{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Jxmie Blake on Rule-Breaking, Risk-Taking, and Decision-Making","description":"Jxmie Blake is a genre-blending artist, producer, and educator whose work fuses jazz, soul, hip hop, pop, and electronic music into a bold and expressive signature sound. Known for his innovative approach to Ableton Push as a chromatic instrument, Jxmie is a multi-talented creator with a deep background in audio engineering, songwriting, and sound design. With degrees from Berklee College of Music and a client list including Ableton, Red Bull, and Ludacris, he\u2019s quickly becoming a leading voice in modern music education and performance. In this conversation, Jxmie and I dive into the creative mindset\u2014how breaking the rules, following sparks of inspiration, and simplifying your workflow can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. We explore the power of limitations, the importance of finishing ideas (even imperfect ones), and how developing a strong relationship with your tools\u2014like Push\u2014can unlock musical freedom. It\u2019s an honest look at the balance between discipline and play, structure and spontaneity, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is stop overthinking and just make something. Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: Push as a Chromatic Instrument \u2013 Jxmie breaks down how Push can function like a guitar fretboard, opening up intuitive, expressive playing that bridges the gap between traditional instruments and digital music-making. Creative Freedom Through Limitations \u2013 Embracing limited gear or working with only stock tools can actually foster more creativity and deeper exploration. Breaking the Rules Is the Point \u2013 Jxmie encourages musicians to intentionally break conventions\u2014whether it\u2019s stacking effects, pushing gear beyond intended use, or warping samples into unrecognizable textures. Music as Self-Expression \u2013 The ultimate goal isn\u2019t perfection, but expressing what\u2019s inside you\u2014your mood, your perspective, your story. Reckless Experimentation Leads to Inspiration \u2013 Playing without a specific goal, just to see what happens, often leads to surprising and exciting results. Gear Doesn\u2019t Make the Artist \u2013 Even basic tools like GarageBand or stock Ableton devices can be powerful when fully understood and creatively applied. Teaching as Empowerment \u2013 Through his work at 1500 Sound Academy and his online courses, Jxmie focuses on empowering students to unlock their own creative voices, regardless of background or skill level. Creative Blocks Are Often Internal \u2013 As we gain technical skills, creative challenges become more mental and emotional\u2014expectations, self-judgment, and overthinking can block our flow. Start with Play, Not Pressure \u2013 Some of the best creative moments happen when you approach music playfully, without the weight of needing to make something great. The Process Is the Product \u2013 Whether it\u2019s creating sounds, building devices, or finishing songs, the act of exploring, tweaking, and iterating is as valuable as the final result. Links: Jxmie's Website and Push Classes - https:\/\/jxmieblake.sellfy.store Jxmie's Free Ableton Live Packs - https:\/\/jxmieblake.sellfy.store\/packs-2\/ Jxmie's YouTube - https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@jxmieblake Jxmie's Instagram - https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/jxmieblake\/ 1500 Sound Academy - https:\/\/1500soundacademy.com\/ Brian Funk Website - https:\/\/brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https:\/\/brianfunk.com\/mpc  5-Minute Music Producer - https:\/\/brianfunk.com\/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https:\/\/brianfunk.com\/blog\/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https:\/\/brianfunk.com\/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https:\/\/brianfunk.com\/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https:\/\/performodule.com\/ Thank you for listening.  Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don\u2019t forget to visit my site https:\/\/BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk   ","author_name":"Music Production Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/musicproductionpodcast.libsyn.com\/website","html":"