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:

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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/

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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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Rating, subscribing, and sharing helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) - Feeling Stuck in Life

(01:36) - Growing Up Trapped

(03:30) - The Cage Is in Your Mind

(05:00) - Place Holds Power

(07:55) - You’re Not Who They Think You Are

(09:56) - The Smirks That Stop You

(10:52) - Nowhere Left to Grow

(13:04) - Getting Into Music School Abroad

(14:43) - Blank Page, Real You

(17:30) - Friends on Purpose

(19:00) - No Past, Just You

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

(21:59) - Make an Exit Plan

(24:56) - Pick Your Place With Purpose

(26:45) - Regret Hurts More

(30:01) - New Place, Same You?

(32:54) - Don’t Waste the Clean Slate

(33:38) - Final Thoughts

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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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

Magnus Pålsson is a composer best known for their soundtrack for the video game VVVVVV under the artist name Souleye. He opens up about ego death, creativity, and building a gamified platform for personal growth. A raw, inspiring conversation about transformation, vulnerability, and what it means to live truthfully in a digital age.

MAGNUS LINKS:

Website: https://www.magnuspalsson.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wguicPfR7ne0MDX7mYPRq?si=z153KlHtQPGc0SzT4I1KSw

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/fi/artist/magnus-p%C3%A5lsson/806918599

Bandcamp: https://souleyedigitalmusic.bandcamp.com/album/pppppp-the-vvvvvv-soundtrack

X: https://x.com/MagnusRender

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?

Ask it on social media:

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Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) - Technical Issues and Settling In

(00:02:00) - Moving to Portugal for Economic Reasons

(00:04:00) - From Music to Investments and Personal Growth

(00:08:00) - Gamifying Personal Development

(00:12:00) - Transparency, Public Growth, and Personal Accountability

(00:16:00) - Magnus’s Ego Death Experience

(00:24:00) - Living Without an Ego and Resetting Perceptions

(00:28:00) - Integrating the Shadow and Emotional Maturity

(00:34:00) - Impact on Creativity and Expressing a Wider Emotional Range

(00:40:00) - Music, Hopefulness, and Emotional Complexity

(00:46:00) - The Return of the Inner Voice

(00:53:00) - Managing the Ego's Influence in Daily Life

(00:57:00) - Relational Meditation and Circling Practice Explained

(01:03:00) - Building a Gamified Growth Platform

(01:09:00) - Truth, Trolling, and Documenting Transformation

(01:17:00) - Philosophy, AI, and the Search for Truth

(01:19:00) - Facing AI and Redefining Human Connection

(01:23:00) - Human Imperfections and the Future of Authenticity

(01:27:00) - AI Adapting to Mimic Humanity

(01:31:00) - The Futility and Beauty of Seeking Truth

(01:35:00) - Finding Joy in Simplicity and Process

(01:39:00) - Early Music Career and Unexpected Opportunities

(01:44:00) - The Strange Story Behind Magnus’s First Game Soundtrack

(01:49:00) - Creative Integrity Versus External Expectations

(01:55:00) - Sustaining Creativity Amidst Day Jobs and Long Commutes

(02:00:00) - Using Old-School Trackers to Compose Legendary Music

(02:04:00) - Evolving Creativity and Embracing New Horizons

(02:10:00) - Gaming, Childhood Inspirations, and Musical Beginnings

(02:15:00) - The Role of Play and Joy in Developing Skills

(02:20:00) - Building a New Life Focused on Passion Projects

(02:30:00) - Creating a Gamified Platform for Growth and Connection

(02:38:00) - Life Philosophy: Living Authentically and Courageously

(02:45:00) - Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Mudeth is a composer from Bangalore, best known for his soundtrack for The Binding of Isaac Antibirth OST.

MUDETH LINKS:

Website: https://www.mudeth.org/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mudeth

'The Unsung' (Mudeth's podcast): https://unsung.mudeth.org/The_Good_and_the_Flawed

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ERwcThkHmFXYHH3TagPOY?si=AjEodAaXRZOAEUhbS4fZLA

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mudeth/1189772212

Bandcamp: https://mudeth.bandcamp.com/

X: https://x.com/htedum

LINKS FOR THINGS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:

The Bioacoustics podcast: https://india.mongabay.com/2024/07/podcast-wild-frequencies-find-wildlfe-with-bioacoustics/

Knytt (video game): https://archive.org/details/Knytt

Iji (video game): https://www.remar.se/daniel/iji.php

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? Ask it on social media:

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Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) Intro & The Binding of Isaac Mod Origins

(00:05:00) Burnout from Ad Work & Discovering Creative Joy

(00:12:00) Artistic Integrity vs Client Expectations

(00:20:00) Artist vs Craftsperson: Personal Philosophy

(00:25:00) Fan Favorites and Musical References

(00:30:00) Cultural Influences Growing Up in India

(00:35:00) Host’s Background and Creative Journey

(00:43:00) Making Indie Games: Breachway Development

(00:49:00) Perfectionism, Releasing Music, and Artistic Growth

(00:56:00) Creative Process and Avoiding Overthinking

(01:04:00) Knowing When to Let Go of a Song

(01:10:00) Early Childhood, Curiosity, and Synth Exploration

(01:20:00) Computer Music, Trackers, and DAW Evolution

(01:30:00) Creative Confidence and Trusting Instincts

(01:40:00) Learning Through Releasing Music

(01:50:00) Mixing Tricks & Gaining Perspective

(02:00:00) Fixing Weak Sections and Structural Flow

(02:10:00) Letting Go & Binary Nature of Art

(02:20:00) Music, Emotion, and Avoiding False Satisfaction

(02:30:00) Playfulness, Simplicity, and Authenticity

(02:45:00) Final Reflections on Growth and Creativity