We’re making the Dequency platform better for artists and media buyers by incorporating the power of AI and the lessons from good ol’ fashioned user feedback. Read on to see what we cooked up for our latest release + preview what’s in our technical roadmap. Allez!

Wanted to share some exciting news: the new, improved, and undeniably fresh Dequency marketplace + web3 rights management portal is now live!

We’re grateful to v1 for its service 🫡, but as our roadmap grew more ambitious, we needed to do some ~remodeling~ to get our foundation up to par with our vision. V2 gives us that ability, and here’s how:

What’s New With V2

AI Tagging and Recommendations: We’ve incorporated AI auto tagging and recommendations, powered by our friends at Cyanite. Gone are the days of manually entering tags, genre, and track metadata, leaving categorization up to subjectivity. Now, our AI overlords are tapping into their infinite database to help us tag, sort, and filter — making the experience of finding the best track for your project even easier.

Streamlined uploading process: It takes A LOT to upload an album, and we had feedback from artists that it was often too much. We saw that many artists never finished uploading albums due to the friction of that process — it often took the work of a community manager hand-holding, and even then, artists who were excited about the value proposition of our marketplace ended up falling out of the process because of all of the extra steps it took to get started.

The new v2 eliminates some of the confusion that commonly led to error messages and roadblocks, adding in helpful tips and general UX improvements to provide clarity during onboarding. We also make it easier for catalogs to upload in bulk vs. manually entering every track. Try it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

Laying the groundwork for growth: What’s next for Dequency v2?

One of the best parts about this “marketplace upgrade” is really the ability to build even cooler features in the future. Consider this a total reworking of our original foundation; essentially making it steadier so we could build a “taller building”. Here’s what’s on the roadmap:

Modular marketplace: Improved composability means we can create white labeled marketplaces for enterprise use, breaking marketplaces down by distributor, platform, etc. Ultimately, this is a separate app that’s locked down with whatever parameters we determine, which is the type of thing we’ve been pitching to our enterprise pipeline.

Streamlined track processing: Essentially, we have a music and metadata processing pipeline. This enables us to implement creative, useful improvements like: building in auto-stemming, AI album art, etc…

Expanded transaction types: We can layer in as many different types of transactions as we want. We presently support Algo and Stripe (card payments), and now we’re able to add more types of payments across multiple digital currencies and beyond!

Enabling APIs and Data Partnerships: It’s now easier than ever for us to work with external partners and implement programs to connect with their catalogs/datasets etc. Imagine being able to license music from directly within your favorite game, streaming service, etc… sky’s the limit.

The Dequency marketplace was the first of its kind in the web3 space, and it paved the way for this even more ambitious web3 rights management portal; a marketplace that can bend to meet the needs of platforms, distributors, and projects everywhere. We can’t wait to build out these enterprise integrations and getting hooked up with platforms in need of great music.

-Team Dequency

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be?

I would want the ability to heal through my music. There would be some sacred code imprinted into the vibrations so that whenever anyone listened to my songs they would heal, align with their True Self, and feel divine peace. I already pray before I work on music, asking for God to use me as an instrument for my Greatest Good and the Greatest Good of us all. So my superpower would be a version of that prayer.

2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you?

My most personal song is called There Used To Be Four. I lost my dad about seven years ago now, and it’s a song about what it’s like to process grief… what it’s like to remember what things were like for us as a family before he passed. He was a photographer and took photos or video of literally everything growing up, so the song is about me watching my family’s memories through the lens that he saw life through. I went through about forty hours of his home video footage to grab audio samples and weaved in the voices of my family and myself as a little girl to help tell the story of the song. It’s this electronic singer-songwriter genre blend and I used the audio samples as a drop of sorts and as a way to have a posthumous conversation with him. It actually made it my genesis NFT because I wanted my first solo web3 project to be something really authentic, vulnerable, and experimental. You can listen here and there are still a few editions left.

3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it?

