous house-Twitter account into a label, event series, and management company.

Inside: finding his musical obsession at a six-hour PAWSA set at Club Space, signing artists nobody else would, and developing a sound instead of chasing big labels. Plus throwing your first party, Beatport genre boxes, and staying underground as you grow.

Essential for producers, DJs, and anyone building a brand in dance music.

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth: https://greenroomnetwork.com/creator/OliviaMancuso
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

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This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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How do festival lineups actually get built — and what really gets an artist booked, signed, and streamed? Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with Will Runzel, founder of artist management company Prodigy, who came up as a talent buyer and promoter before managing some of dance music's biggest acts.

Will breaks down how talent buyers really assemble festival lineups, how he booked now-headlining DJs like Zedd and DJ Snake for almost nothing early on, and how to spot a padded offer. They get into artist branding and vision, audience psychographics, owning a niche instead of chasing everyone, the unglamorous work ethic behind every breakout, and why every release is now an audiovisual project.

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Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth

Instagram: oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

This episode is sponsored by Trackstack: the operating system built for music professionals who invest in each other. Trackstack Pro gives you access to a network of labels, curators, and artists where every connection you make is yours to keep. No algorithms, no platform holding your contacts hostage. Just real professional relationships that can turn into collaborations, bookings, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of your career.

Use code ELEVATED for 50% off Pro for 3 months at trackstack.app

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Lee Burridge bet everything on a sound almost nobody was making — and built a movement the rest of dance music is still chasing. Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with the All Day I Dream founder on conviction, commitment, and what it costs to build your own lane.

Lee traces the long, unlikely road to building All Day I Dream and why he let it grow slowly, on word of mouth, instead of chasing hype. He's candid on the realities of running a label on taste alone: the patience, the conviction to back a sound early, and how things you can't control — like how platforms categorize your music — can impact an artist's career.

For any DJ or producer, it's a masterclass in belief, patience, and protecting your sound when everything is changing around you.

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Mark Knight went from freezing on a construction roof to running Beatport's number one selling label. Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with the Toolroom founder. He explains why making a record is like managing a construction project, and why he never took a single day off building the company.

Inside Toolroom: 24 staff, 45 plus releases a year, fully self-funded with no investors, surviving on integrity, A&R, and artist development. They also dig into burnout, protecting your mornings, and the future of house music in the US versus the UK.

For any DJ, producer, or independent builder, it's a masterclass in work ethic and longevity.

Chicago Music Nexus is back for 2026, and this year, we are doing it across two full days.

November 20 is Field Day at Concord Music Hall, where you will get hands-on time with the tools, people, and sessions that actually move careers. November 21 is Conference Day at The Joinery, panels and workshops with the agents, A&Rs, and artists actively shaping the industry.

Presale opens June 25th. Sign up for texts to get access one day early.

Two-day passes are extremely limited. Do not sleep on this.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

At 38, Bontan still looks 23. He quit school at 17 to DJ pubs five nights a week, took a 6-month pay cut to chase the Bontan project from his parents' house, and just launched his own label North Drum at Fabrik London. He's signed to Hot Creations, releases on No Art, and his latest track just went viral overnight after a major pop star used it on a reel.

In this episode, Olivia sits down with Bontan to talk about what it actually takes to build a sustainable career in dance music, from surviving 6 months without income to defending a tour schedule that runs on 3 hours of sleep.

Chicago Music Nexus is back for 2026, and this year, we are doing it across two full days. November 20 is Field Day at Concord Music Hall, where you will get hands-on time with the tools, people, and sessions that actually move careers. November 21 is Conference Day at The Joinery, panels and workshops with the agents, A&Rs, and artists actively shaping the industry.
Presale opens June 25th. Sign up for texts to get access one day early: https://laylo.com/oliviamancuso/wxgwS3
Two-day passes are extremely limited. Do not sleep on this.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

From a perfect SAT math score to a residency at Hï Ibiza, Francis Mercier built his career on networking, not luck. Olivia Mancuso sits down with Francis Mercier, the Haitian DJ, producer, and Deep Root Records founder.

He breaks down spinning $300 frat parties at Brown and throwing his own New York parties when no club would book him yet. Francis also shares the seven-year grind to earn a major artist's recognition, and why connecting with people beats raw studio talent.

For any DJ or producer, it is a real blueprint on networking, resilience, and timing your move to a music city.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

What does it really take to get signed to a respected electronic label? Hint: it has nothing to do with your follower count. Olivia Mancuso sits down with DJ Tennis, founder of Life and Death, who didn't earn his first real DJ recognition until he was 40.

He traces his path from Italy's punk and DIY scene into Italo disco, house, and techno, and explains why wedding DJ work is underrated training. He also shares the rejected record that went Beatport number one for a year, and what he actually signs artists for: character, hard work, and vision.

For any producer chasing a sustainable career, it's proof the slow burn wins.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most of what you call career work isn't actually moving your career forward. In this one, I'm breaking down the four habits quietly stalling most DJ careers right now.

I get personal about why I'm giving up my studio over a $1,100 rent hike, and why "knowing your worth" can be a costume for ego. I cover Instagram hack culture, the prerequisites you invent for yourself, and the feedback habit that quietly kills creative vision.

These habits feel responsible. They feel like progress. But in actuality, they're ceilings that inhibit growth.

