THE BIG BREAK

These days, musical artists have tough decisions to make when thinking about their own growth. Like whether to sign a deal, or stay independent. With the growth of online resources, both options can lead to success, but having the choice is critical. Just ask our guest this week Cam Meekins, a hip-hop artist who made the decision to go independent and never looked back.

Cam has had a rollercoaster of a life, and his experiences have been a big driver in his success. Cam sat down with us to talk about his journey through music, the choices he made, and how he grew to be the independent success he is today on this episode of The Big Break.

Carlos Battey, better known as Jackie’s Boy, lost both of his parents at a young age—a massive life hurdle that can disrupt even the best laid plans. However, Carlos took that loss and channeled it into his music… grinding, writing, and networking on the streets of LA. His hard work paid off, and after signing a deal with Universal and working with superstars of all types, he ultimately earned a Grammy for his work with Madonna.

Carlos joins us today to talk about perseverance, and motivation in the face of the greatest adversity life can throw at us, on this episode of The Big Break.

Success has a different meaning for everyone, and it’s not always easy to define. Our guest this week is Slade Echeverria, one of the founding members, and current manager of the rock band Anarbor. Slade and the band saw success early, getting a record deal when they were still in their teens. But if you ask Slade, the real success didn’t come until later, much later.

Anarbor has a dedicated fan base, and have had commercial placements on TV programs like Sports Center and Cartoon Network, but is that enough? Slade explains what his marker for success truly was on this episode of The Big Break.

Our guest this week is lifetime producer, Jeffery David. Jeff has worked in music for the entirety of his life, producing tracks independently, and also as a musical director for his church. He has collaborated with superstars like Zedd, and built his success from the ground up. Most recently, in addition to being a top-tier producer, he also manages the chart topping band Echosmith—who also happens to be his family.

Jeff joins us to discuss his experience in the music industry and how a glass-half-full mentality can make all the difference, on this episode of The Big Break.

Our guest this week is Michale Graves, best known for joining the revival of legendary international punk band ‘The Misfits’ as their lead singer.

Michale has had an incredible career in music, with difficult ebbs and flows of good times and bad. The key to his success? Focus, doing the work and keeping your eye on the prize. Join us as Michale tells the story of how he set himself up for success, both in the past and the present, on this episode of The Big Break.

There is not always a single defining moment that screams success. Sometimes, it’s a culmination of small decisions and opportunities that make up that big break, and it’s only when taking a step back that we can truly see it.

Just ask our guest this week, Grammy nominated producer Steve Daly. Steve was part of the production team called the Tracklacers, and has worked with superstars all over the world including Pink, Christina Aguilera, Snoop Dog, Charlie Wilson, and more.

Steve joins us to talk about the small steps and chance encounters that brought him to success, on this episode of The Big Break.

Our guest this week is Grammy nominated producer and songwriter Philip Kembo, known as “Dr. Chaii.”

Dr. Chaii has co-produced and co-written for global superstars like Sean Paul, Pitbull, Chris Brown, Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa, and many others. Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Dr. Chaii found his way just making beats, and utilizing Twitter to foster connections in the industry. As he progressed, he began to see the value in momentum and being in the room as the magic happens.

Dr. Chaii joins us to talk about going across the world to pursue his dreams, on this episode of The Big Break.

Our guest this week is legendary Cellist Zoe Keating. Zoe is an independent artist who found success in fusing musical styles through technology. Her music has been used in TV shows, radio shows, and has been used in over 20,000 third party videos. Beyond that, her work has hit #7 on the Billboard Classical charts, and #1 on iTunes classical charts—4 times.

She is a tremendous advocate for artist and creator rights and speaks at regular engagements about the mechanics of the music industry economy. Zoe joins us to talk about the path that music took her, and the successes and hardships she faced on her journey, in this episode of The Big Break.

Joining us this week is country songwriter Ben Stennis. Ben has written for numerous artists including Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Florida Georgia Line, the list goes on.

Ben’s break didn’t happen all at once. It was a series of steps that lead from one accomplishment to the next over ten years that ultimately gave birth to his success. He joins us to discuss the pursuit of his dreams in Nashville and recognizing progress on this episode of The Big Break.

Joining us this week is Brent Baxter, a hit songwriter who has worked with artists like Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Randy Travis, and many more. He is also one of the co-hosts of the songwriter podcast The C.L.I.M.B. and is extremely active in the songwriter development sphere through the website Songwriting Pro.

After working a nine-to-five, Brent took the leap and moved to Nashville to pursue his dreams as a songwriter. Brent shares his experiences growing as a songwriter and finding a publisher who wants to invest in your future, not your past, on this episode of The Big Break.

Joining us this week is podcaster, producer, marketer, and all-around music industry wiz, Johnny Dwinell. Johnny started out as a musician, performing in hair metal bands, but he pivoted to focus more on business and marketing side, developing artists through his own company.

Today, he is not only a co-host on The C.L.I.M.B podcast, but he also runs Daredevil Production, where he helps artists with their digital marketing. He has worked with multi-platinum artists like Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, and more.

Johnny joins us to discuss the state of the industry, and how the landscape is evolving, on this episode of The Big Break.

Our guest this week is Jack Forman, President of BiCoastal Productions. BiCoastal is a booking agency working with acts like Colin Mochrie, Scotland’s Red Hot Chilli Pipers, The Daily Show Writers Comedy Tour, and tons more.

Jack joins us to discuss the state of the industry today, and how the live performance world is adjusting to the new normal of the Covid-19 pandemic, on this episode of The Big Break.

Matt Rogers is a songwriting dynamo. He has written for major country artists like Brett Aldridge, Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, Chris Young, Jimmie Allen, and tons more—even branching out to other genre artists like Jordin Sparks.

Matt started his music career in Nashville, like many other artists, but it wasn’t until a chance opportunity allowed him to play some songs for a publisher, at a bar, while filming a documentary that things started to click into place. Matt joins us to share his experiences as a songwriter on this episode of The Big Break.

This week we are joined by Adam Craig. Adam has experience on both sides of the coin. He has pursued a career as a recording and touring artist, and was even named by Rolling Stone as one of the top 10 country acts to know in 2016, but he’s recently put the road to rest to focus on his passion for songwriting.

Adam has contributed to Church Pew and Barstool by Jason Aldean, Whiskey on my Breath by Love and Theft, and Close Your Eyes by Parmalee among many others. Adam provides us with some great perspective as a songwriter, while keeping a foot in the performer camp, and how focusing on the work can deliver the goal in the end, on this episode of The Big Break.

Like many artists, Brad Rempel got out of his first record contract. But unlike others, he harbors no ill will. In this episode of The Big Break, the High Valley founder explains why artists shouldn’t “crucify” the companies making early bets on your career.

Anthony Lee Norris, better known as Lee on the Beats, joins us to talk about growing up in music, the people in his corner, the power of technology, and why it’s important to believe in yourself, on this episode of The Big Break.

This week we sit down with Domingo Padilla, a music legend with over 30 years of experience under his belt as a producer for some of the biggest names in rap and hip-hop. Domingo shares with us his experiences, the importance of mentors, publishing, and more, on this episode of The Big Break.

For this episode we are joined by Anthony Martini, best known for discovering massive artists like Tyga and Lil Dicky, but his experience in the music industry is vast. Ant sits down with us to talk about how he evolved from an artist, to a manager, and the importance of hustle, on this episode of The Big Break.