OpenDAW Talks - Elevate Your Music – Details, episodes & analysis

Have you ever wondered what it's like to have complete creative control over your music? In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Dave Lee, a true icon in the electronic music scene, know best for his pseudonym Joey Negro to explore the ins and outs of his 30 year career.

Dave shares his journey from the early days of Glam rock to becoming a powerhouse in the house and disco world. He opens up about the freedom he now enjoys in his career, making music on his own terms and bringing his wildest ideas to life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Insights into Dave's creative process, from initial ideas to finished products
• The art of remixing and re-editing classic tracks for modern dancefloors
• The importance of trusting your instincts and being honest with yourself about your work
• Tips for emerging artists on navigating the music industry and protecting their rights
• Strategies for overcoming creative blocks and finding inspiration in unexpected places
• The value of owning your music rights and building a strong back catalog
• 
  

Whether you're an aspiring producer, a seasoned DJ, or simply a music enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable insights and inspiration, from one of the industry's most respected figures.

BEST MOMENTS

"I would say the most exciting thing that's happening is that I've got to a point in my career where I'm kind of doing what I want."

"Just to follow your gut. Follow your gut instincts about things. If you've worked on a piece of music and you don't think it's right or you think it's great or there's somebody you're working with, you're not really sure if it's, you know, the synergy's there or you're not happy. You know, I just think, follow your gut instincts."

"I've always been a finisher. I remember the guy when I was signed to a publisher in the early nineties, he said that you're a finisher and I finish off track. My problem is not, oh, I've got lots of half finished tracks on my hard drive."

"One thing is important to know is what you're good at, what you're bad at. And I can play chords, but I know I'm not great. You know, I'm not. My taste in chords is better than my ability to play them."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Check out our Spotify Playlist

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Roger Sanchez

ABOUT THE HOST

Lex Luca is a London-based DJ, producer, and tastemaker, known for his infectious energy both behind the decks and in the studio. With releases on Snatch!, Nervous, and his own label In Tune, Lex has garnered support from industry heavyweights like Pete Tong, Annie Mac, and Claude von Stroke. A former BBC Radio 1 producer, he brings a wealth of experience to his craft, delivering a unique blend of house, disco, and techno that has taken him from London to Ibiza and beyond. Lex founded OpenDAW Songwriting camps, bringing together independent musicians to collaborate. And now, as the host of OpenDAW Talks, Lex shares his journey and insights with the next generation of music creators.

CONNECT & CONTACT

OpenDAW

Lex Luca

Email: hello@opendawtalks.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Bug uncovers the secrets behind his enduring career in this episode of OpenDAW Talks. The German DJ, producer, and tastemaker has been a driving force in the electronic music world since the early '90s, consistently pushed boundaries and set trends. In conversation with Lex Luca, Steve opens up about his musical journey, from production techniques and mixing secrets to the art of DJing and running the wildly successful label Poker Flat Recordings. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Unlock the secrets of Steve's creative workflow and production methods.
• Discover mixing techniques that elevate your tracks to professional standards.
• The importance of staying true to your musical vision
• Strategies for overcoming creative blocks
• Tips for aspiring DJs on reading the crowd and building a set
• Gain insights into building a successful label and cultivating a loyal fanbase.
• Explore strategies for staying true to your artistic vision while navigating the industry.

“To build a long lasting career. It's important to stay true to yourself. If you like trancey commercial music, if you like big festival stuff, and that's what's you, what, what gets you going, go for it. This is, this is your music. Play it out.”

“I think a good DJ is someone who can really start at some point and then build it up, break it down again, build it up again going in this direction. Go that direction. Play some house. Play some melodic house and techno. Play some, maybe rather hard stuff. Play some deep stuff, like, go all the places.”

“In general, that's maybe one of the things I really like about making music is that you never stop learning. It's just great to explore and get better at things, and I just love it with every new track.”

“To really come up with something that is going to break through or has been, like, bigger or seen is like always something that is different and then maybe it's copied afterwards, but you've been the first and it's getting more and more difficult every year.”

“Really stay positive. Don't let others bring you down and believe in yourself. And again, find the right people that support you. And yeah, don't be put off by not getting any feedback from labels, stuff like that, just keep on going.”