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

What happens when one hate comment almost ends a 30-year career? Olivia Mancuso sits down with Laidback Luke, the Dutch DJ behind Mixmash Records and mentor to a generation of EDM giants. He opens up about losing the underground scene after his first hit, and the silent year that followed his MTV breakthrough. But he's still here. Still hungry. Still winning.

This conversation goes deep on what it actually takes to survive — and thrive — in dance music for three decades. Luke opens up about building MixMash Records from a website guestbook, mentoring a generation of artists that changed the game, and why his Kung Fu practice gave him the mental framework to handle the chaos of touring life.

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Going viral takes the same time as making the song. That's the mindset shift Tres Mortimer credits for breaking out of the Chicago local DJ scene. Olivia Mancuso sits down with Tres Mortimer, the producer behind Optics Records and the new party brand Slavic House Society.

They unpack the local to touring jump, why content has to be funded like studio time, and how hate comments means your content is working. They cover why remixes are losing grip, and his fresh Planet X signing with Ben Sterling. For any producer trying to grow past their home city, this one is a roadmap.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

AJ Christou went from hanging out at Sankys with a fake ID to becoming a resident at the same club, signing with The Martinez Brothers, and playing his first official Miami Music Week set at Wynwood Studios. In this episode, Olivia Mancuso sits down with AJ to break down how a Manchester teenager who hated electronic music the first time he heard it built a career in the global house and tech house circuit.

AJ shares the random chain of events that started his DJ journey: buying CDJs that sat untouched for 6 months, learning to mix for his sister's 30th birthday, and getting his first Sankys slot off a SoundCloud mix. He gets honest about why the "gatekeeping" complaint is mostly entitlement, why he moved to New York to study at Dubspot, and the real difference between Miami Music Week and ADE for emerging producers.

For any new producer trying to figure out where to invest first (music, networking, education, or production lessons), AJ lays out the exact order that worked for him and explains why showing up to the shows of DJs who play your music changes everything.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Laylo is the drop platform and CRM used by artists and promoters like Fisher, Chris Lake, James Hype, Mochakk, Whethan, and TekSupport to create hype around big moments and build a direct line to fans. With Laylo, you can capture phone numbers from social media and message your biggest supporters when tickets or merch go live, plus reward them with exclusives. It works across SMS, email, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs, with integrations like Shopify and Spotify, voicemail hotlines, and a complete tour suite when you’re ready to hit the road. Laylo makes it easy and affordable for DJs to drop in your style and build a fandom that lasts.
 
Get 15,000 free messaging credits here with code Olivia15

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Some DJs have a million followers but can't fill a 100-cap room. So what actually builds a career?

Olivia Mancuso sits down with Thatch Sammet, Director of Partnerships at Laylo, to break down the infrastructure behind real fan loyalty in electronic music.

They unpack the 1,000 true fans framework, the fan flywheel, and why owning your fan list beats chasing streams, followers, and the algorithm.
Real case studies: Griz's early access merch drops, Austin Millz' backstage giveaway system, the Dean Turley "Acting Tough" missed moment, and the night Skrillex crashed Dropbox with a Gmail link.

For DJs, producers, and electronic artists who are tired of chasing virality and want to build a career that actually sells tickets and merch.

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

What happens when billions of streams stop meaning anything? In this episode of Elevated Frequencies, Olivia Mancuso sits down with multi-platinum artist Jonas Blue to talk about the moment commercial success stopped being enough.

Jonas opens up about the summer of 2024, when years of touring and making EDM left him feeling creatively empty and personally unhappy in London. Instead of staying comfortable, he made a drastic decision: sell everything, leave the major label system, and move to Miami to rebuild from scratch.

This conversation goes deep into what it actually looks like to rebrand after a decade at the top. Jonas talks about returning to his house music roots, DJing on vinyl again for the first time in years, and writing songs the way he always did: starting at the piano, not with drums and bass.

They also dig into why originality matters more than ever in the AI era, what Jonas learned by standing on the dance floor as a fan instead of behind the booth, and why the younger generation's relationship with phones is changing club culture for better and worse.

Whether you're an artist thinking about making a creative pivot or just curious about what happens when someone at the top decides to start over, this episode is a masterclass in trusting your gut.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Ever wonder what happens when two brothers make 500 tracks before one finally breaks through? In this episode, Olivia Mancuso sits down with Murphy's Law, the UK brother duo taking the US dance music scene by storm.

From growing up in a studio at the end of their garden (their dad played with Stevie Wonder) to making rap music as teenagers, Sonny and his brother Finn built their careers through relentless grassroots hustle. They share the full story behind their breakout remix of Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man," including the 13 month clearance nightmare and the McDonald's car park moment they got the news.

The conversation gets real about why being sober behind the decks makes you a sharper, more honest DJ. They break down the industry's ripping culture, why most DJ duos implode, and how they strategically built relationships with artists like Joseph Capriati and Jamie Jones.

Murphy's Law also reveal the trap of chasing a viral hit after your first big record, and why going back to making whatever feels cool is always the answer.

Whether you're an up and coming DJ or deep in the scene, this one's packed with real talk about resilience, patience, and playing the long game in dance music.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

What does it actually take to go from bottle service gigs to touring techno DJ? Flashgea has a very specific answer.

