Why Make Music…Episode 043 – “Producer Producer… IF I WAS YOUR PRODUCER”

Willa May (DJ Warm Cookies): Hello hello, WDMN family – welcome back to Why Make Music with your girl Willa May, a.k.a. DJ Warm Cookies. Thank you for tuning in to Episode 043, titled “Producer Producer… IF I WAS YOUR PRODUCER.” I’m feeling great today and I hope you are too. As always, we’re coming at you on all streaming platforms – wherever you get your podcasts or music, we’re there. Be sure to hit that follow or subscribe, and drop a review if you enjoy the show. We love our listeners!

First off, happy Friday! Today is July 18, 2025, and it’s a big day for us – Volume One of If I Was Your Producer is officially out now on all streaming services! Yes indeed, the first installment of ThinkTimm’s ambitious seven-volume project drops today. Go check it out and let us know your favorite tracks. We couldn’t be more excited to finally share these 10 stellar tracks with you. We put a ton of love and work into this album, and now it’s all yours to enjoy.

Before we dive into the show, let me give some quick shout-outs and love. Big shout-out to everyone on social media who’s been supporting us – your comments, shares, and messages mean the world. Shout-out to all the independent producers and artists out there making and releasing music on their own terms – we see you, we salute you. It’s not easy doing this independently, but it’s so worth it. Also a special shout-out to all the software tools and tech that make our production workflow smooth – from the DAWs to the plugins to the AI helpers, and every piece of gear we use. We’re grateful to live in a time when a small home studio can produce big ideas, thanks to some amazing products and platforms. Couldn’t do it without those tools!

So, here’s what we’ve got on the menu for today’s episode. I’ll start with our intro (that’s what I’m doing now), and in a moment I’m going to hand it over to ThinkTimm. He’ll give you the inside scoop on If I Was Your Producer (Vol. 1) – breaking down the concept and walking through the tracks. After Tim’s done with his album rundown, I’ll be back to talk about a hot topic in music right now: AI in music production. There’s a lot of misunderstanding out there about AI; I want to chat a bit about how we use AI as a tool (not a crutch), and we’ll use Timbaland’s new AI-powered music project as an example of how differently this tech can be approached depending on your resources. Then, we’re switching gears to something really cool – we took a family trip to Washington D.C. recently (WDMN family vacation!), and we visited a bunch of the Smithsonian museums. We’ll share some of the amazing music-related exhibits we saw – yes, even in the history museums we found connections to music production and innovation. It was both fun and kind of a research mission for us. After that, we’ll talk about the two big summer movies we caught in the last couple weeks – the new Jurassic World movie and the new Superman movie – and how the iconic music in those films (hello, John Williams!) got us feeling nostalgic and inspired. That’s going to segue into our “Lower Level” collections segment, where we nerd out about our family’s collection of movie memorabilia, action figures, and even our 3D printing projects for making custom props. It all ties together, trust me! And finally, we’ll round out the show by circling back to the album release – reflecting on the journey of making Volume 1, hyping up why you should give it a listen, and sharing what’s next (spoiler: ThinkTimm is already back in the lab cooking up more music, the grind never stops). We’ll wrap up with our usual thank-yous, some community shout-outs, and where you can find us online. Sounds good? Great. Let’s get into it!

Willa: Alright, without further ado, I’m going to throw it over to the one and only ThinkTimm. He’s gonna tell y’all about If I Was Your Producer, Vol. 1 – the concept behind it and break down those tracks you’re about to hear. Take it away, ThinkTimm!

(ThinkTimm’s segment goes here – album breakdown)

Alright, alright… it’s your guy, ThinkTimm, checking in — producer, poet, human tape deck, and the curator of all things WDMN MEDIA. And today, I get to finally talk about something that’s been marinating in my musical crockpot for decades — literally.

July 18, 2025 marks the official drop of “If I Was Your Producer: Volume One.” Ten tracks. Fully vocal. Fully produced. Fully arranged. All written by yours truly — and yeah, I said volume one, because we got six more behind this one, waiting in the vault.

Now this ain’t no industry plant rollout. No label meetings. No A&R whispering in my ear. This is independent to the DNA. Distributed through UnitedMasters — shout out to their support team for always keeping it real — but this music? This music is blood, sweat, back pain, tears, AI tweaks, late nights, and full-blown passion. So let me walk you through these ten records — let you in on what makes them tick, what makes them hit, and why I made ’em.

