Mentor My Mix: Forward Never Straight!

Yihao Chen is a Music AI researcher and the founder of of OctAI, now GenreX a Generative AI company building the Mid Journey of music. Yihao is a classical flutist, a composer, and an AI music researcher. He was a music AI researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an undergraduate researcher at Cornell University where he worked on automatic harmonization using machine learning. His co...

In this episode, we're diving into the career of Johnny5, a DJ, Promoter, and producer who's been shaking up San Francisco's music scene. We talk about his transition from his Chicago-based Hip Hop routes to the Bay Area to pursue his passion and the influence his formal education had in propelling him to new heights. After moving to San Francisco in 2005, Johnny5's sound quickly e...

In this episode, we speak with Mr. Bill about his focused approach to electronic music production and touring and how to develop multiple revenue streams with a sample pack company, a website-driven education business,  a label, a podcast and most recently collaborating with a plugin developer, Yum on the VST plugin "Slap".  Learn why he transitioned out of using  Ableton for his live se...

Marieme is a Senegalese-American artist whose music focuses on themes of Self Love, Revolution, and Empowerment.  Being uprooted by war at 6 months old shaped Marieme into a messenger of Love who has learned to manifest her way to success in the music industry through strong networking, perseverance, and trust in Flow. Learn how Marieme's talent for singing and songwriting has created numerous...

In this episode of The Mentor My Mix Podcast, we had the opportunity to meet with producer, audio engineer, and studio owner Mckay Garner. We discuss his studio setup and the Pros and Cons of Mixing in Dolby Atmos. The interview begins with an analysis and breakdown of the pre-mastered track “Bright Dark”, Written and produced by Ben Flanagan from the rock band “Black Map” with Mckay in the roles...

In this episode, we had the pleasure to sit down with Rob Garza from the trailblazing electronic duo Thievery Corporation. Rob shares how he has built an extraordinary enduring career in the music industry, from Thievery Corporation to his own solo project Garza and now the creation of a soon-to-be-released musical documentary telling the story of musicians from war-torn Yemen. Formed in Washingto...

In this episode, we get to know Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Shepard, the dynamic duo who lead the children's music collective Alphabet Rockers, and who just won a Grammy for their latest album The Movement .  The collective was born out of their passion for Hip-Hop music and culture, social justice work, and letting the young people in their community be a driving force in the media made for them...

Episode #33 of the Mentor My Mix Podcast brings us Vital Powers, a performing artist Born to Jamaican parents and from Wolverhampton, England. Pyramind's social media director initially discovered VitalPowers through engaging and well-produced content on his Instagram & Youtube channels. He sparked our curiosity enough to DM him and invite him down to the studios where his charm & talents convince...

Bay Area Hip Hop legend Big Rich started his career making beats at a young age, which is how he first met a young San Quinn. He quickly developed his love for producing and rapping in the group Fully Loaded, which became the breakout group on San Quinn and Charlie Kelley’s record label. In 2002, Big Rich released San Francisco Anthem with San Quinn and producer Traxamillion, which became the most...

This episode was live-streamed to the PyramindSF.TV Twitch channel. Greg speaks with Smasheltooth, a West Coast Dj, artist, and producer whose new album Smashel of Liberty comes out spring of 2023 on Mal Label Music. Smasheltooth, or “Smash” for short, gives us a look into how her life experiences and musical influences shaped her DJ career and her first full-length album, which includes both unre...

In this episode, we get to know Dylalien, a San Francisco-based artist who writes West Psy, a style of dance music born out of the Goa Gil Psytrance parties in Northern California. Dylalien and Quasar, are the duo behind Fractal Cowboys. The two have played around the world on 5 continents and at some of the largest festivals in Europe. Dylalien shares the Fractal Cowboys song "Backdoor Dinosaur,"...

In this episode, Greg talks with Phil "Rene" Collis and Lukeino Argilla two members of the Drum 'n Bass group Bachelors of Science, who just released a brand new LP Within This Moment. The trio, including Chris Doe, was originally formed in San Francisco but is currently based mostly in southern California. They open up the conversation by talking about the process of collaborating on this fourtee...