Olivia Mancuso sits down with Flashgea, a Bronx-born, Ecuadorian-Trinidadian producer and DJ who discovered rave culture at 20 years old on an illegal boat party during COVID lockdown and never looked back.

They cover the story behind Took the Night, his biggest track to date, how a single caption about the genre police triggered a viral moment that brought Hannah Laing, Sarah Landry, and eventually JSTJR into his orbit.

Flash breaks down the exact bar deal strategy he used to make free events financially viable, how he grew the Mezcla party series from a Brooklyn rooftop to a 1000-person birthday show, and why he asked for just two stops on  JSTJR's tour and ended up with seven.

This episode is essential listening for any DJ or independent artist trying to understand how to build leverage before you have it, how to stay mentally grounded in the quiet periods between wins, and why being genuinely interesting outside of your genre matters more than most people admit.

Subscribe to Elevated Frequencies for weekly conversations with the artists, DJs, and industry figures actually building careers in dance music.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Laylo is the drop platform and CRM used by artists and promoters like Fisher, Chris Lake, James Hype, Mochakk, Whethan, and TekSupport to create hype around big moments and build a direct line to fans. With Laylo, you can capture phone numbers from social media and message your biggest supporters when tickets or merch go live, plus reward them with exclusives. It works across SMS, email, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs, with integrations like Shopify and Spotify, voicemail hotlines, and a complete tour suite when you’re ready to hit the road. Laylo makes it easy and affordable for DJs to drop in your style and build a fandom that lasts.
Get 15,000 free messaging credits here with code Olivia15:
https://laylo.com/auth?affiliate=eZ9o...

You’ll also have a chance to meet Thatch Sammet, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Laylo and get direct insights on how to leverage the platform at Miami Music Nexus!

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What does it actually take to build a DJ career that lasts 16 years? The answer involves sacrifice, grief, loneliness, and a studio in an attic.

Olivia Mancuso sits down with Archie Hamilton, a UK-based house and tech house DJ and label founder who has spent over a decade and a half touring internationally and releasing music across multiple imprints.

This conversation gets real about the parts of the industry nobody glamorizes. Archie opens up about moving back home at 26 to pursue music full-time, why external studio setups quietly destroyed his creative output, and how building a home studio this year has him producing 6 hours a day for the first time in years. He talks about the discipline behind longevity versus the trap of chasing a two-year hype cycle.

From the TikTok effect on how music gets made, to the loneliness of touring, to why smart money habits matter more than most artists realize, this episode is a blueprint for artists who want a real career, not just a moment.

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Subscribe for more real industry insights and deep dives into electronic music!
👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram:  oliviamancuso_ 
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Ever struggle to finish tracks because of endless screen time and studio distractions? Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with underground house heavyweight Josh Butler to discuss how strict time limitations actually fuel his creativity.

Josh reveals how balancing fatherhood with his DJ career forced him to embrace constraints, proving you can produce a great track in just three hours by stepping away from your phone and protecting your creative flow.

They also dive into his hands-on workflow with analog synthesizers, the minimal mixing principles of vintage dub reggae, and the launch of his new vocal-led imprint, MYC Records.
For electronic music producers, this conversation is a masterclass in working efficiently and keeping your focus strictly on the music.

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Ready to turn Miami Music Week into more than just parties?
Join us at Miami Music Nexus and spend your time in Miami learning how to build real fanbases, tour smarter, and grow your career in electronic music—with industry pros who actually know what they're talking about.
👉 Get tickets here

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👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Laylo is the drop platform and CRM used by artists and promoters like Fisher, Chris Lake, James Hype, Mochakk, Whethan, and TekSupport to create hype around big moments and build a direct line to fans. With Laylo, you can capture phone numbers from social media and message your biggest supporters when tickets or merch go live, plus reward them with exclusives. It works across SMS, email, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs, with integrations like Shopify and Spotify, voicemail hotlines, and a complete tour suite when you’re ready to hit the road. Laylo makes it easy and affordable for DJs to drop in your style and build a fandom that lasts.
 
Get 15,000 free messaging credits here with code Olivia15.

You’ll also have a chance to meet Thatch Sammet, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Laylo, and get direct insights on how to leverage the platform at Miami Music Nexus!

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What happens when a DJ bets her career on the one album she wrote only for herself?

Olivia Mancuso sits down with Sippy, the Australian-born bass music and dubstep producer who just wrapped her Scars In Stereo album tour. Sippy built a loyal fanbase on lighthearted, high-energy club sets. Then she released something completely different. They dig into how Sippy held onto years of moody, personal music before finally committing to an album, and how that decision had nothing to do with strategy or bookings.

Olivia and Sippy also break down when it actually makes sense to pivot your sound, how to build a fanbase that rides with you through career changes, and why chasing virality produces fans who will never buy a ticket or a piece of merch. This episode is essential listening for any artist trying to build something that lasts in dance music without losing themselves in the process.

Ready to turn Miami Music Week into more than just parties?

Join us at Miami Music Nexus and spend your time in Miami learning how to build real fanbases, tour smarter, and grow your career in electronic music—with industry pros who actually know what they're talking about.
👉 Get tickets here

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.

👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__

👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Laylo is the drop platform and CRM used by artists and promoters like Fisher, Chris Lake, James Hype, Mochakk, Whethan, and TekSupport to create hype around big moments and build a direct line to fans. With Laylo, you can capture phone numbers from social media and message your biggest supporters when tickets or merch go live, plus reward them with exclusives. It works across SMS, email, WhatsApp, and Instagram DMs, with integrations like Shopify and Spotify, voicemail hotlines, and a complete tour suite when you’re ready to hit the road. Laylo makes it easy and affordable for DJs to drop in your style and build a fandom that lasts. Get 15,000 free messaging credits here with code Olivia15:

You’ll also have a chance to meet Thatch Sammet, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Laylo and get direct insights on how to leverage the platform at Miami Music Nexus!

Miami Music Week can transform your dance music career, but only if you arrive with a proven networking strategy. Olivia Mancuso delivers a solo masterclass on navigating the chaos, breaking down her "FBI approach" to intelligence gathering, identifying real decision-makers, and naturally bypassing gatekeepers before you even walk through the door.

Olivia also reveals how to craft the perfect 30-second elevator pitch without sounding like a walking EPK, and lays out a clear 90-day follow-up plan to turn the connections you make into real opportunities, whether that's getting tracks signed, securing bookings, or building relationships that actually last.

Subscribe for more real strategies, and join us at Miami Music Nexus on March 26th to put it all into practice!

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

The music industry's trend cycle is moving faster than ever, but surviving for over a decade requires more than just bowing to the algorithm.

Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with iconic DJ and producer Valentino Khan (@ValentinoKhan)  to dissect his unique journey from making hip-hop beats on basic software to dominating the dance music scene with decade-defining hits like "Deep Down Low."

They dive deep into the reality of modern music consumption, discussing how bringing a hip-hop perspective into dance music helps simplify your production and why strong vocals are often the secret to a timeless track.

You’ll learn critical insights on navigating the "TikTok-ification" of the industry, what it really takes to perform for massive crowds at WWE's WrestleMania, and why investing your time into high-quality music videos and original skits beats getting lost in a sea of short-form content.

This episode is a masterclass on career longevity, proving that relentless adaptability and making art you genuinely think is cool is far more valuable than just chasing viral moments.

Ready to turn Miami Music Week into more than just parties?
Join us at Miami Music Nexus and spend your time in Miami learning how to build real fanbases, tour smarter, and grow your career in electronic music—with industry pros who actually know what they're talking about.
👉 Get tickets here

Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Viral fame looks like overnight success, but building a sustainable music career often takes a decade of grinding behind the scenes.

Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with tech house artist OKAYVAL ( @OKAYVAL ) to dissect her journey from making beats in 2013 to dominating charts with viral hits like "Techno" and "Designer."

They dive deep into the reality of modern music production, discussing how to evolve your sound design and mix engineer skills across genres like House and Big Room to finally find your unique signature.

You’ll learn critical insights on the self-release vs. record label debate, producer tips for avoiding social media burnout, and how to navigate music industry marketing without losing your creativity.

This episode is a masterclass on producer mindset, proving that staying humble and building genuine community is more valuable than just chasing algorithm trends or collecting plugins.

Ready to turn Miami Music Week into more than just parties?

Join us at Miami Music Nexus and spend your time in Miami learning how to build real fanbases, tour smarter, and grow your career in electronic music—with industry pros who actually know what they're talking about.
👉 Get tickets here

Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth:
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Creating a cohesive body of work is the ultimate challenge for rising artists. We explore the pressure of music production while balancing a relentless release schedule and touring.

Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with bass music powerhouse ALLEYCVT to discuss her journey from professional songwriting to becoming a headlining EDM producer.

We dive into technical sound design, the complexity of mixdowns, and the workflow required to bridge melody writing with professional electronic music production in the studio.

Learn how authenticity drives social media growth and why investing in a tour production team is vital for elevating your live DJing experience.

Beyond studio gear, we discuss the producer mindset, navigating the music industry, and the importance of fostering a tight-knit community within the bass scene.

Subscribe for more exclusive interviews and expert producer tips to level up your career!

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Stop dreaming about the mainstage and start building your music career today. Discover how a bedroom producer went from downloading an Ableton Live trial to performing with Illenium at Lost Lands.

Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with EDM artist Avello to decode his rapid ascent in the electronic music industry. Learn how he turned a basic studio setup into a touring reality through sheer focus.

Master modern music marketing with Avello’s "Trust and Dopamine" content strategy. We break down why post-release promotion beats pre-release teasing and how to effectively cut through the noise on social media.

Explore professional music production workflows, from mastering VST plugins like Serum to overcoming the learning curve of DAWs. Get essential producer tips on navigating label deals and refining your DJing skills.

Whether you are focused on sound design or business strategy, this episode offers vital career advice. Shift your mindset from fear to "best case scenario" visualization to finally unlock your true potential.

👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth

👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__

👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

You're finally making money from music. Shows are coming in. Maybe you just got your first $10K, $50K, or $100K check. This is the moment every artist works toward—and the moment where most careers start falling apart.

The music industry doesn't teach you what to do when the money actually arrives. There's no handbook for navigating profit vs. expenses, budgeting for inconsistent income, or knowing when you actually need professional financial help. By the time most artists realize they're in trouble, they've already made costly mistakes that set them back years.