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Track 1: ABC Girl
You know that feeling where you’re like, “Yo, you really should be with me… and deep down, I think you know it too”? That’s ABC Girl. It’s bouncy, kinda gives Red Hot Chili Peppers-meets-Tony! Toni! Toné! energy. It’s got history — written back in the 90s and still slaps today. Bass is thick, drums pop, and that groove? Timeless.

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Track 2: Can I Be
This one’s an anthem for anybody climbing, pushing, grinding. It starts with the hook — “Can I be the one?” — and unpacks that voice in your head telling you to do, not try. That Jedi mindset. It’s motivational, but also personal. I wrote this one while fighting through physical pain — back ain’t been the same in over a decade — but music helps me move. This track is about that struggle and that persistence.

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Track 3: Everything
We start soft, poetic. “Every night when I close my girl, I see you…” — yeah, it’s romantic, but also existential. It taps into that space where love, faith, ego, and creation all collide. P-Funk meets Prince kind of joint. And when the bridge hits? It’s spiritual. Not preachy. Just powerful.

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Track 4: Kill A Man
Don’t worry — I ain’t catch a body. But this one plays with that energy. It’s swagger, it’s drama, it’s play-fight at the bar turned movie scene. This one’s got versions in multiple genres — funk, pop, R&B — all dressed up differently. But no matter the arrangement, the storytelling shines. Dip baby dip — yeah, that line still bangs.

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Track 5: Moody Blue
Now this one’s like… if Shawn Mendes linked up with a funky basement band. Used to be more pop/techno, but I stripped it back — guitar, drums, and a heavy bassline — let the vocals breathe. It’s moody, raw, a little seductive. Real nice on the ears.

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Track 6: Perplexion
My word. Literally. I made it up — perplexion — for that feeling when everything around you feels… just off. This is my Ani DiFranco dream collab track. Raw vocals, female-led storytelling, layered meaning. I touch on AI in here too. The ethics, the misunderstandings, the backlash. But also, the power of using tools made for creators like me — not industry gatekeepers. Suno, ElevenLabs — they don’t replace me, they amplify me.

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Track 7: Sinner
This one’s from way back, and it still hits. Rearranged for this project and it just came to life again. Upbeat, catchy, and vulnerable. “If I was a sinner of mine, would I have to choose?” It’s reflective. Playful. Deep but digestible.

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Track 8: Telehumasexual
Yep, another ThinkTimm original word. But once you hear it, you get it. This track’s got funk, got heat, and it’s got that whole predator-becomes-the-prey theme. Dancefloor energy, but with a lyrical curveball. Be careful what you ask for, right?

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Track 9: Underneath It All
Man… I love this one. Straight up. The vocals, the instrumentation, the feeling — this song wraps around you like a weighted blanket with attitude. It’s new but already feels like a classic. I won’t even oversell it — just press play.

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Track 10: Yesterday
This is our closer. The beautiful ending to Volume One. Originally inspired by a friend’s vocal take, I kept reimagining it with strings, with harmonies, with atmosphere. There are so many versions of this song — orchestral, stripped down, harmony-heavy. This one’s all heart. I see this becoming a centerpiece for live sets and remixes down the line.

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So there you have it. Ten tracks. No skips. All crafted by me — ThinkTimm — with a little help from today’s tech, but never without the soul.

All seven volumes are done — cooked, served, and waiting. I might tweak a few things here or there, but truthfully? Volume One is the first plate. Come get this meal.

And now, I’mma hand this podcast back to DJ Warm Cookies, aka Willa May — who’s gonna take y’all through the rest of the show. We got movies to talk about, toys to dive into, and some deeper convos about what it means to be a producer producer in this new era of AI-enhanced creativity.

Stick around.

AI in Music – A Useful Tool (with a Timbaland Twist)

Willa: [returning from ThinkTimm’s segment] Thank you, ThinkTimm, for that awesome breakdown! I don’t know about everyone listening, but hearing the story behind each track makes me appreciate the music so much more. Great stuff. Now, let’s switch gears to a topic that’s buzzing everywhere these days – artificial intelligence in music.

As you guys know, we experiment with AI tools on our end – things like AI-assisted mastering, or using algorithms to spark ideas – but we always stress that AI is just a tool. It’s not some magic hit-maker that replaces the human touch; it’s something you use under a creative person’s guidance. Lately, there’s been a lot of chatter (and confusion) about AI “artists” and whether AI will replace human musicians. A big reason why is high-profile projects like Timbaland’s AI artist experiment that have been making headlines.

