In this episode of Breaking Even, we sit down with Calix, an independent artist from West London who’s redefining what it means to build a career in today’s music landscape. From freestyling in barbershops and blending trap with fashion to earning a living through TikTok Live battles, Calix proves that creativity and business can coexist. He opens up about the grind behind promotion, how he’s building community online, and what it really takes to stay independent while scaling up. Whether you’re an artist, producer, or creative hustler, this one’s packed with game. 00:00 – The TikTok Gamble Calix opens up about the struggle of promoting his upcoming single Gallery and how TikTok feels more like gambling than strategy. 01:06 – Meet Calix: From West London to the Mic Host introduces Calix, a genre-blending independent artist from West London, and dives into his musical beginnings. 01:19 – Freestyles, Friends & the Birth of a Sound Calix recalls freestyling with friends in barbershops, early influences like Travis Scott and ASAP Rocky, and discovering how fashion and rap could coexist. 04:06 – From Pop to Trap: Musical Evolution They unpack Calix’s love for 2000s pop and his transition into trap music, exploring how UK artists found their own sound within the genre. 08:24 – The Barbershop Sessions & the First Group He shares the story of forming his first rap group, early performances, and how passion — not a plan, fueled their early days. 11:16 – SoundCloud, the Underground & Early Collaborations From performing with Lancey Foux to discovering A2 and House of Pharaohs, Calix traces his entry into the UK underground scene. 17:18 – Fashion, Identity & Finding His Place Growing up around a family dry-cleaning business, fashion was always part of Calix’s DNA. He reflects on how fashion shaped his identity in the music scene. 19:14 – Learning Production & Building His Own Sound Calix explains how mentorship, self-taught mixing, and collaboration with producers like Saint Lo and X10 helped him refine his sound. 24:16 – Experimentation, Community & New Sounds A look at his singles West Indies and Money, inspired by Afro-bounce and dancehall energy, proof that he’s always experimenting and evolving. 26:15 – Collaborations, Chemistry & Creative Flow He discusses the synergy with BD and Flex, how shared energy leads to effortless songs, and the challenges of balancing collaboration with solo work. 33:41 – The Future: EPs, Rollouts & Lessons Learned Calix talks about finding the right time for an EP, learning proper rollout strategy, and realizing that music success is all about timing, consistency, and planning. 41:27 – The TikTok Hustle Explained Switching gears, Calix breaks down his TikTok strategy, going live daily, building a loyal community, and actually earning money through live gifting battles. 45:15 – Inside the TikTok Economy He explains how gifts, battles, and engagement work on the app, sharing real numbers, audience psychology, and how creators sustain themselves. 52:12 – Balancing Creativity, Energy & Business A raw reflection on burnout, community connection, and the emotional rollercoaster of earning from content, plus how he keeps it authentic. 58:04 – Building a Team & Taking Music Seriously Calix talks about scaling up: building a team, getting a personal assistant, and treating music like a real business, structure, systems, and all. 59:33 – Closing Thoughts & Future Vision Final reflections on growth, fashion collabs, and how the “UFO” mindset represents staying unique, consistent, and self-made. Follow us on all platforms! Audience Economy: Even - https://www.even.biz/artists/audience-economy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/breakingeven_uk TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@breakingevenuk Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4btjfmM5oCYz9SV8Y0ZlAS?trackId=5N6UwTCRK9q6ueHn2kzisw Ed Rants: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ed_rants/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ed_rants Callix: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/calllixx/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@calllixx Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/7LrqqW0yCdVoyihaH3fB9k?si=HBKPEvnHTt2twHp_2fchsg
