Why “Pink Pony Club” Feels So Emotionally Conflicted | Steal This Song

I thought this music video was going to be easy. We had the perfect location, a great team, and a clear vision. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, quite a lot. After the chaos of shooting Joanna's last music video, I thought I'd learned my lesson. This time, we'd planned everything. We had a beautiful location owned by friends, a story we believed in, and a song about being present and appreciating the people around you. And then the shoot happened. This is the story of making the music video for “Seesaw” — the unexpected problems, the moments when I questioned everything, and the emotional toll of trying to bring a creative vision to life when nothing seems to go according to plan. It's also a reminder of why we make things in the first place. Sometimes the process is messy, frustrating, and completely different from what you imagined. But that doesn't mean the result can't be meaningful. 🎬 Watch the finished music video for “Seesaw”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy7aVLFsyQ8 🎧 Listen to Joanna's finished album, Play in Case of Emergency: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kvrtZmi6xD9XMAfWLjXV_0TvN-wxM8Tf0&si=iajLtIp75dHhh3LX If you're an independent artist trying to make something you're proud of, I hope this story reminds you that you're not alone in the struggle. Sometimes making art is hard. Sometimes work is a disaster. And sometimes, somehow, you still get the thing you wanted all along. #MusicVideo #IndependentArtist #BehindTheScenes

I wrote a 35-million-stream hit song in one afternoon. It was a song called “Rakete” for the German band Mätropolis. I’d never written in the genre before, I’m not a writing-camp guy, and honestly… it’s not the kind of music I usually listen to. So how did it happen? In this video, I break down how the song came together, from the original “Wir starten die Rakete” hook to the countdown, Kölsch lyrics, melody, production and the marketing that helped turn it into a breakout hit. But the bigger question is: what does it mean to make music when most of it will never become successful? Because I’ve spent most of my life writing songs that almost nobody hears — including some of the songs I’m most proud of. This is a video about songwriting, success, failure, motivation, and why we keep making things even when nobody is watching. And maybe they are watching after all. You are. What’s one thing you could challenge yourself to prove wrong today? Let me know in the comments. Link to Joanna K's new album: https://open.spotify.com/album/7Ke952s15ico33M4wzepVk?si=9Un9lBT8SXKmJNBSuiH2fQ Link to Mätropolis' Rakete: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34JOAPatI3I

How do you actually sell yourself as a producer or songwriter without making the whole thing feel… salesy? In this video, I walk through my approach to sales calls with artists — from the preparation before a meeting, to the Zoom call itself, to pricing, contracts, and what happens after the artist says yes. But a good sales call isn't really about “convincing” someone to work with you. It’s about helping both sides figure out whether you're the right fit for each other. I also talk about what happens once the collaboration starts: how to communicate with artists, set expectations, navigate timelines, and create a songwriting process where both the artist and songwriter can do their best work. If you're a songwriter, producer, or artist trying to get more clients and build better creative collaborations, this should give you a practical look at how I approach the entire process. In this video: Why selling yourself can feel so difficult Marketing vs. selling — and why the distinction matters How I prepare for an artist meeting The questionnaire I use before a sales call How I structure the Zoom call How to establish trust and set expectations Talking about pricing without awkwardness What happens after the client says yes Why contracts matter How to build a professional but personal working relationship Navigating the songwriting process, timelines, and collaboration Want to work with me? Link to survey mentioned at the end: https://forms.gle/vzAcEMnXwDHuDquX7

Friedemann discusses his journey in creating his first video game, a tower defense game for musicians that uses ear training to fight enemies. He shares his fascination with game design, his experience with board game design, and his foray into learning programming for game development.

What happens when the thing you’ve built your entire career around is no longer the thing you want to be known for?