Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shok. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shok, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Often, people have the notion that a music producer is the same as a Movie Producer in terms of the role.

While for some, it can be the case, a music producer tends to not have anything to do with the financial aspect of an album or it’s promotion but on the side of the actual production and recording artistically and technically in the studio.

I’m sent demos from either the label, management or the artist / band / company and then we make a road map of how we will create or embellish the music.
I’m quite hands-on and tend to be the mixing engineer and often additional session musician.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I had a piano around from when I was a wee lass. I got into drums when we had to choose an instrument at school. An amazing woman taught me for years and became my hero.

My mother, step-father and I moved to a home where there was a basement and my mother wanted me to finally have a space for my drums so I wound up with a room for a studio and got some gear from which I learned the ropes; a multi-track tape machine, mixer and two effects units.

I started recording music with friends and then friends of friends began asking me to record them and I started getting paid to do this.

By the time I was in college, I had already opened my own business and was releasing music on vinyl, cassette and CD.

I assisted and then became partners at one of the first ever all-digital recording studios and we got lots of work due to being located with Studio 4 / Ruffhouse Records, in Philadelphia.

As time went on and I mastered more and more instruments and software, my clientele expanded.

I’ve played various instruments and been involved with both co-writes, and ghostwriting with some fantastic artists both mainstream and underground.

It’s been amazing to also work with artists whose music had been early inspirations.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Supporting the arts is important. This enriches culture and always can capture moments in history in an anthropological manner.

Today it’s common for people to ingest art at such a fast pace that there’s sparse time to digest what has been perceived, if at all.

With subscription distribution vehicles being the focal point, paid to supply the vast supply of the art, (Netflix, Amazon for shows and film and Spotify / Apple for music), the funds received are in their hands and not with the artists and production companies.

The distribution platforms need to pay artists fairly. There should also be more education so people will realize their $10, etc. monthly subscription does very little to help the creators.

The model of distribution presently now has completely devalued art in so many forms.

With more educational information perhaps people will help support the artists.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Today there’s an amalgam of resources available freely or affordable to all. This was not available when I was starting.

You had to play shows, get music on the radio, reviewed, played by djs, physically walk up to people asking them to buy your music or going to stores to see if they will take some.

Now there’s one-stop PR, distribution, art, etc., all at your computer or phone via your finger tips clicking not too many digits.

More on Shok
Https://Tinyurl.com/shokbio

Contact Info:

• Website: Https://Tinyurl.com/shokbio
• Instagram: Https://Instagram.com/losttapesofficial
• Facebook: Https://facebook.com/zeitmahl
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shok1
• Twitter: Https://Twitter.com/fdaallday
• Youtube: @Mylivetubetv
• Soundcloud: Https://soundcloud.com/fdaallday

Image Credits

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