Episodes

Yihao Chen is a Music AI researcher and the founder of of OctAI, now GenreX a Generative AI company building the Mid Journey of music. Yihao is a classical flutist, a composer, and an AI music researcher. He was a music AI researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an undergraduate researcher at Cornell University where he worked on automatic harmonization using machine learning. His company, GenreX, has been funded by AI2 a research institute founded by Paul Allen and led by Ali Farh...

In this episode, we're diving into the career of Johnny 5, a DJ, Promoter, and producer who's been shaking up San Francisco's music scene. We talk about his transition from his Chicago-based Hip Hop routes to the Bay Area to pursue his passion and the influence his formal education had in propelling him to new heights. After moving to San Francisco in 2005, Johnny's sound quickly evolved, blending grimy bass and house elements, and he became a force in the city's bass music scene, hosting a prom...

Growing and Managing Multiple Revenue Streams While Remaining True To Your Art

Alphabet Rockers: A GRAMMY Winning Design Creating Conscious Hip Hop Music

From The UK To The Bay: Leveraging Social Media to Build an Artist Brand

Educating & Discovering The Next Generation of Talent

Being True to Yourself & Your Art, Making the Jump From DJ to Artist, Working Hard For Your Disrespect

Bending Genres with the West Psy Sound, Goa Gil, Fractal Cowboys, Dome Of Doom Records, and touring the World

Collaborating as a Trio, Running an Indie Label, Dolby Atmos, and The importance of Meta Data

From Live 365 Internet Radio to Avid Protools architect, The Ambient Mafia, The Unison Collective and beyond!

The Value of Education, Crowdfunding, Vinyl and Sound Healing

Saying Yes, RTFM, Finding Fulfillment, and Meditation

Networking, Collaborating, Vision & Weed

Multi-Instrumentalist, Artist/Producer, Label Boss and Ableton Certified Trainer

From Live Sound To NFT's and remote recording with The Everyone Orchestra

Jef Stott, Global Bass and ambient music recording artist, producer, and educator. In this episode Jef discusses his transitioning sound from hard hitting Global Bass to the more ethereal and ambient sound of his most recent collaboration with Mah Ze Tar for The Zikr Project, and their latest release, Ishq on Black Swan Records. Jef also talks about his series, "The World is Sound", and how he seeks to bring rich music culture to a wider audience. The meaning of Global Bass Music. How to infuse ethnic instrumentation into electronic music. The Oud and percussion, and how to integrate that into live sets. An Ableton Live breakdown delineating the difference in stylistic approaches between his tracks Osiris and Ishq.

Bob Duskis: President and Co-founder of Six Degrees Records

Gavin Hardkiss, electronic musician, DJ, label owner, producer, remixer, author and artist who has performed under the name "Gavin Hardkiss" and "Hawke", shares his journey as a pioneer of electronic music in San Francisco in the 1990s. Gavin talks about the formation of the Hardkiss Brothers, with partners Scott and Robbie. He shares stories of the underground rave scene from Philadelphia, to Brooklyn to the UK to the San Francisco Bay Area. Pre-Internet raving and getting to San Francisco in the summer of '91 to light a fuse in the dance music scene. Renting San Carlos airport to throw a rave from 10 PM to 8 AM the next morning in a hanger. The formation of the Hardkiss Music label and Sun Burn Recordings. Signing with Sony Music. The importance of retaining the rights to your own music, and how it helped him run a profitable label while under Sony. Gavin talks about producing and releasing his most recent Album: The Dark Art Of Light Work and Greg and Gavin debate Spotify and other…

Heather Christie & Greg Gordon discuss "music-preneurship", remixing songs for more reach, the negative effects of American Idol, and the Hero's Journey in music. Heather shares her range of artistic experiences in dancing, acting, producing, and performing, as well as her transition from musical theatre to singing and songwriting. Heather talks about her influences from Latin American culture, her travels to Mexico, Ecuador, and Guatemala, and writing songs in Spanish. She then reflects on her experience on American Idol, and how that sparked her to learn music business and take control of her own career. Heather talks about practicing, performing and producing music with her husband and partner, multi-instrumentalist Vir McCoy and using the stems of many differents world instruments from many of his recordings to create new and exciting dance music geared towards the ecstatic dance community. Opening and closing music is Space Between, by Heather Christie. Book a Mentorship se…

Brian Schmidt & Greg Gordon discuss Pyramind partnering with The Game Audio Network Guild for a full-ride scholarship for Pyramind's Sound for Picture and Games program. Brian goes on to share his deep insight on working on more than 130 titles for most of the major game developers in the industry, being the program manager of the Xbox Audio and Voice Technologies division at Microsoft, patents he has helped develop and strategies for immersive audio. The conversation also covers the genesis of the annual GameSoundCon conference, game audio employment and freelancing, and Brian’s continued work as the acting President of GANG.

Martin Luther McCoy: singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and native San Franciscan. Martin Luther shares stories of his career starting from a gospel music childhood in San Francisco’s Bayview, to performing and touring with Philadelphia-based Hip Hop Band, The Roots, and being cast as Jo-Jo in the Hollywood musical, Across The Universe. Experiences and lessons learned, including adapting to an industry shift from physical to streaming services, and networking and making opportunities in the competitive music industry. Learning to balance what feeds your soul and the business savvy required to nurture the relationships that drive success. Building his "team" including influential Bay Area attorney Michael Aczon. Martin Luther talks about his development as a singer, producer, and entrepreneur with his label, Rebel Soul Records, and the empowering messages he aims to deliver through his music. Touring and performing with Kev Choice and being invited by Randal Kline, (founder of SF…

Shawn Mercado, aka SHDWS, producer, DJ, engineer, and sound designer. A Bay Area native and Pyramind Alum. Shawn shares his experiences with DJing and promoting for iconic San Francisco clubs like EPR, Ruby Skye, and City Nights. He’s produced music previously as M3RC, and spent years honing his craft and discovering his signature style, leading into rebranding and releasing a polished sound under the SHDWS. He’s released music for Night Bass and Divided Souls, and has collaborated recently with Blossom. Shawn talks about his experience with Wax Motif’s Park ’N Rave Livestream, and what it was like performing for a socially distant audience and tens of thousands of viewers on Insomniac’s Twitch and YouTube streams. And Shawn breaks down his debut release with Divided Souls, Vixen.

Excerpts from different episodes of the Mentor My Mix Podcast, hosted by Greg Gordon. Brought to you by Pyramind, America's premier Music Production School.

From Conceptualizing the original APC 40 to Mentoring LMFAO