Welcome to ProducerHead. A podcast for the Music Producer, Artist, Creative, and, Entrepreneur.
I’m excited to present the ProducerHead podcast in the form of a series of conversations with accomplished producers who will share what’s in their heads to help you unlock your own.
Whether you’re just getting started or you’re a professional producer, these conversations are here to offer information, encouragement, and community — a place to belong.
ProducerHead will explore the entire spectrum of topics that are experienced as a producer.
So, whether you’re interested in
Growing your social media following
Improving your Spotify release strategy
Or Managing impostor syndrome
ProducerHead is here for you.
Connect at with ProducerHead at torubeat.com and @torubeat on social media.
024: Cryptic One Sample: Creatively Overcome Your Impostor Syndrome
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 • Duration 19:47
This 'Sample Episode' brings you key moments from my conversation with Cryptic One, where we explore the challenges and triumphs of creativity. Cryptic One opens up about his journey with impostor syndrome, perfectionism, and how he learned to embrace his creative process. From practical tips on staying productive to reshaping how we think about failure, Cryptic One offers a wealth of knowledge to help you break through your own creative barriers. Be sure to listen to the full conversation in ProducerHead Episode 3 for even more insights.
Throughout the episode we discuss:
* Cryptic One’s definition of impostor syndrome and how it manifests.
* Why perfectionism can block creativity and how to overcome it.
* His approach to managing writer’s block by embracing failure as part of the process.
* The importance of reflecting on past accomplishments to combat self-doubt.
* Practical strategies for daily productivity that push projects forward.
Three Meaningful Takeaways:
* Impostor Syndrome is Universal: Even the most accomplished artists experience self-doubt, but it’s a sign of growth and striving for authenticity.
* Fail Forward: Embracing failure as a necessary part of the creative process can help you push through blocks and uncover new ideas.
* Daily Progress Matters: Setting small, achievable goals each day ensures consistent movement toward your larger creative aspirations.
023. jacuzzi jefferson Sample: Relentless Creation and Ceasless Releases
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 • Duration 22:43
This ProducerHead Sample episode brings you highlights from my conversation with jacuzzi jefferson, an artist who exemplifies what it means to create constantly and release fearlessly. We explore his process of starting beats with interesting elements, the importance of collaboration in unlocking potential, and his pragmatic approach to putting music out into the world. Whether you’re battling creative blocks or seeking inspiration, this episode offers valuable takeaways for producers at all levels.
Throughout the episode we discuss:
* The freedom of working quickly and letting ideas flow.
* Using collaboration to overcome creative bottlenecks.
* Strategies for deciding when a track is finished and ready for release.
* The value of embracing new sounds and creating space for them.
* Creative ways to structure and release music in today’s singles-driven market.
Three Meaningful Takeaways:
* Collaboration Unlocks Growth: Bringing in talented collaborators can take a track to the next level and ease production bottlenecks.
* Don’t Overthink Release Strategies: Whether through aliases or breaking projects into singles, the key is to keep releasing music.
* Trust in Momentum: Sometimes ideas need time to evolve; focus on the momentum, and let the music take its course.
Timeline:
00:00 - Intro
05:13 - Jacuzzi's Unique Music Production Process
09:58 - The Importance of Collaboration in Music
14:47 - Navigating Music Releases in a Singles Market
20:01 - Final Thoughts and Community Support
List of References from the Interview:
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014. Chenoa Tarin - Part 2: Be Competent And Kind. Ignore What Is Correct. Make What Is True To You.
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 • Duration 45:44
Welcome to part two of this two part episode with Chenoa Tarin.
Today's guest is Chenoa Tarin, a Brooklyn based, producer, vocalist and songwriter whose sounds are an homage to the music that formed her. Chenoa Tarin also runs “Bouquet,” a monthly femme forward artist showcase in Brooklyn with resident DJ Dewy ‘87.
As you’ll hear throughout this conversation, Chenoa believes deeply in self-expression and the importance of art.
Throughout this conversation, we will discuss:
* Chenoa’s experience at SAE Institute.
* Complementary career paths as a music producer.
