Will Clarke, Setting and Keeping Boundaries: Elevated Frequencies Episode #4

Will:

Being able to say no is the most powerful thing anyone can do and being able to go to a place completely sober. and experience music, experience people completely sober. can be a very daunting thing. But if you do do it, it can also be an amazing feeling.

Olivia:

Welcome to elevated frequencies, the show that gives you access to the next level of house in techno so you can explore an elevated lifestyle. Going sober to shows is one of my favorite subjects. Now it's not something I would have ever considered in my younger twenties, but at 31, it's become standard practice in my life. And, you know, when I break down why I'm going to these shows, Right? It's not for the $400 bottle of Titos.

It's not to be seen. It's not for anything other than the fact that I wanna hear my favorite music, perform live on a really bad ass sound system. That's what it's about. And so I've gotten really good at setting boundaries and priorities in my life so that I can do both. Will Clark, my friend, Will Clark, is on the podcast today talking about his priorities and boundaries because he's gotten really good at them.

He has a whole life outside of music that offers him reprieve from, you know, bustling nightlife. He also told me some really incredible stories about how he took strategic action or what I call aligned action to kind of change the course of his career. It's really inspiring stuff. I did have some technical difficulties on my end, but don't let that take away from the fact that Will is an amazing storyteller. So without further ado, Will Clark.

We met for the first time at EDC Orlando, and I was so excited to meet, but we didn't really get a chance to have a real conversation. Right? It was it was really quick. So I'm very excited to to have you on the podcast.

Will:

Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. Congrats as well. Welcome to the podcast world.

Olivia:

Thank you. I I had been annoying you about it for, like, 3 months. I think, telling you it's coming, it's coming, and I want you to be one of my first guests. So so I appreciate you following through your a man of your word.

Will:

No worries. Anytime. Anytime.

Olivia:

Yeah. So so I know that you're a big fan of having these long conversations, and you started your podcast. Has it been 2 or 3 years?

Will:

2020, April. So, yeah, 3 years.

Olivia:

Okay. And so we talked about it a little bit, you know, when we were just talking one on 1. But what inspired you to do that? To to talk to your friends and industry people.

Will:

I used to have a radio show called The Barber Shop. And it was, like, a quintessential monthly radio show where it was a mix and the record in a voice over, and then I'd have an interview halfway through with, like, a guest that was, like, I'd pick their top cut of the the top 3 cuts of the of the month. And I enjoyed that the most. I really, really dislike doing mixes as my team will probably know if they ever listen to this, but it's, like, I hate doing mixes. It's the one thing that I generally always say no to.

So the fact that I was doing that on a radio show just wasn't making me happy to do. And the the part of the show that I really enjoyed was the podcast or the the interview side of things. Mhmm. So I didn't make time to do a podcast, and I didn't really know how to do it. But I I consume a lot of podcasts.

So I when, obviously, the pandemic hit, we had a bunch of time on our hands, and I tried to work it out and eventually worked it out and it took a fair amount of episodes to get it to the point of where we're at today. But it was just a case of, like, I've just wanted to there wasn't really any conversations that was happening in in the electronic music industry, and on a podcast level, on a long form. Every there's always interviews here and there, but, like, everything's very curated and very edited and very, like, radio show vibe where I kind of wanted more of a long long form and, like, hear the silences and hear the, like, awkward moments and kind of hear the, like, nuance of an actual conversation. And don't get me wrong. Some of my episodes are better than others, and some feel a little more interviewee than others purely because of the relationship I have with that person is that they don't we don't know each other.

So it's kind of hard to, like, especially over Zoom to have a conversation and and it it it being interviewed to a certain extent. but that's just the joys of a podcast. So, yeah, I really enjoy doing it, and I recently have just taken on an editor in the last, like, maybe 20 episodes.

Olivia:

You're joking.

Will:

I've only just taken an editor and which they do all the video side of it and all the assets, which is really game changing because I did everything up until yeah, literally, like, 3 months ago. So that that was an absolute game changer for me where I can literally just do the podcast. and I still do the audio. So I still bounce all the audio out and do all of that, but I then can send it to him and he does everything from from then on.

Olivia:

I mean, obviously, you you you can do it. It doesn't always mean you should. Right? Now you can kinda get freed up.

Will:

I couldn't do it. That's the thing is I I I can barely do video editing. Like, I'm not a good video editor at all. I had to, like, learn it all myself. And but for me, the visual side of the podcast was really important.

