Sometimes good things take their time, and staying committed is half the battle. Mastering a skill or trade requires time and dedication; however, the process itself can also sometimes wear people’s patience out. Many become frustrated and exit early before reaching their goals, but for LA-based artist, Josh Sturges staying his course just means he’s doing something right. Not only a DJ and producer but label owner too, he shares important steps he took to flip the switch from an amateur way of thinking to a bulletproof mindset needed on the quest to go pro.
I am obsessed with music. So, I love it, but it can be grueling. I am a perfectionist, and producing takes a long time to “master” – it is not easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it. It’s taken me many years to get to a place where I feel confident with my music. But my mindset is, and always has been – give whatever you do everything you have, and never be satisfied!
Lead with purpose, Josh Sturges gives music his all
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been DJing and producing music–what came first?
I was born and raised in Orange County, California, about 40 minutes south of Los Angeles. Growing up, I was an active and family-oriented kid (I still am quite frankly). I played all the sports, but soccer holds a special place near and dear to my heart. I played for many years and had the opportunity to travel to some awesome places because of it. My favorite being England. I Idolize their football culture and style of play. My family is a very musically inclined and gifted group of people. Just about everyone plays an instrument or sings. We are the type of family where It would be shocking if we did not pull out instruments, and break out in song & dance at some point during gatherings.
I was fully immersed in music at a very young age and given my first drum set on Christmas when I was five. My folks have a video of me playing that morning somewhere, and I have to say I wasn’t half bad! For me, producing came long before DJing. I think I was 14/15 when I downloaded a free version of fruity loops and tinkered around on that for a few years. It wasn’t until I was 19 that I switched to Ableton and started taking production much more seriously. So, I’ve been producing seriously for 10 years now, and DJing just about as long.
What’s the shift been like for you going from amateur to aspiring artist?
I am obsessed with music. So, I love it, but it can be grueling. I am a perfectionist, and producing takes a long time to “master” – it is not easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it. It’s taken me many years to get to a place where I feel confident with my music. But my mindset is, and always has been – give whatever you do everything you have, and never be satisfied!
The truth is nobody cares about the many hours you put in behind closed doors, work harder. Aim for greatness. I am constantly hungry to learn, or try something new. This is why I have a broad range of music I make and play. I feel like my latest release on Tympanum entitled “False Gods” shows a bit of that.
As you’ve grown in your journey, what’s one thing you “feared” doing and now looking back, you can say you’ve overcome?
I’ve feared putting out music that is not well received. I mean, I still do. Everyone wants to be liked in one way or another, but at some point, you have to jump in at the deep end. Over the years I have put out music that I wasn’t happy with; I forced it, but looking back I see it as a progression timeline.
Before COVID-19 hit the fan, were you playing gigs a lot? And if yes, how did you balance healthy habits with partying? If not, do you feel the lack of performing is hindering your career? After all, gigging is one of the most effective ways to get your name out there, right?
Pre-COVID, I wasn’t playing out a ton, just here and there. I was going out as much as possible to support friends, and working on my own productions. Last gig I played was in February, right before everything hit the fan. I had the opportunity to open for 999999999. A highlight of the year! It was an incredible night!
You’re also co-founder of Tympanum Records, can you tell us more about life as a label head? Why create your own label?
I started Tympanum as a passion project back in 2018 with Emmanuel Santamarina aka EAS. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years now! Tympanum is a hybridization of musical ideals with a diverse spectrum of music. It reflects the musical styles of EAS, myself, and a lot in between. A few of the main goals for Tympanum is to not get caught up in what’s hot, release one kind of sound, or stick to one way of doing things.
I feel pushing boundaries is a great way to not only challenge yourself but the listener. From the artist’s perspective, the goal is to give full creative freedom. Each release is unique to itself, and tells its own story.
Our next release is going to be from Secus, followed by a release from EAS. Then, we are doing a big remix pack that will be our first vinyl release! This is a monumental milestone for us. We’ve always dreamed of doing a physical release on the label, but not this quickly! It’s happening faster than we expected. We are really excited to share more details on that soon!
Are there any artists currently inspiring you?
This is such a tough question for me because there are countless techno/electronic artists that inspire me. Plus, I find inspiration in almost all genres. I could easily talk about this subject all day! But to simplify things I recently started a “Sturges Selects” playlist on Spotify to highlight specifically the techno/electronic music that inspires me. Here’s a link if you care to check it out.
What’s your ultimate goal or ambition as an artist?
My ultimate goal as an artist is to create music that will withstand the test of time. I want people 100 years from now to appreciate my music. An equally important goal of mine is to mold Tympanum into a label that is respected locally and worldwide.
How do you manage and balance your time on social media and time in the studio?
Even though I use social media often, I’m not the best at posting regularly. I’m a fairly simple person, so I don’t post a lot of the day-to-day stuff. I do, however, get in the studio as much as possible. I do not have a set schedule right now because I am back in school studying physical therapy. It’s a full-time job that has its own ever-changing schedule, so I have to be flexible. I love it though!
Is there any advice you’d give to your peers who’ve just recently shifted their mindset to pursue music as a career?
Always be ready and hungry to learn, don’t become married to your tracks, create as much as possible to get reps in, seek out criticism from friends and fellow artists, and most importantly put a smile on – focus on having fun! It’s easy to take things too seriously, and become frustrated about your music. I’m preaching to the choir here. Just be mindful that a music career is a more so marathon than a sprint.
Anything else you’d like to share?
That’s it for now. Until next time!
Co-founder/Manager of Tympanum Records, Josh Sturges specializes in a unique blend of heavy, hypnotic sounds full of syncopated drums, evolving textures, and deep chord progressions.
