Is there any chance there will be an audiobook version of it? just curious cause I love your rant/talk videos and it feels like this would fit the personality, obviously more work, but it'd be cool.
I had a feeling you were an Andrew Huang fan, Matt. It would be awesome if you and Andrew talked shop about modular, similar to how you had Jackson Crawford on for that interview.
Should have known you were an Andrew fan cause of all the synth stuff on your page but it’s awesome seeing you here. Keep being a river to your people matt.
i cannot imagine a world with no Andrew Huang. What you do and what you give is unique and appreciated by, i'm going to say all us fans bro! Thank you.
@@andrewhuangseconded. I always hugely enjoy your videos - more so than any other youtubers and there are some that were literally transformative for my music making. I'm very glad you made this decision and that it worked out!
I’ve been watching your stuff for years now since I was a kid. 21 years old now and making a decent living with music. A lot of what I learned was from you in the beginning so I’m really excited to get my hands on this book. Thanks for all the knowledge throughout the years.
same here i learned a lot from Andrew when i was 16-17 i'm 22 now, and even still feel after all these years i feel as though i could learn a lot more from him. i can't wait to read his book!
You and me are in a similar boat. I don't make a living with music, but I have a deep love for making it and learning more about it pretty much every day. Andrew's videos are such a gift.
yeah same here, ive been watching thiss guy since i was in elementary school, he got me into music and next year I start college as a vocal performance major
Glad you turned that job down, your channel was (and still is) a huge inspiration, and was instrumental in me deciding to start my own channel 5 years ago. Congratulations on the book release!
Andrew I have been a fan since the days you had ~10k subs. You are such an inspiration to me. Even though I don’t make music, your ability to adapt, be creative, and bet on yourself has helped me on my path to doing what I love. Seeing you go from shows like “We are what you tweet.” To all of the songs you did based off of sounds like rock, paper, scissors, to your space series and now sonic boom. You’ve grown and become the person you’ve dreamed of being and ever compromised what made you special. that’s something that very few people can claim to have done and it has always been a part of what inspires me to be my true self. I’m super happy about your book. Can’t wait to read it.
I found you roughly 13 years ago when you posted Pink Fluffy Unicorns (showing my age 😅) and now I am showing my kiddo your music and they absolutely love all of the creative ideas you put out there! So thankful that you have closed every door that would have absolutely closed your door to the creative flow. Thank you for being you!
Only unicorns? I found him before he made "it's too loud" around the time of "intimidated by the size of my burrito" I actually think he had just released "shoot the zombies" when I found him on STWPT Edit: just looked it up, I found him in 2007, fuck I'm old.
Honestly, you made the right call. Cost of living is just ridiculous in CA and I watched a lot of friends get burnt out and discouraged working for the various Alphabet companies.
Really cool to see you do something so honest and transparent, it’s very inspiring to see you kept focus on your vision and didn’t let the distractions get in the way.
Because you're a boss!🤘 also.. I've been diving into this Transit plugin... and it's actually even better than you made it out to be. Much love for that!
As someone who has followed your career since the "Songs to Wear Pants To" days, it's been amazing to see your growth and confidence in your ability in music and video making. It's been very inspiring to see where steady but focused growth can get you. Best of luck with the book!
$100k in California isn't that much unless they were paying for your housing as well. They're located in San Bruno which is just as expensive. You chose well on many levels.
Yeah, I wondered how far I'd have to scroll to find this. Even 10 years ago that wasn't enough for any "internet money factory" to pay real creative talent.
You have an incredible outspoken creative voice. When you have one of those, it's a pity not to use it. And your collaborations with Rob Scallon might not have happened either. You two go together like Lennon and McCartney!
I've been a silent viewer of your channel for years. You are a huge portion of what has inspired me to never stop creating and learning. I must have been 13 when I started watching you and it has meant so much to me. Choosing music as your passion is a difficult decision, but I haven't regretted it at all and your constant light and talent has been a part of the journey, and for that, thank you for turning down that offer and carrying through with your dream.
Book pre-ordered. Plus, thanks for sharing this story. You've have been a godsend for learning to hone my creativity. Can't stress how thankful I am and how impactful you and your channel has been on me and tons of others.
