I sit down with Dave Fraser, co-founder of Heavyocity, one of the most influential companies in the modern virtual instrument and cinematic sound design world. Dave opens up about his earliest musical memories, the wild gigging years, studying at Berklee, his unexpected detour into the medical field, the grind of composing for TV and advertising, and the origins of Heavyocity. This episode is packed with wisdom for composers, producers, sound designers, and anyone navigating a creative life.

HEAVYOCITY LINKS:

Website: https://heavyocity.com/

Heavy Melody Music: https://www.heavymelodymusic.com/

Youtube: @Heavyocitymedia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heavyocity/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/heavyocity-media-inc-/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heavyocity

X: https://x.com/HeavyocityMedia

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) – Intro, tech setup & the new Heavyocity instrument (“Aftermath”)

(00:12:31) – Reflections on 9/11, kindness & personal philosophy

(00:54:13) – Early musical beginnings & rediscovering the piano

(01:00:28) – First bands, gigging, and life as a young performer

(01:06:41) – College decisions, pre-med detour & finding Berklee

(01:21:06) – Touring life: reality checks, burnout & self-discipline

(01:33:52) – Leaving the road & entering professional composition

(02:09:20) – The Heavyocity origin story & creative philosophy

(02:28:03) – How Heavyocity instruments are made: ideas → prototypes → releases

(03:25:49) – Art, creativity, and Dave’s message to the world

In this episode, we speak with Nataliia Hera, co-founder of Voger Design, the studio behind some of the most recognizable virtual instrument interfaces in the world. Nataliia shares her journey from post-Soviet Ukraine to building a global creative business, the role of luck and collaboration, and why design isn’t just cosmetic — it’s essential to how we make music.

VOGER DESIGN LINKS:

Website: https://vogerdesign.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@voger_design

Voger Design Blog: https://vogerdesign.com/blog/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vogerdesign/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/voger/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vogerdesign

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/

Support this podcast by becoming a member:

https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) Intro — Creative life and war in Ukraine

(00:03:00) What Voger Design does & why UI for audio matters

(00:07:00) From poetry to design — discovering beauty in bleakness

(00:11:00) Building Voger from scratch with $80 and a dream

(00:16:00) Early community work, Reaper themes & first clients

(00:21:00) How collaboration fuels creativity

(00:26:00) The philosophy of teamwork — “Skyscrapers aren’t built by solo people”

(00:31:00) Mentorship, proximity, and luck in creative careers

(00:37:00) Leadership lessons — hiring, structure & humility

(00:43:00) Balancing motherhood, time, and entrepreneurship

(00:50:00) Psychology of design — why looks do matter in plugins

(01:00:00) Developers, ego, and the empathy gap

(01:10:00) Lessons from building for humans, not markets

(01:18:00) The illusion of objectivity in design decisions

(01:22:00) Oversaturation in the plugin industry & design sameness

(01:28:00) Nataliia’s YouTube journey — teaching design philosophy

(01:35:00) Speaking uncomfortable truths about the industry

(01:42:00) Ideology bubbles & resistance to feedback

(01:48:00) Learning to collaborate with difficult personalities

(02:01:00) Facing the future — AI, identity & human meaning in design

(02:10:00) The deeper philosophy of empathy and beauty

(02:20:00) Closing reflections — art, family & creative balance

Composer Jordan Chin (Monster Train 1 & 2) joins me to explore what it means to create with vulnerability, curiosity, and purpose. We talk about the courage to be a beginner, the balance between exploration and deadlines, and why great game music must serve both the artist and the larger world it belongs to. A conversation for anyone walking the creative path.

JORDAN LINKS:

Website: https://www.jordanchinmusic.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5FqaQ5TCnpKQCFJNyzrQJX?si=DbzIaktYSgO3boMn3cd5og

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jordan-chin/1046850267

Bandcamp: https://jordanchinmusic.bandcamp.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClF_ljAEbAs1wL6B3Rci5vA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanchinmusic

X: https://x.com/jordanchinmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JordanChinMusic

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/

Support this podcast by becoming a member:

https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/

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Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) Intro & greetings

(00:01:02) Warhammer 40k – Factions, lore & painting as meditation

(00:11:01) The art of being a beginner & practicing discomfort

(00:16:47) Lessons from the gym – health, judgment & resilience

(00:25:01) Vulnerability in music & creating beyond validation

(00:30:06) Serving the larger whole in game music

(00:34:23) Music + medium magic – Ghibli, Final Fantasy & Monster Train

(00:38:42) Monster Train 2 soundtrack, guitars & band influence

(00:41:17) Drummers, rhythm, and the foundation of energy in composition

(00:49:28) The value of space, restraint & arrangement in music

(00:58:38) Curiosity vs. practicality in the creative process

(01:07:40) Origins – growing up in San Jose & family influences

(01:20:00) First bands, instruments & discovering composition

(01:36:00) Breaking into game music & career lessons

(01:54:00) Creative workflow, iteration & collaboration

(02:15:00) Monster Train 1 & 2 – writing process & challenges

(02:40:00) Finding your own sound & balancing influences

(03:05:00) Tools, production & mixing philosophy

(03:30:00) Reflections on vulnerability, judgment & creative growth

(04:17:19) What your dog can teach you

After 100 episodes of Be a Better Artist, this milestone isn’t about views, likes, or follower counts—it’s about meaning, persistence, and the impact you create. In this episode, I share the biggest lessons from the journey so far: why chasing numbers is a trap, how to keep going when you want to quit, the power of persistence, learning to be proud of your work (even when it’s not perfect), and why real connection with people matters more than metrics.

If you’re a creative struggling with motivation, battling self-doubt, or feeling stuck in the numbers game, this episode is for you.