I I'm a huge consumer of YouTube, and I just really always wanted a visual side of the the the podcast to be somewhere, and it was important for socials and things like that. So, yeah, I had to learn all of that and how to do it and luckily, we had 18 months off, and I could learn all of that, and I could do all of that.

Olivia:

So -- True.

Will:

It it was just when pandemic stopped, and I was back touring. It was becoming a lot. And it kind of took the fun out of it for me. The whole podcast, it for for a section for a period because it's like me and my team deal with the booking. Like, for the first maybe 50 for the 1st year, I did everything.

Like, even my manager didn't book any artist, it was literally me booking all the artists, me doing all the artwork, me doing absolutely everything. So it was, like, it became a lot of work. And then when we started touring again, I was like, okay. I need some help. Like, I need some I need to kinda delegate.

And then, yeah, like, it's it's I love it. It's I've kind of fallen back in love with it because I don't have to edit it.

Olivia:

Right. Right. You get to do what you love to do and and focus on that. And One thing that I really appreciate about you as a person, and I think this translates into your art is that, you're not afraid to be vulnerable and lay everything out on the table. And that comes across in your conversations with other artists.

It comes across in what you post yourself. And I think vulnerability maybe is something that comes with age, but you're not very old. We're the same age. So how?

Will:

I feel a hold today.

Olivia:

Sorry. What? What do I?

Will:

I look old as well. Jesus Christ. I'm looking at his camera, and I'm like, fuck me, Will.

Olivia:

No. No. You did not. You you did not look old. But you but where does that come from?

Where where does that ability to just be vulnerable come from?

Will:

I don't know. I I've I'm extremely fortunate. I had an amazing childhood with my parents and my family. They my mom Both my parents are therapists. My mom has been a therapist my whole life before my before I was born, and my dad became a therapist from 15 years into my life.

So, like, dinner tables, the dinner table was the time when my parents and my brother and my sister, like, where we'd kind of air everything out. of what's annoying us and how we our feelings are. And it was I was always taught to talk about your feelings, which I'm really fortunate. I don't always do. I'm very, like, I'm happily I'm happy to be vulnerable in with certain things, but there's also certain things that I keep to myself for just that's just how I am as as a human being.

Olivia:

Which is is important. Right?

Will:

Yeah. I I think it's important. I think it's important. I think there's pros and cons to it. But I think, yeah, I I'm super fortunate with how my parents kind of raised me, and I'm not saying that's the only way to raise a child.

Like, there's no right or wrong way, but I was really lucky with them. And I think Also, one thing that I learned from my mom, which is interesting because some people hate it, and some people love it, is that just be honest, and your your thoughts can change. Your your feelings can change. like, your stance on a on a situation can change, and it's allowed to change. But -- Mhmm.

-- be honest right now and if something's bothering you or if something's on your mind, like, just say it because if somebody gets offended by it, it's their choice on how they deal with it. it's it's if you word it in the correct way and you're thoughtful of of how it could affect other people or how it could kind of somebody else could could respond to it. I think there's ways to say things that isn't necessarily gonna hurt somebody else's feelings. But at the end of the day, you have to look after your feelings over anybody else, and you gotta look after your career, your life over anybody else because in the grand scheme of things, it's only you. You can only look after yourself.

And if you can't look after yourself, no. You can't look after anybody else. 100%.

Olivia:

You can't pour from an empty cup.

Will:

Yeah. Totally.

Olivia:

And, you know, I I think it's interesting that you You're somebody okay. So I I was joking with you the other day when I saw the tweet about, like, the zodiac Right? And you're like, if she tells you to download CoStar

Will:

-- Fuck CoStar.

Olivia:

It's a game day. But you seem to be a very I don't wanna say religious because I don't know. I can but maybe a spiritual person, you seem to be somebody who's just you your music. It comes across in your music. So so where does that come from?

Will:

Yeah. I'm not spiritual at all. which is weird. Like, when when Ryan and my manager when we started working with each other, we we kinda gave me this question to kind of, like, fill out, which is it's a lot of homework, but it really helped me. And there was, like, questions and stuff, and it was, like, are you spiritual?

I'm not not at all. Like, I love the concept of religion and a spirituality ness if that's a fucking word. But I'm not at all. And the music because I make records that sound religious or I sample gospel records or I write gospel records. doesn't mean I'm religious.

I just love that music. I'm not really a lyric listener. I don't really listen to lyrics. I, like, listen to Melody and the feeling that it gives me. Like, there's records that I I've written that I still don't necessarily know the lyrics do as much.