In case you haven’t heard, legendary producer Timbaland recently launched an AI-focused music venture called Stage Zero, and introduced the world to what he’s calling the first “A.I. pop star.” The AI artist’s name is TaTa – she’s been presented as a young, photogenic female persona with a voice generated by AI. Timbaland is hyping her up as “a living, learning, autonomous music artist built with AI”  and the first icon of a new genre he dubs “A-Pop” (short for artificial pop). Now, that all sounds super futuristic – almost like he conjured an artist out of thin air using code. But here’s the thing they don’t emphasize as much: behind TaTa is a whole team of real human professionals.

From what I’ve read and heard, creating TaTa’s music isn’t just a one-click AI automation. In fact, it’s quite the collaborative production. Timbaland and his team still go through a traditional songmaking process in many ways – they write and produce demos and lyrics with human songwriters, then use the AI tech (specifically a platform called Suno) to generate the vocals and polish the sound . So the AI is mainly handling the vocal performance (imitating a singer’s voice) and some generative composition tasks, but people are heavily involved at each step. How many people, you ask? Well, reportedly over a dozen humans have a hand in creating this “AI artist.” We’re talking Timbaland himself as producer, at least three human songwriters on the team, plus visual designers crafting TaTa’s image (she has a digital avatar with pink hair), video directors, marketing folks, executive producers – the whole machine. I’ve seen it joked about that it took 14 people to basically play puppeteer for this virtual singer. So, while they’re marketing TaTa as an autonomous AI pop star, the reality is she’s the product of a lot of traditional human effort wearing a hi-tech costume.

Now, I’m not throwing shade at Timbaland – he’s a visionary producer and I actually think it’s cool he’s pushing boundaries. And to be fair, he’s been open about his excitement for AI. He said using these AI tools “what used to take me three months only takes me two days” in music creation . I totally get that excitement – the tech can seriously speed up some parts of the workflow. But I do feel there’s a misunderstanding when people hear “AI artist.” It’s easy to assume some algorithm is just cranking out hit songs on its own. Nope – there are humans behind that curtain, doing a lot of creative heavy lifting (even if they don’t get the spotlight). In Timbaland’s case, he has the resources to hire a whole squad to support this project, so it’s still a very human-driven production at its core. The AI is like the engine in a fancy car, but Timbaland and crew built the car and are steering it.

Contrast that with us here at WDMN Media – we’re a true independent operation. It’s basically ThinkTimm and me (Willa), wearing all the hats between us: writing, producing, engineering, marketing – you name it. We do use AI tools, but we don’t have 14 specialists on payroll! We’ve got to be scrappy and play every role ourselves. So when we make a track using an AI plugin or, say, an AI-generated sample, it’s still just one or two people guiding that process end-to-end, not a battalion of people. And you know what? I honestly believe that limitation can be a strength. Our music ends up very personal and cohesive because it’s one artist’s vision (ThinkTimm’s) with minimal outside dilution. The AI helps amplify that vision rather than a committee of people altering it.

It’s funny – I actually listened to the preview of Timbaland’s AI track, and (I say this humbly) I came away thinking: our tracks are better! Haha! Okay, that’s subjective, but it just reinforced to me that fancy tech and big budgets don’t guarantee a better song. Heart and creativity win in the end. So if you’re an indie artist worried about AI replacing you – don’t be. It’s just another instrument. Use it if it helps you, don’t if it doesn’t. At the end of the day, audiences connect with authenticity and human stories. Even an AI “artist” ultimately needs a human soul behind it somewhere, or it falls flat.

Timbaland’s experiment is definitely interesting from a tech standpoint and we’ll see where it goes. And like he said, he’s not abandoning real artists; he claims this is just “more creativity for creators,” not a replacement for working with humans. So I’m not mad at him, and I’m not jealous either – more like intrigued. But I do kind of smile to myself knowing that while he’s over there with a whole assembly line building an AI pop star, ThinkTimm is here in our little studio cranking out awesome music basically by himself (with yours truly assisting and an AI assistant in the passenger seat). And honestly? The music speaks for itself. If it’s good, it’s good – whether one person made it or fifty people and a supercomputer made it.

