Show Notes
Jxmie Blake is a genre-blending artist, producer, and educator whose work fuses jazz, soul, hip hop, pop, and electronic music into a bold and expressive signature sound. Known for his innovative approach to Ableton Push as a chromatic instrument, Jxmie is a multi-talented creator with a deep background in audio engineering, songwriting, and sound design. With degrees from Berklee College of Music and a client list including Ableton, Red Bull, and Ludacris, he's quickly becoming a leading voice in modern music education and performance. In this conversation, Jxmie and I dive into the creative mindset—how breaking the rules, following sparks of inspiration, and simplifying your workflow can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. We explore the power of limitations, the importance of finishing ideas (even imperfect ones), and how developing a strong relationship with your tools—like Push—can unlock musical freedom. It's an honest look at the balance between discipline and play, structure and spontaneity, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is stop overthinking and just make something. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: Push as a Chromatic Instrument – Jxmie breaks down how Push can function like a guitar fretboard, opening up intuitive, expressive playing that bridges the gap between traditional instruments and digital music-making.
Creative Freedom Through Limitations – Embracing limited gear or working with only stock tools can actually foster more creativity and deeper exploration.
Breaking the Rules Is the Point – Jxmie encourages musicians to intentionally break conventions—whether it's stacking effects, pushing gear beyond intended use, or warping samples into unrecognizable textures.
Music as Self-Expression – The ultimate goal isn't perfection, but expressing what's inside you—your mood, your perspective, your story.
Reckless Experimentation Leads to Inspiration – Playing without a specific goal, just to see what happens, often leads to surprising and exciting results.
Gear Doesn't Make the Artist – Even basic tools like GarageBand or stock Ableton devices can be powerful when fully understood and creatively applied.
Teaching as Empowerment – Through his work at 1500 Sound Academy and his online courses, Jxmie focuses on empowering students to unlock their own creative voices, regardless of background or skill level.
Creative Blocks Are Often Internal – As we gain technical skills, creative challenges become more mental and emotional—expectations, self-judgment, and overthinking can block our flow.
Start with Play, Not Pressure – Some of the best creative moments happen when you approach music playfully, without the weight of needing to make something great.
The Process Is the Product – Whether it's creating sounds, building devices, or finishing songs, the act of exploring, tweaking, and iterating is as valuable as the final result.
Links: Jxmie's Website and Push Classes - https://jxmieblake.sellfy.store Jxmie's Free Ableton Live Packs - https://jxmieblake.sellfy.store/packs-2/ Jxmie's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jxmieblake Jxmie's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jxmieblake/ 1500 Sound Academy - https://1500soundacademy.com/ Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
More from Music Production Podcast
Beau McLeod is a music producer and educator, who makes music as Bohemyth. Beau runs Low End Candy, where he designs plug-ins and Ableton Live tools. His newest plug-ins are Preverb for easily creating reversed reverb, and Slingshot for creating reversed delays. Beau spoke about his journey learning how to make plug-ins and tools for producers. We discussed how he came up in the music production world by working with some of his favorite producers. Beau shared some of his insights on how to develop a unique sound and stand out from the crowd. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Low End Candy - https://lowendcandy.com Preverb - https://lowendcandy.com/preverb/ Slingshot - https://lowendcandy.com/slingshot Premix - https://lowendcandy.com/premix Low End Candy YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@lowendcandy Bohemyth on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_bohemyth_/ Bohemyth's SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/boheymth Beau's Ableton Extensions Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WrXO7jIwX4 Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
Anthony Marinelli is a legendary composer, performer, and synthesist. He worked with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones on Thriller, James Brown, Kenny Loggins, Van Halen, and many more. He worked on the scores for over 90 original film score soundtracks including War Games, Stand by Me, and one of my favorites Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. He shares his knowledge on his YouTube channels and his in-depth courses Think Like a Synth and Bass DNA. I spoke with Anthony about how he breaks down sounds for synthesis and visualizes his sounds in his imagination rather than in technical terms. Anthony spoke about getting his start working as a synthesizer player and programmer as a teenage, and what it was like working with legends Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Anthony's Website - https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/ Think Like a Synth course - https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/products/think-like-a-synth Bass DNA course - https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/collections/courses/products/bass-dna Anthony's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@anthonymarinellimusic Anthony on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anthonymarinellimusic/ Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