It's, like, it's more so how does it make you feel like Hallelujah. It took me a long time for me to remember the lyrics of Hallelujah.

Olivia:

Really?

Will:

--

Olivia:

is weird. They were they were stuck in my head this morning.

Will:

And that's it. I feel

Olivia:

like there's some some of the easiest lyrics to remember. They're great.

Will:

Yeah. But for me, it's it's the melody. and it's the feeling. So, like, I love the concept of religion. Like, I love the concept of what certain religion things do to you.

and due to a community. But I truly think what we do is without sounding cheesy and shitties, but but, like, we write records, and we play them in big spaces to a lot of people. it's exactly the same as the church. It's a gospel church. You go to one place, you sing a bunch of songs, and as a community you're together.

And at that time, when you're in that moment, I'd like to hope that everybody feels a part of something. And it's no different to go into a club or go into a festival apart from there might be a few more narcotics going around and a few more, like, less worshipy shit. But, like, that is truly, in my mind, what what a music show is. So it's it's exactly the same as what you would do is go into church on a Sunday. Yeah.

Olivia:

That's what I was gonna ask. Do you feel that that music moves people the same way. And you said the keyword community. Yeah. And one thing that I have been wrestling with in my own life is as I get older, and I don't want to engage in so many late nights is how do I still feel part of this community and connected to this scene and to the music without wrecking, you know, the next 3 days because I'm 31, and I can't I I Even if I'm going and and a lot of the times, I'm going to show it's completely sober.

Now I'm not drinking really anymore. I live a low alcohol lifestyle. but even staying out, you know, till 4 AM, it's it's tough. So how I don't even know if there's an answer to this. There's not one answer to but how do you stay feeling a part of that community maybe as your life and and priorities change?

Will:

Well, I think everyone changes. Right? And every time, like, especially where we're at in our age, like, time things in things changed massively, like, all of my closest friends from back home that we would throw parties together or we'd all be DJs. Like, they've all got kids now. And, like, they're going on caravan holidays, and they're not going to clubs.

And if they do come to the club to see me play, it's like, once a year, twice a year. Right. But I think At the end of the day, kids change everything for that. Like, you can still do it, but, like, if you got if you got responsibilities for somebody else, then that that kind of changes things. I think if you don't have kids, then it's just about what's your priorities in life.

Like, is going to a show that important to you? to that you have to do it once a month. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. I think there's for me, being part of a community doesn't necessarily have to be in the club.

Like, it's listening to music. It's having people around it's kind of who do you keep close to you that you can kind of all relate to certain things. Like, a lot of my friends outside of music, don't go to clubs. And I kind of live I don't live a double life, but I have to 2 types of life, if that makes sense, where I still feel like I have a community around me outside of music, which is really important to me. But how do you how do you going back to your question, how do you keep community, I think it's how do you it's it's realistically down to you.

and it's down to me and I as a person is you have to do and I'm not telling you I I'm gonna use it as I because it sounds bad for me telling you what you should shouldn't be doing. But, like, if I need something, I have to go and get it. So, like, I don't think age should ever get involved with that. I think it's you have to I have to work out how it how to change my thought process or change what I need to do to to allow that to fit in. Let's say, for instance, like, the gym, I have to go to the gym nearly every day.

It's not a case of I was talking to my mom about this last week. it's not a case of actually being healthy of, like, being muscular and looking good and doing all of that. That's the, like, that's the side of it. That's the the outcome of it. The the whole concept of of going to the gym is something that I need in my life.

And, mentally, that keeps me going. So it's like, how import so I I guess that's the thing. It's how important is this in your life that it if you don't have it, it completely will affect your life. And if it doesn't, then fucking, it doesn't matter. Like, it's all good, and there's no issue with that.

But if it does, then you have to work. I have to put that in.

Olivia:

You're right. It's all about boundaries. right, and figuring out, okay. Well, if I still want this part of my life, maybe I'm not going out twice a weekend. Maybe I'm going out twice a month.

Maybe I'm not breaking when I'm going out. And that's something that I'm constantly I feel like it's kind of a a moving target, and it depends on I mean, it's it's really tough to say No. When you have especially, you know, I live in Chicago,

Will:

and

Olivia:

there's so many good artists that come through here. It's it's tough to say no. but I've had to say no to a lot of things because I know it'll affect x, y, and z

Will:

-- Yeah. Yeah. --

Olivia:

the following days. But but you you said a key point. You know, it's not just about going out, having people over at your house and listening to music together. That's that's one way. you know, to stay connected.

