In the season finale of the Good Job Podcast, Beth’s guest is Music Producer, Ted Talk Speaker and Composer for Cinematic Prog Rock Band Ostura, Danny Bou-Maroun. Beth and Danny explore the differences between composing for yourself or for someone else and working as an independent artist compared to with a label. Danny gives his advice about how to keep motivated on a long term project and speaks about the process involved in creating The Room, Ostura’s latest album.
““That story makes us believe that anything is possible, things will happen if you really trust in the world. The energy that you give out to the world kind of gives back””
Podcast Episode Highlights:
00.27 - Beth welcomes Danny Bou-Maroun as her latest podcast guest, composer for cinematic prog rock band Ostura
01.02 - What is Danny’s worst job?
01.53 - Beth and Danny chat about the challenges of being a freelancer and wanting to take work that doesn’t compromise you artistically
02.14 - How does Danny Bou-Maroun find composing music for visual media - commercials, tv and film vs writing music for a band too?
03.20 - Beth Roars asks Danny if he ever looks back at previous work and wish that it could have been better
04.32 - What is the journey like from starting as an independent artist to signing with a huge record label?
05.04 - How a chance encounter led to Ostura end up working with Universal Music
06.05 - What motivates Danny Bou-Maroun to make music with Ostura?
07.04 - Why don’t Ostura play live shows?
07.45 - The challenges of doing prog-metal concerts, including replicating an orchestral sound
08.10 - Does Danny prefer writing or playing live for people?
08.33 - Danny tells the podcast about the lives of himself and Elia Monsef in the film industry
09.35 - Who does the art for the Ostura albums?
10.00 - Beth asks Danny why Ostura chose to release their latest concept album The Room as a continuous story
10.50 - Danny Bou-Maroun explains how him and Elia approached writing the music for The Room
12.33 - What can listeners expect from the next Ostura album?
13.19 - How personal to Danny is the idea of hiding yourself away during your insecurities?
14.05 - Danny explains the way he relates to the characters in The Room
15.05 - What stumbling blocks did Ostura have when creating The Room
15.30 -The process of finding the Ostura sound
16.16 - Beth asks Danny about finding a balance in creative collaboration with Elia Monsef - do they always agree?
18.59 - What advice does Danny have for anyone who wants to produce their own album?
19.33 - The importance of collaboration
20.09 - How does Danny Bou-Maroun stay motivated?
20.24 - Danny explores how Ostura had trouble with mixing their music when they started out and how important his family were in keeping him going
Key Points
Put out as much positive energy as possible and the world will bring positive things back to you
Surround yourself with people who are supportive of you and appreciate your music however things are going for you
Work with those you feel challenge and respect you, there should be an exchange of ideas and creativity in collaboration
Don’t make music because you want to be rich, do it for the process and trust the money will come from doing what you love
Find your sound and keep it as much as possible, even when big labels are involved
Quotes
“On the day of the release, at that time, there’s nothing we would change. If that changes later, in the future, there’s nothing really you could’ve done about it. Release, move on, do something else… I don’t look back as much as I look forward”
Danny Bou-Maroun
“The reason we’re doing this is not that we’re looking to get rich from music, it’s not to get famous, we’re doing it because it’s such a great experience, the process, it’s challenging”
Danny Bou-Maroun
“Almost every musical part of the album has a scene in our heads that was playing. It was like there was this movie that hasn’t been done and we were writing the music for that movie. When in doubt we always look to the scenes”
Danny Bou-Maroun
“Nothing is going to be on the album if one of us is unhappy with it, at the end of the day, if both of us are happy with it, that’s going to be better for the album”
Danny Bou-Maroun on creative collaboration
Optimism alone isn’t enough but it’s definitely a requirement. I would say identify your weak points. Collaboration is a great thing. Be open to other people collaborating, the weaknesses you have other people will have as a strength so that’s huge”
Danny Bou-Maroun
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