Hey Reddit! I'm songwriter and producer Nicholas Furlong. Best known for writing and performing vocals on "The Nights" by Avicii. AMA!

Hi Nick. What was it like to perform at Tim's Tribute Concert this past December? How did you contain your emotions?

It was difficult. I was a little choked up at certain moments and trying to contain myself emotionally. Pouring my heart out to a crowd of that size while our song was being played by all of those wonderful musicians in the house band made it all VERY real. I managed to make it until I got off the stage, and then I stood in the crowd with my fiance, a lot of my best friends, and all of the fans, and we just hugged, cried and watched the final moments together.

Do you think for new artists/ bands that gaining exposure by constant gigging is a thing of the past?

Not totally, but in some ways yes. I also think it HIGHLY depends on who you are as an artist. Do I think that somebody like Calvin Harris could tour less and continue to release music successfully? Yes. Do I think he would continue to be AS successful? Maybe, but touring definitely eliminates any extra doubt. Now an act like twentyonepilots. I don't see them NOT in an arena. I read an interview recently actually where Tyler Joseph had talked about the pressures to find a way to provide the same interactive experience in the age of COVID, and at the time they didn't really seem to know what to do. It will be very interesting to see how touring changes, if it all, in the future.

Is touring not the most profitable thing for artists, with record companies taking the bulk of the proceeds of album releases and such?

Touring is rarely profitable. But in some cases it’s highly profitable. Weird paradox

It's like Sex Panther, it works 60% of the time, every time.

Just wondering (vis a vis "the nights"), did you father actually say any of that stuff to you?

Also, love your stuff! Playing some of your other works to the family right now, thanks for reading!

He did. There was a specific moment I will never forget when my dad and I were driving in his old beat up gear van and I was crying because I used to get made fun of A LOT for loving rap music as a white kid growing up, in a small hillbilly town. I was like 14 years old I think. He turned and said "Son... You can't listen to any of this. If you love what you're doing, do it unapologetically and if people make fun of you, fuck em." In the years approaching me moving to LA I also recall many convos of him saying that I'd only ever know how things would play it if I took the ride. He really gave me the courage to blindly throw myself out into the world and into the music industry with a head full of ideas and a heart full of enthusiasm.

I remember people making fun of you in middle school and high school (CVMS DHS) I’m glad to see that you followed your dream and found success! It’s been cool to hear The Nights and say, “I went to high school with that guy!” It’s also super cool to see someone brush off the haters and become a raging success. 👏

I remember this too unfortunately. I also remember in high school that Nick was a super genuine person. He is clearly still very genuine to his passions and goals, which you may not be able to say the same about for most people from our “small hillbilly town”.

For the record, I still love that small hillbilly town. It's what made me and keeps me grounded. That, and all the good life long friends I have from here!

what was Tim like as a friend and as a music producer?

From everything I know, he was the kind of friend you want. We didn't get the chance to become very close, and I really wish we had more time once he slowed down. As a music producer he was dedicated to his craft, and at always getting better. He was fearless in pushing the envelope of his own music, and inspired by a world of taste and diversity. He also was SO prolific, and had a keen sense of identity in the way he wrote and produced a song. I found those to be some of the things that stood out the most to me.

What's your favorite song you worked on?

This is such a tough question because the music I've made is like timestamps to my life. A way to recall time periods, good or bad, that lead me to a thought or a feeling that lead to a song. If I DID have to choose, I'd say most recently it's the song "Someday" I just did on Kygo's new album 'Golden Hour'

Do you ever feel like you don’t get enough credit for playing such an important role in the song?

Sometimes, sure. But that's just the ego huffing and puffing. I don't mind that I'm not the center of attention in 99% of cases, because I really do enjoy the teamwork aspect of working on an album or a song and I truly understand and respect that it takes a village in most cases to have a success. If I'm demanding more credit for the writing side, I better be willing to give credit to the mixers, mastering engineer, radio promoter, etc...

In the making of The Night, who did what? Lyrics? Song melody? Harmony? The song idea? Drop? :)

I had originally written the verses down in my note pad and had a voice memo of the idea. I sent it to my producer friend Jordan who had been working with another friend he later introduced me to named Gabe. The three of us crafted a first draft of the song at Jordan's studio a couple of weeks later. Jordan and I then went to John Feldmann's studio to have the guitars done and I recorded my vocals with producer/engineer Zakk Cervini. I sent that version to Ash blindly and he responded with some notes. We spent about another week going over notes he continued to send and making changes he asked for, and then sent them all of our files. Three months later I was sent a video of Tim playing The Nights live at a festival and I hadn't even heard the final cut yet!!! I was so nervous the song wouldn't come out or that it was all just smoke and mirrors but when I realized it was really happening, you bet your ass I buckled up hahaha.