You know, we have we have decks at our house, and I have we have friends come over, and it's just like a a good way to get our fill. without, you know, draining our our dopamine

Will:

--

Olivia:

Yeah. -- the next 3 days.

Will:

Yeah. The whole lanai thing is It's tough. It can't get to you. It can't get you down. But --

Olivia:

And and you I but you don't you don't drink. Right? You don't. And so, I mean, that's not easy either, you know, being out super

Will:

-- It's easy for me. Yeah. Tell tell

Olivia:

me about that.

Will:

I've never really liked drinking. I've never liked kind of taking drugs and kinda feeling anything out of body, like, I don't like the taste of alcohol. So it's easy for me. Like, I've even It's really strange. I probably subconsciously because of my upbringing, but, like, my my parents own drug and alcohol rehabs over my life, and they still do.

But some of my youngest memories with mom would be, like, go into her work, which was a drug and alcohol rehab or, like, a mental health place. And so, like, I think subconsciously, I'm like, I never wanna be an addict. But I think, also, I cannot stand the taste of alcohol. I cannot stand feeling drunk. So even when I did drink, it was, like, probably five, six times a year, Max.

And I was just like, what am I doing? Why do I do this? So it's just like if I don't if you don't like something to eat for me. So I I think it's, like, people are like, oh, you're sober. Blah blah blah blah.

I I don't class myself as sober because for me, sober is, like, when you've had an issue with with a with a substance and decided to stop it to to benefit your life. Like, I just don't like alcohol. So it's easy for me. And and everyone's like, well, why don't you Does it annoy you people telling you to drink or blah blah blah. I'm like, it is what it is.

It's like it's part of the industry. Yeah. It annoys me when it's like, someone is putting a shot in your face and be like, go on. You should do it. Just one.

I'm like, no. Like, this but that's they're they're just dickheads. Like, you just don't -- Mhmm. -- have those people around you. So, yeah, I don't know.

It's it's it's very easy for me not to drink, which is definitely a pro. I understand why people struggle not to drink. But the one thing I would say is Being able to say no is the most powerful thing anyone can do and being able to go to a place completely sober. and experience music, experience people completely sober. can be a very daunting thing.

But if you do do it, it can also be an amazing feeling.

Olivia:

I think experiencing music sober is just as good as experiencing music in any other frame of mind. But -- Yeah. -- experiencing people sober is definitely a journey. When I I went low alcohol, so I'm drinking, like, maybe 22 drinks a month now. You know, it's like, a glass of wine here or there.

Sometimes I go longer. I did it just because I had a surgery that didn't allow me to drink. And then I was like, for 8 weeks, and I was like, wait. This is fucking awesome. Like, why am I why am I doing this?

And I actually got into mocktails, and I, you know, love you know, makes me feel still part of the group, whatever. Got it. But going to I think the 1st club I went to sober, like, completely was by bar.

Will:

Yeah. Just

Olivia:

I was like, which is my favorite place in the world. Yeah. And that's that's where you'll be. I I've been going that place since I for a very long time. Let's just say, like,

Will:

12 years.

Olivia:

And that was the first and I was like, oh my god. This is a completely different place. Like, being people, and it's it's a lot. It's a lot. And like you said, people pressure you.

But I think when you're comfortable with yourself, you're confident. Like, it's easy to say no like you said.

Will:

Yeah. I think it was a like, I I have, like, a different ask a different view on it than a club goer. Like, I'm very far re removed. Although it may not look like it, I'm very far removed from the actual club and experience. I turn up 30 minutes to 15 minutes before my set.

Like, I go on the the decks, I play, and then I leave straight away. So it's like, I don't have the really, the my only interaction is performing. So I I also am very aware that I'm coming from a very different stance to what most people is.

Olivia:

Well, you're you're a dinner guy. You like to go

Will:

I'm a conversation guy. I'm a conversation like, it's weird because I I'm pretty introverted. But if I've got people around me that I feel comfortable with, and that I know I can have good conversation with. Like, I am let's go for dinner. Let's have dinner for 2 hours, and let's all have a fucking amazing conversation.

the minute music gets involved, which is weird, but the minute we go to, like, a loud situation, I, like, switch off. And I'm not really you can't have a conversation in a glove or in a bar, so I just switch off. get

Olivia:

into that. But

Will:

--

Olivia:

I I think I mean, I think there's a lot of introverted artists out there, and it's like this cognitive dissonance that you experience. Right? Like, you're part of this insanely loud, chaotic, lively scheme. And I fit do you have any, like do you do anything to pump yourself up to be in that environment? Or you have to point now where you're like, I can handle this.

