Elevated Frequencies

Olivia Mancuso

Entrepreneur and Chicago Music Nexus co-founder Olivia Mancuso cues up insider tips and real-world stories to help aspiring house and techno artists turn their passion into profit. After scaling her business from zero to six figures in six months, Olivia is ready to help with everything from setting up an LLC to building your personal brand. Each week, she’ll share personal insights alongside interviews with artists, promoters, label owners, and agents - all with the aim of elevating your house and techno journey. For more content on growing your career, brand, and business, check out Olivia’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/oliviamancuso__

  1. 29 ENE

    The Financial Mistake That Ends More Music Careers Than Bad Music | EF EP 136

    You're finally making money from music. Shows are coming in. Maybe you just got your first $10K, $50K, or $100K check. This is the moment every artist works toward—and the moment where most careers start falling apart. The music industry doesn't teach you what to do when the money actually arrives. There's no handbook for navigating profit vs. expenses, budgeting for inconsistent income, or knowing when you actually need professional financial help. By the time most artists realize they're in trouble, they've already made costly mistakes that set them back years. Jasmine Kwok has seen it from every angle. From artist relations to booking during the Avicii era, to banking, and now running ICONAC as a business manager for top DJs—she knows exactly where artists go wrong and how to fix it. This isn't just about managing money. It's about understanding the difference between a business and gambling, building the right team at the right time, and recognizing that financial literacy isn't optional if you want longevity in this industry. Key Takeaways: - The critical difference between a business manager, CPA, and financial advisor (and when you need each one) - Why most artists wait until there's a financial emergency to get help—and how much that costs them - The invisible infrastructure behind every successful artist that fans never see - What to actually do with your first big paycheck (hint: it's not buying a Rolex) - The "need vs. want" test that stops impulse purchases in their tracks - Red and green flags when interviewing business managers - Why communication matters more than technical expertise - How lifestyle creep kills more careers than bad music Whether you're just starting to make money from music or you're already earning six figures, this conversation will change how you think about building sustainable wealth in the music industry. Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth. Connect with Olivia on Instagram Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

    30 min
  2. 22 ENE

    Sam Divine on Sobriety & Starting Over | EF EP 135

    When success starts destroying you, do you walk away or do you rebuild on your own terms? Sam Divine spent 25 years grinding her way to the top—from handing out flyers on Ibiza streets to becoming the Queen of Defected. But the journey nearly broke her. Depression, addiction, relentless touring, and the loss of her mother pushed her to a breaking point where the music that once saved her started hurting her. In January 2025, she checked herself into rehab. Not just for the drugs and alcohol, but for exhaustion. For being a workaholic who couldn't remember the last time she just breathed. What she found there changed everything. If you've ever felt like giving up, like the industry is too much, like you're losing yourself in the chaos—this conversation is for you. Because on the other side of rock bottom, Sam found something unexpected: a new era, a new label (555), and a profound new energy that's redefining what success means. Key Takeaways: Why being a workaholic is just as dangerous as being an alcoholicHow Sam went from hating her first sober gig to thriving in sobrietyThe real cost of 25 years on the road and how burnout compounds over timeHow rehab unlocked her creativity and led to writing "Scars" about addiction and faithWhat it means to rebuild your career when you can't even listen to music anymoreThe art of the 5-hour set and why going back to grassroots venues mattersHow losing her mother became the catalyst for finding herselfWhy the industry needs more female producers, not just more female DJsHow to maintain your standards while the industry evolves around youSam's journey proves that hitting rock bottom doesn't mean it's over—it means you finally have solid ground to rebuild from. Want personalized guidance on building a sustainable career in dance music? Book a consulting call with me on GreenRoom and let's map out your next move. Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__ Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

    46 min
  3. 8 ENE

    The Hidden Costs of Starting a Label with Charles D | EF EP 133

    Think running a label is just passion and good taste? Charles D is learning the hard way what it actually costs to build something from scratch. With releases on Drumcode and Pryda Presents, Charles has earned his stripes in techno. But now that he's launched KONKRTE, he's pulling back the curtain on what nobody talks about: the $2,500 per release, the £1,000 promo campaigns, and why most artists have no idea what they're signing up for. We get into his bootcamp tour with Eric Prydz (9 shows in 12 days, every set different), the imposter syndrome that comes from calling yourself an artist when you grew up in an immigrant household, and the difference between being a producer who makes things sound good versus being an artist who has something to say. Key Takeaways: • The actual breakdown of what it costs to release music on your own label • Why promo companies are eating most of your budget (and why you need them) • The difference between producers and artists - and why most never make the shift • Why imposter syndrome doesn't go away even after you've "made it" • The economics of running a label without burning your artists Need help building your artist brand or navigating the business side of dance music? Book a call with me on GreenRoom for personalized strategies that actually work: https://greenroomnetwork.com/creator/OliviaMancuso Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__ Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

