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

John, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I was working as a Communications Director at a non-profit, but something always felt off. The job was meaningful and all, but my heart just wasn’t in it. Music was my real passion, my escape. I’d always dreamed of becoming a full-time music producer, but making that dream a reality seemed like a huge risk.

One night, I was at a networking event, chatting with all sorts of people. I ended up talking to this guy, and before I knew it, I was spilling my guts about my passion for music and my fear of leaving my steady job. He listened, nodded, and then said something that stuck with me: “You’re young and have your whole life ahead of you. If music is what you love, go for it. Taking risks is part of the journey to finding your true calling.”

His words stuck with me for a while. I kept thinking about what he said and realized he was right. I talked it over with friends and family, weighed my options, and finally decided I had to go for it. The fear of staying in a job that didn’t fulfill me outweighed the fear of the unknown.

So, with a mix of excitement and nerves, I quit my job. It was scary leaving the security of a steady paycheck, but I felt a new sense of freedom. I jumped headfirst into music production, starting from scratch.

Things started to fall into place faster than I expected. I got my first gig as a sound designer, creating and managing sample packs, which was a dream come true. From there, I began producing for other artists and collaborating with others.

Now, 15 years later, I’m a full-time music producer. I’ve worked on countless projects, from sound designing to full album productions. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but every challenge has been worth it. I’m incredibly grateful for that fateful conversation because it pushed me to take a risk that changed my life.

Taking that leap was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It showed me that sometimes, you have to step out of your comfort zone to find true happiness. I can’t imagine doing anything else but making music, where every day brings new opportunities to create and inspire.

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

I currently work full time as a sound designer and music producer, focusing specifically on sound and preset creation. I also work as a mixing/mastering engineer using SoundBetter as my platform of choice for landing gigs.

Most of the problems I solve for clients are related to mixing and bespoke productions. This may or may not involve mixing/mastering duties, alongside custom sounds that artists may want. I”m most of proud of the fact that I can maintain a steady living doing what I love, and making clients happy. Also incredibly proud of my main artist project, The New Division, which has garnered millions of streams, thousands of physical and online sales.

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

Personal/Professional coaching is one of the most valuable tools a creative can tap into. It can propel your journey forward by providing someone who cheers you on and helps you overcome any obstacles in your career.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The 4-hour work week was pretty inspiring when I first read it. While certain elements of the book can feel a bit outdated in today’s world, at the time it was groundbreaking for me and really motivated me to pursue music full time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.newdivisionmusic.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thenewdivision
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/thenewdivision
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgkunkel/
• Twitter: https://x.com/TheNewDivision
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/thenewdivision
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thenewdivision

Image Credits

Brad A. Kinnan
Johann Ramos-Arteaga