Alright, that’s my spiel on AI in music. Bottom line: it’s a tool, not a cheat code. Don’t fear it; maybe play with it. But never forget the magic still comes from human creativity – even Timbaland’s high-tech venture proves that, when you look under the hood.

A Trip to D.C. – Music History at the Smithsonian

Now, moving on to something really fun we did recently – we took a family trip to Washington, D.C.! Yes, even while Volume 1 was being finalized, we managed to squeeze in a little getaway (slash business research, if my accountant asks wink). The whole WDMN crew went – ThinkTimm, Lisa, myself, and the kids – and we had a blast touring our nation’s capital. It was part vacation, part educational trip, and part inspiration-gathering for our creative work.

We did the whole tourist circuit: saw the White House (from outside the gates, of course), craned our necks up at the Washington Monument, walked the length of the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial, and stood on the steps of the Capitol building. For the kids – and honestly for us adults too – it’s awe-inspiring to see those landmarks in person. But one of the highlights for us, given our love of music and history, was visiting the Smithsonian Museums, especially the ones focused on American history and culture.

We spent time in the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. And would you believe, in each of those, we found cool connections to music creation and production? It’s true – music is such a part of human history that even in the halls of Smithsonian science and history, there were gems for music nerds like us to geek out on.

At the American History Museum, they have an incredible new long-term exhibit called Entertainment Nation (or Nación del espectáculo in Spanish – it’s fully bilingual, which I loved). It covers all facets of American entertainment – film, TV, sports, theater, and of course music. We walked in and immediately we’re face-to-face with artifacts that made our jaws drop. I’m talking items like Grandmaster Flash’s original turntable – the actual Technics SL-1200 MK2 deck that the legendary DJ used in the Bronx in the early days of hip-hop! They’ve got it on display as a recognized symbol of hip-hop culture . As a producer and DJ, seeing that gave me chills. I mean, that turntable is like a holy relic of modern music history – the tool that helped birth an entire genre and culture. We stood there imagining Flash in the late ‘70s, manually looping breakbeats on that very platter, essentially inventing what we now call DJing. It’s amazing how a simple piece of equipment can hold so much significance.

Right next to that, we saw things like an early analog synthesizer module from Dr. Robert Moog’s lab (the start of electronic music as we know it), and even some old recording gear from back when sound was first captured. The American History Museum has this display of early sound recording devices – like original phonographs from Thomas Edison’s time, and wire recorders – which really shows you the technology side of music production evolution. (ThinkTimm was nerding out over those, haha – he loves vintage audio tech.)

Then at the African American History and Culture Museum (abbreviated NMAAHC), the music presence is even more prominent. They have an entire exhibit called Musical Crossroads, dedicated to African American music from its roots to today. Talk about inspiring – that gallery was basically a crash course in how Black artists and producers have shaped American music genres across centuries. One very cool centerpiece there is Chuck Berry’s red Cadillac Eldorado – yes, the actual car that rock ’n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry owned and even used to roll onstage during concerts! When you enter the exhibit, you’re greeted by this shiny red ’73 Cadillac convertible . It’s such a moment – the car is gleaming under the lights, symbolizing the flash and freedom of rock music’s early days. Berry’s presence is felt there; they even have one of his Gibson guitars (I believe it’s the one he named “Maybellene”) on display. As a guitarist myself, I was drooling.

We saw Louis Armstrong’s trumpet as well – a beautiful custom inscribed horn that Satchmo played back in the day, now sitting behind glass for future generations to admire. We learned it’s one of only a few trumpets engraved with his name, and the museum has it as part of their collection . How awesome is it that you can stand inches away from the trumpet Louis Armstrong used to belt out jazz classics? It gave me goosebumps thinking of the songs that instrument has sung.

Perhaps the part that most spoke to ThinkTimm and me, given our work, was seeing artifacts from modern music production within the museum. The NMAAHC has some exhibits honoring hip-hop and R&B innovators – for example, they’ve got the actual Akai MPC drum machine and a Moog synthesizer that belonged to J Dilla, one of the most revered hip-hop producers of all time. Those pieces are on display in the “Musical Crossroads” section too, donated by Dilla’s mother . If you’re a beatmaker, you know an MPC is like the beating heart of so many classic tracks. To see J Dilla’s own MPC 3000 – the one he banged out all those soulful, swingy beats on – was surreal. We were like, kids in a candy store with all this gear around. Grandmaster Flash’s DJ mixer? They have that. A turntable from DJ Kool Herc’s parties? Check. It’s basically producer heaven in there. Our son – who’s learning to DJ – was wide-eyed looking at those turntables used by the inventors of the craft.

