In this episode of The Artist Breakthrough Podcast, Pete and Cal sit down for a full A&R-focused session, listening to music submitted by producers from the Toolroom Academy community and breaking down exactly what’s working, what could be stronger, and how an A&R actually hears a record for the first time.

Along the way, they dive into one of the hardest skills for any producer to develop: learning how to objectively assess your own music.

They explore arrangement, storytelling, sound selection, identifying the strongest hook in a record, knowing when to add - and when to remove - elements, listening fatigue, reference points, and the importance of stepping away from your music so you can hear it with fresh ears.

You’ll also hear practical A&R techniques you can use on your own productions, including the 30-second test, removing elements to see whether they’re actually contributing, and ways to hear your track more like a DJ, listener or label rather than the person who spent hours producing it.

Whether you’re preparing your first demo or already releasing music, this episode is designed to help you become your own best A&R — recognising what’s working, what isn’t, and when it’s time to stop tweaking and send the record out.

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In this episode of The Artist Breakthrough Podcast, house music legend Michael Gray shares the incredible journey behind one of dance music's most enduring careers. From building Full Intention into one of the world's most respected remix acts, producing global hits, and creating The Weekend, to navigating burnout, reinventing himself, and staying relevant across three decades of dance music.

Michael opens up about the mindset that helped him survive changing trends, why finding your own sound is more important than chasing what's popular, and the lessons he's learned from a lifetime in the studio.

Whether you're a DJ, producer or simply passionate about dance music, this episode is packed with timeless advice from one of the industry's true legends.

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From unpaid work experience at Amnesia Ibiza to interviewing Carl Cox, David Guetta, Underworld and some of the biggest names in electronic music, Katie Knight has built one of the most respected careers in dance music broadcasting.

In this episode of The Artist Breakthrough Podcast, Katie Knight shares the reality of building a career in the music industry - from working seven days a week in Ibiza and dealing with rejection, to creating one of dance music's leading podcasts and learning from hundreds of artists, managers and industry professionals along the way.

Whether you want to become a DJ, producer, broadcaster or work behind the scenes, this conversation is packed with honest advice on networking, storytelling, creating opportunities, and building a long-term career in electronic music.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.