This week, I'm thrilled to chat with Los Angeles-based producer, Billy Lefler. Billy has secured countless sync placements for his artists and collaborated with major publishers like Warner Chapel, Secret Road, and Position Music. We'll dive deep into the life of a highly successful producer and have a bit of fun along the way.

In this episode, Billy and I reminisce about the iconic Death Star studio where we've both spent many nights recording. We explore what it's like to be immersed in LA's vibrant music scene and how it fuels creativity and opportunities. Billy shares invaluable insights on collaborating online versus in-person and the magic that happens when artists and producers can vibe off each other in the same room. We also discuss his approach to making music that resonates authentically, aiming for sync success without compromising artistic integrity.

Tune in to learn from Billy's experiences and get inspired by his journey in the music licensing world.

Guest Bio:

Billy Lefler's journey through the music industry is marked by the accolades he's received and the platinum success of his projects. At the heart of his career lies a dedication to storytelling through sound, facilitated by his diverse roles predominantly as a producer, alongside being a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

From the indie pop charm of Ingrid Michaelson to the rock anthems crafted for Dashboard Confessional and the dynamic beats for Gym Class Heroes, Billy's adaptability shines through. Working with artists like Avril Lavigne, Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, and America's Got Talent standout Mandy Harvey, he has showcased his capacity to excel across various musical landscapes.

Billy’s contributions have not only garnered industry accolades but have also made a lasting impact on the music scene. His production work on Ingrid Michaelson's hit "Be Ok" is a prime example of his talent for creating catchy, emotionally resonant tracks that connect with audiences far and wide. Moreover, his production efforts helped propel Laura Jansen's album Bells to platinum status in The Netherlands, solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in music production on an international scale.

Beyond his collaborations with individual artists, Billy's skills and vision have been recognized and sought after by leading record labels and publishers, such as Warner Chappell, Secret Road, and Position Music. Billy Lefler’s knack for sync licensing underscores his unparalleled ability to weave music into the fabric of popular culture. His success in securing placements for the artists he works with in TV shows, advertisements, and movie trailers include: Ad spots for McDonald's and Evian Water, episodes from "The Blacklist," "Grey's Anatomy," and "The Vampire Diaries," “Pretty Little Lies,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “One Tree Hill,” “Switched At Birth,” “Smallville,” various movie trailer campaigns, and a significant highlight was the placement of Daniel Blake's cover of Dido's "Here With Me" in the season finale of the CBS show "Roswell."

About the Hosts:

We’re Sonnet Simmons and John Clinebell, 2 indie artists who have found success and creative fulfillment through licensing our music for ads, TV shows and films.

We were once so disheartened and discouraged that our music wasn’t being noticed or valued through traditional methods. So we both started on a journey to find another way. For us, that “third door” was sync! And what we discovered is a lot better than we could have ever even imagined…[Find out more here]

Resources From This Episode:

• 2Indie - Visit our website for more resources and information on how to get YOUR music signed
• Sync Society - Want to join our exclusive online sync community, with weekly LIVE networking and coaching calls?
• @2indieofficial - Follow us on Instagram
• Sync It! Music Licensing Community - Follow us on Facebook
• Billy’s Website - Learn more about our guest and their work

In this episode, I sit down with Julian Drucker, a seasoned music supervisor sharing his journey and insights into the world of music synchronization. Coming from a family of musicians and composers, Julian naturally gravitated towards a career in music supervision. We discuss the vital role of one-stop representation, the challenges of music licensing, and the importance of creating authentic music that resonates with artists rather than merely chasing synchronization trends.

We also delved into the complexities of exclusivity and retitling in music licensing. Julian highlights the conflicts that can arise when the same song is pitched by multiple companies and the ethical considerations involved. He emphasized the need for more artist-friendly practices and expressed hope that retitling is becoming a thing of the past. Additionally, Julian shares his personal musical projects, including writing three musicals and composing electronic music for a dance production in San Francisco, as well as an upcoming indie pop release.

Julian offers valuable advice for aspiring artists: learn about all aspects of the music industry, from streaming and distribution to touring and licensing, and stay true to your artistic vision.

This episode is packed with knowledge and inspiration for anyone in the music industry.

Guest Bio:

Julian Drucker is an independent music supervisor who has worked on a wide array of film and television productions.

His recent supervision work includes the prison docuseries Justice, USA (HBO Max), the procedural drama 9-1-1 Lone Star (FOX), the reality hit Love Island (CBS), The Great Muslim American Road Trip (PBS), The Sundance Film Festival trailer, Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World (ABC) and various independent films. In 2023, Julian was nominated by the Guild of Music Supervisors for the drum ‘n’ bass drama Purple Beatz.

Julian works with fellow music supervisor Christine Greene Roe on a variety of projects, including the award-winning miniseries Lessons in Chemistry (Apple), the screwball sci-fi satire Made for Love (HBO Max), and the upcoming family comedy The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh (Amazon).

Julian began his music supervision career at Deep Cut Music under the wing of veteran supervisor Maggie Phillips, with whom he worked closely on numerous critically acclaimed TV shows and films, including The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), Shrill (Hulu), Homecoming (Amazon), Snowfall (FX) and Juliet, Naked (Lionsgate).

He later went on to become the first hire at Yay Team Productions, working alongside music supervisor Amanda Krieg Thomas on hit series such as Big Mouth (Netflix) and The Shrink Next Door (Apple), in addition to a full slate of projects from executive producer Ryan Murphy, including American Horror Story (FX), Pose (FX) and movie musical The Prom (Netflix).

Two of his musicals have been given workshops and performances in theaters across the country and he has a third in development. Most recently, he released an album of experimental electronic music – Here. Now. by Charivari – written for a contemporary dance production that went up at the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

About the Hosts:

We’re Sonnet Simmons and John Clinebell, 2 indie artists who have found success and creative fulfillment through licensing our music for ads, TV shows and films.

We were once so disheartened and discouraged that our music wasn’t being noticed or valued through traditional methods. So we both started on a journey to find another way. For us, that “third door” was sync! And what we discovered is a lot better than we could have ever even imagined…[Find out more here]

Resources From This Episode:

• 2Indie - Visit our website for more resources and information on how to get YOUR music signed
• The Sync Society - Want to join our exclusive online sync community, with weekly LIVE networking and coaching calls?
• @2indieofficial - Follow us on Instagram
• Sync It! Music Licensing Community - Follow us on Facebook

In this episode, we interviewed Rebecca and Jordan from Pandion Music Foundation, a non-profit supporting musicians with resources, education, and community. We discussed the Foundation's mission to help artists, their various programs, and their efforts to reach underserved areas.

Rebecca and Jordan share their journey of starting Pandion in 2021, receiving their license in 2022, and launching workshops to educate independent artists. We discussed the challenges artists face, including industry barriers and mental health issues, and how Pandion offers free workshops and a wellness program called Pandion Unplugged.

The founders emphasize the importance of creating a supportive community for artists. They discuss partnerships with other organizations, upcoming events, and their gratitude for the support they've received. Pandion serves as a bridge, providing essential resources without charging artists, and their plans for future growth and collaboration.

Overall, the Pandion Music Foundation has had a significant impact in the music industry by fostering an inclusive, supportive environment for artists to thrive.

Guest Bio:

Pandion Music Foundation (PMF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded by creators, for creators; a free global music community empowering artists as they navigate the music industry through educational resources, workshops, wellness guidance and direct access to experts — helping to provide a constant thread of support for music creators.

About the Hosts:

We’re Sonnet Simmons and John Clinebell, 2 indie artists who have found success and creative fulfillment through licensing our music for ads, TV shows and films.

We were once so disheartened and discouraged that our music wasn’t being noticed or valued through traditional methods. So we both started on a journey to find another way. For us, that “third door” was sync! And what we discovered is a lot better than we could have ever even imagined…[Find out more here]

Resources From This Episode:

• 2Indie - Visit our website for more resources and information on how to get YOUR music signed
• The Sync Society - Want to join our exclusive online sync community, with weekly LIVE networking and coaching calls?
• @2indieofficial - Follow us on Instagram
• Sync It! Music Licensing Community - Follow us on Facebook
• Pandion Music Foundation - Learn more about our guest and their work