One of my current experiments is with Showtime. I love how web3 artists have been using Showtime’s music drop pre-save feature where you can mint a free NFT that automatically pre-saves a song to your Spotify library. I didn’t have a new release ready, but I didn’t want that to stop me, so I’m currently running an experiment to see if I can use its mint-for-Spotify save pipeline on a song that is already out. I chose my song Hologram and took some of the raw music video footage to create a free music video artifact NFT. The drop is still in progress, but so far I’ve seen a 2% increase in the song’s Spotify score through the increase in saves.

4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of the music industry?

I hope that web3 technologies will make it easier for people to make a sustainable living as an artist. For example, blockchain technology can create an additional revenue stream where music can be treated like fine art. In addition, it creates a way for artists, songwriters, and producers to get paid immediately, instead of having to wait months for royalty checks. In addition, with platforms like Reveel or 0xsplits, I’ve seen a lot of musicians collab at songwriting camps, sell those songs as NFTs, and be able to easily split sales between them, no matter where the collaborators live. I think a really empowering paradigm is emerging.

5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city?

I’m in Los Angeles (born and raised!) and my favorite place to eat is True Food Kitchen. It’s sad cause that is actually a chain, but the flip side is that there might be one by you and if there is, you should definitely go get some of that deliciousness.

6. What book are you reading currently?

I’m currently reading A Course in Miracles. I really love spiritual books and I try to incorporate meditation and a little bit of reading into my morning routine every day if I can.

7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album?

I think this is such a personal question, as every song and artist is different. Marketing is an art form in and of itself. I think the most important thing is to figure out what you want to say about the song, be true to yourself and to the song, and then be consistent. Learn about the tools available to you, such as organic social media, paid social media and Google ads, Submithub, Showtime, and more. There are lots of YouTube videos available for free to learn about the areas that you don’t know about yet. Treat each release like an experiment and just keep learning and iterating to see what works for you. It’s about consistently showing up for you and your art. It’s about not getting discouraged if a song doesn’t do as well as you hope. In this single-oriented and algorithmic economy, it can take time to build data and get traction. Build a solid foundation and then keep building on top of it. It’s ok if the climb is slow. You can walk the whole world an inch at a time. It’s also equally important that when a song does do well, to stay grounded and to not let success feed the ego.

8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song?

I think the craziest thing that inspired a song was finding out my first love was a narcissistic sociopath. It was devastating. I felt like my life had turned into a soap opera. There was a time when every song I wrote was about that experience. I had so much to process and get out. But when I was going through the heat of healing, I didn’t hear any songs that told my story. It didn’t feel like a normal breakup or heartbreak, and I really wanted to hear music that made me feel less alone and helped me understand what happened to me. So I wrote my story myself, and one of those songs became my best-performing songs to date. It’s called Hologram, and it’s about the facade that sociopaths and narcissists wear in a relationship. It’s not on the blockchain yet, but you can hear it here.

9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3?

I’d say it’s ok to feel overwhelmed by all the new tech and jargon. That’s totally normal. Be patient, keep showing up, and soon enough it will seem like second nature. I’d also say the best way to learn and get to know the ethos, vibe, and people in web3 is to join communities built around the areas/topics you’re interested in. Just make sure to do your research to make sure the communities you are joining are reputable.

10. Projects of yours we should know about?

I’m about to enter a season where I’ll be releasing a lot of new music soon, and a lot of those new songs will be in Dolby Atmos. I was really excited to release the very first Atmos track ever on Sound.xyz, a song called Half Life. It sold out (thank you so much!!!) and I’m getting ready to drop my next Atmos track on there soon. In the meantime, I still have some editions left of a remix I did for Half Life with Green Ring that I think is this beautiful ethereal sci-fi rendition of the song. All holders get access to my token-gated chat called The Rose Garden and I’m going to keep finding ways to add value and give back to collectors. Got a couple things up my sleeve :)

