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

Shivan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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 was fortunate to have piano lessons as a kid that gave me a foundation in music to work from, but most of what I know in creating music I taught myself. I’d hear something in my head or fall in love with a sound in a song, and then spend hours trying to figure out how to make that happen in my own recordings. Over time, I picked up production, mixing, songwriting structure, guitar tones, vocal layering, sound engineering tricks – whatever I could to get closer to what I imagined.
If I could go back and do something differently, I’d probably start trusting that process earlier – embracing a long-term, hands-on approach instead of worrying so much about getting noticed or “making it.” I spent a lot of time worrying about external validation instead of just trying to make better songs. I think my appreciation is constantly growing that persistence is the most important “skill”. Not just sticking with it when things were hard, but letting myself stay curious, inspired, and flexible over time.
The biggest obstacles were a mix of practical and internal. There are lots of paywalls in making music – recording and performing equipment, software, plugins – but you can learn almost anything online for free if you’re resourceful. More challenging is letting go of perfectionism and not being too attached to outcomes. It took a while to realize that just finishing songs keeps me moving and lets me grow.
I’ve always found albums to be such rich, complex works of art: the way songs are written and chosen or left behind, production techniques and their vastly understated impact on the way a song feels, the choice of instrumentation, and the story arc of the lyrics and moods. Those experiences – marveling at albums so good, they define generations and genres – remind me that sometimes a musical moment comes together and feels…worth all the while. These days, I’m less focused on chasing numbers or milestones, and more on developing as an artist – finding ways to make my best and most honest music, share it by releasing more frequently and performing, and just enjoying it for what it is.

Shivan, 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 got into music simply because I loved it. Listening to popular music growing up made me want to create songs of my own, and I started trying to make music whenever I had time. I didn’t have a budget to hire professionals, so I taught myself how to produce, mix, and release music independently. That do-it-yourself approach became part of my identity as an artist – it taught me how to be resourceful, persistent, and flexible, and it helped me develop my own sound.
These days, I perform at a variety of events – from corporate gigs to weddings, farmers markets, and private parties. I bring a few things that clients and audiences seem to really enjoy: a broad catalog that spans genres and decades, a system to take live requests, and a loop pedal setup that lets me build fuller arrangements and keep people dancing when the energy calls for it. At more low-key events, I’m just as happy providing warm, engaging background music that sets the right tone. I also have a reliable, professional audio setup that I bring with me, and I often help emcee or coordinate with clients to make sure the event flows smoothly.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with a range of clients in Southern California including AlfaTech, Kaiser Permanente, Sprouts Farmers Market, DINE Brands, The London West Hollywood, The Lodge at Malibou Lake, Inn at Churon Winery, Bel Vino Winery, South Coast Winery, The Griffin Club LA, HD Buttercup, the City of Pasadena, and EAH Housing, among others, and I recently moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where I’m now booking evenings and weekends.
Behind the scenes, I spend most of my time writing, recording, and producing original music at home. My style is rooted in pop but shaped by a wide range of influences—from R&B and alternative to country and folk. I release songs as an independent artist and offer exclusive licensing rights to my catalog for sync and entertainment opportunities. Some of my music is already available in Getty Music and other independent libraries. While I’m currently focusing on completing a few more albums before seeking out new sync deals, I’m open to requests to use my music in a variety of projects.
Though admittedly a bit melodramatic, if there’s one thing I hope people take away from my performances, it’s that their attention has truly been a gift. Sharing music live is a two-way experience, and getting to enjoy it together – especially when people make requests or sing along – is enough to make it all worthwhile. Whether someone hears me live or discovers a track online, I hope it resonates and feels honest. You can find my original music and follow along at @shivanluca on social media, and I’m excited to keep creating, performing, and connecting through my music.

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

Just engaging with the art goes a long way—listen, leave a comment, share it with someone. Those little moments of connection really matter. I think any creative appreciates being appreciated, especially during the early stages of building a business or an audience. Encouragement like that can be the thing that keeps you going when motivation dips or doubts creep in.
I also think there’s a lot of untapped potential in building stronger, more intentional ecosystems that connect creatives across disciplines. Imagine an easy way for musicians to find visual artists who match their style for album artwork, or indie filmmakers who need music being able to easily discover and license songs from emerging artists affordably. It would be amazing to see more platforms designed to foster those kinds of collaborations—where everyone benefits creatively and professionally and platforms are aimed at helping aspiring rather than established artists.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Something I think non-creatives may not always see is how deeply creativity is tied to emotion—and how that emotional connection can create real hurdles when trying to function in a structured, practical society. For many artists, the work is personal, intuitive, and often born from a place that doesn’t follow clear rules or timelines. That makes it difficult to apply traditional productivity models or business logic to the process without compromising the very spark that makes the work meaningful.
There’s a kind of sacred chaos to creating—it doesn’t always fit into 9-to-5 hours or quarterly goals. That can make it hard for creatives to advocate for themselves in systems built around predictability and output. And it can also make it harder for others to understand why we might struggle with things like consistency, pricing, or self-promotion, especially when those things feel at odds with the vulnerability that fuels our work.
Supporting artists means recognizing that their path may not look like other careers—but that doesn’t make it any less valid or valuable. We benefit so much from creative expression as a society, and we need more frameworks that allow artists to thrive without having to disconnect from the very qualities that make their work resonate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shivanluca.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivanluca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivanluca
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shivanluca
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbX_K8vTszKh-c23cQ0KR-A
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shivan-luca-oakland
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/shivanluca

Image Credits

Alex Matthews
Travis Williams