We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David Hakopyan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi David , thanks for joining us today. What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business

When I started doing custom cues for commercials, I would get reference songs from clients. Client asked for a bunch of punk rock songs for a particular type of commercial, but for some reason when I watched the commercial felt like a funk type song would be way more firring… So I suggested a track I had that kind of sounded like kiss from prince and I sent it to them. They loved it, then they told me that I’m fired off the project and they’re going to try to get Prince to license Kiss for the commercial, It never happened, but taught me to stick to what the client wants…

David , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I provide recording and production services for up-and-coming artists, established artists, semi pro artists and veteran artists… An A-Z from song concept to fully realizing the arrangement, the production, the final recording, and mix. I’ve done work for major corporations, writing music for their commercials, and I’ve worked with local indie artist producing their songs in Recording or songs. I enjoy it all I feel my specialty is bringing a spark to a simple song idea.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2019 I was forced to move out of my production studio because they were tearing down the building as I looked for a new space. I luckily found what was an old rundown recording studio. They needed a lot of love. I jumped on it, and I started cleaning it up and rebuilding it furnishing it bringing all the musical gear spending close to $100,000 on the space we were’s. We were set to do our ground opening party March 21, 2020. As we all know by March 14, 2020, the whole world shut down due to Covid. My business went dark. I didn’t know how I was going to make the money back. I didn’t know how I was going to pay my rent And it was definitely a moment where resilience is the only thing I could count on ultimately by the summer of 2020 some private funded projects came through and we started working very safely so to speak and I started building to place the business. unfortunately I had to a criminal of a landlord who try to pull some Shystie things And try to get me evicted out of there. Ultimately, I won the case and I was paid to leave and after about a six months of searching I found where I have landed now on the brea Avenue in Hollywood and I couldn’t be happier. It’s an amazing space. I’m in now, so just when you think it’s all over just pull yourself up from the boot straps, you know and try to make it work stay positive.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Being honest with my client if something wasn’t working, letting them know if something was working putting a magnifying glass on that and making it even bigger. I feel clients appreciate that no one wants hot air blown up there. You know what everyone wants. What’s what’s gonna work and sound the best.

Contact Info:

• Website: toysofthemasses.com/studio
• Instagram: totm_labs

Image Credits
Jesus Dupaux