* The importance of being competent AND kind.
* What is technically correct versus what is true and authentic to you.
* Chenoa’s experience and ideas for starting an event of your own, wherever you are.
* And, Chenoa tells us that you can do whatever you want, forever.
Top 3 Gems From This Convo:
1. REGARDLESS OF YOUR TALENT, ARE YOU KIND?
Yes. Make good music. Also, there is no substitute for kindness and connection to a community.
You can fail alone, but no one succeeds without the support of others.
2. FOCUS ON COMMUNICATING WHAT YOU FEEL, NOT WHAT IS “CORRECT.”
Notice if you are imposing rules and limitations about what is technically “correct.” Prioritize the communication of your energy and feeling through your music.
3. YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, FOREVER.
Remember that when other people say you that you cannot do something, it is not necessarily true.
It is something that they said, nothing more.
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014. Part 1: Another's Success Is Not Your Failure. You Can Do Whatever You Want, Forever. | feat. Chenoa Tarin
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 • Duration 40:26
Welcome to part one of this two part episode with Chenoa Tarin.
Today's guest is Chenoa Tarin, a Brooklyn based, producer, vocalist and songwriter whose sounds are an homage to the music that formed her. Chenoa Tarin also runs “Bouquet”; a monthly femme forward artist showcase in Brooklyn with resident DJ Dewy ‘87.
As you’ll hear throughout this conversation, Chenoa believes deeply in self-expression and the importance of art.
Throughout this conversation, we will discuss:
* Community and how Chenoa actively builds it through Bouqet.
* Expressing your values and creating inclusive spaces through events.
* Why Chenoa decided starting her own show was important.
* That you are ready before you think you are.
* And, that the success of another is not your failure.
And, Chenoa shares a few bangers across genres in today’s edition of the ProducerHead Listening Room.
That’s it for Part 1 of this two part episode with Chenoa Tarin. Take a quick second and subscribe to ProducerHead wherever you are listening so that you catch Part 2. Don’t forget to leave a review and share this episode with a friend:
Don’t miss out on Part 2 of this conversation with Chenoa, where we will get into:
* Chenoa’s experience at SAE Institute.
* Complementary career paths as a music producer.
* The importance of being competent AND kind.
* What is technically correct versus what is true and authentic to you.
* Chenoa’s experience and ideas for starting an event of your own, wherever you are.
* And, Chenoa tells us that you can do whatever you want, forever.
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013. Part 2: You Are Not Your Good Or Your Bad Days. Don't Procrastinate. Don't Force It. Absorb Inspiration From Everywhere | feat. Wrex Mason
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 • Duration 40:02
Welcome to Part 2 of this two part conversation with Wrex Mason.
Today's guest is Wrex Mason, a Hip-Hop producer from Hartford, CT; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. Wrex began producing at age 11, and for the past 13 years, he has released both solo and collaborative projects with a wide range of artists.
Above all else, Wrex prioritizes being a "perpetual student of the craft" and a stark advocate for creative independence.
His influences include J Dilla, Madlib, Flying Lotus, DJ Premier, Easy Moe Bee, 9th Wonder, and Pete Rock.
WrexMason.com is a one-stop shop for Wrex's discography, merch, and marketplace for artists in search of beats.
Welcome to part two of this two part episode with Wrex Mason.
If you haven’t already, I invite you to listen to Part 1 of this conversation, where Wrex shares his Sketchbook Mentality and his philosophy on how to keep good and bad days in perspective.
Today, in part two of this conversation, Wrex shares how he identified the grooves of his self-talk to improve his practice and his art. How he combines structure and free-flowing time to capture inspiration, and what producers can learn from the world of cooking. Wrex also emphasizes the prioritization of making music for yourself first.
Before you soak-up another episode of ProducerHead, please subscribe and drop a rating as well as a review wherever you are listening. This helps ProducerHead find its place and its people. After all, without you, there is no ProducerHead.
Top 3 Gems From This Convo:
1. SCHEDULE CREATIVE TIME THAT NATURALLY PLAYS TO YOUR STRENGTHS.
What works for others may or may not work for you.
