Be a Better Artist

Markus Junnikkala
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Demystifying the Creative Process.

  1. 5d ago

    How Do You Make a Keyboard Believe It's a Guitar? — Greg Schlaepfer, Orange Tree Samples

    Greg Schlaepfer is the founder of Orange Tree Samples, where he's spent seventeen years solving a strange problem: how do you take an instrument with six strings and two hands doing completely different things, and make it playable from a keyboard? We talk about the magic trick that gave the company its name, why he pays royalties to every musician and engineer who works on a library, and what it actually costs to spend eleven years finishing a single project — three scrapped interfaces, several rounds of burnout, and 376 instruments later. Along the way: chasing realism versus loving lo-fi sounds for what they are, why impressing people is the weakest way to move them, and what it means to be an artist on the days you feel like anything but. 🔗 ORANGE TREE SAMPLES LINKS Website: https://www.orangetreesamples.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/orangetreesamples X: https://x.com/OTsamples Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orangetreesamples/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orangetreesamples 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/ https://x.com/markusjunnikkal https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/ Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:00) Night owls, kids and the creative sleep problem (00:07:32) Filming your children, AI cameras and privacy (00:18:24) Cargo bikes, thieves and California drivers (00:30:36) Welcome: who is Greg Schlaepfer? (00:33:42) Making a guitar playable from a keyboard (00:42:54) Why "Orange Tree"? A magic trick from the 1800s (00:55:45) Developers Greg admires, and conducting your DAW (01:06:32) Brainwave MIDI, MiMU gloves and the VR that never arrived (01:14:28) Are the tools good enough? Osmose, Seaboard and MPE (01:23:28) Born in Austin: Greg's parents, teaching and music (01:29:28) Recording from a keyboard, Breachway and game music (01:34:51) Starcraft, Commander Keen and growing up with computers (01:40:52) Siblings, kids young vs late, and piano as a family rule (01:50:21) Almost quitting piano — and the keyboards that hooked him (02:01:57) SoundFonts, dial-up and the free Ultimate Guitar Kit (02:09:20) Chasing realism vs loving lo-fi sounds for what they are (02:16:53) Hired at 17, a jazz piano degree, and no obvious path forward (02:24:26) Kontakt 2 and founding Orange Tree Samples in 2008 (02:27:24) Scrappy forum marketing and self-promotion (02:39:20) Royalties, ethics and why Greg won't be a CEO (02:46:30) AI instruments, who gets paid, and the early Orange Tree years (02:55:24) Breakthrough releases and 11 years of Latitude percussion (03:06:23) Drums, room mics and great recording engineers (03:13:02) What's next: modernising the engine, bespoke samplers and R&D (03:22:54) Film and game scoring: ego, restraint and every note (03:31:47) Greg's own music, and the instruments he still wants to sample (03:38:47) What is an artist? Night work, curiosity and closing questions (03:57:07) Wrap-up and where to find Orange Tree Samples

    How Do You Make a Keyboard Believe It's a Guitar? — Greg Schlaepfer, Orange Tree Samples

  2. Feb 17

    Music That Builds Worlds – George Strezov on Instinct, Atmosphere, and Imagination

    In this episode, I talk with George Strezov about how imagination, world-building, and instinct shape the way he writes music. We dig into growing up in Bulgaria, discovering film and game music through RPGs and early PC games, and why “vibe” often matters more than rules or theory. George shares how he thinks about atmosphere, writing to picture, and creating music that places the listener inside a world rather than explaining it. This is a conversation about how music works on a felt level — how it creates space, meaning, and immersion — and what happens when you trust instinct over formulas. 🔗 GEORGE STREZOV LINKS Website: https://www.strezov.net/en Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/george-strezov/958294122 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2DNnA9F0OrEmC80UWEwrMi?si=jQrJ7S9HQcCPyP47jkEyNw Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Strezov Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strezov/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/George.Strezov 🎻 STREZOV SAMPLING LINKS Website: https://www.strezov-sampling.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StrezovSampling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strezov_sampling/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrezovSampling/ X: https://x.com/StrezovSampling 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/ https://x.com/markusjunnikkal https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/ Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:00) Introduction & meeting George Strezov (00:03:30) Bulgaria, culture, and creative roots (00:10:30) Family, upbringing, and early artistic influences (00:18:30) Discovering film music & formative listening (00:27:30) Art vs commerce and creative identity (00:38:00) Childhood, curiosity, and non-linear learning (00:50:00) Role-playing games, imagination, and world-building (01:02:00) First steps into music production and game music (01:15:00) Education, self-teaching, and musical foundations (01:30:00) Entering the professional world of composing (01:55:00) Large-scale projects, orchestras, and collaboration (02:20:00) Burnout, balance, and sustaining a long career (02:40:00) Philosophy of music, success, and the future (02:58:00) Final reflections and closing thoughts

    Music That Builds Worlds – George Strezov on Instinct, Atmosphere, and Imagination

  3. Jan 13

    Following Sound, Not a Plan — Ian Boddy on Creativity and Longevity

    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/ 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/ https://x.com/markusjunnikkal https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/ Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast. 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

    Following Sound, Not a Plan — Ian Boddy on Creativity and Longevity

  4. Jan 6

    Making Noise Until It Works — Gitae Kim (aka Gimgi) on Creativity, Discipline, and Game Music

    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/ Want me to answer your question? Ask it on social media: https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/ https://x.com/markusjunnikkal https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/ Subscribing, sharing, and liking helps the podcast. 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

    Making Noise Until It Works — Gitae Kim (aka Gimgi) on Creativity, Discipline, and Game Music

  5. 2025-12-30

    Why Music Is Too Hard If You Don’t Love It – Geoff Knorr

    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? Ask it on social media: https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/ https://x.com/markusjunnikkal https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/ 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)

    Why Music Is Too Hard If You Don’t Love It – Geoff Knorr

  6. 2025-12-02

    Inside Heavyocity: Dave Fraser on Art, Life, and Making Iconic Instruments

    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/ https://x.com/markusjunnikkal https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/ 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

    Inside Heavyocity: Dave Fraser on Art, Life, and Making Iconic Instruments

  7. 2025-10-21

    Philosophy of UI Design in Music Technology – Nataliia Hera from Voger Design

    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/ https://x.com/markusjunnikkal https://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkala https://www.reddit.com/user/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusjunnikkala/ 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

    Philosophy of UI Design in Music Technology – Nataliia Hera from Voger Design

  8. 2025-10-07

    Jordan Chin – Monster Train 2 Composer Interview

    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: https://www.instagram.com/markusjunnikkala/ https://www.facebook.com/markusjunnikkala/ https://x.com/markusjunnikkal https://www.twitch.tv/markusjunnikkala 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

    Jordan Chin – Monster Train 2 Composer Interview
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About

Demystifying the Creative Process.

Information

  • Creator
    Markus Junnikkala
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Markus Junnikkala
  • Show Website
    Be a Better Artist