We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jonah McLean. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jonah below.

Jonah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investment I’ve made as an artist (music) was to learn digital marketing skills for my music business!

For years, I toiled as a musician, artist, and freelance producer in Los Angeles, CA looking to ‘make it big’. Everything felt so gate-kept and inaccessible without having the right connections or – seemingly – luck. I started focusing more and more on my own original music, but it was so frustrating to feel like I was working hard on big projects that just didn’t seem to move the dial in my career. It often left me deflated and looking to leave the music industry entirely!

In 2020 I went to work with a friend of mine at a company he started called ‘Indepreneur’. We teach digital marketing for artists and musicians to help promote their music, and have been doing so with great success for the last 8 years. I took a considerable pay cut to come work at the company, but I really saw a great opportunity to invest in my education and skills. I knew that being able to work in this community would allow me to level up my skills by learning from colleagues, consuming resources, and taking training. I hoped to then take everything I was learning and begin applying it to my own music.

It has certainly paid off! In a few years, learning these skills has leveled my music business up in some amazing ways. I’m able to reach fans directly and form real relationships with them. I’m able to offer physical and digital products completely independently doing what I love to do. I’m also one step closer to being completely full-time doing my own original music, which has always been my dream.

I think the lesson I learned from the whole process is that the best investments are often the ones we make in ourselves!

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’ve been writing and producing music under the stage name DUX (pronounced like Dukes) for the last 7 years. Prior to that, I worked full-time as an audio engineer, producer and musician in Los Angeles helping other artists and bands write, record and perform their music.

These days, I almost exclusively work on the DUX project, while also working my full-time job in coaching and training for artists. As DUX, I write, record and produce all of my music with some amazing friends and collaborators and as any independent artist these days, I also wear many other hats. Content creation, social media, marketing, creating products, and order fulfillment are all on my plate week to week, plus whatever else comes up :).

I’m extremely proud of the DUX project! I’ve always dreamt of being full-time with my own, original artist project. It feels like it started as a far away dream, but over many years has slowly crept closer to being a reality! Another thing that I am most proud of is where art and music fit into my life these days. When I got started in music, I felt like it was something I had to conqueror or summit to really feel like I was successful. Over the years I’ve had so many ups and downs with music but I’ve arrived at this place of truly loving it, and just doing it because I love it. I realize now it’s nothing some to ‘win’ at; it’s a beautiful gift to sit with and enjoy.

I guess I would want potential followers and fans to know that I always make music from my heart and create whatever feels right to me in that moment. Creating is such a special experience and I’m very grateful I get to do it as often as I do! Being able to connect with new people who enjoy what I create is one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had! I hope people can hear and feel the genuine approach I take with my music and if they happen find some stuff they like, feel free to say hey any time!!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Buy directly from the artists and creatives you love! Buying direct from the artist is truly the best way to support art you love, and investing in independent artists means more art can thrive!

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

Connecting with new fans! I’m pretty active in responding to emails, social media, etc and when I get to talk with someone and hear their story and how my music impacted them… it’s such an amazing feeling!

I think for most artists there is no greater joy, and those moments are always ones that I really cherish.

Contact Info:

• Website: duxtransmissions.com
• Instagram: @duxtransmissions
• Facebook: facebook.com/duxtransmissions
• Youtube: @duxtransmissions

Image Credits
Album artwork: Julia Dufossé