Meet Austin Cannon

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Austin Cannon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Austin, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I don’t know if it’s possible to fully overcome imposter syndrome, but I do think it’s possible to manage it in a way that works for you rather than against you. It took the majority of my professional life so far to realize I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself. I’m no longer concerned with being the best music producer in the world, my goal is to serve the artist I’m working with to the best of my ability. I can be confident in what I know and if I find myself outside of my comfort zone, then instead of thinking less of myself, it becomes an opportunity for growth. Because if you’re not feeling like an imposter, then you’re probably not realizing your full potential.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a songwriter and music producer based in Nashville, TN. While country music may come to mind first, I primarily work in the mainstream pop genre as Nashville is home to every type of music there is. It’s been an incredible (and difficult) 6 year journey so far, but I knew what I signed up for and to say I make music for a living is something I’ll never take for granted. I’m also a husband and father of two little girls which is a total blast.

I grew up in Oklahoma City which happens to be a great launch pad for young aspiring creators. The key is to get out because there’s no infrastructure or sustainability (no record labels, publishing companies, etc). So my senior year of college, I did just that and moved to Los Angeles to intern at a professional studio. It was certainly the most difficult time of my life but I loved every second of it. It also led to some incredible opportunities as a touring musician (I’ve played keyboards since a young age) and helped me better understand the heart of the industry I was hoping to thrive in. After years of playing with bands and artists, it was time to transition into the creative side of things to which Nashville comes into play. I moved to Nashville in 2017 to start my journey as a professional songwriter and music producer and I’ve never looked back.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Determination, persistence, and location have all been the cornerstones of my journey in music production. You have to want it more than the next person, stick things out when the going gets tough, and position yourself in an area in which you can take advantage of last minute opportunities. The rest is keeping your head down, doing good work, and being a great hang!

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
It’s a good idea to diversify one’s abilities and efforts to an extent, but I personally think primarily focusing on your main strength is crucial to long term success. For example, I don’t mix and master my productions. I’ve spent years practicing and growing in my writing and producing just like other engineers have spent an equal amount of time working on their mixing and mastering. I’m not trying to compete because it’s not the lane I’m specifically working in. I would rather continue to grow in my productions and collaborate with others’ strengths that compliment mine.

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