Any plans on collaborating with Kygo? He's recently been collaborating with artists who've worked with Avicii (Zak Abel, Zac Brown, Joe Janiak, Sandro Cavazza etc). Would love to see you two make a song together.

So funny you mention it haha. I actually wrote two songs on that album! I co-wrote and co-produced the Zac Brown song and co-wrote "Say You Will" with Petey and Patrick. I've also been working with Kygo's Palm Tree Crew since this year which has ultimately gotten me back into dance music a great deal.

How exactly are you compensated? Do publishing companies periodically mail you a check for your contributions? Is it done online?

There are SO many ways to make money in the music business. None of them are easy unfortunately, and collecting can feel like walking backwards through a forest with your eyes closed. Here's the best way I can break it down for you:

In the United States there are three songwriting societies known as PROs (ASCAP, BMI, and CESAC). Step 1 is to register for one of these. Personally, I chose BMI. You will be given a member ID number for yourself as a songwriter (this is how they will pay you performance royalties). You will then create a publishing company with that same society, linked to your member ID, name it whatever you want to associate with you as the musician (think of it like your very own company name). Now, if you publish a song you and it starts generating money, then about 12 months after the song is released you will begin to see money being collected by the society you chose and paid to you in two ways, one as a songwriter to your songwriter account and one as a publisher to your publisher account. If you begin to create more songs that generate more income then I would advise looking into doing a publishing admin deal. This is where a third party company (ex: Kobalt Publishing) would ensure that the PROs are collecting ALL of the money your songs are earning. It's a HUGE industry with a lot of moving parts so it's easy to leave money on the table if you aren't careful. Another HUGE thing most people don't realize they can do is sign up for your SAG-AFTRA performing rights if you are an actual performer on a song. This + neighboring rights! Look into all of these.

Hi! I’m an electronic music producer as well. What’s the best way to get exposure (besides spamming self-promo)? How can I get put on big playlists and get more people to see my music?

That's really tough. It's such an overly saturated market these days and digital music and music distributors are now making it easier for anyone to release music. I would say just be as clever as possible in your creations and how you roll them out, build a loyal fan base that provides your project with a base level of support, and make you as an artist more interesting than everything within 100 miles of you. Knowing that people are probably not going to pay attention at first, accepting that, and choosing to work for the attention you want is what gets people to notice you IMO.

Hi Nick!

You probably won't remember me, but I briefly dated you when I was in high school.

Anyway I have to ask you a question or I'll get deleted, so, when do you project your album coming out? What genre is it gonna be?

I dated him too!

STOP that is hilarious 😂

youtube.com/watch?v=Ueh5hrUGpZw

What do you feel when you reflect upon the lyrics in The Nights after Tim passed?

Grateful. I am SO grateful for that experience and for the opportunity it gave me to really establish myself in the industry. I also will never forget sitting in my studio that April morning when I found out and I was just gutted. I couldn't walk past the plaque in our house without getting an ominous feeling for months. I just hated that I shared this HUGE thing with another person and he was torn out of the picture before I could really share how much that meant to me with him. Today though, I am nothing but grateful for that song and for the work he put in during his time here with us.

What’s the record you’re working on at home about?

I started writing an album of songs that I am writing ironically as fun summer songs, but they're all sort of metaphors with deeper meaning highlighting the heat of living in America right now, so to speak. I'm producing it to be a lot more modern and in your face, with a lot of dark /industrial / grunge undertones. Excited to actually share some soon!

Do you ever have prolonged periods of writer's block? Do you ever get too critical of your work causing you to abandon a song/idea?

Yes and yes. So normal. My longest I think was 7 months with just folders and folders of bad ideas haha. That sentence in and of itself tells you everything you need to know. Best way I've learned to deal with it is to pay attention to my life and make sure I'm not too stressed out in other aspects, or that I'm not working too much and not giving myself time off, etc.. Stay self-aware, and don't force creativity. It's like walking on a broken ankle.

What was it like working with Walk the Moon? Are they as positive and good of people as they come across in shows and on social media? Which songs did you work on?

