Today we’d like to introduce you to Cyazon.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The first time I listened to Edm was around when Skrillex was coming up so let’s say around 2009-2010. I was introduced to a lot of the UKF uploads on their Youtube channel at the time through skatepark friends in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I did not like the music at all and was mainly into Hip-Hop/Rap, Indie Electronica, and Alternative/Rock music. Mainly only those genres of music since I discovered a lot of that music on iTunes at the time. My sister also had some Alternative/Rock music and maybe some Indie Electronica as well that she shared with me throughout my childhood and teenage years.
It was not until the end of 2010 to 2012 in high school when I started to appreciate Dubstep and Edm again. When I went to college for my freshman year in 2012, I discovered Krewella through finding them on iTunes. I looked at Youtube interview videos they were in. I found out how Edm was made in DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations – Ableton for example.) by watching videos they were in. I also found out about how Edm shows were performed through watching their live sets. I was like, I need to get Ableton and some sort of DJ controller. I played for fun at a college organized foam party, which is a really nice memory to look back on.
I started music production with no knowledge at all with intermediate piano skills from when I was ten years old. I took piano lessons for about five years. Even though it was not a major interest/passion and something I had some fun doing at that age, I appreciate my parents for putting me through that. Even if I really did not enjoy it at times. Definitely having some piano experience helped me to some degree with learning how to make music.
Then in 2013, I decided to go to my first show in my life. I went to a Modestep show at the Rex Theater in Pittsburgh since I recognized their name through UKF music videos on Youtube. The energy there was something I never have experienced in my life. They played a really good live performance like a band (guitars, drums, vocals, and DJ). That experience was when I started to gradually make the full commitment of becoming an artist.
Between 2013 to 2015, when I attended the same college, I went to a lot of shows and immersed myself into the Pittsburgh Edm music scene. I also met and made a lot of great friends and acquaintances there as well. I really wanted to make the effort to learn about the Edm scene/industry and find out what would be the next steps I should take to find out if an artist’s career is something I wanted to pursue.
So in 2015, I stumbled across a Twitch live stream of Xilent on Facebook. Either a friend from high school posted it at the time, or it showed up on my Facebook news feed. Like any video or post on Facebook, I thought I would watch it. I only knew that he made Choose Me II, was featured on UKF for that track and a few of his other tracks like Universe and Touch Sound. After watching one stream of Xilent producing, I was really inspired, and I wanted to push myself more to improve with music production. I remember I would send him my tracks for his feedback. The most honest, critical, and constructive feedback I heard back then and still to this day. He is one of the 5 or 10 people I really trust for music feedback and thoughts.
Watching more of his Twitch streams from 2015-2017 definitely improved my music production knowledge and skills. Being involved in his Discord community and making online friends through that community helped with accelerating my music production knowledge and skills. More importantly, being involved in his community and the other Discord servers/Twitch channels I discovered created long-lasting friendships.
Between late 2016 to late 2017, when I was in Pittsburgh, Xilent invited me to more of his shows as a guest for being a subscriber on his Twitch channel. That offer existed for all of his Twitch subscribers as well during some of that time. Seeing how the shows were operated behind the scenes definitely helped give me some perspective of what an artist career looked like.
In 2016 or late 2017, it could have been before that, I discovered Icon Collective on Facebook through a post Protohype or Kayzo made about the school. I looked into Icon and decided at that moment that I needed to go there to learn more about music production and the other things I needed to learn. I also knew that if I really wanted to be a full-time artist and make a career out of it for the pure passion for it, I needed to go to Icon Collective to see if music was really for me. So in January 2018, I decided to travel from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles, California for Icon. I took a big risk financially and as a lifestyle change. Using the savings I had with some family support to help.
From 2018-2019, I really challenged myself to learn as much as I could about music production with the intention of not releasing any of the music I create. Only 1 of the songs was released the following year, and it was a combination of 2 ideas during that year. I believe I made 100 or more short track ideas and full tracks included as well.
In 2019 after graduating from Icon, I continued to make more music with the knowledge I had learned. I also took a three month music business mentorship program called ArtistPro with a past Icon instructor.
When I started releasing music more in 2019, that is when I started to see my growth as an artist excel with support/advice from Au5, a good friend and acquaintance. I have been a fan of Au5 since 2013 when I discovered his track Metronic that was featured in the UKF compilation album, UKF Dubstep 2013. Au5 definitely played a vital role with helping me understand advanced music production techniques (sound design, composing, mixing/mastering). His tutorials and courses online helped tremendously as well, and I recommend everyone to check them out if anyone wants to learn more.
Fast forward to January 2020, I send Xilent a track to get his opinion about if this is a song that Monstercat would release. He thought it definitely was, and he gave me music feedback/suggestions for me to improve the song. He gave me advice on how I should communicate with the label. I also sent the same song to Au5 as well. He gave similar advice that Xilent suggested as well as showing me how I could improve the song.