Jasmine Kwok has seen it from every angle. From artist relations to booking during the Avicii era, to banking, and now running ICONAC as a business manager for top DJs—she knows exactly where artists go wrong and how to fix it.

This isn't just about managing money. It's about understanding the difference between a business and gambling, building the right team at the right time, and recognizing that financial literacy isn't optional if you want longevity in this industry.

Key Takeaways:

- The critical difference between a business manager, CPA, and financial advisor (and when you need each one)

- Why most artists wait until there's a financial emergency to get help—and how much that costs them

- The invisible infrastructure behind every successful artist that fans never see

- What to actually do with your first big paycheck (hint: it's not buying a Rolex)

- The "need vs. want" test that stops impulse purchases in their tracks

- Red and green flags when interviewing business managers

- Why communication matters more than technical expertise

- How lifestyle creep kills more careers than bad music

Whether you're just starting to make money from music or you're already earning six figures, this conversation will change how you think about building sustainable wealth in the music industry.

Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth.

Connect with Olivia on Instagram

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

When success starts destroying you, do you walk away or do you rebuild on your own terms?

Sam Divine spent 25 years grinding her way to the top—from handing out flyers on Ibiza streets to becoming the Queen of Defected. But the journey nearly broke her. Depression, addiction, relentless touring, and the loss of her mother pushed her to a breaking point where the music that once saved her started hurting her.

In January 2025, she checked herself into rehab. Not just for the drugs and alcohol, but for exhaustion. For being a workaholic who couldn't remember the last time she just breathed. What she found there changed everything.

If you've ever felt like giving up, like the industry is too much, like you're losing yourself in the chaos—this conversation is for you. Because on the other side of rock bottom, Sam found something unexpected: a new era, a new label (555), and a profound new energy that's redefining what success means.

Key Takeaways:

• Why being a workaholic is just as dangerous as being an alcoholic
• How Sam went from hating her first sober gig to thriving in sobriety
• The real cost of 25 years on the road and how burnout compounds over time
• How rehab unlocked her creativity and led to writing "Scars" about addiction and faith
• What it means to rebuild your career when you can't even listen to music anymore
• The art of the 5-hour set and why going back to grassroots venues matters
• How losing her mother became the catalyst for finding herself
• Why the industry needs more female producers, not just more female DJs
• How to maintain your standards while the industry evolves around you

Sam's journey proves that hitting rock bottom doesn't mean it's over—it means you finally have solid ground to rebuild from.

Want personalized guidance on building a sustainable career in dance music? Book a consulting call with me on GreenRoom and let's map out your next move.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Will Clarke posted that he was retiring. For 48 hours before revealing it was a remix album announcement, he experienced something unexpected: complete freedom. "I woke up the next day after retiring and was like, my god, this is so free."

That moment revealed a truth most artists won't admit - this career is both a calling and a cage. Will's been doing this since he was nine years old, DJing longer than he hasn't, and sometimes the only way to remember why you started is to imagine walking away.

Key Takeaways:

- Why the artist career is gambling  - and what that really means
- The truth about sacrifice: how to know if what you're giving up is worth it
- Why playing more bad gigs than good gigs is the only path forward
- The windscreen vs. rearview mirror: why regrets are valid but what's ahead matters more
- Why dating outside the industry might save your sanity
- The real question: would you still make music if no one was listening?

If you're struggling with whether this career is worth the sacrifice, this conversation will give you the framework to decide.

Need personalized guidance on building your career and protecting your mental health in this industry? Book a consultation with me on GreenRoom. and let's create a strategy that works for your life.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Think running a label is just passion and good taste? Charles D is learning the hard way what it actually costs to build something from scratch.

With releases on Drumcode and Pryda Presents, Charles has earned his stripes in techno. But now that he's launched KONKRTE, he's pulling back the curtain on what nobody talks about: the $2,500 per release, the £1,000 promo campaigns, and why most artists have no idea what they're signing up for.

We get into his bootcamp tour with Eric Prydz (9 shows in 12 days, every set different), the imposter syndrome that comes from calling yourself an artist when you grew up in an immigrant household, and the difference between being a producer who makes things sound good versus being an artist who has something to say.

Key Takeaways:

• The actual breakdown of what it costs to release music on your own label

• Why promo companies are eating most of your budget (and why you need them)

• The difference between producers and artists - and why most never make the shift

• Why imposter syndrome doesn't go away even after you've "made it"

• The economics of running a label without burning your artists

Need help building your artist brand or navigating the business side of dance music? Book a call with me on GreenRoom for personalized strategies that actually work: https://greenroomnetwork.com/creator/OliviaMancuso

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

New year, same you? Good. Because I'm not here to tell you to hustle harder or add seventeen new habits to your routine. The artists crushing it right now aren't doing MORE than you - they're doing DIFFERENT. They've figured out how to stop being a full-time employee in their own career and start being the CEO.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the one framework that separates DJs who plateau at year three from the ones who build sustainable, growing careers: Working ON your career versus working IN your career. And by the end, you'll have a four-week action plan to map out your entire 2026 strategy.