“You're not going to be a great dj from day one. No one was. Take your time.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Check out our Spotify Playlist

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Dave Lee

ABOUT THE HOST

Lex Luca is a London-based DJ, producer, and tastemaker, known for his infectious energy both behind the decks and in the studio. With releases on Snatch!, Nervous, and his own label In Tune, Lex has garnered support from industry heavyweights like Pete Tong, Annie Mac, and Claude von Stroke. A former BBC Radio 1 producer, he brings a wealth of experience to his craft, delivering a unique blend of house, disco, and techno that has taken him from London to Ibiza and beyond. Lex founded OpenDAW Songwriting camps, bringing together independent musicians to collaborate. And now, as the host of OpenDAW Talks, Lex shares his journey and insights with the next generation of music creators.

CONNECT & CONTACT

OpenDAW

Lex Luca

Email: hello@opendawtalks.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Junior Sanchez, a true icon of the New York music scene. In this episode, we explore Junior's remarkable 30-year career as a globally renowned DJ, artist, record producer, and music exec.

From his early days spinning records at exclusive Manhattan fashion parties to collaborating with industry giants like Masters at Work and Harry Romero, Junior's story is nothing short of inspiring. He shares his experiences remixing for legendary acts such as Daft Punk and Gorillaz, and offers a glimpse into his diverse production credits across various genres.

5 TAKEAWAYS

• The value of authenticity and developing your unique "soundprint"
• How to adapt to technological changes while maintaining artistic integrity
• The importance of collaboration and learning from industry peers
• Balancing creativity with business acumen in the music industry
• Navigating the ups and downs of a long-term career in music

BEST MOMENTS

“I approach a collaboration with no ego, open to any idea. I'm never one to say, if we were working together, like, hey, let's try this. And even if my heart was set on something, I'll say, hey, let's try it. Why not? What's the worst that could come out of trying?”

“I look at DAW’s as canvases. Sometimes you get a canvas with a colour on it and you got to colour on top of it.”

“I would read liner notes of twelve inches in the bathroom while I was doing my personal business and, you know, till, you know, my legs fell asleep.”

“I love to complete. Even though I love sound design. I was never a modular nerd. I was never a knob tweaker.I had a lot of friends that were just super techno heads, super knob tweakers. And I go into a room and they have amazing module synths, great studios, beautiful stuff. And they never finished anything.”

“It's okay to just be you. Be a person that makes music, and it doesn't have to serve a purpose all the time, you know, just enjoy it"

“Be authentic. Don't let it rule you. Don't let it use you. You use them. So if you are growing up in a generation with all these platforms, you're the user. Don't let these platforms use you, because then… it's just, it's a path to destruction.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Check out our Spotify Playlist

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Episode Roger Sanchez

ABOUT THE HOST

Lex Luca is a London-based DJ, producer, and tastemaker, known for his infectious energy both behind the decks and in the studio. With releases on Snatch!, Nervous, and his own label In Tune, Lex has garnered support from industry heavyweights like Pete Tong, Annie Mac, and Claude von Stroke. A former BBC Radio 1 producer, he brings a wealth of experience to his craft, delivering a unique blend of house, disco, and techno that has taken him from London to Ibiza and beyond. Lex founded OpenDAW Songwriting camps, bringing together independent musicians to collaborate. And now, as the host of OpenDAW Talks, Lex shares his journey and insights with the next generation of music creators.

CONNECT & CONTACT

OpenDAW

Lex Luca

Email: hello@opendawtalks.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talented star Camden Cox shares her journey navigating the music industry's twists and turns.

From writing toplines for drum & bass tracks, to scoring major label cuts, being signed as a solo artist to RCA and DJ'ing at top festivals, Camden's path highlights the importance of honing your craft and perseverance. Her story offers a wealth of wisdom for independent artists striving to breakthrough.

5 TAKEAWAYS

• Discover Camden's unconventional vocal techniques to unlock fresh melodies.
• Learn strategies for overcoming setbacks and maintaining motivation.
• Gain insights into finding your unique sound and building a consistent brand. 
• Understand the value of collaborations and writing camps for networking.
• Receive Camden's top 3 tips for independent musicians looking to make their mark.

BEST MOMENTS

“I think it's just important to believe in your own vision, and to lead with that.”

