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

Ross, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I think I’m happier as an artist, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t sometimes wonder what life would be like with a regular job.

In fact, that’s something I’ve been wrestling with quite a bit lately.

There have been moments where I’m sitting at my desk, looking at unfinished projects, checking streaming numbers, looking at my finances, and asking myself, “Why did I choose this?” When you’re pursuing music and things aren’t taking off the way you hoped, it can be difficult not to compare yourself to people in more traditional careers. I find myself thinking, “Maybe I should have become an accountant, a programmer, or pursued something with a clearer path to success.” Sometimes I even wonder if I simply had talent in the wrong thing.

What people don’t always talk about is how much those thoughts affect creativity. Self-doubt doesn’t just make you question your career choices—it makes you question your art. You start wondering if your music is good enough. You lose motivation. You second-guess ideas before they’ve even had a chance to become songs.

The honest answer is that I’m having these thoughts right now. This is a particularly discouraging season where I feel stuck creatively and professionally. I’m not releasing much music, inspiration feels harder to find, and it often seems like I’m putting in effort without seeing much progress in return. It feels like I am standing still while everyone else is moving forward.

But something interesting usually happens when I reach this point. Instead of completely walking away, I end up channeling those feelings into music. The frustration, uncertainty, and questions become the inspiration. It’s almost as if God reminds me why I was given this gift in the first place.

I haven’t fully figured everything out yet, and I don’t think I have some perfect answer. What I’ve learned is that every creative journey has seasons. Some seasons are full of momentum, while others test your faith, patience, and perseverance. Right now, I may not be creating as much as I would like, but I’m still moving forward. I keep writing when inspiration comes. I keep believing that the work matters, even when the results aren’t obvious.

One thing I’ve noticed is that some of the hardest seasons often come right before a breakthrough. That’s what keeps me going. And honestly, being invited to answer questions like this feels like a reminder that the story isn’t over yet. Maybe this interview itself is one of those small signs that a breakthrough is closer than I think.

I also have to remind myself that sometimes the effort is the point. I can’t remember where I first heard it, but a quote has stayed with me over the years: “A person who loves walking will walk further than the person who loves the destination.” I think there’s a lot of truth in that. If I only loved the outcome, I probably would have quit by now. But despite all the doubts and frustrations, I still love creating music. That’s what keeps me going.

Ross, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember, although my journey into music started long before I ever thought about it as a career.

Growing up, I was fascinated by the piano. My father played keyboard in our church, and after services, I would constantly ask him to take the keyboard out so I could play it and learn a few things. He isn’t a professional musician in the traditional sense, but I will always be grateful that he introduced me to music. To this day, piano remains my primary instrument and the foundation of almost everything I compose.

Music was also a big part of my family in other ways. My eldest brother played drums in church, and watching him sparked my interest in percussion as well. While the piano became my main instrument, drums are probably the second instrument I’m most comfortable playing.

I really began studying and learning music seriously around seventh grade (2004). At the time, my biggest musical inspiration was Linkin Park. They were the band that made me want to create music for myself rather than simply listen to it. For a while, I dreamed of starting a band and making music in that space. Even today, Linkin Park remains one of my biggest musical influences.

I’m also a gamer, and I think that has played a big role in shaping my creative direction too. If I weren’t a musician, I honestly think I would have ended up in some kind of gaming-related career, although I’m not entirely sure what that path would have looked like. I’m just glad gaming has always been part of my life, because it naturally connects to the kind of emotional, story-driven music I love to create.

For many years, though, I didn’t have a clear direction. I loved music, but I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of music I wanted to create. That changed in 2012 when I watched Attack on Titan. I remember hearing the soundtrack and thinking, “This is it. This is the kind of music I want to make.” That experience opened the door to film scores, video game soundtracks, and cinematic orchestral music as a whole. It showed me that music could tell stories, create worlds, and evoke powerful emotions without saying a single word. I’d say Attack on Titan, Two Steps From Hell, and the Assassin’s Creed III soundtrack by Lorne Balfe were all major turning points for me in terms of direction and inspiration, and I still listen to them today.

Since then, I’ve focused primarily on composing cinematic, orchestral, and inspirational music. While I haven’t yet established myself in the industry in the way I once imagined, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with clients on a variety of personal projects over the years.

One of my favorite memories was landing my first commissioned project. Someone approached me wanting an inspirational cinematic piece, and together we created a song called “You Must Believe” (which is on my YouTube). Seeing someone trust me with their vision and hearing the finished result was an incredible feeling. It was the first time I truly felt like I was helping bring someone else’s idea to life through music.

Most of the work I do today is original music. Sometimes people come to me looking for music inspired by a character they’ve created or a specific emotional journey they want to capture. I’ve created themes for tabletop RPG and Dungeons & Dragons characters, as well as music inspired by unique personal ideas and scenarios. The projects aren’t large in scale, but they’re often deeply personal, and I enjoy helping people give a musical identity to something that matters to them.

One thing I’ve come to appreciate over the years is hearing how people use my music. I’ve had listeners tell me they use it during their tabletop campaigns, storytelling sessions, and creative projects. I love that. The idea that my music can help create memorable moments around a gaming table or enhance someone’s imagination is incredibly rewarding. It’s a different kind of experience than composing for a film or game, but it’s one I genuinely value.

