Powers Pleasant – “Half the game is making the music, and the other half is shopping it around and moving it”

How do you approach working on your own music compared to working with different artists like BTS and Princess Nokia? Do you approach it any differently?

I approach it the same way I have since I was a kid. I love making music, so I’m just trying to do the best job possible. If I’m working with an artist and we have a goal, sound, or vibe we’re going for, I’ll be intentional about delivering that. But really, I’m just following the vibes.

What advice would you give to new, upcoming producers trying to work with artists?

The advice I’d give is to put in your 10,000 hours to really sharpen your skills. The other half of being a producer is getting your music to the artists. You have to think creatively about how you’re going to get your music in front of the right people who can actually hear it. Half the game is making the music, and the other half is shopping it around and moving it. I used to focus only on making the best music, and while that was cool, I wasn’t getting the best results.

Now, after I make a track, I think about how I’m going to get it to the artist. Am I going to hit up their management? Follow them on Instagram? DM them? Reach out to the producer or engineer? I really try to approach it from all angles to get placements. These days, it’s a lot easier for me because I’ve built a name for myself, so I can contact people directly or book sessions with them. But when you're starting out, you’ve got to be creative, because there are a million people making music. There’s always some luck involved, but the only way to stand out is to think smarter than everyone else—not necessarily working harder, but working smarter.

What do you enjoy most about your career? Is it DJing or producing music?

Man, I love them both. Like I said, it’s the same thing. It’s like asking an artist if they prefer recording music or performing. I love the process of creating music. I love working with artists, having them in the room, and pushing them out of their comfort zones. I want to help make something they never expected they would create. I’m always trying to push the boundaries of music and discover something new.

Can you describe the process behind the creation of your new album Life Sucks from the initial idea?

Yeah, so I dropped my first project, Life Is Beautiful, back in 2019. Then I moved to LA and started working on what was initially called Life Is Beautiful 2, which eventually became Life Sucks. Half the songs I made were meant for artists’ projects, but they might not have ended up using them. The other half I created with the intention of putting them on my album. I’d get a verse from somebody and think, "Hmm, I wonder who else would sound good on this," and I’d either send it to them or pull up on them. I’ve also got a few tracks that are cult classics—they’ve been leaked online for a while, so I’m finally putting them on DSPs. But overall, it’s a mix, and I don’t really have one set process for how I do things.