“I got the word patience tattooed on my arm just to remind myself, like, when things aren't going too well or I've had a setback, then it's just about trusting the process and I look down at my wrist and see that patience was tattooed on there for a reason when I was feeling optimistic.”

“It's not going to happen overnight. It takes 10,000 hours to be an overnight success. And you'll come from absolutely nowhere to most people, but little do they know you've been grafting at it for ten years.”

“There are so many setbacks in this industry. It's just. I just don't think it would be this industry without the setbacks and the moments of, what the hell am I doing?”

“I've always been really good at listening to my body. So as tempting as it is, you're out in Ibiza, you've just played a set, you've got friends there, or other dj's turn up....the tequila's out, everyone's just getting on it, and as tempting as it is to, like, stick around, have fun with all these incredible people, if I'm exhausted, I will have to just sacrifice that fun and say, I'm really sorry, guys, but I need to go back to my hotel and sleep.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Check out our Spotify Playlist

EPISODE TO CHECK OUT NEXT

Louisahhh

ABOUT THE HOST

Lex Luca is a London-based DJ, producer, and tastemaker, known for his infectious energy both behind the decks and in the studio. With releases on Snatch!, Nervous, and his own label In Tune, Lex has garnered support from industry heavyweights like Pete Tong, Annie Mac, and Claude von Stroke. A former BBC Radio 1 producer, he brings a wealth of experience to his craft, delivering a unique blend of house, disco, and techno that has taken him from London to Ibiza and beyond. Lex founded OpenDAW Songwriting camps, bringing together independent musicians to collaborate. And now, as the host of OpenDAW Talks, Lex shares his journey and insights with the next generation of music creators.

CONNECT & CONTACT

OpenDAW

Lex Luca

Email: hello@opendawtalks.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this captivating interview, Felix Buxton, one half of the iconic electronic duo Basement Jaxx, shares an intimate glimpse into his incredible journey through music. 

From humble beginnings as a DJ in the underground club scene to headlining Glastonbury and winning  a GRAMMY & two BRIT Awards. Unlock the secrets to a thriving musical career from a true industry legend. Felix's story is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and authenticity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Discover how chance encounters and serendipitous moments shaped the formation of Basement Jaxx.
• Gain insights into their creative process, from sampling obscure records to making anthemic hits.
• Learn the strategies they used to stand out and captivate audiences with their electrifying live shows.
• Understand Felix's philosophy on nurturing creativity and staying true to your artistic vision.
• Receive invaluable advice for aspiring musicians seeking to forge their own path in the industry.

BEST MOMENTS

“Believe in what you're doing, and if the world doesn't like it, carry on doing it. When the doors are shut, carry on doing it. And hopefully, if you do it with integrity and for love of what you're doing, then hopefully it'll get somewhere in the end.”

“Keep on going. Because that's the main thing. It's very easy to give up. I remember there was a guy, a friend, he used to give me cassettes of, like, all these grooves and stuff he'd done. They were great, but he never finished them.”

“For me, I think, like, our highest self, our most divine experience on earth comes when we're free. We're in the flow. You know, the surfer who's there on the wave, they're not thinking. They're just, they're in that moment and it's just trying to find that moment, however you can find it.”

“And all that really matters, the kind of warm, truthful connections you have with other people and with music and with anything around you in the world. So that's the gold dust.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Check out our Spotify Playlist

EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT

DJ Spen

ABOUT THE HOST

Lex Luca is a London-based DJ, producer, and tastemaker, known for his infectious energy both behind the decks and in the studio. With releases on Snatch!, Nervous, and his own label In Tune, Lex has garnered support from industry heavyweights like Pete Tong, Annie Mac, and Claude von Stroke.

A former BBC Radio 1 producer, he brings a wealth of experience to his craft, delivering a unique blend of house, disco, and techno that has taken him from London to Ibiza and beyond. Lex founded OpenDAW Songwriting camps, bringing together independent musicians to collaborate. And now, as the host of OpenDAW Talks, Lex shares his journey and insights with the next generation of music creators.

CONNECT & CONTACT

OpenDAW

Lex Luca

Email: hello@opendawtalks.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

OpenDAW Talks is a brand new podcast series for independent musicians on how to navigate the music industry. 

