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

Alright, Jared thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I left home at 14, my dad gave me two options, “get straight A’s or go get a job”. I started working construction doing odd jobs, then I joined a traveling zoo working cleaning up a petting zoo. I did the dirty work. Cleaning poop all day, feeding animals, cleaning up all of the hay flooring each night and doing it all over each day. On my 16th birthday my dad gave me an old nylon string guitar that he got in Mexico in the 80s. That guitar became my best friend on the road. I taught myself how to play with books, and immediately started writing songs. I had a lot to say. I had found a form of therapy in songwriting that changed my life and helped me feel secure and like I had a home wherever I went. Music was a key to the life I dreamed of.

I started bands early on, that was a really important moment in learning the craft. When you dedicate yourself to practicing with a group, you can adapt and learn from those with more experience. Learning how to find “the pocket” with a group is where you lock in almost telepathically with the other members and you all have an unspoken understanding of where to take the music on stage. That translates over to being a songwriter and producer, you think about music differently when you know how it goes with a crowd.

In 2014 I couldn’t find the right person to record me, I felt like no one was capturing what I wanted to hear, so I began producing. I bought a second hand Mac book pro on Craigslist, Logic Pro x and a midi keyboard and started the longest, most expensive journey of my life! But the most satisfying. There’s no shortcuts, and anyone who tells you there is, is lying. Do the work, do inspired work, rinse and repeat.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a record producer, songwriter, and composer.

I got into producing to solve a problem for myself, which was making my records sound how I want them to. But after almost a decade of producing I started getting people reaching out to me, wanting me to cut their records, or help write lyrics. Producing feels like a crime because I love it so much. I feel like the kid in class who is drawing instead of taking the test. Every moment I get to produce an artist or myself is gold to me. I found myself doing this purely out of the love for it, but over the past few years I switched from a corporate 6 figure job, to producing records full time.

I got into the industry by networking non stop. During the pandemic I took the opportunity to connect with other producers and creatives on socials. Everyone was stuck inside so there was a lot of responding happening surprisingly. I made friends all around the world from NYC to Amsterdam. And these friends have been teaching, connecting, and working with me since.
The power of kindness should never be underestimated in any industry. Always be Johnny on the spot to help with whatever needs to be done. When people can trust and rely on you to get a job done, that’s priceless.

When opportunities arrive to work with a highly desirable client ill often do one of two things. In my realm sometimes it’s who can get an idea for the artist / film asap so they can keep moving forward, or I have these songs we love already for the film / artist.

1.,If time is the problem, and I have an open schedule I’ll say, let’s get this done, and we knock it out. Not only do we work until it’s done, but we work until everyone is happy.. I solve a problem by being efficient, able, and willing to work with these teams to deliver a cohesive product. It’s really hard work but it builds relationships that last.

2. If the songs are already placed, I’m competitive so I’ll say, let me try and make something better, and if you don’t like it, no problem, if you love it, I win the project. It’s a gamble but it also creates inspired work! And if they don’t use it, I guarantee there will be another use for it.

Walking this path as a full time creative has been challenging and rewarding. After years of the chase, I’m only choosing projects to work on that I’m passionate about and believe in.

This year I’ve written hundreds of songs, produced hundreds of songs, scored a few films, and all of it is inspired work, and genuine expression. I gravitate towards like minded artists and couldn’t be more proud of the work and friendships built.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was making 6 figures as a CMO for a very successful business in Sonoma Valley. The money was good, my bills were paid, but I wasn’t all in. I had to be honest with myself about where I was heading in life, and if I wanted to continue pursuing jobs that distract me from what I truly should be doing, which was music. Extremely thankful to have an amazing and supportive partner, we both saw this and said, let’s pivot. It may be hard but it will be worth it if we can life a creative life, and show our daughter there is a better way to live. The first year was hard. I was networking like crazy and connecting everywhere I could. But even in my first year I landed myself multiple custom compositions with big brands for commercials, and produced a few artists. My income got cut into pieces.. But slowly I started landing bigger and better opportunities. Now I have an agency I’m working with that brought me on for my composition + production work, and a label for my artistry. I am the master of my schedule, I get to focus on my family and work on inspired projects. Going to keep going and see where this journey takes me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There’s so many rewarding aspects of being an artist & creative. One part is feeling connected with my true self. I feel like I’m on the path, and when you’re on the path, you find your people, you find your bliss. The other part is showing younger generations the freedom that art and expression allows. Art is one thing in hard times that we all can agree upon for the most part. Unity is needed, and art is the answer.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.jaredalexandermasters.com
• Instagram: JaredAlexanderMasters

Image Credits
Andrew Gogue