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/

Support this podcast by becoming a member:

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Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro & Episode 100 reflections

(01:32) Why chasing numbers leads to failure

(03:25) Expectations vs. reality of the podcast

(05:01) Persistence, setbacks & staying consistent

(08:09) Finding meaning and building resilience

(13:49) Quality, perfection & being proud of your work

(18:49) Real connection, trust & audience impact

(25:01) Wrap-up & how to support

We sit down with composer Cameron Paxton, best known for his work on the hit indie game Dome Keeper. From growing up in a music-filled home to serving in the Air Force and eventually carving a path into game audio, Cameron’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and rediscovery.

We explore what it means to balance youthful creative urgency with the more deliberate craft of maturity, how to chase sparks of inspiration before they fade, and why discipline is just as important as inspiration. Cameron shares lessons from his journey through rock bands, tape recorders, game jams, and ultimately finding his voice in game music.

This episode is about more than music — it’s about the art of becoming. Whether you’re a musician, creative, or simply curious about the philosophy behind making art, you’ll walk away with insights to fuel your own journey.

CAMERON LINKS:

Website: cameronpaxton.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OBr3Jn1ePWfUJ4f0Vp0VE?si=mwcfwL4JRy-nKI_Zq8scWg

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/cameron-paxton/608985830

Bandcamp: https://cameronpaxton.bandcamp.com/

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/

Support this podcast by becoming a member:

https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/

Want me to answer your question?

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Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) – Intro & Tech Setup

(00:09:12) – Life in Austin & Texas Stories

(00:17:41) – Growing Up Military & Air Force Years

(00:28:33) – Lessons from the Military & Diversity of People

(00:53:14) – Discovering Music as a Teenager

(00:55:03) – C-Lane Project & Early Recordings

(01:09:10) – Inspiration vs Discipline in Creativity

(01:24:45) – Game Jams & The Road to Dome Keeper

(01:36:23) – Dome Keeper’s Development & Soundtrack Expansion

(01:46:45) – Release Reflections & Creative Validation

(02:32:46) – Sound Design, Tools & Process Insights

(02:51:41) – Work-Life Balance, Therapy & Sustaining Creativity

(03:10:00) – What It Means to Be an Artist

(03:18:17) – Closing Thoughts & Outro

Are you feeling stuck in life — drifting, lost, and disconnected from who you truly are? In this episode, I share my personal story of how changing my physical environment — and eventually moving abroad — became the catalyst for profound internal change.

We explore how emotional attachment to people and places can silently shape your identity, limit your potential, and keep you locked in outdated versions of yourself. I dive into the difference between reinvention and reconnection, why some environments make growth nearly impossible, and what it means to truly start from a clean slate.

If you've ever felt trapped by your city, your relationships, or your past — this conversation is for you.

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

1-on-1 Coaching: https://markusjunnikkala.com/consultation/

Become a member: https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) - Feeling Stuck in Life

(01:45) - Growing Up Trapped

(03:31) - The Cage Is in Your Mind

(05:11) - Place Holds Power

(07:05) - You’re Not Who They Think You Are

(08:40) - The Smirks That Stop You

(10:45) - Nowhere Left to Grow

(13:04) - Getting Into Music School Abroad

(16:42) - Friends on Purpose

(19:00) - No Past, Just You

(20:14) - Why Moving Cities Isn’t Enough

(21:01) - Make an Exit Plan

(22:42) - Regret Hurts More

(23:49) - Pick Your Place With Purpose

(25:36) - New Place, Same You?

(29:38) - Final Invitation

(31:50) - When Locations Hold Feeling

(32:45) - Call to Action

In this episode, we explore some of the mental causes behind creative burnout. We dive deep into the psychology of stress, the danger of unspoken expectations, and how your internal “mental software” might be running faulty code that leads to frustration, exhaustion, and creative stagnation. If you’re a creative person constantly feeling depleted, stuck, or under pressure to “do more,” this episode is for you.

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

1-on-1 Coaching: https://markusjunnikkala.com/consultation/

Become a member: https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/

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Rating, subscribing, and sharing helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) Intro: Facing Burnout

(00:01:54) The Body Can't Differentiate Stress

(00:04:49) How Expectations Fuel Burnout

(00:06:46) Unspoken Expectations Destroy Relationships

(00:13:01) Meet People Where They Are

(00:17:53) The Hidden Burnout of Pleasing Everyone

(00:23:37) Reprogram Your Mental Software

(00:30:49) Break Patterns to Break Through

(00:33:06) Why Creatives Need Small Wins

(00:41:03) Burnout and the Battle With Time

(00:47:14) You Can Only Do Your Best

In this episode we explore the effects of deleting your social media apps from your phone.

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/

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Ask it below in the comments or on social media:

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Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) – The Decision to Delete the Apps

(00:01:44) – The Power of Getting Fed Up

(00:02:44) – Scrolling in the Bathroom

(00:03:34) – Breaks That Don’t Recharge

(00:04:56) – Information Overload Isn’t Learning

(00:06:30) – Willpower is Limited, Use It Wisely

(00:07:48) – You’re Fighting Tech Giants

(00:08:23) – A Moment in Nature and Self-Reflection

(00:09:25) – Saving Willpower for What Matters

(00:11:42) – Protein Bars and Mindful Choices

(00:13:28) – Addicted, Quit, Repeat

(00:14:44) – Can Social Media Be Fixed?

(00:16:14) – Strategic Consumption

(00:17:48) – Failed Experiments in Self-Limiting

(00:30:04) – Someday, You’ll Wish for That Time

(00:32:13) – The Poison is in the Dose

(00:33:02) – Delete the Apps, Keep the Account

(00:33:50) – Final Thoughts and How to Connect