You did the right thing, 100k is awful money in Los Angeles or SF. it's enough to live comfortably in a 1 bedroom apartment in LA as a single person, if even.
yeah especially if he was already making 50k 100k is nothing special in that case. If they had offered him 2 million..... now THAT would have been hardest decision of his life
Your video on learning music theory in 30 minutes jumpstarted my musical journey to the point where I now put out my own music, all because one of your videos gave me the foundation to learn everything I wanted to. I couldn't say enough thank you's to you for pursuing your dream, and educating a new generation of musicians along the way.
If you aren't forced to do a menial job to survive, and you're still young and healthy, you gotta try your own thing at least once. Most of the world doesn't get this opportunity (let alone most of human history) so it's wonderful you are giving your all, sharing beautiful ideas and creativity with the world. Plus, people dont' realize how hard working you had to be to build such seemingly effortless talent, so always know you are valuable and put in thousands of hours to be so excellent on many instruments, voice, songwriting, production, video, etc.
Not related to the actual content of your video, but I just noticed you have captions and seriously THANK YOU. As someone who deals with hearing loss yourself, I'm sure you know the frustration of not hearing some things as well as you used to. I appreciate this so much
Hi Andrew, I think it's incredibly brave of you to take risks and bet on yourself. But as a musician, I too know if i was asked to work for someone else and be controlled it would spoil playing guitar and music for me . We all have our own voice or story to share . It's easy to feel like you need to be what people tell you to be. Andrew you're an awesome example of someone who has managed to succeed by being an incredibly hard working and driven person with a very unique sound. I love that you are not afraid to be yourself! I am keen to check out your book 📖 and thank you so much for the inspiration! 😊 🎉
I loved your Monthly course, and love everything you do. Your love for sound design and exploration is contagious. Thank goodness you were courageous enough to follow your heart into the journey you've allowed us to follow. Pre-ordering your book!
I think what is powerful about your story is that you had already instilled the confidence within you through the discipline of saving the money and sticking to that goal in the first place. It’s easier to bet on yourself when you have examples of your own consistency 🎉
I've been a fan since the Songs To Wear Pants To days, and every step you've taken has been a great inspiration in my own musical journey and career. Thank you for being you 🙏❤️ Can't wait to read the book!! :)
You are legit one of the main reasons I have restarted my interest in producing, I had a major block for the longest time but just watching your content, listening to the music you put out, and seeing just how much fun you have doing it rejuvenated my love for the art. Glad we still have you here!!!
Inspirational, truly! I left my path in music for another passion, that was cooking and working in restaurants for the last 14 years. This helps me realize that sometimes it's ok to do what you know and what you see as a success without relying on the validation of what others think you should be doing. While my path didn't take me to music, I followed the passion and I'm glad to see you do the same. Keep on keeping on, sometimes working hard for what you believe will pay off is better than taking the "sure" bet! (As sure as anything can be as a 'creative')
I'm glad you chose this path. I've discovered so many of my passions and creative interests from this channel. You've positively shaped my life, and I guarantee the same is true for every one of those 2 million subscribers. Thank you, and I hope the future holds even more opportunities for you.
From 40k subs to 2.35. You've been an inspiration to me for a few years, Mr. Huang, and this video validates that for me. I salute your success and wish you much, much more.
Very inspiring :) I pre-ordered the book a few days ago and I'm really looking forward to going through it. You've been one of the main inspirations for creating my youtube channel, and you don't know that but you also kickstarted it! Maybe we'll meet when I get to 1M subscribers, I hope you'll still be on RU-vid in 10 years :p
Dude, this comes out just after I turned down a job with kind of the same offering in the sense that it was double my current income, but tethered to them and I would have to cancel any personal project, even studies. Call it synchronicity or whatever you like but the timing of this video is great, the sentiment I have is the same, don't want to deal with the what if's, I'll see how far I get but this certainly is inspiring and very comforting after making a decision like that, glad it became a very positive thing in your case!
Thanks Andrew, I needed this. I'm constantly feeling like I'm kind of nuts for choosing what I think will ultimately bring me happiness, even when I turn down "stable" opportunities... I have no regrets at all, thankfully every time a door closes, another one opens with better offers more in line with my life's project; but now I will also have less insecurities while thinking my future decisions, and of course, when someone else expresses doubts in my choices or music.
As an upcoming music teacher/creater on RU-vid this video means a lot to me. Betting ourself is everything. Glad to hear your story and can’t wait to read your book, thank you! 😊🙏🏽🎶🎉
As someone who's been around from before RU-vid (STWPT era!!), it's been so cool to see your progress and they way you've built out your career. Your focus, strategy, and ability to roll with the punches is inspiring. I need to read this book!