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be? It would be the ability to get my song ideas out of my head onto my laptop without having to write and record. Recording is probably my least favorite part about the creative process.
2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you? Still Going is one of the most meaningful songs that I have. It was my first experience working with a producer and this producer ended up becoming my best friend and band mate. This was also the only song I’ve ever performed where I seen someone in the audience shed tears over my music. I will never forget that moment.
3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it? Dequency is actually my first solo web3 experience. I’m excited to learn more about other ways to move around this space.
4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of music industry? Putting the power back into the artist’s hands will cause a major shift in the music industry. The industry as we know it now, thrives off of taking advantage of artists and keeping us in a position where we don’t have much say so. Web3 provides an opportunity for artists to fund their own music careers without feeling the need to sign to labels that will not benefit the art.
5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city? I am in Tampa, FL and I’m a huge Korean BBQ fan. My favorite place to go right now is Boil Spot. We also have some of the best tacos ever at Los Chapos Tacos.
6. What book are you reading currently? The last book I read was Will Smith’s biography. He dropped a lot of gems for upcoming artists and it was encouraging to read how he started to where he is now.
7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album? I think it really depends on the artist and their fan base. It’s difficult to cater to the masses, so I think a better strategy is to find out who your people are and tailor something for them. I enjoy seeing all parts of someone’s process. From them writing and recording, to the release, to shows. Being vulnerable and open about the process can help form a better connection with your community as opposed to only showing your best efforts only, in my opinion.
8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song? Shows and movies. Netflix has a show called Love, Death & Robots, which is a series of these great animated short stories and there was one in particular that inspired me to write some of my best material to date.
9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3? Stay true to yourself and who you are. Don’t feel pressured to do things you don’t want and respect the space.
10. Projects of yours we should know about? I have an ep coming out this year that I’m super proud of. I am so excited to release it!

