We were lucky to catch up with Struthy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Struthy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Over twelve years ago, I was just figuring out adulthood , trying to make sense of life. Back then I was a musician and part-time wedding singer (yep, guilty), and I’d started messing around with this new thing called “having an online presence.” Social media was taking off, and I signed up for anything that asked for a username: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat. I didn’t really know what I was doing — I just knew I wanted to put myself out there.

Then came this random turning point: someone found my music online — a DJ and podcast presenter — and invited me onto their show. I was stoked. But halfway through the interview, this thought hit me:
“Hang on… I could do this. I could probably do it better.”

That was the itch.

So I started my own podcast, showcasing independent musicians. I went all in — producing, promoting, and branding myself as DJ Struth Mate (because, of course, I leaned into the Aussie factor). For the next few years, I was hooked on discovering musicians, giving them a platform, and building a little online community around it.

What started with music branched out fast. I ended up connecting with all kinds of creatives — cosplayers, content creators, artists, app devs, storytellers — anyone hustling to get their stuff seen. That web of people, plus my own drive to keep creating, eventually led me into video, commentary, and then part-time YouTube.

It wasn’t one single lightbulb moment — it was a mix of small nudges: a song here, a podcast there, a random DM that turned into a new idea. All of it kept pushing me toward the same truth: I’m at my best when I’m creating, connecting, and building things that help other people feel seen.

Struthy, 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’m Struthy — a laid-back Aussie YouTube creator who plays indie, horror, and experimental games daily. I’ve been uploading consistently since November 2024, but I’ve been on YouTube for over 10 years, starting out in music and podcasting before shifting into gaming.

These days I focus on showcasing unique games, helping indie devs get seen, and making commentary that’s chill, sarcastic, and honest. No screaming, no clickbait — just showing up every day, playing weird stuff, and sharing it with people who vibe with that.

If you’re a fan, dev, or just curious — I’m here, I’m playing, and if I can help promote your work, I will.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, it’s a mix of things. There’s something genuinely therapeutic about the process — recording, editing, posting — it gives me a daily outlet to talk, share thoughts, and be part of something bigger. I get to explore weird, broken, unfinished little games and still find meaning in them. That alone is a win.

But the real reward comes when people connect — whether it’s a viewer commenting on a random video, or an indie dev thanking me for spotlighting their game. I’ve covered stuff most people skip past, and seeing it actually reach someone makes the chaos feel worth it.

Honestly? It’s just nice to be seen and to help others be seen too. And if I can turn my daily ramblings into something people vibe with — that’s the best kind of creative work.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

First off, stop acting like visibility is a luxury. The biggest struggle for most creatives — especially smaller ones — isn’t money, it’s getting seen. There’s a mountain of brilliant work out there getting buried because the platforms favour whatever’s already viral or monetised. Artists shouldn’t have to become full-time marketers just to survive.

I wish there were more discoverability tools baked into platforms like YouTube or Twitch. They’ve made some effort, sure — but they’re built to prioritise profit, not creativity. Most of us are still stuck cobbling together “Linktrees” and algorithms just to get a foot in the door.

On the bigger picture? It’d be amazing to see more recognition for the people who’ve spent years consistently making, sharing, and lifting up others — not just the ones who went viral once. Real support could look like funding, features, fairer algorithms, or even something as simple as audience engagement systems that reward community-building over trend-chasing.

If I could snap my fingers and change one thing? It’d be this:
Stop undervaluing creative work. Stop treating it like a side hobby. Give smaller voices a proper platform, and start recognising the time, skill, and heart that goes into every piece of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/c/Struthy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djstruthmate/
• Twitter: https://x.com/DJStruthMate
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Struthy
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/@Struthy20

Image Credits

Struthys Iphone