It's fine. I know how to switch it on and off.

Will:

No. I never really have. Never really have. It's just just kind of do what you do. Majority of the time, it's like it sounds really awful, but you're kind of in a hotel room waiting to go to the club.

But, 1 o'clock in the morning, and you're like, fucking hell. I'm feel dead. Why the hell am I going to a club right now?

Olivia:

Yeah. So a

Will:

lot of that's just like, okay. But the minute you get the minute I go into the club, it's like, okay. We're on. Yeah. It's it's yeah.

It's weird. I get I don't know. It's so normal to me. Right? And I'm really fortunate to say that it's so normal to me.

But even, like, festivals, it's just like, okay. We're just gonna go do what we're gonna do. And, like, realistically, what's the worst that's gonna happen? You press the wrong button. Like, it's it's it's nothing really to worry about that.

So, yeah, it's It's pretty as a job, it's pretty easy or pressure for me anyway.

Olivia:

Well, that's good. I think people need to hear that. I mean, especially for artists or other creatives who wanna start something new, they feel like they have to be perfect or everything has to go perfectly right.

Will:

Yeah.

Olivia:

You know, and you're you're here saying, hey. You press the wrong button fuck it. Like, it happens.

Will:

Make the most of it. It's like, we're all human. Right? And you have to make mistakes, and you, like, then I I'd be lying to think that if most sets that goes through my head going, don't press that button. Like, because it's the wrong button to press.

But, like, you know what? Sometimes you do, and there's, like, bigger things in this world that's happening right now than then Will Clark pressing the wrong button at EDC and all the music stopping for literally 5 seconds.

Olivia:

It's like come on. -- happen? No. Wait. Did that happen?

Will:

It hasn't, but it might. You know what I mean? And, yeah, I've stopped the wrong records and certain, but, like, that's it. Or, like, technical issues, but it's, like, in the grand scheme of things, it's just kind of compartmentalizing things. And I guess the last real time I was relatively nervous before a set But I still didn't do anything to prep was the show coming back from from pandemic.

I think the first show was in front of, like, 5000 people in LA on equipment that I've never used before because they do it'd all been updated. So that was kind of more nervous. But, like, if I'm in that situation, at least you just keep my head down for the first 30 minutes. get comfortable with where I'm at, and then I can start looking at the crowd and kind of actually work in public.

Olivia:

Right. Interacting.

Will:

Yeah. But Hey. We push buttons and play music. It's the fucking easiest job in the world, and it's also the best job in the world. So it's like, come on.

Olivia:

It I mean, hey. You guys are guys and girls are curators of happiness. Right? Like, some of people's best moments in their lives come from doesn't have to be a big festival. It could be a set that they saw -- Yeah.

Will:

--

Olivia:

you know, that they didn't even expect was going to, you know, make their whole month. A lot of people you you had this comment about a double life and how you enjoy having like that separation, but I think a lot of people actually you know, people who are attendees of this of these experiences, feel like they're friends who don't listen to this music, like, don't get it.

Will:

Yeah.

Olivia:

And so when they step into that festival environment or that club environment, they're hearing one of their favorite DJs, and they went very specifically to this event for this DJ as opposed to people go to, like, Normie Club,

Will:

like -- Yeah. --

Olivia:

regular clubs that play top 40. Like, that is something that is so precious to a lot of people because it's, like, I finally get to be myself. I finally get to let my hair down and, you know, be with the people who get who speak my language, who get me. I don't have to explain my context to. So I think that's a really special thing that you're able to to give people.

Will:

Yeah. I guess it it is. And it's it's something that I actually try not to think about. There's, like, occasions where, like, you get a message going, like, It's fucking weird to say, but, like, your music saved my life. And I don't like thinking about that.

it's weird to me because it's for me, it's just me in the in this room, and he's for walls, just making music because I like it. And if somebody else likes it, great. And I think also if the more I kind of fed into that, the more my ego is gonna come out and that no one wants that. in the grand scheme of life.

Olivia:

It's fair, but it's it's I think it's a nice thing. If I could push back on that a little bit, I think it's nice to hear that feedback.