Look for patterns in what has led to fulfilling creative sessions in the past and try to recreate those.
If you don’t know where to start, pick an approach or copy another routine and try it out.
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013. Part 1: There Was A Yesterday. There Is A Tomorrow. Make Music For You Today. | feat. Wrex Mason
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 • Duration 36:00
Welcome to Part 1 of this two part conversation with Wrex Mason.
Today's guest is Wrex Mason, a Hip-Hop producer from Hartford, CT; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. Wrex began producing at age 11, and for the past 13 years, he has released both solo and collaborative projects with a wide range of artists.
Above all else, Wrex prioritizes being a "perpetual student of the craft" and a stark advocate for creative independence.
His influences include J Dilla, Madlib, Flying Lotus, DJ Premier, Easy Moe Bee, 9th Wonder, and Pete Rock.
WrexMason.com is a one-stop shop for Wrex's discography, merch, and marketplace for artists in search of beats.
Welcome to part one of this two part episode with Wrex Mason.
In this conversation, Wrex shares his Sketchbook Mentality, the importance of maintaining sustainable working habits in order to produce our best work, and the power of a broad perspective in our day-in and day-out work.
Before you soak-up another episode of ProducerHead, please subscribe and drop a rating as well as a review wherever you are listening. This helps ProducerHead find its place and its people. After all, without you, there is no ProducerHead.
That’s it for Part 1 of this two part conversation with Wrex Mason.
Make sure you come back for part two of this conversation, where Wrex shares how he identified the grooves of his self-talk to improve his practice and his art. How he combines structure and free-flowing time to capture inspiration. What producers can learn from the world of cooking. And, the prioritization of making music for yourself first.
Top 3 Gems From This Convo:
1. REMEMBER THAT TODAY IS ONE OF MANY DAYS.
There will be days where the work will come easier than others.
None of those days are necessarily better or worse than any other.
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012. ProducerHead Gems 01, Part 2, Working Without Inspiration, Developing Relationships and Routine, and The Most Powerful Source Of Encouragement | feat. Birocratic, Nothing Neue, Ian Ewing, & Piklo
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 • Duration 24:54
Welcome back to the first installment of ProducerHead Gems, where we will take a look back at some of the best that past guests have shared on ProducerHead.
This is Part 2 of a two part episode where we will hear from Birocratic, Nothing Neue, Ian Ewing, and Piklo.
First up is Birocratic, sharing a pivotal moment in his career and how he harnessed the momentum to build relationships along with his audience. He even goes so far as to re-contextualize what he learned for today’s state of the industry and offer potential strategies you can implement on your own.
Next we will hear from Nothing Neue, who was featured on Episode 009. Nothing Neue shares how being signed to Alpha Pup Records has impacted his perspective as an artist and his thoughts on motivation and encouragement.
Next up is Ian Ewing, who was featured on Episode 011 of ProducerHead. During the conversation, Ian spoke to the inter-connected nature of what’s happening in our lives and what’s happening in our work. This clip provides a glimpse into Ian’s experience with routines and how they have evolved to help maintain momentum in his creative process.
Last but not least we are traveling back to Episode 002 of ProducerHead, which featured Piklo, who shared motivation and actionable ideas for creating products as an artist. If you feel like you’re lacking a spark of inspiration, here’s some free momentum from Piklo.
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012. Part 1: ProducerHead Gems 01, Part 1, Beat Writer's Block, Tune Your Ears, and Achieve Your Goals | feat. WEI, Cryptic One, Just Jared, and Jacuzzi Jefferson
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 • Duration 30:53
Welcome to the first installment of ProducerHead Gems, where we will take a look back at some of the best that past guests have shared on ProducerHead.
This will be a two part episode and in Part 1, we will hear from Cryptic One, Jacuzzi Jefferson, Just Jared, and WEI.
First up is Just Jared sharing ideas for how to go about learning production whether you're just starting out or an experienced producer interested in expanding your existing knowledge.
What I love about Jared's approach is the emphasis on setting high-level goals to provide direction and aligning with your work through the application of what you learn in smaller pieces over time.