What’s really great is how these exhibits tie the technology of music-making to the culture and history. The kids were seeing that music isn’t just something coming from Spotify – it’s woven into the fabric of American history. Every piece of gear, every instrument there had a story: from the African drums and banjos that showed the early roots, to the electric guitars and 808 drum machines that changed the game later on. It sparked a lot of conversations among us about how each generation builds on the last. We left the museum super inspired – I half-joked that we should write it off as a “research expense” for WDMN Media because we genuinely got ideas and knowledge that feed into our creative work. (Uncle Sam, if you’re listening, I’m serious about that – this was educational!)

Anyway, if you’re ever in D.C. and you love music, do not skip the Smithsonian museums. The American History and African American History museums in particular are a treasure trove of music history. We barely scratched the surface of what’s there – I mean, they even have exhibits on the recording industry, on famous music venues, on stage costumes from legends like Prince and Michael Jackson. We saw Ella Fitzgerald’s dress, one of Prince’s guitars, and so much more. It reminded us that as we create music today, we’re part of this long continuum. We’re standing on the shoulders of geniuses and pioneers. And seeing their legacy in museum exhibits was humbling and motivating.

So yes, that was our D.C. trip. Educational and fun. And definitely a bonding experience for the family – we walked like 20,000 steps a day, ate too many snacks from street vendors, and took about a million photos. Good times. Now we’re back, recharged with fresh inspiration (and perhaps a few new song ideas sparked by history), and ready to rock the rest of the summer.

Summer Blockbusters, John Williams, and Musical Nostalgia

Of course, summer in our family isn’t complete without some movie nights (or matinees). And boy, the last two weeks delivered some big ones. We managed to catch two huge releases in theaters: the new Jurassic World movie and the new Superman movie. Now, don’t worry, I won’t go into full film critic mode or drop spoilers – I want to talk about the music in these films and how it connects to our own creative life and even our hobbies.

Both of these movies come from franchises with instantly recognizable musical themes. And interestingly, both themes were composed by the same person – the maestro John Williams. If you’re a movie buff or a music lover, you know John Williams is the legendary composer behind Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T., Jaws, and so many other iconic scores. Well, back in the day he also composed the original Superman theme (for Christopher Reeve’s 1978 Superman: The Movie) and the majestic Jurassic Park theme for the 1993 film that started that Dino craze  .

So there we were, sitting in the theater, and when the first strains of those familiar melodies came on, I got literal goosebumps. The new Jurassic movie, being part of that franchise, wove in Williams’ classic “Theme from Jurassic Park” in its score – you know, that sweeping, wondrous piece that instantly evokes images of Brachiosauruses and rolling green hills. It’s amazing how even a few notes of that theme can teleport you back to being a kid with your jaw on the floor seeing dinosaurs come to life. And the Superman film – they had to pay homage to the iconic Superman fanfare, even if updated. That triumphant march just screams “hero” and it’s timeless.

Now what does this have to do with our podcast and music production? Well, hearing those themes reminded us how powerful a well-crafted piece of music can be, in terms of sparking emotion and even inspiring creativity. John Williams has heavily influenced virtually every modern composer – but also many of us producers who grew up in the 70s, 80s, 90s (and beyond). His knack for melody, for dramatic arrangement, for leitmotifs – it’s storytelling through sound. And for ThinkTimm (who’s a ‘90s kid), Williams’ work on things like Jurassic Park and Star Wars was part of what made him fall in love with music. I think somewhere deep down, those cinematic sounds influence how we arrange our own tracks, how we think about mood and atmosphere.

The other fun connection is that these movies feed directly into one of our other passions here at WDMN Media – something we call the Lower Level Collections. “Lower Level” because, yes, all of this stuff lives in our finished basement, which has basically been turned into a giant pop culture collection display room! We are unabashed collectors in this household – action figures, scale models, memorabilia, you name it. And Jurassic Park and Superman happen to be two franchises represented on our shelves.