After February, that’s when Neo Soul, the track I sent to Xilent and Au5 was signed with Monstercat for July. After July, more opportunities presented themselves with a few more virtual live performances, sample/preset pack commissions, label opportunities, etc. I also made more of an effort to engage with my fans or people who commented on social media posts. I definitely do enjoy talking with fans and anyone because we are all people/humans at the end of the day trying to progress, succeed, and push each other.
So in summary, being open to constructive criticism from artists and people I have met both in person and online, Icon Collective/ArtistPro, and being involved to some degree with the Edm music scene in Pittsburgh and LA played a significant impact with how I got to where I am today.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road throughout my journey as an artist since 2012.
The struggles as there were many. Too many to count haha. Learning music production and learning marketing and business strategies to succeed as an artist. I found out that there is no right or wrong way to grow your social media presence/build a following as an artist. A lot of the business decisions/strategies are based off of what feels right or resonates with you. You can get as much advice and feedback as you want from anyone or professionals, the results are going to be different every time.
So what I saw has worked for me is taking a combination of all the advice, feedback, and strategies I should use to form my own strategy. Trying many methods/strategies and different things has helped a lot. As a good friend from Pittsburgh has told me, you have to fail a lot, try a bunch of things, and be ok with failures to succeed with anything or see some success. Most importantly, starting/taking action, being disciplined, and working every day and hour as much as possible.
Another struggle worth noting is going through the “should I quit music phase” three times during my eight years of making music. First one between 2014-2016. Second one after Icon probably in 2019. The third one after July 2020 this year. That thought is almost guaranteed to show up at least once for anyone who makes music. Reminding myself why I started making music in the first place from going to the Modestep show in 2013 and how my music is helping people has given me the reassurance that I am doing what I enjoy.
What else should we know about you and your music?
I’m an electronic music artist. I make Mid-tempo, Dubstep, and a few other genres in the realm of Edm bass music. My music also has a melodic Synthwave and Cyberpunk sound to it as well. Some movies/TV shows that play a significant influence for my music and visual aesthetic/brand are Tron Legacy, Bladerunner 2049, Altered Carbon (Netflix Series) to name a few. Similar artists relating to my sound are Au5, Xilent, Essenger, Nero, and many more.
I also have been invited to play at a few virtual live shows on Twitch. Definitely the main goal is to play shows/concerts at small or big venues, festivals, etc. where many Edm artists play at.
I am definitely proud of these successes and goals I fulfilled for 2020.
– Landing my first label release with Essenger on Monstercat.
– Releasing my official remix of Essenger’s Half-Life on the label FiXT Neon.
– 5,000 viewers and front page on Twitch for my first ever live set virtually. A few other opportunities I’m working on and involved in that just happened in Late October and this month too.
– My upcoming label release with Night Mode (affiliated to some degree with Insomniac) for their compilation album out on November 20th.
– An international show opportunity I may be booked for next year or the following year when travel/music event restrictions are gone. It will be my first ever show I play at in person as Cyazon if they decide to book me for the event.
In my opinion, I feel that one thing that people notice about me as an artist is that I always engage with the fans and comments. I feel that communication between the artist and fans should be a two-way street and not a one-way street. I understand that many bigger artists than me have bigger deadlines, projects, obligations, etc. they must fulfill and complete. In my opinion, I think there should be some awareness of talking with fans, listeners, or anyone who engages with an artist. There are a lot of artists that do engage with their fans semi-regularly, which is really good. We should keep pushing that as artists and music professionals.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Xilent, Au5, Icon Collective (teachers and staff, people that were in my class and students), friends from Discord communities past and present, friends/acquaintances from Pittsburgh, PA involved in the Edm scene, and friends/acquaintances I have met through Au5 and Xilent. The list goes on and on, but definitely all of these people and everyone involved in my music journey since 2012 have played a vital role to my successes and life. Lifetime friends so to speak.
I described previously about how Xilent and Au5 have played a role in my life. Mainly with learning music production, the business of being an artist, and life advice in general. Both are great friends/acquaintances I have fun talking to like a normal friend/person.
Icon Collective, the Icon community, and all of my friends I went to school with there played a role with accountability, setting standards/discipline, continuing to learn and grow as a person across all aspects of life and with music.
Pittsburgh, PA Edm scene, Introducing me to the Edm music scene, for their advice, talking to artists/DJs about how they started and being great friends and people. Most importantly, being very welcoming to new people, sharing knowledge, and giving opportunities to up and coming artists, producers, and DJs.
Friends from Discord communities, for music feedback, advice, accountability, and support for each other, even in difficult times.
Pricing:
- Music production/Music Business Advice Mentorship/Lessons – $50/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cyazon.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyazon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cyazonofficial/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CyazonOfficial/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7yiGQoPOHVrr5LGKf5VwP8?si=-MpsgtrBTQGTI_g16BzsZw
Image Credit:
Instagram – @gailinfocus
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