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be? Actually I feel quite happy about how my ideas come out and how music feels that comes out of me, but a superpower in marketing would be amazing. I think I would like to have the superpower of making my songs (and the ones of my friends) randomly appear on worldwide radio stations, channels and TV, without them being able to do anything >:)
2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you? Each of my songs have a different level of intimacy and most of them are deeply personal- I think it is not possible for me to put these on a scale. It can be family intimacy or relationship intimacy or friendship intimacy, self love intimacy, object intimacy, outside world/political perspective intimacy, technology intimacy ,haha idk how else to articulate this. Often I take over an empathic role and dive into other bodies and feel what they feel. And sometimes I express what is bubbling up out of me (sometimes mixed with the feelings of other humans, sometimes only my own)… There are extreme examples of that though, like the death of a close family member, but I don’t like to dive into this in this interview. Maybe on my album “What is the opposite of ambivalence” it would be “00023 ghosts”. It is about the feeling of being hunted down by your own thoughts and future and past fears that are not letting you breathe properly — not like a panic attack, but more like a luring thing that seems to come closer and louder wanting to be approached. Even though I am quite capable of sensing things in rooms that are not visible (and btw these things are often not scary, just existing on some other levels), in this song I took the term “ghosts” and described all the hunting thoughts of me and other people that had been sitting and haunting me in my head, when I wrote and composed it back in 2016. But then again the most heartful and tearing track would have been 00043 mountains, which I was recording with Warren Wolfe in the middle of an intense breakup, while I was in NYC. Warren (amazing composer, producer and singer btw) asked me if I would like to work on a song on that day and we took it how it was. We lost the master sadly, the violins were added later by Warren’s friend Jack Bandarenko. It feels like a very raw recorded piece but holds a really special place in my heart. Back then in NYC my friends even took me upstate to film a low budget music video for it. I was in a devastating state but them being around and encouraging me taught me not to give up. I love them.
3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it? Currently I like the web2&3 tool Tellie a lot, just the UX design is so pleasing that it is fun for me to recreate and improve my page. Also having the possibility to unlock content with tokens is amazing to me. Besides that I am trying to dive more into manifold.xyz and decent.xyz, Cam Murdoch gave us a little tutorial on Manifold and I cannot wait for new tracks to release to try it :) Oh and I am currently trying to find various XR web3 tools for something specific, if there is anything interesting you know of, lmk.
4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of the music industry? Uff, there is a loooooot to say and I will probably just get to the edge of it. I kind of see web3 as a big hope for art and its culture. I feel hope for ownership ( I cannot say this enough, because generally we are losing a lot of ownership rights in technology and move fast forward and deeper into the painful feudalism dynamic of capitalism), hope for creativity`s dignity, hope for emotional intelligence, hope for decentralised music listenership, hope for music creations outside the scarcity mindset of the current music industry. With decentralised listenership I mean: Letting diversity of music blossom and giving less power to the few major label focused artists. Let the world be overwhelmed with the insane diversity of music and arts and the quantity of it. Let the listeners dive into the chaos of talents. Also there is a really good example for me of how web3 can change the quality and passion of musicians and it is the music video of Haleek Maul called “Verified” and this is only the beginning. If musicians do not have to strive for very high viewing rates anymore, just for receiving streaming money and from ads, their direction of focus might change for the better — we will probably see more truly authentic and powerful pieces. Abundance has a whole spectrum of colours. I hope I didn’t miss the actual question.To summarise: If enough humans on this planet give it hope, respect and love, the web3 technology can shape the music world for the better quality-wise, efficiency-wise, communication-wise, authenticity-wise (is this a word?), industry-wise
5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city?I am located in Berlin and the best meal in my city is the “Fateh” of my roommate Kanaan. An arabic chickpea dish with lots of garlic and lots of tahini and yoghurt O______O and sometimes roasted cashews or seeds on top
6. What book are you reading currently?Mostly reading a lot of books at the same time. But these books are a little bit weird so I might hold myself back from mentioning them :D (Maybe one day)
7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album? After all the millions of sentences of advice on how to do it I slowly feel like I don’t know any more at all. The algorithm rapidly changes and the way roll-out strategies work are ageing off really fast. Currently TikTok is probably a great tool but I hate the fast paced information and it gives me a slight panic inside. Maybe all that matters is authenticity and finding a way of finding the right people who connect to that authenticity. Instead of flushing information to strangers and people who don’t care about your music or your genre and person at all. BUT I have no idea how to do that! Haha, that is why I would need a marketing superpower. Last thing I can say don’t market like U2, haha
8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song?Hmmmmmm, there was something strange actually with a collaboration track with Poly Armour, called “Overheaded”. I wrote the lyrics in 2018, and we released it in 2020, and it felt like it was a little prophetic of how humans will feel inside the pandemic. It was inspired by Poly Armour catching the flu, while we were performing in Warsaw, Poland haha. I recorded it in Warsaw the next day after our performance.
9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3? Let yourself be completely overwhelmed, dive into the chaos, intently skim through information. Do not care about the details yet. Expose yourself to the good, bad, neutral, chaotic, structured and critical –sides. But, after some time, note down things that stick with you. I think with the huge amount of information, it is important to receive an overall feeling first. See if it resonates with you, if it could align with you. Do not get blended by money, community, etc. Will it be a gateway that you can see your music and yourself in, and the people that support you? Maybe another thing that could help is diving into several Web3 communities, and see if their dynamic works and aligns with yours. I recommend the Loser Club, Future Surf and of course Underground Violet Rave (UVR), because I have found good friends there. Oh and TuningInNFTs and Wakanomy could also be a good starting point. I think most importantly is the question: Are you ready to make new friends? :)
10. Projects of yours we should know about?

• Upcoming 14 track album with producer Poly Armour releasing hopefully this year and we are planning some of the tracks to be on web3 🙂
• Currently planning on a music video for “Distance” (released on Catalog.works) and Angels (unreleased)
• And there are endless more tracks with Poly Armour because they continue happening by themselves and we do not know anymore where to put them.
• A remix compilation of my last album “What is the opposite of ambivalence” with 13 tracks is releasing soon — more of a web2 project

I have some web3 ideas that I am working on, but I cannot explain them yet. Stick with me, but only if you really connect with me ;)

