I talk with composer and sound designer Ian Boddy about curiosity, sound, and building a creative life without a roadmap.

We cover how Ian moved from studying biochemistry to discovering analogue synthesis by accident, teaching himself through experimentation, and falling in love with sound as art rather than rules or theory. We also talk about working jobs you don’t love, protecting your creative energy, finding your own tribe, and why solitude and patience matter more than visibility.

Ian shares practical insight into sound design, library music, and how writing hundreds of small pieces over time quietly became the foundation of his career. This is a grounded conversation about sticking with what fascinates you—and letting the long game do its work.

IAN BODDY LINKS:

Website: http://ianboddy.com/

DiN Records Bandcamp: https://dinrecords.bandcamp.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theianboddy/?hl=en

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

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ianboddy.bsky.social

Markus Junnikkala is a Composer from Finland.

https://www.markusjunnikkala.com/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00:00) Introduction and life in Northeast England

(00:06:30) Childhood, family background, and early creativity

(00:13:30) Lego, imagination, and thinking in systems

(00:20:30) Discovering sound, synthesizers, and Spectro Arts

(00:29:30) First concerts, albums, and creative obsession

(00:38:30) Working life vs artistic life

(00:46:00) Akai, technology, and entering the music industry

(00:58:00) Sound design, sampling, and early libraries

(01:12:00) Library music and sustainable creative careers

(01:28:00) Technology shifts and changing tools

(01:43:00) Creativity, aging, and long-term perspective

(01:58:00) Advice for artists and industry realities

(02:13:00) Meaning, fulfillment, and artistic philosophy

(02:32:00) Reflections, lessons learned, and closing thoughts

In this episode, I sit down with Gitae Kim (aka Gimgi), the composer behind Ogu and the Secret Forest, for a long, honest conversation about creativity and the cost that sometimes comes with it.

We talk about discipline, hyperfocus, burnout, physical health, and what it’s really like trying to sustain a creative life. Gimgi shares how mandatory military service, learning instruments under pressure, and losing himself in flow states shaped the way he approaches music and game scoring today. We also get into the thinking behind the Ogu soundtrack — world-building, leitmotifs, and making music that serves the game rather than draws attention to itself. A grounded conversation about sensitivity, survival, and why we keep creating.

GITAE KIM / GIMGI LINKS:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gimgi2974

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

X: https://x.com/Captain_Gimgi

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) Opening meditation and restless creative minds

(00:04:30) Finally meeting after Tokyo Game Show

(00:07:40) Korea vs Finland seasons culture and daily life

(00:12:10) Mandatory military service in Korea

(00:21:30) Learning trumpet in the army band under pressure

(00:31:00) Discipline control and emotional survival

(00:43:20) Hyperfocus paranoia and losing track of time

(00:55:50) Overworking on Ogu and the limits of flow

(01:07:40) Physical consequences spine pain and burnout

(01:21:10) Standing desks ergonomics and creative health

(01:39:30) Responsibility family and structure as an artist

(01:56:40) Stress nervous system overload and sensitivity

(02:15:00) Health crisis and long-term recovery

(02:32:10) Reset after interruption continuing the conversation

(02:35:40) Early musical life and discovering instruments

(02:54:30) Bands guitar and finding a creative identity

(03:12:20) Music technology DAWs and self teaching

(03:28:40) Falling in love with game music

(03:45:50) How Ogu and the Secret Forest happened

(04:02:30) Composing Ogu themes structure and hidden ideas

(04:21:40) Real instruments vocals and production choices

(04:39:20) Working with developers and creative trust

(04:50:40) What’s next reflection and closing thoughts

Composer Geoff Knorr — known for his work on the Civilization series and other large-scale game soundtracks — joins us for a deep conversation about creativity, discipline, and what it really takes to build a life in music.

We discuss learning to accept criticism, letting go of ideas that don’t work, why good music can still be the wrong music, and why some composers grow while others stay stuck. Drawing from Geoff’s experience composing for major games, teaching at the Peabody Institute, and collaborating with musicians across diverse musical traditions, the conversation explores humility, perspective, and long-term creative growth.

The episode also touches on health, sustainability, and discipline — from staying physically active as a composer to recognizing that music is simply too hard to pursue unless you genuinely love it.

GEOFF KNORR LINKS:

Website: https://www.geoffknorr.com/

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OFCjpSAsyIOWWzIAYb3OI?si=_eoobKhuQTSmDIWa4DYmjg

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/geoff-knorr/411130469

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geoff.knorr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Geoff-Knorr-Composer/174736382555080

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:

(00:00:08) Introduction

(00:02:16) Growing Up, Family, and Early Influences

(00:08:32) Sports, Discipline, Health & Longevity as a Composer

(00:13:19) Failure, Hard Work & Lessons From Sports

(00:16:37) Subjectivity, Criticism & Facing Reality in Music

(00:23:14) Letting Go of Music That Doesn’t Work

(00:27:19) Teaching, Mediocrity & Why Some Musicians Don’t Improve

(00:34:15) Game Music Reality: Serving the Vision (Beyond Earth)

(00:38:19) Technology, Early MIDI & Audio Foundations

(00:45:33) Collaboration, Culture & Working With Musicians

(00:51:35) Childhood, Encouragement & Learning to Love Music

(00:56:05) Classical Foundations, Bach & Musical Identity

(01:01:04) Why Music Is Too Hard If You Don’t Love It

(01:05:11) Video Games, Direction & Choosing a Career Path

(01:16:10) Studying Composition, Recording & Wearing Both Hats

(01:30:10) Composing Process: Score, DAW & Sample Libraries

(01:46:00) Improvisation, Structure & Non-Western Traditions

(02:02:10) Trust, Sensitivity & Recording Real Musicians

(02:18:40) Sound vs Notes: Where Music Actually Lives

(02:36:00) Experience, Speed & Long-Term Creative Thinking

(02:57:30) What Keeps You Going (Final Reflections)

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/

Support this podcast by becoming a member:

https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/

Want me to answer your question?

Ask it on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/

https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/

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https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/

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Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

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/

Want me to answer your question?

Ask it on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/

https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/

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https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/

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Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast.

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/

Want me to answer your question?

Ask it on social media:

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https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/

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:

https://markusjunnikkala.com/membership/

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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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https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/

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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