Will:

100%. 100%. I think it's really strange, but yeah. It is. But I think it's also really strange because we live like, our lives in this industry is still a business, but it's so is so not a business to anybody else outside of it.

So it's kind of like that you you And it's really it's a really weird balance to kind of put play to kind of work with when you're kind of in my life. And I'm I know it's the same for other artists. because same with promoters, same with record label owners, all in different situations. But, like, We want our records to be successful. Why do we want our records to be successful?

What is successful record? Like, I guess, yes. lots more people listening to it. Right? However, you could put a record out and it do a thousand streams.

And that record completely changes somebody's life. which is an crazy powerful thing to think about. But in the grand scheme of things, successfully, that record hasn't on a business sense that record hasn't done well. So there's, like, you kind of have these, like, 2 things to balance with. It's, like, What are we truly doing it for?

But, also, I also have to pay keep the lights on somehow. So the records have to be successful. The fact that my records are successful is the reason why we're having this conversation today. There's about tens of hundreds of thousands more eyes out there that you could have picked to have a conversation with. But because I'm fortunate enough that my records have been successful, you know who I am.

But it it also doesn't take away the power of what music has. and how that can affect people. Like, I've had records that that massively changed my life. Like, on another level, to the point where people don't would never will never realize how much that record has changed changed my life to the artist that I've never met that that record has changed my life. But it's a weird concept when you're on the receiving end of it of hearing it because it's like I really appreciate that, and it's really nice.

So thank you. But it I kind of once the record is out, it's not really me. It's not really my record. It's whatever anybody else wants to do with that record is them. However, somebody wants to perceive that record.

is them. However, somebody wants to sing that record. They can sing it how however they want it. Like, it's it's just a weird concept. me that I just don't know if I'll ever kind of process.

Olivia:

Sure. And I think I mean, you said that it's a balance, but I I don't think it's a I don't necessarily think it's a balance. I think 2 things can be true at once. I think you can make music to make money, and that's completely valid, and you should. And then, you know, simultaneously, sometimes it's going to impact people very significantly.

And those things can run concurrently. and that's great.

Will:

Yeah.

Olivia:

I mean, that's that's like an added bonus, I think. Feel like sometimes people get lost in the like, in the space of, like, they almost feel like they have to be martyrs. Like, oh, I need to make everything meaningful and everything has to, you know, help somebody or whatever. you we said this in the beginning, you have to help yourself first.

Will:

Well, there's also yeah. I totally agree and sorry to butt in, but there's also that really selfish side of the artist that that happens. And it's okay. I'm just making music for myself. It's very easy to get into that that kind of hamster wheel of the industry.

where you see something doing well, and you're like, I have to replicate that or I have to do this or I've done this for god knows. I had it with my career. I was making music that fit on Diebird Record label, and I did for years even when I wasn't really feeling it. for me. And I've had multiple occasions where it's kind of like, oh, well, people know me for this, so I have to keep doing it.

But, realistically, there's the other side of it, the selfish side of it is that I don't just do music to make money. I do music because I love doing it, again, it goes back to that gym situation. It's, like, the outcome of it that I do make money out of it, and I'm lucky enough that I do make money out of it at the moment. But you also have to be selfish and write music that you absolutely love. And sometimes there's records that you like, yeah, it fucking works, and we have to put it out.

It's like, it is what it is. But then there's certain situations where it's like, I'm just making music that I like, and this I don't care if anybody likes it or not. It's just it is what it is.

Olivia:

I think it sound it sounds like you're saying go with what you've you feel for that track. I mean, there's a strategy there but also you gotta, like, if something feels right to you, make make the music, do the thing.

Will:

Yeah. Just enjoy it. It's like, There's many parts of this industry that sucks, but it's also out of all the parts of the industry that sucks. the best thing is to create in your own records and then hit play in them out and seeing people respond to them. it's the best feeling ever or even just that the second you finish that record in the studio and, like, this is fucking great.

And you've not sent it to anyone, and it's yours for the short amount of time that it's just yours, and you can just experience it yourself until the kind of the business gets involved. It's it's a beautiful moment. It's an amazing moment.

Olivia:

And do you do you have, like, a library? of of songs that you sit on before before you let them go, or do you kinda have to be strict about what you keep to yourself?

