How to Break Into a Scene From the Outside ft. Daniel Orpi | EF EP 162
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How do you build a career in dance music with no network, no language, and no safety net?
Host Olivia Mancuso sits down with Daniel Orpi — the Spanish DJ and producer topping Beatport charts and playing rooms like Amnesia, with cosigns from Pete Tong and the Martinez Brothers. Daniel traces the long road from leaving home for a country where he barely spoke the language to building a career on his own terms, and he's honest about what it cost.
He gets into why he started his own label, what happens when the numbers start to matter more than the music, and why he calls resilience the number one skill in this industry. It's a grounded conversation about ambition, mental health, and staying grateful when the thing you wanted finally arrives.
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👉 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
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx
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00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Sponsor – Trackstack
01:57 - America Through A Visitor's Eyes
04:03 - Leaving Spain For The UK
04:40 - Ibiza Instead Of London
05:33 - The Guys From Liverpool
06:22 - The Tarot Reader's Warning
07:21 - Two Days After He Moved
08:24 - His Mother's Unlived Dream
09:01 - A Father From Lebanon
09:31 - Parents Just Want You Safe
11:29 - Back To Liverpool
12:02 - Learning English In Two Months
12:41 - Language As A Career Barrier
13:14 - Speaking Someone Else's Language
15:34 - The Duo He Started With
16:14 - The Gig That Ended It
17:05 - Everybody Wants To Be A DJ
17:36 - Tarot, Intuition And Manifestation
18:11 - Feeling Stuck Back In Spain
18:57 - Moving To London
19:38 - Working At Foot Locker
20:23 - Proving It To Himself
21:14 - Getting Out Of Your Environment
22:01 - Resilience Is The Number One Skill
22:53 - How Much Can You Push Through?
23:51 - Being Your Own Worst Boss
24:33 - Why You Need A Hobby
25:08 - We Don't Really Think Anymore
25:22 - Bob Proctor Every Morning
26:16 - Then Things Started To Move
26:54 - "Ángel de la Guarda"
28:00 - Positive Thoughts Need Action
28:37 - His First US Tour
29:04 - How To Break Into A New Market
30:36 - Does The Industry Overlook America?
32:07 - Dance Music Is Your Parents' Music
32:52 - A Scene With No History Yet
34:05 - Why He Started His Own Label
35:18 - Big Labels Vs Your Own Platform
36:04 - A Label Can Bolster Your Touring
36:49 - The First Label Show In Miami
37:11 - No VIP Culture
37:55 - The Cool Kids Club
38:58 - Status Is The Worst Thing
39:19 - Spy Bar
40:35 - Standout Moments On Tour
40:57 - Three Hours With Green Velvet
42:11 - Miami Music Week
43:05 - You Never See The Rejections
43:35 - Elrow, Right Before Danny Tenaglia
44:25 - What A Legend Taught Him
45:24 - Taking Success For Granted
45:57 - When Anxiety Overwhelms Gratitude
46:49 - Success Won't Make You Happier
47:44 - The Night He Was Jumped
49:20 - What Actually Happened
50:22 - He'd Play That Club Again
51:05 - The One Show Your Parents Attend
52:35 - Don't Take Life So Seriously
53:14 - Graffiti At 14
53:44 - Depression Is The Opposite Of Expression
54:32 - Wrap-Up