Thanks for sharing that story. I can’t wait to read the book. Your Monthly music production class changed my life, and empowered me to start making music like I’ve always wanted to. I’m hoping to make it a full time thing eventually as well. Cheers
Bought it on Amazon! I’m so excited for this because this is literally what I needed. I always had issues with posting my music and even if I did, I didn’t know if I had to do singles or how to promote or have it out there. I really love what you do and sharing your wisdom on the process on how to grow Can help a lot for someone who 0 listeners lol.
Very good to hear you share this story. It is so worth it working on YOUR dream instead of somebody else's. I have a similar story; I've been a freelancer for 15 years, and the past 10 years especially has been about that growth. In a nutshell, I have been making music since 1992 and while I've never become a big artist, audio engineering just ended up becoming my job. Things kind of blew and and these days I do mixing and mastering for people like John Summit etc. I have a teacher's degree from a university, and I nearly stayed on that path, but even though that degree took a lot of work, I didn't. At some point I also worked for two different startups in relevant fields (both of which got in touch and wanted to hire me because of my skills, just like in your case) but while they were nice work and payment was nice too, I decided to leave both just to focus more on my own future. Wanted to work on my dreams, and today I am an in-demand full-time audio engineer, and I've also been growing my Patreon, which alone would pay for my bills, rent etc. And it all surely was the right decision, I can easily say that now. So moral of the story? Your heart will know what is right and worth pursuing.
I've been following your work since back when you were doing your "Songs To Wear Pants To" project. It's been a fantastic climb and I look forward to the book.
Been here since the SongsToWearPantsTo days. Watching your growth has been amazing and inspiring. I'm about to take the plunge into full-time content creation and I can't wait to read this book!
Your seriously a light for all music creators out here brotha. Been watching your stuff for years now, and although you’re a stranger to me I’m proud of you and appreciative of all the work you’ve done out here. Gonna pick up your book for sure.
Found you through Dave from boy in a band back in those early 40k follower days, been along for the ride since! Great to hear the story behind the decision to make your own way.
I can't wait to get your book! I've been a fan since sending in requests to Songs to Wear Pants to. I admire you greatly as a creator and I keep telling myself that I'll take your music production class one day.
I've walked away from work, lived in squats, pushed my way through all kinds of shady nonsense to keep doing what I love. Ain't even touching 50k a year yet, but I've got a life where I get enough money from what I do to spend a lot of time doing it, with people I want to do it with. It's a tough road, but when I look at how miserable some of the people who came up alongside with who dropped out for more comfortable lives are. Good luck with the book
I love you so much man, you mean the world to me. Your content has pushed me for years to be more independent and make weirder music and I wouldn’t be where I am without you! You do whatever you need to do man, this was definitely the right choice here. Also I’m definitely going to get the book, I want to compose commissions too.
I identify so very much with your goal of empowering the creativity of others and would love to thank you personally for demonstrating that it is possible to strive to make the world more musical while holding true to your values. This is a huge inspiration in a much needed time of my life around this exact topic. I really can't thank you enough Andrew.
Just preordered, been watching you for years, I'm also trying to follow my creative dreams in college right now. I find that I'm constantly doubting myself, so I'm excited to hear about your process!
Get used to that feeling! Lol. I did a music degree, over 10 years later I write music for TV and I'm still not sure I know what the hell I'm doing, but I just embrace it now. It's just a part of it.
It was in part your content that got me started posting and taking music seriously after some very personal defeats. we truly appreciate the vocal outward support and positivity you portray seemingly naturally. Thank you.
Just grabbed the pre-order. I’ve always been impressed and motivated by your videos. Hoping to start building my channel, so this should help! I just wish it was coming sooner than February.
Amazing motivational video Andrew! I had a similar situation back then whether I should keep up the work with an unstable income or work in a company with a stable income. A tough decision to throw away the stable income, but didn't regret it at all! Been watching a lot of your tutorials and plugin recommendations too for my music! Thank you Andrew for being such an inspiration!
