Artist Coaching Podcast

Jaime spent twelve years as one half of Tom & Jame. Tomorrowland, Spinnin’, Revealed. Two years ago, he stopped and lost more than a project. He lost his identity as an artist.
Jay Hardway and I talk with him about the ego hit of a normal job, grasping onto his lo-fi label as a new identity, doing the work in therapy, and why stepping away isn’t giving up. Plus a practical Spotify playlist tip and his new project, Jamie James.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro: Jaime from Tom & Jame
(01:08) Looking back on Tomorrowland and the Dannic collab
(05:36) 2018: when doubt crept in
(07:43) COVID and starting HiMood Records
(10:42) Lo-fi vs dance music marketing
(14:55) How music ends up in Instagram Reels
(18:08) Spotify tip: find playlists that actually stream
(19:57) Losing your artist identity
(22:31) Rebuilding in therapy
(24:48) Why rebranding is harder than starting over
(27:12) Mental health and the superficial side of the industry
(32:35) Making music as a hobby again
(37:05) Why do we make music?
(40:01) The new album
(44:40) Why a side job protects your creative process
(50:54) Stepping away isn’t giving up
(52:17) The ego hit after leaving music
(55:56) Nobody is thinking about you
(57:15) Finding community
(1:01:03) Wrap up

Henry Himself has been making music for fifteen years. Hardwell played his track. He remade Infinity with Guru Josh Project. And still, for years, it often felt like nothing was moving.

Last year he figured out why. He had spent years chasing trends across every genre. So he went back to the house music he loved in high school, and for the first time his music sounded like him.

I talk with Henry about finding your sound, making content without overthinking it, and staying in the game long enough to give yourself a chance.

(00:00) Intro: Henry Himself
(00:29) Finding an artist name
(02:12) Hardwell support and the Melbourne bounce era
(04:04) Remaking Infinity with Guru Josh Project
(08:49) Ten years of chasing trends
(11:02) Going back to his roots in house music
(14:03) Why your authentic sound breaks the ceiling
(15:44) The split-screen content formula
(17:59) A love-hate relationship with content
(20:35) The fan funnel: visibility and relatability
(22:49) Wanting to quit and who kept him going
(25:07) Slow growth and the compound effect
(28:17) Where he found inspiration and support
(31:05) Becoming brave enough to network
(34:04) When momentum builds and doors open
(37:11) Finding a gap in the industry
(39:12) Henry's keys for DJs and producers
(41:47) What's next and ADE

Ustrell released on Spinnin', Stereo Productions and Nervous with his first project, Wow and Flute. Then the fun disappeared. A few years ago he started over with a new name, making music only for himself. Now he has a job he loves, a family, and music is fun again. You'll hear why music not paying your bills isn't failure, how he produces with only an hour in the studio, why he finishes every track, and what he'd do if a track blew up. Plus a simple test: if you swapped your name on your track, would anyone notice?

Timestamps
(00:00) Intro(01:13) Wow and Flute and releases on Spinnin'(04:30) Starting over as Ustrell(06:09) Producing for a small dark club(08:02) How to stop following trends(12:30) Why music not paying the bills isn't failure(16:31) What he underestimated about the music industry(18:07) Production workflow and samples(19:56) Why he finishes every track he starts(26:37) Music as art versus product(27:26) What if a track blows up?(31:53) The name swap test

Tickets for our ADE event -> https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/1998946014339?aff=oddtdtcreator

If someone took your name off your tracks, would anyone notice? Jeffrey, aka Da Goose, is a full-time mastering engineer who started as a DJ and producer in the vinyl days. Today he hears a lot of music that sounds the same. We talk about sample packs, the missing gatekeeper, and why a track he made in six minutes became one of his best sellers. Plus the music a label called too experimental, right before it became a hype. An honest talk about signature sound, and why playing it safe means no one remembers you.

Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(01:13) Vinyl and listening consciously
(06:31) The email that started this episode
(07:38) Why music used to be more original
(11:23) Signature sound
(12:54) Too experimental, then a hype
(17:03) Sample packs and Splice
(19:36) A track made in six minutes
(21:04) Deadlines and perfectionism
(21:49) How to be original today
(23:22) Belgium vs the Netherlands
(30:36) Stop making music for the listener
(32:51) Outro

Old school catch up episode with Ralph from Bassjackers. We get into whether deadlines actually help you finish a track, how Bassjackers test unfinished music before release, what's coming on their new album, and whether ADE is still worth the cost in 2026. Honest, unscripted conversation for DJs and producers who care about building a sustainable career instead of chasing hype.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Old-school catch-up with Ralph
(07:38) Do deadlines help you finish a track
(10:41) Testing tracks before the real release
(11:14) New Bassjackers album and killing your darlings
(15:11) Talking ADE 2026 with Ralph
(16:10) Is ADE worth it for artists
(18:17) Why ADE got so expensive this year
(24:33) Live chat questions and label hype tactics
(28:14) Wrap up and where to find us