Key Takeaways:

• The difference between working IN (day-to-day tasks) vs ON (strategic planning) your career
• Why most DJs spend 95% of their time on the wrong things and plateau as a result
• How I built Chicago Music Nexus by spending 6 months exclusively working ON the business
• Why some gigs are strategic moves and others are just survival mode
• The 5 key areas where you need to work ON: strategic planning, content & releases, marketing assets, relationship building, and career development
• The Weekly CEO Hour: How to implement strategic thinking without adding more work
• The post-performance analysis framework (featuring insights from Rituals founder Rami Dabura)
• Your 4-week action plan to completely map out Q1 and set yourself up for success

Why This Matters: You cannot build momentum if you're constantly in the weeds responding to DMs, tweaking tracks that are already done, and staying busy without actually growing. Strategic thinking is what separates successful artists from everyone else - and it's the one thing most DJs completely skip.

Want help building your 2026 strategy? Book a 1-on-1 artist development call with me on GreenRoom where we'll map out exactly what you need to focus on to reach your goals.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Think learning to DJ means mastering your equipment? You're missing the entire point.

Your Shot just wrapped their first-ever US competition after 15 years of success in Australia, and what I witnessed at the LA finals completely shifted my perspective. Hundreds of people across LA and New York signed up for six weeks of free DJ training - most had never touched a deck. The LA finals drew 4,000 people (the largest crowd Catch One has ever hosted), and NYC brought 3,600 across two days.

Nobody was competing against each other. Complete strangers were hyping each other up like lifelong friends. No one was on their phones unless they were recording their friends perform. Pure community, pure support.

The LA winner was Ashley Wilkins (@jellybean.dj), a 29-year-old wellness consultant from Santa Clarita. NYC's champion was Jade Letlow (@punkybutter), a 34-year-old Senior Claims Examiner from Brooklyn. These aren't industry insiders - they're regular people who committed six weeks to betting on themselves.

In this conversation, Rashna Krishnan explains why Your Shot teaches the soft skills and industry etiquette that no one else does. How to approach promoters correctly. Why showing up for your scene matters more than your mixing ability. The difference between networking and asking for gigs. And why putting yourself in uncomfortable situations is the fastest way to grow.

Key Takeaways:

• Your DJ career starts on the dance floor, not behind the decks
• Industry etiquette and soft skills matter more than technical ability
• Show up for your scene before expecting your scene to show up for you
• The right way to approach venues, promoters, and other DJs
• Why building genuine community beats competition every time
• How six weeks of pressure with a deadline creates transformation
• Creating your own opportunities when they're not presenting themselves

Registration for Your Shot 2026 is now open. Even if you never do the competition, the principles in this conversation will change how you approach your career.

Follow Your Shot: @yourshot_usa

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists think saying yes to every opportunity is how you build a career. ANATTA proves the opposite is true.

Since our last conversation, ANATTA has mastered one of the hardest skills in this industry - strategic rejection. He turns down more bookings than he accepts, including clubs he's been dying to play and gigs that could pay six months of rent. This isn't about being difficult or playing hard to get. It's about understanding that every yes to the wrong opportunity blocks you from the right one.

In this conversation, ANATTA breaks down his approach to selective booking, reveals his genius content creation hack that involves ditching your phone entirely, and explains how fashion and visual identity play into building a recognizable brand in dance music.

Key Takeaways:

 → The camcorder hack for creating better tour content without distractions
 → How to know when to turn down bookings
 → Why planning content while traveling beats scrambling for posts later
 → The real reason top artists say no more than they say yes
 → How fashion choices impact your brand identity as a producer

If you're struggling with FOMO around opportunities or don't know which bookings to take, this episode will shift your entire approach to career strategy.

Want personalized guidance on building your brand and making strategic career decisions? Schedule a one-on-one session with me on GreenRoom where we can dive deep into your specific goals and create an action plan.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

The world is at 134 BPM right now. Your sound sits at 125. Do you adapt or wait for the trend to pass? This is the choice every producer faces, and Dutch house legend Ferreck Dawn has navigated it for over two decades.

Fresh from Amsterdam Dance Event, Ferreck breaks down how he's built a career that's lasted through multiple industry shifts, sound evolutions, and market changes. From his signature "clock" element that's hidden in every track to balancing a touring career with family life, this conversation reveals what it actually takes to build longevity in dance music.

Key Takeaways:

• How to distinguish between creative evolution and chasing trends
 • Why consistency and discipline matter more than viral moments
 • The power of having a signature sound (even if it's subtle)
 • Navigating the pressure to speed up your BPM when the market shifts
 • Why the work never stops - no matter what level you reach
 • How touring impacts family life and what sacrifices look like
 • The importance of having your own sound versus following what's popular

The industry will keep changing whether you're ready or not. But artists who last are the ones who know when to adapt and when to hold their ground.

Want personalized guidance on navigating your own career decisions? Book a strategy session with me on GreenRoom to gain clarity on your next steps and build a career development plan tailored to your goals. Chat with me on GreenRoom.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists agonize over when to quit their day job. Malóne spent 9 years building his career strategically until the timing was finally right. After nearly a decade of playing Miami clubs, growing his WHYNOTUS label, and building the right relationships, quitting his corporate job before Miami Music Week wasn't a risk - it was the natural next step.

This conversation reveals the real timeline of building a sustainable music career. From playing for $200 as the "promoter DJ" to touring Europe all summer, Malóne's journey shows why patience and strategic thinking beat impulsive leaps every time.