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be? Flight, I would literally fly to all of my performances, land on stage, perform in the sky, all that.
2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you? “44” I think the introduction to my most recent album, She is the Future. For awhile I couldn’t perform it live without all out crying, but now it’s the opening prayer/ceremony for my most intimate performances. The lyrics call in renewal, purging, release, and new beginnings, it’s a song of rebirth between cycles. It’s super personal but it’s healthy for my artistry to evoke vulnerability in public spaces.
3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it? My first release of 2023 “honey” was on formless.xyz. I am experimenting with ways to help my “fanmily” learn how to show up for my artistry in 2023. Most of my day ones understand merchandise, vinyl, performances, and digital downloads but weren’t quite ready to jump into cryptocurrency. They were happy to support a direct stream link peer to peer transaction using Apple Pay. I believe this approach meets people where they are and I do believe they will gradually evolve into web3 instead of “onboard” into web3.
4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of music industry? I honestly believe that web3 tools will support the resurgence of value for artists and the autonomy of the creative economy.
5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city? I’m based in New Orleans, La. Come eat chargrilled oysters French bread and drink a French 75 with me. (editor’s note: packing bags now!)
6. What book are you reading currently? I’m in and out of a few books right now: the water dancer, the spirit of intimacy.
7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album? I think roll outs that feel authentic, aesthetically fire, and multi sensory capture my energy. I also like to see the way the song or album is connected over time to the world of the artist.
8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song? “Fresh Air” is a super feel food vintage soul vibe but it was inspired by me having a deep complicated cry while driving and trying to simplify my needs and desires for my partner.
9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3? I would advise folks have fun, allow the space to develop you as an artist and as a person. Be genuine, take up space, learn as much as you can about the possibilities, connect with community inside and outside of your lane, think and act cross community and cross chain.
10. Projects of yours we should know about? Explore my secondary market and some hidden gems on Zora. Also, collect my CHRM LTD edition drops bc I can’t say too much but they are special, ahem. Lastly, I’m co founding an artist creator dao this year and we are building publicly, every week at a new twitter space ON3forthePEOPLE Thursdays at 1PM on futuresurfradio presented by CharmVerse. Here is the forthepeopledao call to action: https://mirror.xyz/charmtaylor.eth/rdRTiZPyuA_DDGpVFAOXebwfuQ5EjnTBv5Th13Z_JA

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be?

I would have the ability to instantly transport the musical information from my brain to other places. I could hear a song in my head, and instantly transport the information directly to the computer to create a completed song in seconds. Or, perhaps to sheet music so that an orchestra could play it…or even just to transport the music from my brain to your brain so that you can hear my ideas in real time. I would write hundreds of songs in a matter of days.

2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you?

I think on behalf of Soul Push I am going to have to say “Sleep” (This answer is going to shock the other guys…). Though this song isn’t necessarily where we find ourselves today in terms of inspiration and overall sound, it really served a purpose in our lives. It represents a time where we knew little about music, the business of music, and where it would take us. In fact, it was one of the first times we discovered Spotify…we downloaded the app and it had 1 million streams! It was a product of us having fun and trying new things, and it just so happened to find a lot of success all on its own. To me it represents us in complete innocence and that’s kind of special.

3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it?

We have found an interest in NFTs and the power that they have in allowing people to dictate for themselves what type of value they want to create. I think it brings a lot more control back to artists to experiment and get creative with how they’d like to create a personal experience for their fans to show love and support.

4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of music industry?

I hope it is a complete disruption. Just like what Dequency is doing, I hope that web3 brings more power and control back into the hands of artists and collaborators in other media, and drops the gates that stand between musicians and success in these cross-pollinating industries. The music industry is such a difficult one to navigate and a lot of that is due to not knowing the right people or person at the right time. I see web3 making more people successful from their actual music, cultivating a really tight following, and allowing them to create value where they want it to be.

5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city?

I’m currently in Vancouver, Canada. Currently my favorite meal in the city is the Tom Yum Soup at Song. Best Thai food in the city hands down.