Hosted by Lex Luca, a music producer and DJ from London, we'll be talking to your favourite music makers about their journeys to success.

Song-writing techniques & creative strategies, the art of collaboration & nurturing  a positive mindset, we’ll be exploring it all and more!

You’ll hear a whole host of tips and tricks from seasoned professionals to help you move forward with your music. 

Follow OpenDAW Talks on your favourite podcast platform and head to www.opendawtalks.com for more information & resources.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is your guide on how to elevate your music. This week we welcome Canadian DJ and producer Sydney Blu

Sydney has forged an impressive career over the last 20 years. She worked herself up from DJ’ing on her local after hours scene to touring around the world. 

She taught herself how to make music and has gone on to release her tracks on some of the key labels from Knee Deep In Sound, Elrow, Desert Hearts and Deadmau5’ Mau5trap records.

She has her own label and legendary Party series. She also recently set up the Change The Beat, a platform to increase the number of female, trans and non-binary producers.

There’s a common theme along Sydney’s journey; creativity, passion, drive and a love of making music. 

Sydney’s done a lot! And this one is full of wisdom. We get into her creative practices and rituals, her music making process and favourite plug-ins. We how she handles rejection, rebrand yourself when you want to change your sound and loads more.

https://www.23by23.com/

https://www.instagram.com/djsydneyblu

https://soundcloud.com/sydneyblu

https://www.instagram.com/opendawmusic

https://www.instagram.com/lexluca

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have the founder of Music Production For Women, Xylo Aria in conversation. 

Xylo’s also a talented artist, producer and songwriter and she shares loads of tips and tricks for you guys to incorporate into your own music.

We discuss a whole range of topics from imposter syndrome, and the importance of just showing.

Xylo shares how she pushes out of comfort zone as well as her approach to writing songs and why it’s important to finish them!

This is a super inspiring talk and I hope you get some value from it

https://musicproductionforwomen.com/

https://instagram.com/musicproductionforwomen/

https://instagram.com/xyloaria 

https://instagram.com/opendawmusic

https://instagram.com/lexluca

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you looking to ditch the day job and make money doing what your love; making music? Have you heard of sync licensing but not sure how it works or how to get into it? 

You need to check out this week's episode of OpenDAW Talks - we have special guest, sync agent and sync educator, Eric Campbell in conversation.

Eric runs the sync agency Sus3Music and runs an education platform CNTRL Camp.

As music producer and song-writer, Eric’s music has been featured on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Love & Hip Hop, Real Housewives and more. 

He has also been an on-set songwriter for TV shows Greenleaf and Step Up Highwater and scored a commercial for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s energy drink, Zoa.

All of that and his songs have been recorded by signed recording artists including Musiq Soulchild, Bootsy Collins, Jekalyn Carr and Roshon Fegan.

Eric shares a wealth of knowledge about sync licensing. He talks all about how to get into sync and he breaks down his creative processes. He also delves into his methods for referencing, talks about the challenges of moving to a new city and how he overcame these obstacles. And he provides some insights into networking.

If you’re wondering what Sync Licensing is, how to get into it and how to get paid. This one is most definitely for you. 

Enjoy

Lex

Eric Campbell Instagram

Sus3 Music

CNTRL Camp

Lex Luca Instagram

OpenDAW Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GRAMMY Award winning producer and DJ Mark Knight joins Lex Luca for a conversation full of wisdom and insights and inspiration.

Mark has notched up over 200 million global streams and has been a cornerstone in electronic music for nearly two decades. His chart-topping hits like 'Man With The Red Face' and 'Alright' and his collaborations go beyond house music, having lent his production and songwriting talents to the like Faithless and Florence & The Machine Calvin Harris and David Guetta, Jennifer Lopez, Flo Rider, Black Eyed Peas, the list goes on...

And that’s before we talk about his Toolroom brand, a record label, radio show and now education platform, which literally started out in the shed of his parent’s house. 

Mark has combined an innate passion for music, a clear vision, an exceptional entrepreneurial mindset, self awareness & the foresight to build a strong team around him to create his own unique path to success.

Are you struggling to finish music? Download our free guide; 7 Hacks To Finish More Music

Follow OpenDAW Talks on your favourite podcast platform, leave us a review and for more information and resources head to http://opendawtalks.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.