Gizma is a Psy Trance artist and a MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) research physician. She is a native Mexican who grew up both there as a young child but is now based in SF. Gizma recieved her M.D. from the University of Michoacan in 2009, and comes from a family of doctors. She talks about coming to San Francisco to attend Pyramind Music & Audio Production Institute...

This episode starts by listening to the song "Evil Aria" by Illexxandra on the latest Mal Label compilation Space Opera. Mal talks about putting the compilation together, and how they brought together a diverse lineup of up and coming and established artists around a common stylistic theme. Greg and Mal then mention the Pyramind live stream scheduled for later that day featuring some Mal Label Art...

Stephen Wilson, AKA Sinukus, has a long and storied Bay Area music industry history. This discussion starts with an introduction to The Ambient Mafia DJ collective, their compilation releases, and their move to streaming during the pandemic. Greg & Stephen discuss the use of different technology platforms to "stage-manage" all the DJs involved and their ability to seamlessly move from one set to t...

In this episode, singer-songwriter and recording artist, Lucia Lilikoi shares the experience of creating her latest album Luz and stepping into the role of producer and engineer for the project, Greg and Lucia discuss her musical career journey, beginning with her roots growing up in Sevilla Spain with the influences of a working musician and producer father, attending a music conservatory at a yo...

In this episode, Greg interviews musician, producer, mix engineer, and label boss Michael Starita. They discuss the power of saying yes even when you think you might not be ready and the importance of having the drive to learn as you go. Tracks from Michael Starita’s latest release are highlighted to show his techniques for producing and collaborating with other artists, as well as the influence o...

In this episode, Greg speaks with Pyramind Alumni and recording artist, Sheridan Carter. Sheridan shares insight into his newest track "Toes Done" and how he meets and collaborates with the producers who have helped to craft his sound. They discuss the inspiration behind telling stories as a songwriter with his start singing in church and the influence his mother had on him pursuing his craft. Gre...

In this episode Greg interviews Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Label Boss, and Ableton Certified Trainer, Kiva. They discuss both live and studio production techniques for producing Dub-style music using Ableton Live. Featured tracks from Kiva's new album are highlighted for various drum & Dub production techniques referenced in Kiva's Pyramind Youtube videos. Kiva explains the message behind hi...

Todd “Kush” Kushnir is an artist and creative explorer who has been free-diving at the intersection of sound, video, and experience design for more than 30 years. A native of Silicon Valley, a graduate of Humboldt State University, and bus-traveler and sonic-manipulator with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, Kush and Greg talk about the real-world experiences that brought them together professio...

Jef Stott, Global Bass and ambient music recording artist, producer, and educator. In this episode Jef discusses his transitioning sound from hard hitting Global Bass to the more ethereal and ambient sound of his most recent collaboration with Mah Ze Tar for The Zikr Project, and their latest release, Ishq on Black Swan Records. Jef also talks about his series, "The World is Sound", and how he see...

Bob Duskis, president and co-founder of Six Degrees Records looks back on 25 years of music and experience running a record label. How to get a smash hit song with TikTok and the impact it has on an artist's visibility and sales. How to find and select international artists for your music label. How to work out record deals from an independent label perspective. How to work with global distributio...

Gavin Hardkiss, electronic musician, DJ, label owner, producer, remixer, author and artist who has performed under the name "Gavin Hardkiss" and "Hawke", shares his journey as a pioneer of electronic music in San Francisco in the 1990s. Gavin talks about the formation of the Hardkiss Brothers, with partners Scott and Robbie. He shares stories of the underground rave scene from Philadelphia, to Bro...

Heather Christie presents her perspective on "music-preneurship", remixing songs for more reach, the negative effects of American Idol, and the Hero's Journey in music. Heather shares her range of artistic experiences in dancing, acting, producing, and performing, as well as her transition from musical theatre to singing and songwriting. Heather talks about her influences from Latin American cultu...

Brian Schmidt & Greg Gordon discuss Pyramind partnering with The Game Audio Network Guild for a full-ride scholarship for Pyramind's Sound for Picture and Games program. Brian goes on to share his deep insight on working on more than 130 titles for most of the major game developers in the industry, being the program manager of the Xbox Audio and Voice Technologies division at Microsoft, patents he...