Elevated Frequencies

New year, same you? Good. Because I'm not here to tell you to hustle harder or add seventeen new habits to your routine. The artists crushing it right now aren't doing MORE than you - they're doing DIFFERENT. They've figured out how to stop being a full-time employee in their own career and start being the CEO.In this episode, I'm breaking down the one framework that separates DJs who plateau at year three from the ones who build sustainable, growing careers: Working ON your career versus working IN your career. And by the end, you'll have a four-week action plan to map out your entire 2026 strategy.Key Takeaways:• The difference between working IN (day-to-day tasks) vs ON (strategic planning) your career• Why most DJs spend 95% of their time on the wrong things and plateau as a result• How I built Chicago Music Nexus by spending 6 months exclusively working ON the business• Why some gigs are strategic moves and others are just survival mode• The 5 key areas where you need to work ON: strategic planning, content & releases, marketing assets, relationship building, and career development• The Weekly CEO Hour: How to implement strategic thinking without adding more work• The post-performance analysis framework (featuring insights from Rituals founder Rami Dabura)• Your 4-week action plan to completely map out Q1 and set yourself up for successWhy This Matters: You cannot build momentum if you're constantly in the weeds responding to DMs, tweaking tracks that are already done, and staying busy without actually growing. Strategic thinking is what separates successful artists from everyone else - and it's the one thing most DJs completely skip.Want help building your 2026 strategy? Book a 1-on-1 artist development call with me on GreenRoom where we'll map out exactly what you need to focus on to reach your goals. Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Think learning to DJ means mastering your equipment? You're missing the entire point.Your Shot just wrapped their first-ever US competition after 15 years of success in Australia, and what I witnessed at the LA finals completely shifted my perspective. Hundreds of people across LA and New York signed up for six weeks of free DJ training - most had never touched a deck. The LA finals drew 4,000 people (the largest crowd Catch One has ever hosted), and NYC brought 3,600 across two days.Nobody was competing against each other. Complete strangers were hyping each other up like lifelong friends. No one was on their phones unless they were recording their friends perform. Pure community, pure support.The LA winner was Ashley Wilkins (@jellybean.dj), a 29-year-old wellness consultant from Santa Clarita. NYC's champion was Jade Letlow (@punkybutter), a 34-year-old Senior Claims Examiner from Brooklyn. These aren't industry insiders - they're regular people who committed six weeks to betting on themselves.In this conversation, Rashna Krishnan explains why Your Shot teaches the soft skills and industry etiquette that no one else does. How to approach promoters correctly. Why showing up for your scene matters more than your mixing ability. The difference between networking and asking for gigs. And why putting yourself in uncomfortable situations is the fastest way to grow.Key Takeaways:• Your DJ career starts on the dance floor, not behind the decks• Industry etiquette and soft skills matter more than technical ability• Show up for your scene before expecting your scene to show up for you• The right way to approach venues, promoters, and other DJs• Why building genuine community beats competition every time• How six weeks of pressure with a deadline creates transformation• Creating your own opportunities when they're not presenting themselvesRegistration for Your Shot 2026 is now open. Even if you never do the competition, the principles in this conversation will change how you approach your career.Follow Your Shot: @yourshot_usaConnect with me: @oliviamancuso__Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists think saying yes to every opportunity is how you build a career. ANATTA proves the opposite is true.Since our last conversation, ANATTA has mastered one of the hardest skills in this industry - strategic rejection. He turns down more bookings than he accepts, including clubs he's been dying to play and gigs that could pay six months of rent. This isn't about being difficult or playing hard to get. It's about understanding that every yes to the wrong opportunity blocks you from the right one.In this conversation, ANATTA breaks down his approach to selective booking, reveals his genius content creation hack that involves ditching your phone entirely, and explains how fashion and visual identity play into building a recognizable brand in dance music.Key Takeaways: → The camcorder hack for creating better tour content without distractions → How to know when to turn down bookings → Why planning content while traveling beats scrambling for posts later → The real reason top artists say no more than they say yes → How fashion choices impact your brand identity as a producerIf you're struggling with FOMO around opportunities or don't know which bookings to take, this episode will shift your entire approach to career strategy.Want personalized guidance on building your brand and making strategic career decisions? Schedule a one-on-one session with me on GreenRoom where we can dive deep into your specific goals and create an action plan.Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

The world is at 134 BPM right now. Your sound sits at 125. Do you adapt or wait for the trend to pass? This is the choice every producer faces, and Dutch house legend Ferreck Dawn has navigated it for over two decades.Fresh from Amsterdam Dance Event, Ferreck breaks down how he's built a career that's lasted through multiple industry shifts, sound evolutions, and market changes. From his signature "clock" element that's hidden in every track to balancing a touring career with family life, this conversation reveals what it actually takes to build longevity in dance music.Key Takeaways:• How to distinguish between creative evolution and chasing trends • Why consistency and discipline matter more than viral moments • The power of having a signature sound (even if it's subtle) • Navigating the pressure to speed up your BPM when the market shifts • Why the work never stops - no matter what level you reach • How touring impacts family life and what sacrifices look like • The importance of having your own sound versus following what's popularThe industry will keep changing whether you're ready or not. But artists who last are the ones who know when to adapt and when to hold their ground.Want personalized guidance on navigating your own career decisions? Book a strategy session with me on GreenRoom to gain clarity on your next steps and build a career development plan tailored to your goals. Chat with me on GreenRoom.Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

Most artists agonize over when to quit their day job. Malóne spent 9 years building his career strategically until the timing was finally right. After nearly a decade of playing Miami clubs, growing his WHYNOTUS label, and building the right relationships, quitting his corporate job before Miami Music Week wasn't a risk - it was the natural next step.This conversation reveals the real timeline of building a sustainable music career. From playing for $200 as the "promoter DJ" to touring Europe all summer, Malóne's journey shows why patience and strategic thinking beat impulsive leaps every time.Key Takeaways:How to know when the timing is actually right to go full-timeWhy years of grinding creates sustainable successThe hidden truth about "dream labels" vs. labels that actually support artistsHow to build a label that puts artists first while staying profitableThe real financial considerations when you have a family depending on youWhy some of the best opportunities come from labels you never consideredReady to build your own sustainable music career? Book a strategy call with me on GreenRoom for personalized guidance on timing your transition, building your brand, and creating multiple revenue streams in dance music.Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx