5 Things We Learned from Interviewing Grammy Award-Winning Producer Isha Erskine

The PR team recently interviewed local producer and Grammy Award winner Isha Erskine over Zoom to learn more about his experience in the music industry. Isha has been in the industry for over 20 years, working with artists like Ziggy Marley, the Black Eyed Peas, and Maroon 5. He owns Mad Scientist Studios in Sebastopol where he offers his services to artists looking for help bringing their creations to life.

We wanted to get a better idea of what it’s like to work in the industry, and here’s what we learned from our chat with Isha:

1. Say yes!

“Say yes and fake it ‘till you make it” was Isha’s main advice for people looking to work in the music industry. He said it’s important to take opportunities and figure things out as you go rather than letting opportunities slip by. Saying yes can open doors you might not have expected and lead to other possibilities down the line.

2. Follow the flow state

Isha says he finds himself in a flow state when mixing. He can lose time, only noticing later that “I was just mixing drums for two and a half hours! Most people don’t have the patience for that.” If you have the patience for the time-consuming parts of your work that other people might find tedious, you’re probably on the right path.

3. Learn to deal with the business stuff

According to Isha, the hardest part of working in the music industry, especially as a freelancer, is dealing with the business side of the job. “You really have to hustle to make connections - no one’s going to just give you work,” he says. “You have to constantly try to reach out to new artists and get people in the door.”

He also says he wished he had known more about how to run a business at the start of his career. Things like marketing, outreach, taxes – “you have to sort of figure it out on your own.” It’s worth it to learn about the business stuff early to make things easier later on. Do some research online, read a few books, or take a music industry class like the one at Santa Rosa Junior College.

4. It’s not all about working in a big city

While working in a major city like LA has its perks, there are benefits to working in a smaller area, too. Isha says that working in LA, you’re more likely to be a small part of a bigger project, whereas working in a smaller town can give you more control.

“When you’re in a smaller area, you get to handle the vast majority of the project. If I’m working with an artist at my own studio, I’m producing, co-writing, recording, mixing - I really have my stamp on the project,” Isha says. Working in a smaller area can mean more opportunities to work closely with artists and dive deeper into projects.

5. Hard work pays off

Even though some aspects of working in the industry can be tough, there are moments where it’s all worth it. Isha says a great feeling is “that moment when you’re stoked on the song and you’re just listening and you can enjoy it. I’ll often lay down in the dark with headphones and just trip out on the song and really enjoy it - that’s my favorite moment.”

To learn more about Isha and Mad Scientist Studios, visit ishaerskine.com.