6. What book are you reading currently?

I’m currently reading the 7 habits of highly effective people because the holidays are still taking a toll on me (haha…)

7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album?

The best way in my opinion is a lot of teasing. If you could record your entire creation process behind the scenes and post snippets of you making them before you drop the song or album, then that is the coolest thing ever for me as a music fan. Tame Impala did this in such creative ways before their Currents album, with short videos of Kevin Parker recording instruments with the rough demo playing in the background overlooking the ocean. It made me feel like I was in the room while they were being recorded, but kept me strung along enough to want to hear the final product. I think anything you can do to make your fans feel like they’re part of the creation process is going to be impactful because of the connection it creates between them and the music…

…and here’s the obvious 2023 answer that no one wants to hear…post on TikTok as many times as you can every day and hope that your song will blow up :)

8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song?

Our song Body Is A Temple was inspired by us drinking too much and not eating well while we were living in the UK. Even bad habits can write great songs!

9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3?

Do your research, and educate your fans / friends / family. I think the more we are all on the same page with these opportunities, the more we can all benefit from them. I find a lot of the potential in web3 comes from the opportunity for positive change that it presents, but a lot of people are resistant to it and dismiss it before truly understanding how it can help them directly.

I find a lot of the potential in web3 comes from the opportunity for positive change that it presents, but a lot of people are resistant to it and dismiss it before truly understanding how it can help them directly.

10. Projects of yours we should know about?

Soul Push had a busy year in 2022, releasing a fresh set of bangers along with music videos that we created, directed, and produced all on our own. Our Make Me Do EP is some of the most catchy music we’ve released to date. Also, Conan (our frontman) is releasing new music next month under his solo project “Con The Artist” which is something you’ll definitely want to be keeping your eyes and ears on.

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be?
   Auditory Telekinesis so I could just send producers exactly how I hear the song
2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you?
   I think my song “Hashtag” is a song I have a deep attachment to ESPECIALLY when performing it because I feel like it turned into an underground underdog theme song. I can really feel the energy of like affirmation rage if that makes sense
3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it?
   I think experimenting with distribution and collaboration is the biggest advantage in web3 right now I’ve been experimenting with ways to foster a stronger communal economy and ways to improve collaboration and interactive experiences. I also love experimenting with different blockchains for accessibility and ease of building and experimenting
4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of music industry?
   Mainly experimental distribution and interactive release. The decentralized culture of Web3 can foster in a new renaissance of independence and artistic freedom too. Like you can really do whatever you want however you want through blockchain tech. Understanding how to build in this space on a tech , defi , and the over all community of insanely passionate artists really helps your mind push its limits creatively which I think will change the music industry. Like creative freedom fr
5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city?
   Atlanta and I can’t speak for everybody but the Tilapia and Wings Combo at JJs is a classic meal to me.
6. What book are you reading currently?
   I haven’t been reading to be honest but I’ve been doing a lot of deep diving into Tim Benson, cubism, and surrealism. I’m also binging Malcom in the Middle right now.
7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album?
   There is no best. There are only different directions.
8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song?
   Gaining Weight during the pandemic lol it inspired my song Husky
9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3?
   Learn while understanding no one is an expert. Try anything while understanding you don’t have to do everything. Be you because fr no one else can do you like you.
10. Projects of yours we should know about?

DROPOUT PFP FEB 20! All caps because I’m fr fr like dead ass.

