We were lucky to catch up with Ethan Ziemba recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ethan, 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.
Imposter syndrome is something that I think most creatives have to deal with, especially those that tend to overthink their process or value pushing themselves in more challenging directions. The key for me was not immediate, but involved coming to terms with my talent through self and outside validation while still valuing criticism, and knowing when those feelings are pushing me to create something even better. If you only ever have feelings of imposter syndrome, you’re resigning yourself to withholding 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?
My name is Ethan Ziemba, artist name Deadfriend, and Ive been working as a music producer, songwriter, independent artist and music instructor for several years in LA. Working in music it feels as though sometimes you have to wear a lot of different hats in order to be successful, and in part that rings true, though I’ve never felt that creatively I’ve been compromised or spread too thin. I’ve produced and written music for television as well as for multiple recording artists, and it’s always a rewarding experience to be able to approach new challenges and fulfill both my own and other artists’ creative visions. The most exciting element for me has always been the creation itself. As an artist, the art should always take complete precedence and, in my opinion, be the sole focus while working on a project. Actualizing your intent and artistic purpose is what makes music and art as a whole so special.
You can find me on social media @realdeadfriend
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most impactful skills to me are flexibility, creativity and resilience. You have to be able to work in a variety of circumstances and still maintain focus and creative momentum, which can be a unique challenge. You also have to be ready for lots of things to simply not pan out, and continue to work toward goals despite this. These are things that can only really be learned and honed through repetition and work.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
My mixes have come a long way, and I think thats where I grew the most in the last 12 months. The creative aspect of my work has always been there, but on a technical level, I think I’m always improving. The key is just to make sure that you aren’t really keeping yourself too boxed in. Be open to other ways to accomplish things, because that’s when I find a more efficient or improved way of working. Sometimes you’ll shift your familiar thinking and it will open up entirely new avenues of efficiency and you’ll thank yourself for it later.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deadfriendmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdeadfriend/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/realdeadfriend
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@deadfriendmusic2518
Image Credits
Kimmy Velez