Will:

I have a lot of music that no one will ever hear. I have a lot of side projects, but I say a lot. I have I have one side project that doesn't even have a name. It's called side project on my folder that only a few people have heard. And then I have another side project that kind of got didn't get poo pooed, but it, like, it's just that they're waiting to happen.

when the right time happens. And then for, like, Will Clark because he has a lot of music. I write a lot of shit music. And there's a lot of music that's I'm really happy with it. It's probably never gonna come out, sadly.

But, yeah, there's there's a process for, like, working out if a record is gonna come out or not. And a lot of that's just commercial commercialization. really is, like, does this record work well in your sex? Does it get a good response? can those are the 2 things.

Those are the 2 aspects mostly. There's some side ones to it. Like, is this gonna be a DJ playable or DJ friendly record, like the DJs to play. A lot of the time, I'll be honest. A lot of my records in the last few years aren't DJ friendly records.

They're just very what I do. And if people wanna play it, then that's fine. But, yeah, it's it's a process of when that record's gonna get released. And then you never know if it's gonna do well.

Olivia:

Well, it sounds like it's a lot more difficult than just pushing buttons. Like you said, there's there's a lot of considering since there.

Will:

When you're writing music and releasing music, definitely different to DJ and DJN is easy in that in that sense.

Olivia:

yeah, the the production stuff is is crazy.

Will:

Yeah. It's it's a process it's way easier nowadays because there it's there's so much out there. But, yeah, the whole the the business side of releasing records is really interesting, and a lot of it at the time is based on luck. Nope. I I I say most of this industry is based on luck.

Most of life is based on I say most of life is based on luck. to a certain extent. I 100% agree that you make your own luck to a certain level and right place, right time, and everything like that, but, like, it's a lot of I would say a lot of it is about based on luck.

Olivia:

Really? I feel like you just open Pandora's box with me, and I don't even We're not gonna go down this rabbit hole, but I do wanna know you said you also make your own luck. I'm I'm a big believer. in that. So so just talk to me about about that part.

How how can people make their own luck in the music industry or anywhere?

Will:

I think it's just about being strategic. Like, let's say, for instance, why do I Why have I done so much stuff with factory 93? Okay. This is a really interesting story that me and my manager talk about and Carlos that runs factory 93. So 2020, I launched my record label we have is now We did a vinyl press of a bunch of records that came out that that year.

For I I stopped releasing music on Day Bird, I think, end of 2018. I fired my managers at 2018. got new managers 2019 kind of did the whole, like, change in the Will Clark sound from, like, 2018 to, like, where we are today. And a lot of that is convincing people that you're not who used to be with your sound of music. And a big part of that was how do we get on the factory 93 stages to kind of convince people that we're not who what everyone thought we used to be.

So that vinyl, Ryan, my manager, was good mates with Carlos because my manager used to be one of the biggest agents in America. So he was, like, pretty had a good relationship with Carlos And, like, we knew exactly what we were doing. We Brian Han delivered a vinyl with all my music on to Carlos. and Carlos listened at the right time. We were lucky that he fucking listened.

Like, how many things do you send that you're not you don't listen to or you don't even look at for months. Carlos listened, and he booked. He was like, this is ridiculous. I'm booking you on every show that we can. That's luck.

That's and, yes, that is That is strategic luck. We knew exactly what we're doing. He knew exactly what we were doing. but it worked out.

Olivia:

And and it sounds like it's something you wanted really bad. Am I right to assume that?

Will:

It it yes. But I I I don't think it was, like, it was something that we wanted really badly. but it was something that we thought was a piece of the puzzle to get me to where I need to get to in in my career. and where we that was a big piece of the puzzle that would have helped massively. We'd still get to where we wanted to get to if we didn't have that, but it would have been a different journey.

Sure.

Olivia:

And, I mean, the wanting to change your sound and and and shifting, you know, the perception is what you wanted. Yeah. And in my and in my world, you know, in the woo world, we we call that aligned action. Like, you just you made the right strategic move. You took aligned action to to get you you know, closer to where you want it to be.

So you can call it luck. I think I think

Will:

that was -- I think it is. Like, it's the one thing that I will stand by anything because like, yes, you're strategic about something, and it paid off. But how many people are trying to get on those shows, how many people are trying to do whatever in life Just happened to wake up one day and put that vinyl on. That's fucking luck if you ask me.

Olivia:

Listen. I I met you at EDC because I decided to shoot a reel. like, an audition for for them, and they didn't even have a job opening.

Will:

Exactly.

Olivia:

I said, fuck it. I'm just gonna do this see what happens. And so sometimes, you know, I think when something is meant for you, it works out.