    38 min
  4. 1 ENE

    Map Out Your DJ Career in 2026 Using This Framework | EF EP 132

    New year, same you? Good. Because I'm not here to tell you to hustle harder or add seventeen new habits to your routine. The artists crushing it right now aren't doing MORE than you - they're doing DIFFERENT. They've figured out how to stop being a full-time employee in their own career and start being the CEO. In this episode, I'm breaking down the one framework that separates DJs who plateau at year three from the ones who build sustainable, growing careers: Working ON your career versus working IN your career. And by the end, you'll have a four-week action plan to map out your entire 2026 strategy. Key Takeaways: • The difference between working IN (day-to-day tasks) vs ON (strategic planning) your career• Why most DJs spend 95% of their time on the wrong things and plateau as a result• How I built Chicago Music Nexus by spending 6 months exclusively working ON the business• Why some gigs are strategic moves and others are just survival mode• The 5 key areas where you need to work ON: strategic planning, content & releases, marketing assets, relationship building, and career development• The Weekly CEO Hour: How to implement strategic thinking without adding more work• The post-performance analysis framework (featuring insights from Rituals founder Rami Dabura)• Your 4-week action plan to completely map out Q1 and set yourself up for success Why This Matters: You cannot build momentum if you're constantly in the weeds responding to DMs, tweaking tracks that are already done, and staying busy without actually growing. Strategic thinking is what separates successful artists from everyone else - and it's the one thing most DJs completely skip. Want help building your 2026 strategy? Book a 1-on-1 artist development call with me on GreenRoom where we'll map out exactly what you need to focus on to reach your goals. Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__ Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

    23 min
  5. 23/12/2025

    No One Is Teaching Industry Etiquette (This Competition Is Changing That) | EF EP 131

    Think learning to DJ means mastering your equipment? You're missing the entire point. Your Shot just wrapped their first-ever US competition after 15 years of success in Australia, and what I witnessed at the LA finals completely shifted my perspective. Hundreds of people across LA and New York signed up for six weeks of free DJ training - most had never touched a deck. The LA finals drew 4,000 people (the largest crowd Catch One has ever hosted), and NYC brought 3,600 across two days. Nobody was competing against each other. Complete strangers were hyping each other up like lifelong friends. No one was on their phones unless they were recording their friends perform. Pure community, pure support. The LA winner was Ashley Wilkins (@jellybean.dj), a 29-year-old wellness consultant from Santa Clarita. NYC's champion was Jade Letlow (@punkybutter), a 34-year-old Senior Claims Examiner from Brooklyn. These aren't industry insiders - they're regular people who committed six weeks to betting on themselves. In this conversation, Rashna Krishnan explains why Your Shot teaches the soft skills and industry etiquette that no one else does. How to approach promoters correctly. Why showing up for your scene matters more than your mixing ability. The difference between networking and asking for gigs. And why putting yourself in uncomfortable situations is the fastest way to grow. Key Takeaways:• Your DJ career starts on the dance floor, not behind the decks• Industry etiquette and soft skills matter more than technical ability• Show up for your scene before expecting your scene to show up for you• The right way to approach venues, promoters, and other DJs• Why building genuine community beats competition every time• How six weeks of pressure with a deadline creates transformation• Creating your own opportunities when they're not presenting themselves Registration for Your Shot 2026 is now open. Even if you never do the competition, the principles in this conversation will change how you approach your career. Follow Your Shot: @yourshot_usa Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__ Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

    35 min
  6. 18/12/2025

    'I Turn Down More Gigs Than I Accept': The ANATTA Approach | EF EP 130

    Most artists think saying yes to every opportunity is how you build a career. ANATTA proves the opposite is true. Since our last conversation, ANATTA has mastered one of the hardest skills in this industry - strategic rejection. He turns down more bookings than he accepts, including clubs he's been dying to play and gigs that could pay six months of rent. This isn't about being difficult or playing hard to get. It's about understanding that every yes to the wrong opportunity blocks you from the right one. In this conversation, ANATTA breaks down his approach to selective booking, reveals his genius content creation hack that involves ditching your phone entirely, and explains how fashion and visual identity play into building a recognizable brand in dance music. Key Takeaways:  → The camcorder hack for creating better tour content without distractions → How to know when to turn down bookings → Why planning content while traveling beats scrambling for posts later → The real reason top artists say no more than they say yes → How fashion choices impact your brand identity as a producer If you're struggling with FOMO around opportunities or don't know which bookings to take, this episode will shift your entire approach to career strategy. Want personalized guidance on building your brand and making strategic career decisions? Schedule a one-on-one session with me on GreenRoom where we can dive deep into your specific goals and create an action plan. Connect with me: @oliviamancuso__ Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx

    42 min

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Entrepreneur and Chicago Music Nexus co-founder Olivia Mancuso cues up insider tips and real-world stories to help aspiring house and techno artists turn their passion into profit. After scaling her business from zero to six figures in six months, Olivia is ready to help with everything from setting up an LLC to building your personal brand. Each week, she’ll share personal insights alongside interviews with artists, promoters, label owners, and agents - all with the aim of elevating your house and techno journey. For more content on growing your career, brand, and business, check out Olivia’s Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/oliviamancuso__

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