My YouTube channel just turned 18! That’s almost two decades of creating content, sharing knowledge, and connecting with the music production community. It’s been a journey filled with ups, downs, and plenty of lessons learned.
I figured it might be a good time to give you some background on what eventually led to starting the channel. It might give you a bit more insight into who I am and where my music path started.
My music journey started in high school. A few friends and I, none of us knowing how to play a note, started a band that eventually became Negative Image. We built a following in the goth/new wave scene in Southern California in the late ’80s, even selling out The Roxy as an opening band. We would inspire many others our age to start bands themselves. It was a great time where our confidence and ignorance was a superpower.
By 1991, Negative Image broke up, and I started a new band, Mock Turtle Story, which gained recognition as one of the top 50 unsigned bands in Musician Magazine. This was more of an alternative band somewhere between Garbage, Ride, and Catherine Wheel. By 1996, that journey ended, too.
Around that time, I stumbled into a job at Guitar Center after previously making dough at a pizza place (a job I generally enjoyed). The pay was terrible, and I wasn’t much of a salesperson, but I did have access to music software—Cubase, Sound Forge, Cakewalk, Wavelab, and Acid—the first software that locked loops to tempo. That was a game-changer (and most certainly a precursor to Ableton).
I was already programming drums and integrating synths in my band, but this opened up a whole new world. And soon, I was not just learning music software, but teaching it—first to customers, then through house calls, and eventually full-time as a coach.
Electronic Music
Leaving bands behind and moving into electronic music was a massive shift. I had spent years writing structured songs with clear verses, choruses, and bridges. But electronic music worked differently—it was about creating a journey, about layering and evolving a track rather than making sudden shifts.
The real breakthrough came when I started studying DJs—and how their music selections controlled a dancefloor for hours. I kept mental notes of what worked, what got people moving, and what created real moments of excitement. That changed the way I approached production.
And it paid off. When I was producing as Innerstate, our tracks got picked up by some of my favorite DJs—John Digweed, Hernan Cattaneo, Way Out West, James Holden. We were getting magazine mentions, rubbing shoulders with big names, and having those “I think we’re making it” moments.
As with all creative ventures, there is an ebb and flow. Peak moments can be followed by a period where you think no one is paying attention anymore. Through these years, I moved from California to Denver, Colorado, and took my music from progressive sounds to more of a Minimal & Deep Tech style. I also got a residency at the legendary Beta nightclub (RIP). I produced a lot of music, hit the Beatport charts often, and gained a resurgence of popularity in this field. I still feel quite connected to the genre today.
While my music career was evolving, so was my role as a teacher. I had a natural ability to break down complex concepts into simple, actionable steps. I realized that for me, coaching was more than just a side gig—it was a way to stay immersed in music full-time.
This led me to start blogging. I was deeply into personal development at the time and saw how those ideas could be applied to music. My blog wasn’t just about technical tips—it was about mindset, productivity, and breaking through creative blocks. That set me apart from the typical tutorial-based music coaches at the time. Over the years, I’ve found more creators sharing mindset content as well, which is refreshing to see.
One of my first viral blog posts was The 10 Things No One Tells Music Producers Until It’s Too Late. It resonated with so many producers that it quickly spread—and even got plagiarized by another popular YouTube channel. (We sorted it out.)
Then, YouTube came into play. At first, it was just another way to reach potential students. But back then, there were barely any channels in this space, so my content took off quickly. I kept things simple—no fancy editing, no crazy production, just useful, actionable content. And, of course, it didn’t hurt that YouTube actually paid fairly well in those days.
Over the years, I’ve released a boatload of content, mostly related to Ableton, productivity, and creative mindset. If you’re looking to dive into my best content, check out these playlists:
- Quick Ableton Tips (146 videos): Watch here
- 101 Ableton Tips (1 video): Watch here
- Music Habits Playlist (54 videos): Watch here
Shoutouts to Music YouTubers Who Inspire Me
Over the years, I’ve learned from and been inspired by so many incredible music creators on YouTube. These are some of the channels that continue to push boundaries and provide immense value to the producer community:
- Tom Cosm
- Brian Funk
- Venus Theory
- Ill Gates
- Alice Efe
- Mr Bill
- Oversampled
- Underbelly (You Suck at Producing)
- Underdog
A special shoutout to my friend Nick Maxwell, who ran an amazing Ableton-focused channel before shifting gears. His insights and dedication to the craft were always inspiring.
I highly recommend checking these creators out—they each bring something unique to the table, whether it’s sound design, production techniques, creative workflow insights, or simply a fresh perspective on making music.
IMPORTANT: Just remember not to spend all your time bingeing tutorials and not applying what you learn. That’s just time wasted.
Becoming an Author
Writing and teaching have played a significant role in my journey, eventually leading me to author two books aimed at helping music producers develop both their creative process and mindset. My first book, The Mental Game of Electronic Music Production, became a bestseller and remains a vital resource for producers facing creative blocks, procrastination, and self-doubt.
Writing and teaching have played a significant role in my journey, eventually leading me to author two books aimed at helping music producers develop both their creative process and mindset. My first book, The Mental Game of Electronic Music Production, became a bestseller and remains a vital resource for producers facing creative blocks, procrastination, and self-doubt.
Building on that foundation, I later wrote The Process for Electronic Music Producers, which offers a structured, step-by-step approach to making music efficiently without overthinking. These books complement each other, and I highly recommend reading them in order. The Mental Game establishes the right mindset, while The Process provides the practical framework for execution.
If you’re serious about making consistent progress in your music production journey, these books will be an invaluable resource, helping you develop clarity, discipline, and a workflow that leads to real results.
Takeaways
As we wrap up, I want to leave you with a few key lessons from my 18-year journey. Whether you’re just starting out or have been producing for years, these insights will help keep you on track and moving forward.
- Consistency in your music practice will teach you more than decades of passive learning.
- Embracing imperfection and finishing your work will push you further than endlessly chasing perfection.
- The habit of finishing what you start—even when it’s difficult—is where your biggest breakthroughs will happen.
You don’t need fancy gear. You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment. You just need to keep going, keep experimenting, and keep finishing tracks.
Thanks for reading—I hope this post gave you some inspiration and valuable resources. If you found it helpful, share it with another producer who might need it.
Here’s to another 18 years!
Until next time, Happy music making!
If you are benefiting from these posts, you will absolutely love my 2 bestselling books:
The Mental Game of Music Production
The Process for Electronic Music Producers
To level up your Ableton Production Skills: Ableton Courses & Instruments
Take the Free Music Production Mastery Assessment Test. Discover your current strengths, weaknesses with your music making journey. You will get a personalized response directly from me as well as your next best steps to help you reach your goals faster. https://musicsoftwaretraining.com/evaluation
Happy music making!
Jason