I have only ever worked with Nicholas, but he is definitely such an insanely talented, fun loving guy and a great energy to be around. I know all of those guys are super talented though and a good hang. I worked on Back 2 U with Steve Aoki and Boehm and we also wrote a song for Kygo and Zac Brown together as well.

Of people you worked with, who used too much chain compression in their bass?

Definitely me hahahahaha.

If you could go back in time and give a younger version of yourself one piece of key advice, what would it be?

Not to be so hard on myself. I'm starting to get to an age where I'm a lot more confident and comfortable in myself. The music industry can definitely instill a lot of insecurity in you as a young person, so it's so important to remember why you're doing it and not who you're doing it for.

I'd love to hear about the logistics that went into the Avicii Tribute concert. The entire thing was a work of art, and I can't believe it was a one-off show, but had so many moving pieces! Can you tell us what the process was like preparing for the show? Was there an entire run-through or dress rehearsal type event beyond a soundcheck?

And secondly... what was your favourite thing about Sweden in December? (in hindsight, thank goodness this concert happened pre-pandemic!)

Honestly it was the most intense and fast paced thing I've ever been a part of. I flew to Stockholm four days before the show, had three rehearsals with the full band. One the day after I arrived at a rehearsal space, one the day before the show at the arena, and one final dress rehearsal before doors opened. Everyone that put that show on was the most professional at what they did, and we were all very aware backstage what we were doing this for so everyone down to the people securing the venue were bringing their A-game. I felt like a fighter about to go out to earn my world title leading up to my call time. I paced around the soccer team's locker room doing vocal warm ups while my manager, best friend Earl, and fiance watched in angst until the producers grabbed me and walked me to the stage. At that point I was literally walking on air and felt more adrenaline pumping through me than I'd ever experienced. I was being told to watch my steps because of electrical and pyro going off, and had to not only perform but stay mindful of those cues and crucial moments. For example, I told the show producer before I went out, "what if I ask the arena to raise their phones and sing the chant with me to close the song?" and she had the brilliant idea seconds before I propelled through the floor to turn my camera flash on and face it towards my thigh so that it wouldn't show through my pants, but I would effortlessly be able to take the phone out and create the moment. Also, right before I went out I had people running up and yelling things in my ear left and right, but I managed to step aside and pray to Tim, to personally thank him, and to say I would do my best to perform as if he were on that stage behind me... It was one of those nights you find yourself walking around the hotel room at 3 AM still trying to come down from the rush, but not wanting the moment to pass.

Fav thing about Sweden was the FOOD!!! I could eat meatballs with ligonberries the entire time I am there haha.

What are some useful tips that can be used to write a some good lyrics? Besides the obvious ones

Think what you wanna say. Now try to say it in ways that nobody else has before that you know of. Challenge yourself to try and write the song almost as if you're solving a puzzle poetically.

How much of “The nights” did you create, what was Tim’s influence in this track? Did you send him a demo without a drop lead? Did he write any lyrics for it?

Thanks so much for this!

The song was pretty much done other than the drop when I sent it to Ash.

How did you get involved with working with 311 on Voyager? Can you share what your experience was like during your time working with them?

I've known Nick Hexum for the longest time so when they began working with John Feldmann, another long time friend and collaborator who brings me in to write a lot, he suggested it.

Edit: Forgot to answer second question... I LOVE working with those guys. Nothing but good energy. Writing with them was like going to hang with your boys for three hours and at the end you have a song to show for it.

hello first i want u to know that i really love “The Night”, i want to ask you how what its feel like that your vocal is uncredited in this song, so not many people can discover you. (for me example, i knew you after your tribute performance). is there another song with you as uncredited vocal??

Thanks for your question! I am credited on the song for vocals and songwriting, but what I think you want to know is if it bothers me that I'm not a featured artist vocally. It definitely doesn't. To me, "The Nights" was always much bigger than any one of us. It was a story that felt like all of us when we made it. I haven't done any other uncredited vocal work, but you can view most of my other work on my web-site. I've also begun to realize that there are a few people who would enjoy me putting out a project, so I've taken that to heart and started working on a musical piece of me to leave in the world.

I just wanted to thank you for the song "The Nights", it has been my favorite song for a very long time.

If you were to see Avicii once again, what would you ask/say to him?

Thank you for changing my life forever.

First things first, your performance at the tribute concert was amazing!

How was it like to work with Tim? How was he as a producer?