Key Takeaways:

• How to know when the timing is actually right to go full-time
• Why years of grinding creates sustainable success
• The hidden truth about "dream labels" vs. labels that actually support artists
• How to build a label that puts artists first while staying profitable
• The real financial considerations when you have a family depending on you
• Why some of the best opportunities come from labels you never considered

Ready to build your own sustainable music career? Book a strategy call with me on GreenRoom for personalized guidance on timing your transition, building your brand, and creating multiple revenue streams in dance music.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists think gratitude is just feel-good fluff. But what if I told you it's actually one of the most powerful business strategies you can use to transform your career?

In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing the exact gratitude practice that took me from making $30,000 a year in a job I hated to building multiple businesses in the music industry. This isn't toxic positivity or woo-woo manifestation - this is strategic psychology that changes how you show up, make decisions, and attract opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

• The brutal rejection that forced me to bet everything on myself
• Why operating from gratitude beats desperation every time
• The psychology behind why your brain can't tell the difference between real and imagined success
• How to use gratitude strategically (not just "be thankful for what you have")
• The difference between genuine gratitude and toxic positivity
• My exact morning practice that rewired my entire career trajectory
• Why grateful artists make better business decisions and attract better opportunities
• How to maintain gratitude during setbacks (like when my studio flooded)
• The strategic gratitude framework you can start using today

The Bottom Line: When you operate from genuine appreciation instead of desperation, you become magnetic to the people and opportunities that can transform your career. Your dreams aren't just possible - they're inevitable when you align your energy with them.

Stop chasing success from a place of lack. Start attracting it from a place of gratitude.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists compartmentalize their lives - music over here, other interests over there. Rebūke shows how to fold your entire self into your music career. The same kid who got pulled out of geography class to fix teachers' computers now creates stunning 3D visuals that have transformed his live shows and opened entirely new revenue streams.

While other artists outsource their visual content, Rebūke taught himself Cinema 4D, Unreal Engine, and AI visual generation. His shows now feature production value that looks like a massive team but runs with just him and his VJ, sometimes creating content on planes between gigs.

Key Takeaways:

• Why learning adjacent skills can become your biggest competitive advantage
 • How to identify which of your existing talents could enhance your music career
 • The strategic decision between outsourcing vs. learning new skills yourself
 • How visual content has expanded his career beyond traditional DJ bookings
 • Why being the "computer nerd" in school set him up for success in modern music
 • The mindset shift from "I just make music" to "I create experiences"
 • How childhood interests can become professional superpowers
 • Why artists who embrace technology early gain massive advantages

Stop limiting yourself to just music production. Your "other" skills might be exactly what sets you apart in a crowded industry. Hit play to learn how to identify and leverage the talents you already have.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most DJs burn out, fade away, or get replaced by the next big thing within five years. Jamie Jones has been dominating dance music for over two decades. So what's his secret to mastering the long game?

In this rare, in-depth conversation, we dive into the strategic decisions and mindset shifts that have kept Jamie relevant while countless others have disappeared. From his isolated beginnings in rural Wales to building Paradise into a global phenomenon, this is the blueprint for sustainable success in dance music.

Key Takeaways:

 • The mindset shift that transformed his relationship with performing and creativity
 • The strategic psychology behind moving Paradise from DC-10 to Amnesia 
 • Why he evolved from being mentored to becoming the mentor everyone credits
 • How his 8-year sobriety journey transformed his relationship with performing and creativity
 • How he restructured his entire life around family without sacrificing career momentum
 • The counterintuitive approach to scaling a brand globally while keeping its soul intact

This isn't just another "how I made it" story. This is a masterclass in longevity from someone who's watched entire generations of DJs come and go while he continues to thrive. If you want to build something that lasts in this industry, this conversation is essential.

REMINDER: You have ONE WEEK LEFT to secure your Chicago Music Nexus pass! This is the industry event of the year - don't miss your chance to connect with the people shaping dance music's future. Get tickets now before they're gone.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most people think inclusivity is the key to building a successful venue or event. Dom Brown built his empire doing the exact opposite - and he's not apologetic about it.

As the founder of Porn & Chicken (Chicago's most legendary weekly party), owner of Never Have I Ever bar, and touring manager for Green Velvet and Shermanology, Dom has one controversial principle: not everyone deserves access to everything.

While other promoters were chasing numbers, Dom was implementing no-phone policies in 2010 and hand-selecting who could enter his parties. The result? A cultural phenomenon that grew from 150 to 5,000 people weekly and is still talked about fifteen years later.

Key Takeaways:

• Why saying "no" at the door created safer spaces and legendary experiences
• How the no-phone policy became Dom's secret weapon (years before it was trendy)
• The psychology behind why exclusivity creates more demand than inclusion
• The difference between being seen vs. creating genuine experiences
• Why artists need to give authentically to the community before expecting anything back
• How door hosts became the "ethos" of successful parties
• Why themed events require every element to serve the overall experience

The Controversial Truth: Dom openly admits "I am discriminating" - and explains why this approach built multiple successful businesses while creating genuinely safe spaces for marginalized communities.

Actionable Strategy: Learn why your standards aren't gatekeeping - they're brand building. Discover how scarcity creates value and why the most powerful word in your vocabulary might be "no."

Stop chasing everyone and start curating intentionally. Hit play to learn how exclusivity became Dom's path to building a legendary career in dance music.