What sets me apart…this one is a bit hard, I fear I might sound a bit generic so forgive me, haha. I think it is probably my approach to collaboration. I genuinely care about understanding the vision behind every project. When someone works with me, they’re not just receiving a piece of music—they’re getting someone who is invested in helping bring their idea to life. Creative work doesn’t always click immediately, and sometimes a piece needs adjustment or even a completely different approach. That’s simply part of the process. But one thing every client can know is that I will always give my absolute best effort and approach every project with professionalism, enthusiasm, and respect.

What I’m most proud of is my YouTube channel, HondEpic. It’s where I share much of my original music with the world. The channel isn’t massive, but that’s never been the point. What means the most to me is knowing that people choose to spend a few minutes of their day listening to something I’ve created. Whether it’s one listener or one hundred, I never take that support for granted. I do my best to engage with people who leave comments because every listener matters to me.

More than anything, I want people to know that my music comes from a genuine place. I’m still growing, still learning, and still building my career, but my passion for creating music hasn’t changed. I believe music has the power to inspire, encourage, and tell stories that words alone sometimes cannot. That’s the reason I started, and it’s still the reason I continue today.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When people talk about resilience, they often tell stories about overcoming a challenge and reaching a successful outcome. My story is a little different because it’s about continuing even when the outcome hasn’t arrived yet.

Well, my story is ongoing. As an artist, it’s impossible to completely ignore numbers. We all tell ourselves not to focus on them, but the reality is that numbers represent people engaging with your work. They’re often the most visible sign that what you’re creating is reaching someone.

There have been many times throughout my journey where I’ve looked at my streaming numbers, video views, or overall growth and thought, “Why am I still doing this?” If someone looked at my statistics from the outside right now, they might ask the same question.

The truth is that I’ve “quit” music several times.

I’ve told myself I was done. I’ve stepped away for weeks and sometimes months. I’ve convinced myself that maybe it wasn’t working and that I should focus my energy elsewhere.

But here’s the interesting part: I’ve never actually stopped.

No matter how discouraged I become, I always find myself returning to music. Sometimes it’s a melody that appears in my head. Sometimes it’s an emotion I need to express. Sometimes it’s hearing a soundtrack that reminds me why I fell in love with music in the first place. Whatever the reason, I always come back.

There’s a saying that goes, “It’s easy to quit, but hard to stop.” That’s exactly how my relationship with music feels. I may walk away for a while, but I can never truly leave it behind.

Even during my worst creative seasons, when I feel uninspired, when engagement is low, or when I question whether I’m making any progress at all, music remains part of who I am. It feels strange when I’m not creating something. I might experience composer’s block. I might take a long break. I might even tell myself I’m done. But sooner or later, I’m back at the piano, back in my DAW, and back writing music.

I’ve come to realize that resilience isn’t always about pushing forward every single day without doubt. Sometimes resilience is simply refusing to stay gone. It’s getting up one more time than you fall. It’s returning to the thing you love, even after disappointment.

That’s what resilience looks like in my journey. I may feel like quitting half the time. I may even quit for a while. But I will never stop. No matter how difficult the season becomes, I always come back to music.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one thing many non-creatives struggle to understand is how difficult it can be to separate your work from your sense of self.

For many jobs, you can leave work at the office and come home. Creativity doesn’t always work like that. When I create music, I’m not just completing a task—I’m sharing a piece of myself. My experiences, emotions, struggles, hopes, and inspirations all find their way into the music in some form. Because of that, rejection can feel incredibly, and I mean INCREDIBLY, personal, even when you know logically that it isn’t.

I also think people underestimate how much uncertainty comes with pursuing a creative path. Most careers have a relatively clear roadmap. You study, gain experience, move up, and eventually see progress. Creative careers often don’t follow that pattern. You can spend hundreds or even thousands of hours improving your craft without any guarantee of recognition, financial success, or even an audience.

That can be difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. Imagine dedicating years to something, pouring your heart into it, and having no certainty that it will ever lead where you hope it will. Yet somehow, you keep showing up anyway.

Another thing people may not realize is that creativity doesn’t switch on and off like a light. Some days, ideas flow effortlessly. Other days, even sitting down to create can feel impossible. From the outside, it can look like a lack of discipline or motivation, but often there’s an ongoing internal battle happening that nobody sees.
At the same time, there is something incredibly rewarding about creating.

One of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned is that art doesn’t always have to reach millions of people to matter. Sometimes, a single listener connecting with a piece of music is enough to remind you why you started (in my case, my 2 older brothers always commenting on my videos and sharing when I release my music keeps me going).

I mentioned earlier that I’ve had people tell me they use my music during their tabletop RPG campaigns, while writing stories, or during difficult moments in their lives. Those interactions may seem small from the outside, but they mean a great deal to me. They remind me that creativity is ultimately about connection.

If there’s one thing I’d want non-creatives to understand, it’s that most artists continue creating long after logic tells them to stop. We do it because creating isn’t just something we do—it’s part of who we are. Even when the results aren’t obvious, there’s something inside us that keeps wanting to make one more song, tell one more story, paint one more picture, or build one more idea.

And sometimes, that persistence is the most creative act of all.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hondepic_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-honde-82742b89/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZQQ6BAREoTr40Pz1H9CWaQ
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5FHFXHHa4LMhIZu3EVr4v9?si=4FVaDa-xSaCuKizBYUXplQ

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/za/artist/hondepic/1597823213