I’VE SPENT MY LIFE IN MUSIC. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, I FOUND MYSELF.
My journey through music has been anything but conventional.
I started as a drummer playing in rock bands, eventually finding my way into San Francisco’s emerging music-tech scene, the underground electronic music world, and the dance floors of Ibiza. Somewhere between the rehearsal rooms, startups, festivals, and late nights, I became fascinated by the intersection of music, technology, culture, and human connection.
That curiosity became a career.
I got my start working with DJ Shadow before joining Fame House as its first employee, helping build the company from an early-stage startup into a global music marketing and artist services business that was eventually acquired by Universal Music Group.
Along the way, I worked with artists and teams including Eminem, Alicia Keys, Pearl Jam, Tiësto, Richie Hawtin, Tom Holkenborg, and many others — across marketing, technology, audience development, partnerships, and strategy.
I experienced the music industry from just about every angle. From backstage to boardrooms. From underground clubs to global stages. From independent artists building something from nothing to some of the biggest names in music.
And through it all, I kept making music.
Eventually, I founded ArtistPro to help independent musicians navigate the realities of building a sustainable career. That work led me into education, teaching music business, marketing, and artist entrepreneurship at institutions including ICON Collective, Musicians Institute, and now UCLA Extension.
But something else was happening along the way.
After years of helping other artists realize their visions, I began giving myself permission to fully pursue my own.
Today, I create and perform electronic music as RIŽIK, compose for film and games, and develop live experiences that explore musicianship, improvisation, and the relationship between humans and technology.
In many ways, everything I’ve done has led me here.
The drummer. The entrepreneur. The marketer. The educator. The technologist. The artist.
They’re not separate identities. They’re all parts of the same person.
I didn’t spend my career trying to understand artists. I spent my life immersed in music, and somewhere along this wild journey, I came to understand myself.
And that perspective shapes everything I do today.
I work with companies, artists, and creative organizations to bridge the worlds of music, technology, business, and culture — bringing the perspective of someone who’s spent a lifetime on both sides of the industry.
Not just understanding what artists need to succeed, but knowing what it means to be one.
WORK WITH ME
Artist Relations & Partnerships
Building authentic relationships between companies, artists, and creative communities, grounded in a deep understanding of both the business and the culture.
Artist Development & Strategy
Helping artists define their identity, position their work, grow their audiences, and build sustainable careers on their own terms.
Creator & Community Strategy
Connecting brands and platforms with creative communities through meaningful programming, cultural insight, and long-term engagement.
Music-Tech & Product Advisory
Bridging the gap between the people building technology and the artists using it. From product positioning and adoption to artist feedback and creative workflows.
Artist Education & Programming
Developing and delivering workshops, masterclasses, curriculum, and mentorship programs around artist entrepreneurship, music marketing, and creative development.
Speaking & Moderation
Bringing real-world experience to conversations about music, technology, creativity, entrepreneurship, and the evolving relationship between artists and the industry.