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Think you know who your most valuable fans are? This conversation with Ritesh Patel, co-founder of Ticket Fairy, will completely flip your understanding of fan value and event data.

While most artists focus on big spenders and VIP customers, Ritesh has discovered through processing over $300 million in ticket sales that your most valuable fans are actually the ones who spend the LEAST money. Why? Because they're the early adopters buying early bird tickets and bringing their friends along.

From throwing underground events at a loss for a decade to building the "Salesforce for live entertainment," Ritesh breaks down how data intelligence can transform any artist's career - whether you're throwing 30-person pop-ups or planning festival expansions.

Key Takeaways:

• Why your early bird buyers are more valuable than big spenders (and how to identify them)
• The 3 essential data points every artist must track from their first 30-person event
• What $300M in global ticket sales reveals about fan behavior and market opportunities
• The difference between vanity metrics and revenue-driving data
• How to turn casual fans into people who travel to your shows using data insights
• Why most artists completely misunderstand what their audience actually wants

Stop guessing and start knowing. Your fans are giving you all the data you need to build a sustainable career - you just need to know how to read it.

Looking for more insights on your artist journey? Join us November 22nd at The Joinery for industry education, networking, and career-defining connections. We're covering the same essential topics as the major conferences - monetization, brand building, industry evolution - plus professional headshots, pitch consultations, and premium food and drinks. We sold out last year, so don't wait. Get tickets at chicagomusicnexus.com

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Think you need a big budget and industry connections to throw successful events? Kyle Cassico proves otherwise. He went from $9,000 in credit card debt to building a thriving experiential company, and his guerrilla marketing tactics work whether you're throwing your own events or trying to get booked.

Kyle breaks down exactly how to create content that moves people from scrolling to showing up, how to build credibility when nobody knows who you are, and why your biggest limitation might not be money - it might be mindset.

Key Takeaways:

• How to market events with zero budget and no industry credibility
 • Content strategies that actually convert followers into ticket buyers
 • Why authenticity beats polish when building your brand
 • The psychology behind getting people to take action on your events
 • How to leverage relationships when you're starting from nothing
 • Why feeling "average" might mean you just haven't found your alignment yet
 • Practical steps for building buzz around your shows and career

Whether you're a DJ trying to get booked, a producer planning your first event, or an artist wondering how to build a following from scratch, Kyle's blueprint shows you exactly how it's done.

Stop waiting for permission and start creating the opportunities you want to see.

Can't make it to ADE? Chicago Music Nexus is your answer. Join us November 22nd at The Joinery for industry education, networking, and career-defining connections. We're covering the same essential topics as the major conferences - monetization, brand building, industry evolution - plus professional headshots, pitch consultations, and premium food and drinks. We sold out last year, so don't wait. Get tickets at chicagomusicnexus.com

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Think you need millions of followers to break out of your local DJ scene? Lawrence James from Crossfader proves that one viral video can change everything - but only if you know what to do next.

Lawrence went from playing the same local clubs seven nights a week to touring internationally, all because he decided to film one garage routine with a cheap camera. That video hit 80,000 views overnight and opened doors he never imagined. But here's the twist - the real success came when he pivoted from touring to education, working at Crossfader, and helping thousands of DJs worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

• Why one viral moment can unlock opportunities beyond your local market
 • The platforms and strategies actually moving the needle for DJs in 2025
 • Why networking and speaking to people still outperforms social media algorithms
 • Why being super niche wins over trying to appeal to everyone
 • How to document your journey from day one (even the embarrassing parts)
 • Why entering competitions and putting yourself out there always pays off

Lawrence's biggest lesson? Stop waiting for permission and start putting yourself out there. Whether it's entering DJ contests, networking at events, or just filming that routine you've been perfecting -- you never know which door will open next.

Can't make it to ADE? Chicago Music Nexus is your answer. Join us November 22nd at The Joinery for industry education, networking, and career-defining connections. We're covering the same essential topics as the major conferences - monetization, brand building, industry evolution - plus professional headshots, pitch consultations, and premium food and drinks. We sold out last year, so don't wait. Get tickets at chicagomusicnexus.com

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Think you need to wait until you're making six figures to start planning your financial future? Think again. DJ and financial advisor Danner destroys every excuse artists make about money management and reveals why wedding DJs often out-earn nightclub residents by thousands.

This isn't your typical "save money" advice - this is real talk from someone who's built two successful careers simultaneously. From knowing when it's safe to quit your day job to why DJ snobbery is costing you serious cash, Danner breaks down the financial strategies that separate struggling artists from those building real wealth.

Key Takeaways:

• The 6-month survival test before going full-time
• Why wedding DJs can earn $1500/night while club DJs make $300
• How to diversify your DJ income beyond nightclubs
• The biggest financial mistakes artists make early in their careers
• Alternative DJ opportunities beyond nightclubs (gyms, spin classes, corporate events)

Ready to level up your career AND your finances? Meet Danner in person at Chicago Music Nexus on November 22nd at The Joinery - he's both our sponsor and speaking on our financial planning panel. Want to network before the main event? Join us at the pre-party where tickets are moving fast and you don't need a CMN ticket to attend (but we highly encourage both for the full experience).

All details: chicagomusicnexus.com

Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__

Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx