Heroek talks to music producer Exez to go in-depth on his latest album "Sincerely (THE ALBUM)," the near-death car crash that inspired his song "Matters," future plans for his label StaminaSounds, and more!

⚔️QUEST CLOTHING (Heroek merch!)⚔️

https://quest-clothing-3.creator-spring.com/

💥GET 7% OFF ANY DISTROKID PLAN💥

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📱HEROEK LINKS📱

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heroekmusic

Heroek Hub: https://padlet.com/heroek/heroek-hub-sk7mmzyhbb3jge0f

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/heroekyt

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@heroekmusic

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroek.bsky.social

Heroek Headlines (Newsletter): https://heroekheadlines.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Heroek Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/heroek/

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/Heroek

Robotek (Second Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@R0botek

Heroek Live (Twitch VODs): https://www.youtube.com/@HeroekLive

Gun Vio-Let's Talk (Activism Project): https://www.youtube.com/@GunVioLetsTalk/videos

🎧EXEZ🎧

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6raRvNvKyFBDtNxhWRPajQ?si=IAJ8P0MQTBCLfUDP3kuYQg

🎧HEROEK MUSIC🎧

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3JGIIk1vSbNwt9I9QSHnrR

Apple Music: https://apple.co/3vyk7L5

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0B3TV8Z6T/heroek

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW3FV7-ZE89ixixQsXa0G8oAz3S9sXkWo

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/heroek/ARZw535v2qm7pmk?part=ug-desktop&corr=209660376889950450

Deezer: https://deezer.page.link/qckgnzH8vAdBn8UT9

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/32642487

Boomplay: https://www.boomplay.com/artists/48506531?from=search

Qobuz: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/heroek/14462802

🎙️HERO'S JOURNEY PODCAST🎙️

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2nGjbdH1eruOzWjNF2SkZs

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3jJyysW

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d63b25fa-a7d6-4c20-a9af-697230e2782c/hero's-journey

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/heros-journey/PC:1001065299

Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/Hero's-Journey-id5057660?

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1621391879/heros-journey

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/kgek6g1b

iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-heros-journey-112845459/

RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/heros-journey-WzJ7yK

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1065299

Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1029574008

Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/heros-journey-604085

🎵MUSIC USED🎵

Heroek - Around Midnight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFgTm1_ltnw

Heroek, Chad Rising - Hero's Journey: https://youtu.be/6CYpNXCnUW0

Exez - Matters: https://youtu.be/rBhAIA35rN0?si=tW0uBEqYjcGDiK4o

📚CHAPTERS📚

0:00 Intro

1:06 What music does Exez make?

2:00 Album into and outro

4:55 The story of "Sincerely (THE ALBUM)"

8:44 The meanings of "Afraid to Drown" and "I'm Afraid of Time"

11:04 Discussing mental health in music

14:40 Making the album cover art

17:56 The song "Death" and tracklisting the album

22:02 DistroKid ad (7% off ANY plan!)

23:08 Mixing styles of songs

26:13 "Matters" being inspired by a car crash

37:48 More album tracklisting

41:33 Quest Clothing ad (Heroek merch!)

42:29 Album collaborators

47:44 The future of StaminaSounds

51:06 Would Exez make an album movie?

52:23 Wanting to work on new music

54:23 Next Heroek release

57:32 Songs with multiple versions

59:25 Releasing music as a small artist

1:00:36 Exez promo

1:01:36 Making content as an artist

1:05:17 "Outerwilds" with Michelle Teh

1:06:17 Wrapping up

1:06:29 End screen

Hero's Journey Podcast ep. #180

Heroek talks to Rex and Ollie from the band ISTA about their next album releasing in 2026, why Ollie doesn't stream music anymore, their creative process as a 7-piece band, their latest songs "Low Fruit" and "Waves," and more!

💥GET 7% OFF ANY DISTROKID PLAN💥

https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/4022281

⚔️QUEST CLOTHING (Heroek merch!)⚔️

https://quest-clothing-3.creator-spring.com/

📱HEROEK LINKS📱

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heroekmusic

Heroek Hub: https://padlet.com/heroek/heroek-hub-sk7mmzyhbb3jge0f

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/heroekyt

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@heroekmusic

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroek.bsky.social

Heroek Headlines (Newsletter): https://heroekheadlines.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Heroek Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/heroek/

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/Heroek

Robotek (Second Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@R0botek

Heroek Live (Twitch VODs): https://www.youtube.com/@HeroekLive

Gun Vio-Let's Talk (Activism Project): https://www.youtube.com/@GunVioLetsTalk/videos

🎵ISTA🎵

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Wo5Di3TXMWoJ5o99sXETX?si=nl99hNW-Rfq2xj2JYqXVkg

🎧HEROEK MUSIC🎧

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3JGIIk1vSbNwt9I9QSHnrR

Apple Music: https://apple.co/3vyk7L5

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0B3TV8Z6T/heroek

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW3FV7-ZE89ixixQsXa0G8oAz3S9sXkWo

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/heroek/ARZw535v2qm7pmk?part=ug-desktop&corr=209660376889950450

Deezer: https://deezer.page.link/qckgnzH8vAdBn8UT9

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/32642487

Boomplay: https://www.boomplay.com/artists/48506531?from=search

Qobuz: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/heroek/14462802

🎙️HERO'S JOURNEY PODCAST🎙️

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2nGjbdH1eruOzWjNF2SkZs

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3jJyysW

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d63b25fa-a7d6-4c20-a9af-697230e2782c/hero's-journey

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/heros-journey/PC:1001065299

Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/Hero's-Journey-id5057660?

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1621391879/heros-journey

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/kgek6g1b

iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-heros-journey-112845459/

RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/heros-journey-WzJ7yK

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1065299

Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1029574008

Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/heros-journey-604085

🎵MUSIC USED🎵

Heroek - Around Midnight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFgTm1_ltnw

Heroek, Chad Rising - Hero's Journey: https://youtu.be/6CYpNXCnUW0

ISTA - Megawatt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgQig-Vqi6s

📚CHAPTERS📚

0:00 Intro

1:25 How Heroek discovered ISTA

2:41 What kind of music does ISTA make?

6:36 Making "Megawatt"

11:48 The success of "Megawatt"

16:36 Creative process as a 7-piece band

21:17 DistroKid ad

22:38 Making "Waves"

31:23 Getting played on KCRW Radio

32:50 Next album (release date revealed!)

37:35 Social media in the music industry

43:47 Quest Clothing ad (Heroek merch!)

44:39 Ollie not streaming music anymore

52:30 Rex's pi tattoo

55:15 Favorite deep-cut ISTA songs

57:29 Deciding what songs to put on an album

1:01:30 ISTA live shows

1:06:12 ISTA's questions for Tea Eater

1:08:07 Dream collaborations

1:10:02 Wrapping up

Hero's Journey Podcast ep. #179

Heroek talks to musician, singer, and producer Vanessa Van Ness about overcoming rejection, how to get your song viral on TikTok, living in the same building as Jim Morrison, and more!

💥GET 7% OFF ANY DISTROKID PLAN💥

https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/4022281

⚔️QUEST CLOTHING (Heroek merch!)⚔️

https://quest-clothing-3.creator-spring.com/

📱HEROEK LINKS📱

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heroekmusic

Heroek Hub: https://padlet.com/heroek/heroek-hub-sk7mmzyhbb3jge0f

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/heroekyt

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@heroekmusic

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heroek.bsky.social

Heroek Headlines (Newsletter): https://heroekheadlines.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Heroek Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/heroek/

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/Heroek

Robotek (Second Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@R0botek

Heroek Live (Twitch VODs): https://www.youtube.com/@HeroekLive

Gun Vio-Let's Talk (Activism Project): https://www.youtube.com/@GunVioLetsTalk/videos

🎵VANESSA VAN NESS🎵

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6iCzjyyZyw98eV40yQLFvz?si=6C8SPvCsTBCDeDWwxhnBrg

🎧HEROEK MUSIC🎧

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3JGIIk1vSbNwt9I9QSHnrR

Apple Music: https://apple.co/3vyk7L5

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0B3TV8Z6T/heroek

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW3FV7-ZE89ixixQsXa0G8oAz3S9sXkWo

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/heroek/ARZw535v2qm7pmk?part=ug-desktop&corr=209660376889950450

Deezer: https://deezer.page.link/qckgnzH8vAdBn8UT9

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/32642487

Boomplay: https://www.boomplay.com/artists/48506531?from=search

Qobuz: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/heroek/14462802

🎙️HERO'S JOURNEY PODCAST🎙️

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2nGjbdH1eruOzWjNF2SkZs

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3jJyysW

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d63b25fa-a7d6-4c20-a9af-697230e2782c/hero's-journey

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/heros-journey/PC:1001065299

Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/Hero's-Journey-id5057660?

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1621391879/heros-journey

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/kgek6g1b

iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-heros-journey-112845459/

RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/heros-journey-WzJ7yK

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1065299

Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1029574008

Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/heros-journey-604085

🎵MUSIC USED🎵

Vanessa Van Ness - True True Shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWojxZShaWM

Heroek - Around Midnight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFgTm1_ltnw

Heroek, Chad Rising - Hero's Journey: https://youtu.be/6CYpNXCnUW0

📚CHAPTERS📚

0:00 Intro

0:42 Introducing Vanessa Van Ness

2:30 Connecting over “Crumb Giver”

4:15 Making “Crumb Giver”

7:58 How “Crumb Giver” went viral on TikTok

14:18 Being an artist on TikTok

20:50 Sophia James group 7 trend

27:40 Being insecure about your singing voice

33:55 Music is subjective

35:59 The story of “True True Shot”

42:58 ⚔️Quest Clothing (Heroek merch!)⚔️

43:55 Jon Bellion’s “FATHER FIGURE”

48:12 Social media vs. newsletters

50:50 Changing her musical style

55:26 The wide range every genre has

57:02 Starting a second artist name

59:34 Vanessa Van Ness name origins

1:03:25 Musical influences from parents

1:07:32 Living in the same building as Jim Morrison

1:13:47 Scoring an upcoming film

1:15:55 Wrapping up

1:17:09 End screen

Hero's Journey Podcast ep. #178