Will:

Yeah.

Olivia:

I do. And and it's interesting how you know, I it you're you took bold action. That was not -- Yeah. -- you know, that was that was, like you said, you put it on a vinyl, you hand delivered it. These are the extras step going the extra mile that other people might not do, and it got you where you are today.

So

Will:

That that is a key thing. Sorry to buy him, but that is the key thing is --

Olivia:

Yeah.

Will:

-- always have to, like, put in that extra thing. Like, When is this episode coming out?

Olivia:

In June.

Will:

In June. Okay. Cool. So we can talk about it. this it can't go out beforehand.

Just a heads up. Okay. But we're doing a show we're doing a show In fact, I don't know when this would have been announced, but I'm gonna say, roughly, we're doing a show in a city in California in July. And for us for me, it's like, how do we give back to the community in a way that, like, we're not asking anything from people. Like, yeah, people are gonna buy tickets, but, like, we're doing, like, a huge t shirt giveaway where everyone that buys a ticket will get a free t shirt.

Like and it's costing a fortune. Like, I make zero money. on the show because all of the show fee is going into the the they give it the the the making of the t shirt and the delivering the t shirt and everything like that. But for me, it's like it's and not every artist needs to do this, not every artist wants to do this. But for me, it's like, how can you go the extra mile to give back to the fans as well.

Like, these are the people the fans, like, are the people that literally pay my bills. Like, it's not me making the music. That's that's free. It doesn't cost anything. What really pays my bills is the people streaming my music, the people playing my music on radio, and the people buying tickets to my show, and people buying my merch.

So it's like, that's how can you how can you give back and go the extra mile to those people? Because I think in this there's a lot of expectations, and a lot of people expect things from people to buy tickets and expect them. Like, why? I don't understand why do people The fact that people buy tickets to see me play is a crazy thing for me every week, if you know what I mean. It's a stressful thing because it's, like, many tickets have we sold?

Have we sold out? Blah blah blah blah. But then also the other spectrum of it is, like, I don't understand this. It's crazy that these people are still buying tickets to see me play when some people have seen me, like, ten times. I'm like, guys, there's other people out there.

Go spend your money somewhere else. But, like and that's the thing is, like, just go in you have in my in my world, It's about how do you go that extra mile with everything. And it's like, I'm not the most talented person. I'm not the best DJ in the world. I'm not the best producer in the world.

I I know that. But how can I give people how can I make an experience for a person for a person whether that's a club go or whether that's a record label owner or whether that's a promoter. How can I go that extra mile? It's just be like, yeah, 1 o'clock did it the right way. And that's that's all that really matters for me is, like, how can we go that extra mile to give back?

and create something that lasts a long time.

Olivia:

Well, you're very humble, and and you are the best at all of those things you just listed above and you're a great person, which just really adds like I said, it comes through into your music. you know, you are somebody who just really knows themselves. And everything you do, I think, really, that really shines. So I've taken up a lot of your time, and I really appreciate, you know, you being willing to come on my podcast. I know you have your own.

to to manage plus your tour. So you're you're a busy guy, and I I really appreciate you taking the time.

Will:

Anytime. Thanks for having me. We really appreciate it, and good luck with it. It's fun. It's a fun journey.

Olivia:

Thanks a lot.

Will:

Making most of it.

Olivia:

I'll I'll do my best. Thanks, Will. You have no idea how shook I was when Will told me he edit his own podcast, or he did up until recently. But, you know, they say if you need something done, just ask the busiest person in the room, and that's obviously true of Will because I don't know how he does, you know, the touring, the production, the podcast. It's truly amazing.

And I don't wanna embarrass him, and I said this already on podcast, but Will's vulnerability is so refreshing and rare, and I'm so honored that he spent time on my baby podcast to just be vulnerable with me. There were so many good takeaways from today's episode from, you know, living a sober lie to being part of a community, to having, you know, a life outside of music. But I think what the overarching theme was was that Will is really good at setting boundaries. Like you could tell, he was probably having therapists as parents help, but he's so good at setting bound injuries. And, you know, everything he does in his life professionally and personal is just better off for it.

So I think that we could all learn a lot from people like Will. And he has his own podcast, the Will Clark podcast. So be sure check that out because there are some amazing conversations on there. And of course, if you like this podcast, give us a o@elevatedfrequencies podcast on Instagram, Twitter, and, of course, subscribe here on YouTube. We are dropping new episodes every week.

Will:

I'll see you next time.