Episode 34 - Why Every Musician Should Learn to Produce Their Own Music

Episode 33 – How to Turn One Album Into 2 Years of Work (Part 1: Mindset & Work Ethic)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/fan_mail/new] You finished the album. Months… maybe years of work… and now it’s finally done. And this is where most artists get it wrong. They treat the release like the finish line…  when in reality… this is where the real work begins. This episode kicks off a 3-part series on how to take a single album and turn it into 2 years of real momentum, growth, and opportunity. But before we get into strategy, content, and rollout plans… we have to start with something deeper: your mindset. Because the truth is…  most artists don’t fail because of a lack of talent. They fail because they never make the shift from creator… to builder. In Part 1, we’re talking about: *  The mindset shift required after finishing a record  *  Why the work ethic has to change the moment the album is done  *  The dangerous belief that “the music will speak for itself”  *  What it really means to treat your music like a career  *  Why most bands disappear right after their biggest opportunity  This is the foundation. Because if the mindset isn’t right…  none of the strategies in Part 2 and Part 3 will matter. If you’re serious about building something that lasts longer than release week… this is where it starts. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/support] 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to this episode—raw, random, and real.  🔔 Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s coming next.  💬 Got thoughts, stories, or wild theories? Hit me up on socials or email [choppiechops@yahoo.com].  📡 Music in this episode created using Suno AI and my own twisted imagination. Appreciate you being here. More chaos and conversation soon.  buymeacoffee.com/choppiechops                 https://hanging-out-with-chops.kit.com/497c631a7e

Episode 34 - Why Every Musician Should Learn to Produce Their Own Music

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/fan_mail/new] Most people think becoming a music producer is about gear, plugins, or making beats. That’s not what this is about. In this episode, I break down why my goal for you isn’t just to make music…  it’s to learn how to produce it — because that’s how you take control of everything. Control over: *  your sound  *  your sessions  *  your time  *  your money  *  and ultimately, your future as an artist  I’ve seen what happens when bands don’t have that control: *  sessions turn into chaos  *  money gets wasted  *  decisions don’t get made  *  and eventually… the band falls apart  We get into: *  what a producer actually does inside a real studio  *  why indecision is the most expensive thing in music  *  the difference between prepared artists and unprepared ones  *  why hiring a producer is like paying for another album  *  and what real growth looks like from one record to the next  This isn’t about becoming a producer as a job… It’s about learning how to think like the person who runs the room. Because if you don’t learn how to create direction for yourself…  you’ll always be waiting for someone else to give it to you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/support] 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to this episode—raw, random, and real.  🔔 Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s coming next.  💬 Got thoughts, stories, or wild theories? Hit me up on socials or email [choppiechops@yahoo.com].  📡 Music in this episode created using Suno AI and my own twisted imagination. Appreciate you being here. More chaos and conversation soon.  buymeacoffee.com/choppiechops                 https://hanging-out-with-chops.kit.com/497c631a7e

Episode 33 - If Machines Make the Music… What Happens to Us?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/fan_mail/new] I remember the first time I figured out MIDI… I thought I had it all solved. Not long after that, I walked into a producer’s room and saw 15–20 keyboards lined up against the wall… and nobody playing them. Every sound was being triggered. That moment stuck with me. In this episode, I’m thinking out loud about how we got from playing music… to controlling it… to building it piece by piece—and what we might’ve lost along the way. We can make everything perfect now. Timing, pitch, performance… all of it. But at what point does perfect stop meaning something? This one’s a little more reflective… but if you’ve ever felt like music today sounds incredible but something’s missing—you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/support] 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to this episode—raw, random, and real.  🔔 Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s coming next.  💬 Got thoughts, stories, or wild theories? Hit me up on socials or email [choppiechops@yahoo.com].  📡 Music in this episode created using Suno AI and my own twisted imagination. Appreciate you being here. More chaos and conversation soon.  buymeacoffee.com/choppiechops                 https://hanging-out-with-chops.kit.com/497c631a7e

Episode 32 - Mentors - Learn From Them… or Learn the Hard Way

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Hanging Out With Chops, we’re talking about something that shapes all of us—whether we realize it or not: mentorship. The mentors you recognize…  the ones you don’t…  the ones who help you…  and even the ones who push you the wrong way. Chops shares real stories from his life in and out of the studio—from learning hard lessons early on, to being guided by people who saw further down the road, to becoming a mentor himself without even realizing it. This episode dives into: *  Why a smart person learns from their mistakes—but a wise one learns from others  *  The advice we hear but don’t always follow  *  How struggle can build confidence you can’t fake  *  The difference between people who want it and people who work for it *  Why mentorship isn’t always comfortable—but it’s always teaching you something  *  And how helping others actually makes you better  Whether you’re just starting out or years into your journey, this episode will make you think about who’s pouring into you… …and who you’re pouring into next. 🎧 Press play, and don’t wait to learn the hard way. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/support] 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to this episode—raw, random, and real.  🔔 Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s coming next.  💬 Got thoughts, stories, or wild theories? Hit me up on socials or email [choppiechops@yahoo.com].  📡 Music in this episode created using Suno AI and my own twisted imagination. Appreciate you being here. More chaos and conversation soon.  buymeacoffee.com/choppiechops                 https://hanging-out-with-chops.kit.com/497c631a7e

Episode 31 – The Biggest Mistakes Bands Make After Finishing a Record

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/fan_mail/new] After you finish a record, it feels like the job is done… but that’s actually where most bands lose everything. In this episode, I break down the biggest mistakes I’ve seen bands make right after releasing a record—mistakes that quietly kill momentum, waste great music, and leave projects dead before they ever had a chance. From disappearing after release, to having no rollout plan, to playing the entire new album live before fans even know the songs… this is the stuff nobody talks about. I also get into something a lot of bands overlook—capturing the process. Recording footage, documenting sessions, and creating vlogs isn’t optional anymore. It’s one of the most powerful ways to connect with fans. Even I find myself watching band vlogs all the time—it pulls you into their world in a way the music alone can’t. And we talk about the part nobody wants to admit… sometimes the process of making that first record is too much. Lineups change, session players step in, songs get cut, and emotions run high. I’ve seen bands fall apart right as they’re getting started—right when they should be building. If you’re making music, about to release, or wondering why your last project didn’t go nowhere… this episode is for you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502451/support] 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to this episode—raw, random, and real.  🔔 Follow the show so you don’t miss what’s coming next.  💬 Got thoughts, stories, or wild theories? Hit me up on socials or email [choppiechops@yahoo.com].  📡 Music in this episode created using Suno AI and my own twisted imagination. Appreciate you being here. More chaos and conversation soon.  buymeacoffee.com/choppiechops                 https://hanging-out-with-chops.kit.com/497c631a7e