How much time did it take to create the absolute banger that was The Nights?

Any other collabs you did with him?

Thank you so much! What an unforgettable experience for all of us. We never got to work one on one believe it or not. We did everything remote at that time as his itinerary was seemingly non-stop at that time. He was a magician though. When I listen back to the demo vs the actual recording you can very easily hear the magic in his contributions. That was the only one we ever did together.

I am a longtime 311 fan and saw your name credited on some of their songs on their last album. I see you have already answered how you got involved with them, but can you walk us through your specific contribution to a song or 2?

Sure. The first song we wrote was "Dodging Raindrops" at John Feldmann's house. We sat around the kitchen table and drank coffees while John played guitar and we all took turns improvising lyric and melody ideas. Once we had a little working lyric and idea we threw it down in John's studio and Nick and Aaron started recording that day. It was very collaborative. Then for a totally different process on "Space and Time," Nick sent me the instrumental on e-mail and I recorded a little scratch demo of a song idea. He cherry picked some of the lyrical and melody parts he liked out of my ideas and then ran it. Such a fun and easy going process. No stress when I'm working with those dudes!

Hi Nick! I saw that you said that you collaborate a lot remotely, so have you felt an impact in regards to your songwriting/production process at all due to Covid while working on your new record? Or is it pretty much business as normal for you? Thanks!

In some ways it's business as normal. I'm still very capable of getting the work done, but a LOT of the magic I love in making music is in the collaboration that takes place in the room. It just isn't the same on Zoom haha. I'm in talks now to possibly produce another Papa Roach album and we are talking about doing a test and then recording remote while quarantining to be able to achieve that "in the room" magic.

What artists are some of your biggest musical inspirations?

These vary from time to time but some of the staples that never change would be 2Pac, Kurt Cobain, Trent Reznor, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mark Ronson, Quincy Jones, and Jose Gonzalez off the top of my head.

Do you ever get writers block? If so, how do you get past it?

DO I EVER!... In my experience with writer's block it's either because I'm working too much or I'm just not inspired musically. In most cases it lasts a few weeks because I've learned how to push through it, but in severe cases I'll stare at my Pro Tools for months and hate everything I start before I can even figure out what it is. The trick is, get up, walk away. Go do something else, and come back to it. If it still isn't clicking, move on and come back to it later. The only thing worse than not having an idea is forcing one IMO.

Never heard the song...

Great, now I am getting all teary-eye'd.

My pops passed away a few years ago, so this hit me a bit hard.

How the hell am I going to get back to work now?

(BTW, lovely song.)

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom a little over 8 years ago so I know the emotional bubble up all too well haha. Sending my love to you and your family and thank you for sharing!

Edit: Added some friendly encouragement... If you can, take the rest of the day off or just try to make a little time to go do something that makes you happy!

How are you faring after aviccis death? How are you honoring his memory?

I am continuing to do exactly what we glorified in our song. To live my life to the absolute fullest and find ways to really love your purpose daily. Maybe you don't have a lot of money, or you live in an area where there isn't much going on... It never meant copy this guy's lifestyle or passion... It meant find your own, and then never stop tangling with that.

I’ve always wondered , do famous ppl use or have access to their social media? Like are they actually opening their social Apps and looking at comments , dm’s etc it is it more just a branding tool?

Also, what’s something that “regular” people do around famous ppl that’s really cringy? What’s something they do that’s interpreted as chill?

I never know how to act around famous ppl. Like - is the polite thing to just treat them as anybody else?

People are more than their accomplishments and social status. Just remember that knowing OF somebody doesn't mean actually knowing them. The more blatantly obvious you make it, the more uncomfortable it will be for everyone.

Nicholas Furlong, eh?

Can we call you Nick fer short?

These are the nicknames I am here for.

Do you ever just play music for fun without any other goals or without recording it? What style music do you like to play to yourself?

All the time!!! I love doing this. It's such a healthy exercise to keep your creative juices going. I have hard drives of so many songs, some REALLY good, some God awful, that will probably only see the light of day amongst family, friends, and peers because they were just impulse ideas for fun. As for style, I am definitely a melting pot since I listen to pretty much every genre and find inspiration in different parts of each.

If you wrote it, performed vocals, and produced it, why is it not "The Nights" by Nicholas Furlong?