100k a year in SF is nothing. That city is SUPER EXPENSIVE. I say this as a software engineer who refuses to move to that area where are the "good" jobs are. My mortgage is less than rent for a small apartment in SF.
read the email about the book explaining the viewer phenomenon and i was aware of it before hand but it is still a great take on it and i think that phenomenon could actually count for a ton of things in life and experiences, seems like a great book, as always great products from you, keep it chill! :D
I absolutely love this final part of the clip - "I'm still just interested in investing everything that I can into my own vision of what it looks like to make the world more musical and to empower as many people as possible to be creative and to take the best shots that they can" Thank you Andrew for your inspiration and passion for music.
Every artist that "made it" has a similar story. Because they realize that if you don't go full in, you can't make it. Whatever "making it" is for them. Keep it going, your videos with Rob Scallon are my favorite RU-vid series. Whatever you guys make in that video I know it'll be gold as soon as you are together with Rob Ruccia
In the most honest way that I can say, you are inspiring and have inspired me so much on my own musical journey. Thank you for everything you've done so far and continue to do. I am toying with the idea of starting to make my own videos as well, as I develop my own studio, and I'm really excited to see where things go. Thank you for being a part of that journey.
I need you to know that I started singing “making my way downtown” about half a second before you did and when you joined in I burst into laughter. Music brains think alike! It’s been awesome seeing the awesome stuff you do since first discovering you through Nerdfighteria about 8-9 years ago :)
i have been following your journey since you started on youtube and admire your straightforwardness and honesty (especially towards yourself). I would also like to congratulate you on your book, it really motivates me to keep going with my project... maybe I'll succeed one day.
Subscribed to your channel April 11, 2011, glad you're still here making amazing content! Not to mention your Studio course, book, and many other ventures!
Thank you for sharing this. I really needed to hear it. I've been working on building my teaching business for my career in music and my 9am to 3pm I'm in my brother's warehouse feeling under appreciated. I'm overqualified for the job, I'm meant for better things but I get emotionally battered by the people I work with who don't support my own work in music outside of the job. I'm planning on a way to leave, and your video has given me another boost to try and make it happen. Thank you Andrew. The first of October project is amazing to watch every year by the way!
Hi Andrew, I first met you through your tour with Andrew G to the west coast. It's been great seeing you grow creatively. I was proudest when I saw you fly out to space to represent humanity to Horace.
Someone who definitely got me into making music. I took the online course and from there I was off to the races with my production skills, gave me the understanding of production concepts I needed to go truly explore my craft. Was on the fence about the because I don’t read very much but this was a great pitch for it. I will definitely be pre-ordering! 🙏❤️
Taking that leap into the big unknown is definitely scary! Still on the fence if I need to continue pursuing the dream or "give up" and find a "real job" myself .. (somewhat being forced by the bank account getting emptier by the month ..)
I took your class online like two years ago and legit wrote one of my favourite songs of all time because of it. I’ve been working on an album for my band and stumbled across the ableton project recently. anyways you have inspired me for years and I have grown so much creatively because of your videos❤❤❤❤
Besides the importance of this entire Story - and I really want to highlight how important that is as a lesson - there is one sentence in this thing, that I personally am going to put in my smart sentences book: "I'm not going to look back and wonder what if." That is something I tend to do WAY too often, so I will take this advice to heart. I do love your content - although I don't get to watch it as often anymore, cause RL and growing my own Career is REALLY time consuming (but who am I telling that). Please know that I heavily appreciate you sharing this. Going through with your own Decisions is SUCH an important trait to have in Life.
Hey man! inspiring story and im really glad you bet on yourself to do that. These sort of decisions have trickling effects and compound into some really beautiful things. A few years ago, I started learning music production and I've learned a lot from the resources you and other like-minded creators have released and have improved a lot. I dropped out of college back in 2016 but I found a passion in production and have been steadily improving and connecting with some real great people because you made some silly videos. As im writing this I've almost graduated from my 2nd try at college with a BS in Music Production and your content has really helped me find this path. Anyways, im sorry for the tangent, I just wanted to say thank you for being you and investing in yourself and sharing that with us, it really has monumentally helped me find the confidence to do the same :)
Just want to say, I was working at Moog Audio, left that for another large computer company for more money, and I regret it. At least I was in and around music and I seemed to have more time for it on my own time too. Now I'm pretty drained everyday and don't have nearly as much time for music. Hoping to figure out how to shift out of this and into a more creative space, and learn how to bet on myself and make it livable. You definitely made the right decision
Still wild that you started making jokey songs on STWPT, like i fucking loved that site, I contacted you about making a pop punk song, but I never could have afforded it at the time.
