A lot of people think music just happens. That you walk into a studio, hit a few buttons, and a perfect song comes out. But the truth is, there is no magic without effort. No amount of polish can fix something that is not there to begin with. The process is real, messy, and human. You make mistakes. You record songs you hate. You laugh at the weird stuff you wrote when you were ten. And somehow, all of it becomes part of your sound. Showing up, messing up, and learning is what brings music to life. In this episode of Sky Talks, I sit down with my producer and friend, Conch. We share laughs, stories from the studio, and some unfiltered “would you rather” questions. Conch talks about his journey into producing, why mentoring young artists matters to him, and the importance of making music that’s real, not perfect. It’s honest, funny, and a true look at how our songs come to life. "Just be okay with the fact that you might not love the first things you create. You have to get the bad songs out of the way before you can get to the good ones. So just start, in whatever way that looks like for you." - Conch Topics Covered: (00:00) Welcome to Sky Talks (02:41) Get to know our guest, Conch (05:52) Importance of storytelling in music sessions (08:20) Finding your sound (10:40) Flexibility and pivoting creatively (13:23) Early music influences and inspiration of Conch (17:16) Trial-by-fire approach to mastering music production (23:16) Importance of relationships and mentorship in opportunities (25:40) Music as a safe space amid addiction and recovery (28:40) “Would You Rather” segment (34:35) Experiences with aesthetic procedures (39:24) Sex on the first date (40:53) Pet peeves and mental traits in communication (46:09) Advice for aspiring musicians: starting with free tools (49:11) Misconceptions about “studio magic” (51:56) Connect with Conch About the Guest: Conch is a Canadian recording artist whose music blends emotional depth with atmospheric production, bridging Hip Hop and R&B with a personal, cinematic touch. Writing, producing, mixing, and mastering his own work, he has earned over 3 million streams, Spotify Editorial support (New Music Friday Canada, Fresh Finds, Outliers, Mood Ring), and airplay on CBC Radio and SiriusXM, with features in CBC & Exclaim. On stage, he has shared bills with J. Cole, Travis Scott, Aminé, and Cordae, while his hometown following has led him to consistently sell out shows in Edmonton and perform at main stages like One Love Festival and Iron Mic. Beyond his own music, Conch produces, engineers, and mentors artists as lead engineer at Resonate Music School & Studio. Connect with Conch: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/Conch-Spotify Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okayconch Threads: https://www.threads.com/@okayconch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okayconch About the Host: Jessa Sky is a proud Métis Cree singer-songwriter, mental health and addiction awareness advocate, keynote speaker, and the host of Sky Talks Podcast. Her career continues to rise, but her path has also been shaped by personal battles with mental health and healing. These experiences inspire her to create music, conversations, and spaces that remind others they are never alone. Through her voice, whether in song, on stage, or behind the mic, Jessa brings healing and humour together. She offers connection, breaks stigma, and shows that resilience can grow even from life’s hardest seasons. Connect with Jessa Sky: Website: https://www.jessasky.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessaskyy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessaskyy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessaskyy YouTube: www.youtube.com/@jessaskyy
