Lessons for New Music Producers: What I Wish I Knew Earlier

Hey y’all!

This January marks not only my two-year anniversary at Safari, but also about 2.5 years since I finished audio school and went from a total newbie to… a slightly less total newbie.

A lot has happened since then, and I’ve been lucky to pick up little nuggets of wisdom from amazing producers/engineers I’ve chatted with on the Safari podcast, worked alongside, and learned from Noam, Safari’s CEO. I thought it would be fun (and hopefully helpful) to put together an Abi’s “Top 3” list of the things I’ve learned- for anyone who’s in that same spot of just starting out (or perhaps highkey freaking out about next steps in life/music like I was, hehe), and how I’ve applied them in real life, not just in theory (unicorn land).

Don’t Be a D*ck

This great line is one I got from mixer Andrew Scheps (Adele, Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers) on our Safari podcast episode.

Even though it is super simple, it has been the truest piece of advice in my experience so far. I’ve found that being authentically nice, not a d*ck or know it all, and being punctual and reliable has opened about 95 percent of musical and creative doors for me, more than “talent” ever did. All the things you would expect to be important, like having a “sound” as a producer, technical skills, or quote-unquote talent, came AFTER the soft skills. That foundation builds so much trust in what you’re brought on to do, whether it is making creative choices, giving input, or being able to charge a fee that feels right. 

The best example I have of this was getting the privilege to do the drum programming on cognitive dissonance by Nia Perez.

Camilo Velandia, the amazing producer, and I had been in touch beforehand, and when he brought me on, he was gracious to give me leeway to follow my gut while working with the drum references they sent. It was one of those moments where just being reliable, respectful, and not a d*ck allowed me to be part of an awesome creative process. 

Be a Business and a Brand

I first chatted about this topic with producer and engineer Jack Miele (YUNGBLUD, Jamie Foxx, John Oates) on our Safari podcast episode.

Jack's take blew my mind to smithereens, to say the least. When I was in audio school, the whole concept of running myself as a business felt super scary and daunting, but Jack simplified it. He said Abi the person and “ABI THE PRODUCER” the business are two different things. Think about the hallmarks of brands you love and how you can apply that to yourself.

After our chat, I thought about what I value and tried my best to apply it. I built a simple Squarespace website for myself where it’s easy to access my catalog and see what I contributed on each track. I started thinking about my aesthetic and branding and leaning into it- like the fact that I wear a ton of hats has become a way to make my business/brand recognizable. Investing in a simple photoshoot so you have good press photos, and making your Instagram super clear, goes a long way. Who are you? What do you do?

I’ve found this approach super helpful, and a lot of artists and other producers have mentioned it when we started working together. There are no magic spells, unicorns, or secret talent required- just a simple website with your catalog, some good photos of you, a clear IG page, and some conscious choices about your aesthetic goes a long way.

Study Where Money and Music Intersect

In audio school, the topic of making money in music after finishing felt like an elephant in the room. How can it actually be done? Isn’t that just something only one percent of people really manage? Noam Safari’s CEO has been a huge guiding light on this topic. A while back he mentioned that not putting all your eggs in one basket is a wise move and that having multiple streams of income is the way to go. That way, if one gig drops, you don’t need to be scrambling or freaking out.

The multiple streams don’t all need to come from record-making, and one fear I had was that doing other things would take away from music. I’ve found the opposite. I’m able to show up to sessions or projects fully creative and peaceful because I’m not in money freakout overload/goblin mode. Gigs like teaching, content creation, editing, vocal tuning, and other types of work have been super helpful in fueling my life as a freelancer in the music industry. I really wish this was something I had learned earlier.

Final Thoughts

I really hope that something in all of this was able to resonate and maybe turn some brain wheels. Feel free to reach out to me at abi@safaripedals.com if you have any questions or just want to chat more about these topics. Remember, this is only one perspective and one lived experience- take what feels right, leave what doesn’t, and carve your own path!

Catch you next blog!

Abi