Ben Burnes is a musician, producer, and game developer. He is the author of the new book How to Write a Song in Two Hours, based off his experience writing over 400 songs in weekly two-hour sprints. Ben is back for his fifth conversation! We spoke about his new book and some of the wisdom he picked up writing songs in two hours. We covered practical techniques and philosophical approaches, and we also got to meet a few of his five cats. Get How to Write a Song in Two Hours by Ben Burnes: Payhip - https://payhip.com/b/FfV4x Itch - https://tallbeard.itch.io/write-a-song-in-two-hours Gumroad - https://ben-burnes.gumroad.com/l/write-a-song-in-two-hours Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Ben's Website - https://www.abstractionmusic.com "If I Had a Hi-Fi" by Ben Burnes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=764uUMKuHTE Artifacts - Sunset Frequencies by Ben Burnes - https://abstractionmusic.bandcamp.com/album/artifacts-sunset-frequencies "Back at it Again" by Ben Burnes and Devin Henderson - https://abstractionmusic.bandcamp.com/album/back-at-it-again Frozen - Two Hour Track Challenge Album - https://2hac.bandcamp.com/album/frozen-2hac-volume-35 SoopurKul - https://www.twitch.tv/soopurkul On Writing Well by William Zinsser - https://amzn.to/46F0gfP Getting Things Done by David Allen - https://amzn.to/46F0gfP The Four Agreements - https://amzn.to/3Vqqhga Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert - https://amzn.to/4cI8AyN Elastic Stage Vinyl Pressing - https://elasticstage.com Struthless - https://www.youtube.com/struthless The Troubadeck by Charlie McCarron - https://troubadeck.com Charlie McCarron on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/charlie-mccarron Ben's First Appearance on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/2017/3/28/9-ben-burnes Ben's Second Appearance on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/2019/10/9/ben-burnes-wisdom-on-200-2-hour-track-challenges-music-production-podcast-131 Ben's Third Appearance on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/ben-burnes-3 Ben's Fourth Appearance on the Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/blog/ben-burnes-4 Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
Howard Benson is a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum producer. With 15 platinum records, 10 gold records, and over 150 billion streams, Howard has shaped the sound of modern rock and alternative music. Howard has worked with Hoobastank, POD, My Chemical Romance, The All-American Rejects, Daughtry, and many more. He is also the co-founder of Judge and Jury Records. Howard spoke to me about his work with some of the biggest names in modern rock, and the importance of songwriting and vocal performance and production. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Howard's Website - https://www.howardbenson.com Howard's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@hbenson Howard's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howardbenson/ Judge & Jury Records - https://judgeandjuryrecords.com Howard Benson Vocal Plug-in - https://joeysturgistones.com/products/howard-benson-vocals Howard Benson Vocal Multiplier Plug-in - https://joeysturgistones.com/collections/vocal-plugins/products/howard-benson-vocal-multiplier Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk
Dennis DeSantis is a composer, percussionist, sound designer, author, and educator. He is a professor of Music and Technology at Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, where he is developing an all new BM in Music Creation and Technology. Dennis worked as Head of Music Learning at Ableton, and wrote Making Music 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers. Dennis and I spoke in depth about his work at Eastman School of Music. We shared thoughts on finishing projects and overcoming creative challenges. Dennis reflected on his work at Ableton and how it has prepared him for his newest chapter in cutting edge music education. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Links: Dennis's Website - https://dennisdesantis.com University of Rochester's Music Creation and Technology Program - https://www.esm.rochester.edu/go/soundarts/music-technology/ Making Music 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producters by Dennis DeSantis - https://makingmusic.ableton.com Learning Music - https://learningmusic.ableton.com Learning Synths - https://learningsynths.ableton.com Dennis's Max for Live Devices - https://dennisdesantis.com/max-for-live-devices Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening. Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk