Facing The Music

It's five:12 am on this peaceful, faraway vicinity at the a long way reaches of Los Angeles. Inside a sprawling, lit-up house, record label owner Michael Jones types furiously at his pc whilst assistants are already humming approximately.

Since 2012, the residence, nicknamed the Kompound, has functioned as a retreat for artists on his dGenerate Records label and KounterKulture Mgmt roster. Danish pop singer Francis Bowie these days spent a month there writing a brand new album, and the house has been the location for three song films in latest months.

This morning, instead of being attentive to tune, Jones is facing it. Two younger men % containers nearby even as Jones fires off emails about the Kompound's impending closure. "While we are saddened with the aid of its closure, we're also freed," Jones writes. But the expression on his face tells a one of a kind tale. "I are aware of it's Pollyanna-like, however it's true. At least that is what I keep telling myself, " Jones says.

Keeping his chin up has, at instances, been difficult for the music entrepreneur whose efforts to build a full-scale, brand new recording studio fell apart when investment capital dried up. "There just hasn't been a whole lot of willingness out there to spend money on a challenge like this and I knew that from the start," Jones explained. "But I've by no means been frightened of a venture. I additionally have not misplaced a lot of them, so this one has been difficult to simply accept."

Indeed, the man who started out out as a freelance song journalist in Los Angeles has built and sold a string of success testimonies- control, promotions, media and era-during the last 25 years. I spoke with Jones that early September morning, just after his 50th birthday, to learn the way he is turning this loss into a victory.

First, satisfied birthday!

(Chuckles.) Thank you! It's so quality to be 29!

You don't appearance a day over it, either. That's exceptional thinking about the stress you are beneath.

Well, even below pressure I deal with myself. Granted, I have an abnormal life-style. I work 20-30 hours in a single "workday" sleep a chunk then get up and begin once more. It's simply the merging of my hyperactive nature and my power.

Let's start off with this region, the Kompound. What befell?

The Kompound turned into considered one of my pet initiatives. I owned more than one properties at the outskirts of LA and notion this one would be a natural. So in 2012 we began the challenge, restructuring the indoors to accommodate a world magnificence recording studio on the primary floor. Then the headaches ensued. We came up drastically quick due to overruns and the investment properly changed into dry. Residential studios are a high-threat proposition within the first area because the enterprise and production of song has modified. But I held tight and gave it my first-class shot. But the capital wasn't there to preserve and the Kompound couldn't generate sufficient sales to stay afloat with out the new studio. Siphoning cash off from my different organizations just failed to make feel. We attempted negotiating the mortgage phrases with the bank and that fell apart because there's enough revenue basic. They failed to appear to apprehend plenty of things approximately what we had been doing. By the end of July, it changed into over. We had to cut our losses.

That leads us for your new venture, "Stand Your Ground." How did that come about?

Dealing with the bank helped me recognize what people nationwide had been handling within the housing crisis here. I had three legal professionals operating with me and it become a large number. I imagined what folks that haven't were given those sources have to go through. In our case, for example, the financial institution might cite sales numbers that have been foreign to us. I still have not a clue in which they got their information. At backside, it was clear they failed to want to cope with any of this. It's insane. Of direction, we've got all read the horror stories of the banks' horrific behavior in the foreclosure disaster, however seeing how they treated us helped me apprehend how the gadget simply eats up center-magnificence and operating-elegance humans. I'm not irritated that I have to give up a pet undertaking; this is only a enterprise concept that -didn't fly. I'm criticizing the machine.

Then one morning round four am I became writing the script for a track video when the idea of "Stand Your Ground" simply hit me. I jumped up and advised my assistant to get every artist we work with on line for an emergency assembly. Mind you, I hadn't even despatched phrase about the Kompound's closure. So I held a chain of conferences and in the long run, each artist signed on to "Stand Your Ground." The aid has been pleasurable.

The complete name is "Stand Your Ground: Music from the New Resistance," is defiant. Are you encouraging people to combat back?

I'll always encourage every person to fight again, but it's about being able to keep happiness and wish within the midst of a crisis. "Stand Your Ground" is clearly approximately status up for your self in opposition to any adversity with the aid of refusing to be consumed by means of it.

Were you consumed via your standoff with the financial institution?

For a groovy minute, I became. Luckily I have such a lot of initiatives underway that I actually can't spend a whole lot time wallowing in my anger or disappointment. Plus I'm very fortunate to have humans around me, along with my two sons, who were a massive supply of assist in my darker moments. But as with the whole lot, it is all grist for the mill. Out of that battle got here an album. Who is aware of what other desirable things will come from it.

That's a fantastic outlook.

I actually do consider that the entirety, even our so-referred to as tragedies, are the foundation for something in order to benefit us.

What do you wish to perform with "Stand Your Ground"?

That humans will hear the underlying message: you could choose to transform the barriers or losses for your existence into some thing correct, or you can let them drag you down.

Who has signed onto the mission?

Right now, Francis Bowie is re-recording "Robin Hood" for the assignment. It's a fab protest song which surely spoke to the Occupy movement. In fact, Occupy Netherlands turned into posting it on their website online. Vegamoore and Ze have contributed the attractive dance tune "Take You Down."

Are you running with Ze now?

She's no longer signed with dGenerate but, but we're operating on that. Are you reading this Ze? (Chuckles.) She's taking part with Vegamoore and we're sending them on a European tour collectively soon.

At the outset I idea approximately a compilation mixing a few major artists with performers like Bowie. I concept I'd make these rising artists the celebrities of the challenge, in particular on account that they used the Kompound the most. I also recognize celebrity power and the benefits it may provide newer artists.

So are you going to consist of any superstars?

I'll depart that unanswered. We would possibly have a wonder or , or 3, in save. I'll assist you to realize. (Grins.)

Fair sufficient. You have every other challenge within the works, a compilation early next year?

Early 2015 or late 2014 we're going to be freeing the primary in a sequence of compilations known as "dGenerations." Very edgy, underground stuff.

You've worked with fundamental label as well as unbiased, step forward artists. Who might you select operating with?

First, I'd point out that latest indie artist can be tomorrow's celeb; that is my process as manager. But do I decide upon them as a supervisor or label proprietor?

As supervisor.

Obviously, your revenue is a great deal greater while your selling hundreds of thousands as opposed to heaps. If you extract money from the photograph, it's a draw. With a longtime artist you have got a miles extra exertions in depth patron and troubles like awful behavior onstage or off, stalkers, and, of direction, the focus of the paintings is completely unique. It's more exciting.

But running with a roster like I actually have in the meanwhile may be very rewarding. I love artist development, which is a lot of what we did at the Kompound. It's worrying, however surely cool.

The biggest project while working with new artists is supporting them preserve their religion inside the manner. Overnight sensations commonly best appear after lots of groundwork. Nothing just occurs like that.

While we're at the problem, do you've got any management advice for the unsigned artist?

One rule of thumb is that you most effective signal artists as management clients once they've been approached with the aid of a label. Then they honestly need illustration. Prior to that, it is up to the artist and what they need. Some have little or no understanding of the song commercial enterprise and need steerage. Do they want management? Absolutely. They want to analyze all the ropes of branding, photo, publicity. Just learning how to talk with the clicking is a skill you want to research. Meanwhile, others have a 5-year plan out of the gate, however no deals at the table but. Do they need a manager? Probably now not.

You left all commercial enterprise at the back of several years in the past and went off on a spiritual adventure. You as soon as defined a lady spirit guiding you. Can you talk approximately that?

I've had this robust female presence near me my entire existence. I've most effective encountered her some instances in my life, but it's life-changing whenever.

Much like MGMT's "Electric Girl"?

(Laughs.) Similar, however now not as attractive at that time. I've were given a better understanding of her now. It possibly sounds weird to plenty of humans. But sure, this female presence has been over my shoulder for years. And she is a attractive strength.

Afterwards you walked faraway from the entirety and went to graduate school.

That's what I felt I needed to do. I got a masters in psychology and worked in it for a few years. I found out what I needed to and then I turned into completed with it.

How does that impact you as a supervisor nowadays?

It's made me a far more potent artist manager. A huge portion of that role is being therapist to the artist.

You've these days began running a blog at thatmichaelj.Com. It's notably private.

It's very private, in particular so it holds my hobby. I become bored without difficulty and writing about the industry might, to me, be drudgery. I'm a writer at coronary heart, however I cannot envision writing about the commercial enterprise every week. Besides, unless I actually have some thing authentic to contribute to the speak about the enterprise, I'd instead now not be any other hack taking pictures his mouth off. When I have something to say, I do communicate out.

I additionally think it is an amazing platform for me to play with narrative and test. Writing about personal issues is wasn't clean for me at the beginning, however it is freeing.

You have quotes on your office wall. One of them is from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg: "Unless you're breaking stuff, you are not moving fast sufficient."

Yes, that is pretty an awful lot the energy degree I function at for 20 or so hours an afternoon. I'm continuously shifting knocking over lamps, beverages, you name it.

You additionally encompass the lyrics to Foster the People's "Helena Beat."

(Chuckles.) Yeah, but I pick Mark Foster's original title, "Hell In A Beat." I blanketed lyrics from some songs which have some special which means to me. "Helena Beat" is one of these non-public track for me. I've lived that tune 1000 instances, in particular when I was that industry man blowing through a couple thousand dollars' really worth of coke every week. At bottom, it's a tune approximately redemption and I can relate to it.

You speak and write about drug use overtly. What has your enjoy with pills been like?

Usually pretty suitable! (Laughing.) In all seriousness, capsules are what they're. I understand that people around me would describe me as a partyboy of sorts. I work virtually difficult and I do play simply hard. I encourage people to be responsible partiers. Don't lose sight of what is essential. I've abused pills like loopy in the beyond, however by no means believed I wanted them. To me, they had been for a laugh or for some creative sports. My real addictions are nicotine and caffeine.

I do think positive pills are beneficial, actually. I think all of the psychedelics are accurate for creativity, but it takes discipline.

You've definitely had your proportion of adversity as well as fulfillment. What wisdom could you bypass on to readers?

My "expertise," I'm afraid, is not very authentic. A few things do leap to mind. One is, "This, too, shall skip." Everything, such as your problems, is transient. If you look down the street a 12 months or , you may think pissing your self with laughter over trendy disaster. All you may do now is your pleasant and let the universe contend with it.