Story & Lesson Highlights with Shaun O’Brien of Beachwood Canyon

Shaun O’Brien shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Shaun, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Hi, thanks for having me. I usually wake up around 6am. First, I do a little yoga and meditate for about 20 minutes, then make coffee. It’s nice to start the day when it’s still quiet out and no one else is awake yet. On the weekdays I’ll start making my son’s school lunch and breakfast. Then it’s school drop off and back home to get ready. On the weekends I’ll have a little time to read a book or just chill before making breakfast for my wife and boy. Of course, it’s nice to try and sleep in a little but it’s always hard to sleep in when you have a toddler, ha-ha. My family and I sit for a while at breakfast and talk about what we’d like to do that day. It’s important to me to always start each day in a good, relaxed way. It sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Shaun O’Brien and I’m a composer and producer based in Los Angeles. I provide music composition and licensing for film & TV and occasionally release other projects through my label Chapter Recordings. My music has been used in indie films, TV shows, advertisements, and projects with companies such as MTV, Surfer Magazine, Koenig Pilsener, Bill Gates Foundation, KEEN Footwear, Position Music, Amazon, Nike, and more. Right now, I am wrapping up a special collaborative remix project that will be out in December under my side project pseudonym Ivry King and I’m also working on a lot of more cinematic instrumental pieces that may go toward a solo release in the future.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My Dad. Growing up, he always encouraged me to follow my heart and to live the life I imagine. He also emphasized the importance of strong work ethic and to always be learning more and getting better.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, a couple times actually. Both came at watershed moments in my life when many things were changing all at the same time. Things like personal relationships ending, times of feeling disillusioned, semi-depressed and frustrated in where I was at, or just feeling lost with no direction forward. But those times gave way to reflecting and learning that it is good to take a break but not quit.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
For anything I’m working on, I want to be 100% satisfied with the end result and be happy to stand behind it. Sometimes things take a while to finish, sometimes not, but I always rely on my inner gut feeling to tell me when something is finished. If I don’t have the “finished” feeling yet when a project is close to wrapping up, then it means I still have work to do. I also value quality over quantity with everything. By all means, try and do as much as you can at your own standards but if quality starts to go down because you are trying to do too much, then that is a sign to pause and reset. Staying self-aware and maintaining a healthy balance in all ways of life is important to practice.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace while working on my music, visual art, or really just anything I’m truly interested in. It’s calming because I know I’m dedicating time and energy to something that is important to me. Something that I want to see grow and progress.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shaunobrienmusicworks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaunobrien_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shaunobrienmusic
• Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/shaunobrienmusicworks
• Other: www.shaunobrienmusic.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
Photos by Mansour Mozafari. Album artwork by Shaun O’Brien.