Because I wrote it to pitch to other artists, since that's what I do as a writer/producer. My vocals were originally a demo reference, and when I sent to Avicii they just decided to keep me on. I even asked about possibly having someone else sing it with a noteworthy name and they declined. So I decided rather than "who the hell is this guy" being the focus, I'd just let the focus lie on Avicii putting out a new song, and not get all bent about not being a featured artist. Just wasn't as important to me to be the big cheese as to others I guess.

Whats your favourite part in the industry you work in?

The stuff like this. All of the tough stuff is in the creating, and networking, and perseverance. The part where you get to just enjoy the creation with others, and then talk about why we love this wonderful thing called music together and bond over the songs that helped us through bad times or remind us of great times, THAT is my favorite part.

What inspires you when writing lyrics? Do you have a favorite song you've heard this year?

A lot of my writing is really personal. I love visualizing my songs like a story being read aloud to a room of people. I can be very OCD when it comes to lyrics not making sense next to each other, ESPECIALLY a chorus. One of my favorite songs right now is "People" by the 1975.

Do you accept lyrics and instrumental tracks instead of full demos from people online , since I can’t sing very well?

I definitely listen to instrumental submissions but I don't really take lyric submissions. That's just something I prefer to keep sacred to my own story. Even if I'm co-writing, part of my identity is in the pot and that's what makes it feel a little more like a piece of me.

What's the best piece of advice you can give someone who is just starting to produce music?

Figure out what YOU sound like and use that as the blueprint to shape who you are as an artist.

How did you get your start? And what brought you to where you are now?

I had the determination to be somebody that mattered in the world of music, and a lot of people telling me I couldn't was the driving force.

this song speaks to me. Is it based on your real life?

It is! So glad you were able to relate to it. Hope you enjoy your day!

Did you play The Nights for your dad? What was his reaction?

I did. He was very aware of the entire process. When the record was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA I ordered him a plaque in his name to fulfill his lifelong dream of having a gold record.

What DAW(s) do you find you and/or your collaborators working with most of the time?

I use Pro Tools and have always been on that grind. The others I think I come across the most are Cubase and Ableton. If I had to make a switch I'd go to Cubase because I think it's just better for tracking live instruments and vocals. Ableton for programming is AWESOME, just not the best for editing IMO.

You’ve been behind some of my favorite songs but I’m curious how’s your Dream artist to work with?

I would LOVE to work with The Killers, The Gorillaz, or Tom Morello.

Is Soundcloud the best way to promote music from new producers? Trying to get back in the game.

Definitely not. Get yourself a Tunecore and release some stuff on Spotify. Create an artist page and showcase your talents. The professionalism of sending THAT link over a soundcloud is unmatchable.

musicians like you are earning money like a puzzle, a little bit here, a bit of publishing there, a little session fee there. how would you say your average salary is combined of? what are some ingredients that pay way more/less than one would expect?

This is such a technical and GOOD question, so thank you. In my personal experience I would say that areas like mechanical royalties and neighboring rights are where a bulk of additional money is made. The biggest issue with publishing is that there are lesser collection amounts in the digital streaming era, and the time it takes to collect is at least 12 months after your release begins earning.

Who?

wrong sub... r/Owls

[removed]

Absolutely. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). I check for submissions weekly.

What do you think about The Days and do you have any relation in the making of it?

I personally preferred the Brandon Flowers version because I am a huge fan of The Killers. Unbias opinion though, it's a beautiful song! The first time I heard him playing the demo out in his live shows I just remember it putting me and one of my best friends who is an avid Avicii fans in the best mood.

Edit: for clarification, I had no involvement in the making of "The Days."

Do you ever feel isolated? People obviously know who you are, I don't listen to music and even I know you. Do you ever feel like people treat you differently and how has that affected you, if so?

I only ever experienced a little bit of this after "The Nights." It's easy to let your mind get carried away when you work in any sort of high profile industry. I think reading too much into that stuff is really unhealthy though. Unless you're some mega superstar, I don't think people really care THAT much.

Would you collaborate with Kygo on any future projects?

So funny I keep seeing this question. I actually worked on both "Someday" and "Say You Will" from his latest 'Golden Hour' album!

Are you currently working on any fun collaborations you can share?

One of my favorite ones recently is a song I wrote with Nicholas Petricca of WALK THE MOON that Zac Brown sang vocals on for Kygo's new album. Talk about a room full of extraordinary talent haha. I felt pretty honored to be in that company. Another is a song I wrote and co-produced called "Supremacy" for a band named FEVER 333. I did that one with John Feldmann, Travis Barker, and with a little help from the punk rock queen Debbie Harry for letting us reimagine her song "Rapture"

The Nights was so great, but I have not heard you on any other tracks! Is there any reason why?

Also, have you ever considered writing for Hip Hop or R&B?

I haven't done too many features, as I have always sort of enjoyed being a behind the scenes guy. I did a feature once with Steve Aoki and Rune RK called "Bring You To Life" that was released a few years ago. I'm definitely keen on doing more, and especially releasing my own project finally.

Would you be open to working with small time illustrators/graphic designers? Been a big fan of your work and would love a chance to reach out and collaborate!

absolutely! [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) is where public submissions for music / art / general inquiries usually go.

Do you earn more if a song you helped with gets famous?

The more people buy and stream the song, the more income the song generates, so yes.

2 Questions:

Did you have any fun experiences working for Aioki or Papa Roach, like hanging out with them or was it all just business?

How do celebrities even contact you? Are they noticing you on the world stage and think ,,damn, I need that guy to help me,, or do you apply for their cooperation?

AB, SO, LUTELY!!! I love those guys! Aoki and I performed at the Shrine Expo in 2013 and broke two Guinness World Records. We had some great talks in the interim of all the chaos. Also Papa Roach is like an extended family to me now. When you spend enough time with somebody doing something as personal as making music, you definitely start to feel like a family.

I don't think they seek me, and I don't seek them. Paths just cross as they do at times, and I follow my instincts if the passion is there.

What's the background thought over the song "The Nights" how the lyrics for that song came in your head?

The conversations I grew up having with my dad as a kid with stars in my eyes... And the feeling of doing exactly what I said I was going to, making music and traveling the world doing what I love to do, and what he encouraged me to stick with.

Hey Nick! I'm learning guitar. I just like the sound of it and play random things in open tunings. I really want to understand it better. Is there any good way of learning? ps: I like finger picking and trying to learn ocean by john butler and few other songs of him.

Honestly, just practice practice and more practice. I don't play any instruments traditionally. Everything I play is by ear, sometimes well, sometimes barely good enough to get by. The main thing is, I'm chucking shit around my studio to make cool noises and record cool parts and having so much fun doing it.

What advice would you give to people from countries where music isn't as mainstream and an established profession who still want to involved in some way?

I know it sounds crazy, but I would personally probably dream as big as building a team of creatives and executives to create some sort of musical coalition and try to establish a big interest in that region.

I've heard some artists say that their inspiration comes from some kind of invisible thing outside themselves, making it sound to me like some sort of spiritual experience. Have you ever experienced anything like that, as an artist?

I've felt that only two times in my life. One time when I made a song that was inspired by the Kurt Cobain 'Montage of Heck' documentary, and another when I spent a week working at the C Room in Abbey Road. The music I left with sounded to me like somebody else spent the week writing songs in my body.

Since how long have you like music, and how did you pursue your current career?

I knew I wanted to make music from the age of about 15, so I started then and was professionally working at it by age 23.

What are some workflow, and general productivity tips you could give to a young music producer?

Keep a 4D work flow... 4Ds are deleting, delegating, deferring, and doing. Either do the job because you know you can do it well, delegate others to help you finish the job, defer the job to another, or simply delete the opportunity if you cannot deliver.

Hi! We grew up in the same town, it’s crazy to see you on the front page of Reddit. I’ve always been really interested in working on the business side of the music industry (A&R/ marketing) and generally fascinated by songwriting.

Just wanted to let you know that I’ve admired your career and always seen you as an example that it IS possible, even if you start out in small town NV. :) I’m just starting out in the professional world but hopeful I’ll find my way to music in some capacity.

Any tips for those who are not “connected” or lacking entertainment industry experience?

Keep it up :)

No way! I'm up at North Shore right now, so wave haha! I'm so glad to hear that you've taken such an interest in the industry and the songwriting process. Appreciate the kind words and thank you for sharing! We all gotta pull ourselves from the mud, being from a small town just means your mud might be a little deeper. If you push yourself towards that trajectory I have no doubt that we'll cross paths one day. Network, network, network. Do your research. Know who works with who in the industry. Familiarize yourself with all things industry related. Do not be afraid to ask questions or "feel" stupid for not knowing things. I have been doing this for 11 years and I honestly still have no idea what I am doing, I just keep showing up and working to get better haha.