EP074 "Kevin Macleod - Mentorship, Milestones, and the Road to the Next 1,000 Songs!"

The Journey of Music Production

In this episode, I sit down with mentor, inspiration and friend Kevin MacLeod to talk about the real journey of music production — the highs, the milestones, and everything in between, while celebrating my recent win of publishing 1,000 songs.

We dive into how the creative process evolves over time, how technology has completely changed the way we make music, and why staying authentic still matters more than ever.

Kevin and I discuss experimenting with different genres, chasing new sounds, and the magic that happens when collaboration clicks. There’s something powerful about making music that tells a story — not just to fill space, but to say something. Every project, whether it hits or misses, teaches me something new about who I am as a composer and what I want my music to stand for.

I also share a few reflections with Kevin on how the tools have changed — from early VSTs to the advanced setups we have now — and how those changes have opened doors for creativity we couldn’t have imagined twenty years ago. Still, no matter how far technology takes us, the core remains the same: it’s about emotion, connection, and creating something that resonates with people.

Music is storytelling. It’s about capturing those moments — joy, pain, growth — and turning them into sound. That’s the journey I'm on as a composer, an artist, and a content creator.

💡 Takeaways

• Every step in music production is a milestone — celebrate them.

• Exploring new genres keeps creativity alive.

• Technology has changed the game, but authenticity is what connects.

• Collaboration makes the creative process richer and more inspired.

• Music is storytelling — it brings emotion, texture, and depth to everything we create.

• Looking back helps shape where we go next.

• Good advice can redirect an entire career.

• The creative process is full of trial and error — and that’s how growth happens.

🎤 Sound Bites

• “You have to become the instrument.”

• “It’s all about making it better.”

🔑 Keywords

music production, creative process, technology in music, authenticity, collaboration, music genres, storytelling, composition, milestones, advice

⏱ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Weather Talk 02:43 – Milestones in Music Production 05:24 – Exploring Genres and Creative Process 07:44 – The Evolution of VST Technology 10:32 – Reflections on Musical Growth 13:26 – Future Directions in Music Composition 16:29 – The Joy of Polka Music 17:42 – Filling the Gaps in Music 18:57 – Immersive Music in Gaming 20:52 – The Evolution of Music Creation 22:27 – Creating for Yourself vs. Clients 24:50 – The Challenges of Client-Based Work 26:43 – The Role of Temp Music 28:31 – The Collaborative Nature of Music 29:31 – The Future of the Music Industry 30:22 – Advice for Future Projects