ART SCHOOL DROPOUT ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be? I would want the ability for my synesthesia to become visually seen and felt by everyone who hears my music recordings and live. When I play live music people would experience the emotion with the song and see all the colors and images I feel when I wrote the song as I’m performing it. It would allow people to feel it on a deeper level.
2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you? I can’t say one song is more meaningful than another, but I will say the one that comes to mind when asked this question would be “Check On Me”. Not many people are open enough or may not know how to tell their friends they need to be checked on. I was in a place in my life where therapy encouraged me to be more vocal about this to my friends and so I got inspired to make a song expressing that. In turn I believe it helped some people express that or even ponder the importance of needing to be checked on.
3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it? Well, I know A.I. art isn’t new (lol) but I love exploring with it to spark ideas for color palettes and even for music ideas. It helps specifically because of my synesthesia. When I see color/images and hear sounds (and vice versa). So seeing certain images allow me to come up with unique sound textures to produce when I’m making beats.
4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of music industry? One way I see it helping is fans being able to support artists in a bigger way rather than buying their music and streaming. It has the potential to be apart of the “merch” category for artists. Purchasing a t-shirt will be equal to purchasing a music NFT / collectible. I can even see it being included in a bundle: you buy a music NFT and you get the shirt, physical CD and ticket to an upcoming show. It also helps indie artists stay away from having to get a record or distribution deal if they don’t want to. Music NFTs can fund music videos, photo shots, social media ad money and more.
5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city? I’m located in Raleigh, NC and the best meal in my city is any time my Wife or my Mother cooks a meal…yes.
6. What book are you reading currently? I’m reading several poetry books by the likes of Langston Hughes, Nikki Grimes, Paul L. Dunbar and more. The one that’s been intriguing to me the most is “One Last Word” by Nikki Grimes.
7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album?Creating an experience through a story / theme with visuals, pictures, and whatever else you can use to draw and entertain the viewer / listener. Tell your story in a big way. Make the rollout a movie.
8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song? An argument with my wife inspired the triumphant and heart felt song that is now known as “Need That” featuring Iman Europe. I never thought an argument could inspire an upbeat song that has a warm feeling to it.
9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3? Time management and knowing what you want out of it is important. I think it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of web3 and lose track of your creativity and time given to true passions when trying to keep up with its fast pace. Alas, it happened to yours truly. However, I think it’s the responsibility of the person onboarding someone to let them know their experience, what they’ve learned and challenge that individual to ponder these things before stepping in. Knowing what you want out of web3 will help you manage your time working and communicating within the network.

10. Projects of yours we should know about?

“Need That” feat. Iman Europe is out now on Sound.xyz and all streaming platforms.

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be? The ability to play all instruments at once. Can you imagine playing drums, keys, bass, guitar and some brass all while singing? That’d be wild.
2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you? Going Down Fast (co-written & co-produced with Custom Model) is a song about those moments in life when we are really feeling the squeeze. It was written at a time when life felt challenging and clear focus was required to pull through. My favorite line from the song is “I see my future now and you know this star ain’t fallin’. ”
3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it? I’ve experimented with 1/1’s and open editions, which have very different vibes and I’m enjoying the distribution choices we have as artists. I’ve performed in the metaverse a few times and I enjoy how it’s weird and fun. I love that it can be a global performance from anywhere. It really can be a great source of connection. I’m excited to explore sync opportunities with Dequency and start placing more music on the platform!
4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of music industry? I see greater possibility for authentic expression by artists, which will shift the industry as a whole into one that is fluid. I like to think we are leaving behind binary norms (like genres) and having to fit in an algo.
5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city? Salt Lake City. We have an incredible food scene here with an abundance of local and diverse restaurants. The best meal is hard to choose, but some of my fave spots are Zest Kitchen & Bar, Mazza, Kyoto, Tradition, Hub & Spoke Diner and Red Iguana.
6. What book are you reading currently? Yearbook by Seth Rogen, Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Thinking In Sync by Amanda Krieg Thomas and next up: This Is Not a T-Shirt by Bobby Hundreds.
7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album? I love all kinds of rollouts and think they can be as unique as the artist. I like the mystery & suspense building drops with hints, the stealth drop, the video teasers… I think they all have their own kind of magic.
8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song? Skateboarding on bumpy asphalt and feeling tingly legs that inspired a love song. Lol.
9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3? Take the time to learn about blockchain technology and decentralization. That way you have your own understanding of the power and capability that web3 holds. Identify why it’s important for you to utilize web3 tools and move with intention. Find communities you align with where you can learn, grow, give & receive support. When it comes to your own projects and working in web3, FOCUS and do what feels best for you.
10. Projects of yours we should know about? My Genesis drop on Sound.xyz is coming February 6th and will feature a single off my debut solo album coming this year!