WEI came by on Episode 005 to round out the first season and share his perspective on how to be a good collaborator. Not only that, he left us with an important reminder to consider when thinking about music and the various platforms through which we interact with music and each other.
Here is Jacuzzi Jefferson, sharing a glimpse of what it's like to be a student in his college course, where he teaches electronic music production. Listen up to catch some ideas for expanding your own musical tastes and stepping up your game as a mixing engineer and producer.
Here is Cryptic One, who joined us in Episode 003 to share his take on Writer's Block as well as how to break through it. How does this compare to your own view? Is Cryp's position on Writer's Block as controversial as he thinks?
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011. Part 2: What You Make Is A Reflection Of You: Prioritizing Music Over Content, Personal Identity Over Fitting In, And Trusting Your Gut | feat. Ian Ewing
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 • Duration 57:52
Welcome to part two of this two part episode with Ian Ewing.
At a young age, the Southern California-based artist (by way of Wisconsin) fell in love with hip hop and the history behind it. This was his gateway into electronic beat production where he finds himself today, as he strives to create ambient compositions of sample-based sounds blended with his own instrumentation.
Ewing has headlined various shows across the US, and has both collaborated and toured with artists including Flamingosis, Louis Futon, Joey Pecoraro, Anomalie, Galimatias, and Cautious Clay.
In this conversation:
- The pro's and con's of having an over-analytical perspective.
- Making music that is true to who you are creatively and musically.
- The importance of the work behind the scenes.
- How creating art that is in line with what is interesting to you leads to a more sustainable path.
- And, we even get a little insight in to Ian's passion for hummus.
If you haven't already, I invite you to listen to Part 1 of this conversation, as we covered several topics from Ian's unique and experienced perspective.
Alright, with all of that said, let's drop in to Part 2 of this conversation with Ian Ewing.
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011. Part 1: Do Less: Making Better Decisions Instead Of More Decisions, Compassionate Discipline, Expanding Your Perspective on Productivity, And Defining Your Own Success | feat. Ian Ewing
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 • Duration 53:40
Welcome to part one of this two part episode with Ian Ewing.
At a young age, the Southern California-based artist (by way of Wisconsin) fell in love with hip hop and the history behind it. This was his gateway into electronic beat production where he finds himself today, as he strives to create ambient compositions of sample-based sounds blended with his own instrumentation.
Ewing has headlined various shows across the US, and has both collaborated and toured with artists including Flamingosis, Louis Futon, Joey Pecoraro, Anomalie, Galimatias, and Cautious Clay.
- Making better decisions versus more decisions.
- The value of observing your playing through recording.
- The relationship between effort expended and quality of art made.
- Applying a "Fire and Forget" mindset in the studio.
- The impact and connection between routines in your professional and personal life.
- The Value of Defining Your Own Success.
- And, so much more.
Top 3 Gems From This Convo:
1. MAKE BETTER DECISIONS, NOT MORE DECISIONS.
There is not a direct relationship between the quantity of your decisions or complexity in your process and the quality of what you produce.
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Products:
* Ableton Live (DAW of choice for jacuzzi jefferson)
That's it for the second part of this two part episode of ProducerHead Gems. Let me know how you felt about this first edition of ProducerHead Gems by leaving a review and sharing your favorite moment.
To hear the full conversations with any of the past guests, a guide is as follows:
That's it for the first part of this two part episode of ProducerHead Gems. I hope you enjoyed hearing some of these distilled moments and find a way to apply them in your own creative process.
Again, to hear more from each of these artists, you can refer to the previous conversations as follow:
Remember this the next time you are immersed in your process.
2. MORE NOTES DOES NOT EQUAL MORE MUSIC.
Allow understanding what serves the music to be your guide. Record yourself playing and practicing and ask yourself what may be removed without reducing the song.
3. DEFINE YOUR OWN SUCCESS.
In today’s environment, there is considerable external pressure imposing definitions of success.
Take ownership of your success by choosing to define it.
In doing so, you succeed on your own terms with an understanding of what is within your control.
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