Navigating The Industry with Midoca

The music industry can be a challenging business to navigate as a new up and coming Artist / Musician. Finding stability while building your career can feel daunting at times, so we decided to ask our friend Chaz Treharne, who goes under the artist pseudonym MIDOCA a few questions regarding finding success in the industry all while following your passion.

 

Chaz has experienced many facets within the music industry such as touring under MIDOCA, producing music for artists, short films, tv and is currently taking on the task of teaching the next generation of artists at Icon Collective. Let’s find out how he’s navigated these avenues and hear a little bit more about his experiences.

  

 

CREATIVITY

 

UNBOUND : Hi Chaz! Thank you for taking the time to give all of us a little insight into your world and process. You’ve walked down a lot of paths within music, which avenue do you feel has been the most rewarding creatively so far?

 

CHAZ : Thanks for reaching out! There’s so much I enjoy about working on different projects, but ultimately my artist project has been the most rewarding. Nothing more rewarding than writing a song then hearing it echo within the lives of others. It’s a catharsis. The artist project is also what led to all other opportunities in music; composing for TV, writing for commercials and developing a unique style to approach each. 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL SECURITY & CHASING THE DREAM

 

UNBOUND : of course as a working artist the creative outlet can’t be the only reason to do something. To sustain a career doing something you’re passionate about, you need income, so with everything you’ve accomplished, which lane in the industry helped you make a consistent income and is it something you enjoyed doing? 

 

 

CHAZ : Composing for TV and commercials has allowed me to create both active and passive streams of income. Most creative work, whether in music or visual art comes with a certain unpredictability both in personal and financial success. There’s a constant ebb and flow to income and work, all of which exists within different parameters for most creatives. Composing has helped stabilize that for me. 

 

 

UNBOUND : Have there been sacrifices you've made in your creative life while trying to maintain steady income that you feel you shouldn’t have made? 

 

 

CHAZ : Personally, I see myself sometimes behave with a scarcity mindset - in that when there’s work offered to me I almost always take it. I’ve had to respond to opportunities this way for years to maintain relationships and income. I am currently working to balance more time for my own artistic endeavors, however.

 

 

UNBOUND : What do you recommend other artists do to support themselves while trying to make a name in the industry?

 

 

CHAZ : It’s important to be present in the music industry but more important to be there prepared. Work on your own music for a while, until it’s something you’re really proud of. Even if that means working adjacent to the music industry until you really have something to offer. Take the right opportunities but not so many, or the wrong ones, that you burn yourself out. 

 

 

 

NETWORKING AND HOW TO MEET THE RIGHT PEOPLE

 

UNBOUND : Making connections and networking is an important part to establishing a career for yourself. Some feel an itch to network and get their art in front of people while others just work on their craft with hopes that it’ll find the right people. What would you say worked for you in terms of meeting the right people to help establish yourself as an artist, getting syncs / placements and or collaborations?

 

 

CHAZ : In hindsight, I would attribute simply being kind and honest to those in the music industry whether they have something to offer me or not. Some do, some don't’, some might in the future, so it’s best to always be prepared but patient. Once you do find the right opportunities and connections, it’s important to have a strong work ethic and be accountable.  

 

 

UNBOUND : What has been your most exciting Sync placement?

 

 

CHAZ : The 2021 NBA Playoffs theme. That was a significant placement for me for multiple reasons. Musically, it was an ambient interpolation of one of my previously released songs (“Baby”). The commercial spotlights multiple NBA players and the most prominent was Lebron James. I grew up about 40 minutes from Akron, OH and vividly remember the electricity of Lebron’s rise to stardom when I was very young. He is a true source of pride for NorthEast Ohio. Knowing that my music was the foundation to that campaign and how many people from back home had seen this spot felt like a full circle moment. 

 

 

 

TOPIC- GENERAL ADVICE TO UP AND COMERS

 

UNBOUND : I’m sure you’ve learned a lot over the years on how to make a living in Music , do you have any advice that you feel you can pass onto the next generation that you wish someone told you?

 

 

CHAZ :  I’ve been making music for half of my life now. I think the key to staying motivated and passionate is not only working on that which inspires you, but also making time for yourself and your identity outside of music. I find so many parallels in my hobbies that bridge connections and allow for new approaches to writing music. 

 

 

UNBOUND : What are your 3 tips to someone who is actively looking to get their music noticed?

 

 

CHAZ :   If you want support, be supportive. 

Don’t strive for perfection, strive for originality

If someone doesn’t respond to your message, don’t take it personally. I encourage people to continue sending new music. Eventually, it will be noticed. 

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

 

 UNBOUND : Thank you so much for the time and insight you shared, your voice will provide clarity and support to other artists navigating the music industry as they also find their path to success. Of course we have to ask, what’s next in the pipeline for Chaz Treharne aka MIDOCA. What should people reading be on the lookout for?

 

 

CHAZ : I just released a new EP called “Lateral Drift”. I am currently writing another body of work as well as an ambient guitar EP. I am in the early stages of composing music for a crime thriller film, as well. 

 

 

 

FOLLOW ALONG:

 

Follow MIDOCA on the following social platforms:

 

Instagram: @midocamusic

https://soundcloud.com/midocamusic

https://twitter.com/Midocamusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3k4i4K7PicHqnodnYhXsJy

 

 

 

Photos by Hunter Lyon @Hunterlyon