1. If you could have any superpower, but it had to be related to music, what would it be?

Whew, that’s a great question! I think it would be the ability to become an elite producer. I’ve always wanted to get into the production side of things, but my patience in learning has been terrible. I’ll learn one day, though.

2. What is the most personal or meaningful song or piece you have created, and why does it hold such significance to you?

Hmmm… This is a tough one because I have a lot of very personal records, but the first one that came to mind is “Autumn Prologue”. That song was recorded at such a pivotal time of my life and in many ways kicked off the recording process of my album, Maintainin’. The song addresses some rough times in 2020, like a recent breakup, medical problems with family, and more. It was also bringing that song into Web3, currently, there is the music video and performance video available on Zora.

3. What new web3 tools are you experimenting with and what do you enjoy most about it?

One thing I’m eyeing is the Lens protocol. I’ve been excited about the social media apps that are being built and since it’s early, it’s easier to cut through the noise and build. I feel I can tell my story differently there and make a bigger connection and gain supporters.

4. How do you see web3 technologies shaping the future of music industry?

I feel it can help fill in some gaps for an artist, especially on the indie side of things. It won’t be the cure for all problems, but one hurdle many of us face is funding. I believe it will become easier for an artist to be able to use Web3 tools to not only gain a significant amount for their work but also leverage connections they make with collectors. A lot of times with data we can see where a supporter is area-wise, but no real way to make direct contact with them. Helping to further build the fan-to-artist connection and cutting out the middle person will shift a lot of industry standards.

5. Where are you located & what’s the best meal in your city?

So, I’m from Columbus, OH, and the best food spot here? I won’t say the best, but one of my personal favorites is this place called Club 185. It’s not even a club [laughs], just a dive bar with pretty damn good food and drinks for cheap. I usually order this fire steak & egg Philly sub.

6. What book are you reading currently?

I will openly admit I’m not reading a book right now, BUT I’m trying to dive into the newest edition of All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S. Passman.

7. In your opinion, what’s the best way to roll out a song or album?

This is a good one because I don’t think there’s one right to go about a rollout. I do feel like there are a few things every artist should try to convey, then mold the rest to what works for that person/their brand. The biggest thing is looking at it as a story and how to connect the listener to what story you want to tell. My album, Maintainin’ was coming on the heels of me quitting my 9–5 and pursuing music full-time. I did teaser videos talking about this huge step in my life and wrote detailed posts expressing why I did this, making a music video of the intro, etc. I think it did a good job of showing people where I was currently in life and wanting to hear more of these stories within the actual music.

The biggest thing is looking at it as a story and how to connect the listener to what story you want to tell.

8. What’s the craziest or most unexpected thing that’s inspired a song?

Outside of music, I have a ton of hobbies and things I’m interested in. One of those things is pro wrestling. So, there was this infamous promo with Shawn Michaels back in the 90s where he gave up his championship and went into a speech about losing his smile. I’ve never heard that clip in a song, so it was on the back of my mind to use it for SOMETHING. Luckily in 2020, I was working on a song and the themes were very much me trying to regain my happiness, so I decided to call it “Smilez” and used that clip throughout the song.

9. What advice would you give someone entering into web3?

The first piece of advice isn’t tech related, but just being an authentic person. For me, I walked in very humble and just being myself. The connections I was able to make were essential in not only my learning but also in the networking side of things as well. After that also dive a little deeper and learn some things on the tech side of things. At least the basics like what are gas fees, what is a DAO, some of the commonly used crypto, wallets, and things like that.

10. Projects of yours we should know about?

As I mentioned earlier, I’m really about to spend some time using Lens, one of the big things I want to do. Also, using platforms like the402 more. I currently have some work on Zora and music licensing available on Dequency. For my new album I’m working on, I do want to do some drops with that, to fund a lot of the things on the backend I want to do. You can expect some of the songs on Dequency as well!