About this episodeTom shares his journey from a basketball player to a hit music producer, highlighting the pivotal role of FL S…AI summary
Tom shares his journey from a basketball player to a hit music producer, highlighting the pivotal role of FL Studio and influences like J Dilla. He emphasizes the importance of finding originality, mastering the 'art of space' in production, and building a personal brand to stand out in a saturated industry. Key lessons include treating music as a business, staying focused amidst distractions, and prioritizing fun and authenticity in creative work.
Key takeaways 8
Tom's career began when a classmate shared FL3 (Fruity Loops), which he used to rip drums from CDs after being inspired by Ninth Wonder's production on Little Brother's album.
His first major financial milestone was selling a beat for $3,500 at age 19, which shifted his perspective from hobbyist to professional hustler.
A pivotal moment occurred when mainstream artist Dave Hollister bought a pack of Tom's beats, validating his unique sound and originality.
Tom experienced a career low after his dad's death and equipment failure, leading him to quit music for four months before creating 'Studio' (Q-Tip's hit) on a cheap laptop.
He learned the 'art of space' from producer Focus, realizing that removing instruments is often more effective than adding them to let the artist shine.
Tom advises producers to study music theory, sonics, and frequencies early in their career when they have time but no money, so they are prepared when opportunities arise.
In the modern industry, standing out requires creating content and controlling one's own world/brand rather than just relying on technical skills or networking.
Tom views artists through a Kobe Bryant lens: success comes from relentless work ethic, caring deeply about the craft, and taking risks rather than being lazy or distracted.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“You got to focus on basketball and focus on school. like don't really deal with any of this stuff outside of church”
▶ 3:54Tom's father restricting his access to musical instruments until he proved himself in sports.
“I thought I was rich, bro. It was only $3,500... until I realized that like 3 4 weeks later like my whole cash was gone, bro. And then that's when I was just like, yo, this could actually be a hustle for me”
▶ 5:46Reflecting on his first major sale at age 19 and realizing the financial reality of the industry.
“The artist is the last instrument”
▶ 20:24Advice from producer Focus about leaving space in the mix for the vocalist.
“If you get to a point where like you start thinking about like what's next and you can't figure it out but you just constantly thinking the beat is probably done... Just wrap it up. Just bounce it”
▶ 20:34Tom's method for knowing when a beat is finished.
“When music is not fun and when you treat it as your job, like you're going in the opposite direction. This [__] has to be like extremely fun because art is fun”
▶ 36:34Advice to his younger self about maintaining joy in the creative process.
Chapters & Sections (16)▼
0:00Early Influences and Musical Discoverychapter1
2:58Discovering Musical Inspiration and Early Influences
4:49Finding One's Sound in Music Productionchapter2
6:37The Evolution of Music Industry Pricing and Placements
8:42Unforgettable Studio Session: Violence and Realization
11:04Finding Originality in Music Productionchapter2
13:00Finding One's Sound After Tragic Loss
14:09Overcoming Creative Block and Finding Inspiration
18:54Finding Balance in Music Production Techniqueschapter1
20:42Staying Inspired and Finding Opportunity in the Music Industry
23:51Standing Out in a Saturated Music Industrychapter1
26:20Building a Music Career in the Corporate World
28:46Discovering One's Sound and Creative Processchapter3
31:08Discovering Musical Success with Fresh Energy
33:00The Importance of Breaking an Artist in Music Industry
34:42Importance of Staying True to One's Artistic Vision
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