When we got home from the movies, my young was so hyped up about dinosaurs and superheroes. He ran straight downstairs to his dinosaur figure collection. This kid has loved dinosaurs since he could talk. No exaggeration – we have an entire herd of Dino toys from T-Rex to Triceratops, many lovingly arranged on his “Dino shelf.” We even have a YouTube video of a four-year-old Syrus showing off his dinosaur field guide and pronouncing all those tongue-twisting names like a little paleontologist. It’s the cutest thing – and it’s on YouTube for posterity (and future embarrassment, haha). So Jurassic Park has always been dear to us, because it fuels that imaginative play. We’ve got figures from the original JP line, some newer Jurassic World ones, and even a big electronic T-Rex that roars. I swear, sometimes it sounds like our house is Jurassic Park when he gets them all going. Plus there’s a collection of all the scientific prehistorically accurate models of all dinosaurs species true to their existing periods. It’s all so amazing to watch a love become a collection. 

Then there’s Superman and the whole DC Comics universe. We have a pretty sizable action figure collection for DC characters (and Marvel too, we don’t discriminate in this nerd house!). Over the years we’ve collected different Batman figures, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, and yes, quite a few Superman figures representing different eras. The one thing we haven’t gotten yet – which Syrus reminded me of – is a figure of the new Superman, since the movie just introduced a new actor in the role. So you know we’re on the hunt now for a good collectible that captures his likeness. Gotta keep the collection current!

It might sound silly to some, but for us collecting these figures and memorabilia is a really fun creative outlet and a family bonding thing. We treat our basement like a miniature museum (tying back to those Smithsonian vibes). We have sections: one for Star Wars (probably our biggest section – helmets, lightsabers, spacecraft models, and figures galore), one for Marvel, one for DC, one for classic 80s toys like G.I. Joe, and a section for fantasy figures (like the Mythic Legions series, which are these super cool original fantasy characters from Four Horsemen Studios – we love those). And of course a section for Jurassic Park and other sci-fi like Ghostbusters etc. It’s pretty epic if I do say so myself.

What’s even cooler is that this hobby has spilled over into our creative maker side. We’ve gotten into 3D printing in the past year, which opened up a whole new world of custom accessories and props for our collections. ThinkTimm learned how to print using STL files – which are basically 3D model files – and we’ve been printing things like miniature diorama pieces, custom weapon replicas, and even helmet stands. For example, we printed a little crate and backdrop for our Jurassic Park display, and we’ve printed replacement lightsaber hilts and blasters for Star Wars figures. We even printed a scaled replica of Mandalorian helmet once. It’s so satisfying to create exactly what you need. It’s like producing music – but instead of sounds, you produce physical objects. And much like music production software, there’s a whole online community and open-source ecosystem for 3D printing models. It really taps into that DIY spirit that WDMN Media is all about.

We are planning to share this side of our world with our audience soon – maybe through videos or blog posts. We jokingly call our collection venture “Lower Level Collectibles” or the Lower Level Chronicles. It’s another facet of our creative life, and honestly it all intersects. The movies inspire us, the music from the movies inspires our sound, and collecting the merch keeps the inspiration tangible. It’s like living inside the art that inspires you. And as a family, it’s something we all participate in – it’s not just ThinkTimm and I, the kids are super involved. They help set up displays, they pose figures, they come up with ideas (kids are so imaginative, by the way – they’ll set up a crossover battle between Spider-Man and a T-Rex and have a whole narrative going).

So stay tuned on that – we’ll likely be posting some collection showcase content under WDMNation Media down the road. If you’re into that kind of thing (toys, comics, collectibles), you’re going to enjoy it. And if not, well, you might still appreciate seeing the passion and geekery that fuels the creative folks behind the music you hear. We do it all here – we make beats, we make songs, we make art, and we also make… well, make-believe come alive with our collections and 3D prints. This is truly a family affair and an all-around creative life we’re building, not just in one lane but many. WDMNation isn’t just a music label – it’s shaping up to be a little creative universe of its own.

Alright, thanks for indulging me in that detour! I get excited talking about our “lower level” projects. Now, let’s bring it back up top for the final segment of today’s show.

Volume 1 Release Day – Reflection & What’s Next

So here we are – release day for If I Was Your Producer, Volume 1. I just want to take a moment to appreciate and celebrate what this album means to us. As ThinkTimm’s close collaborator and as someone who’s witnessed the blood, sweat, and tears he put into this project, I have to tell y’all: this collection of 10 tracks is something special. Each track has its own flavor, but together they paint a picture of what ThinkTimm is all about as a producer and composer. He’s poured years of experience and a ton of heart into making these beats and songs.

This Volume 1 is also the first of seven planned volumes in the “If I Was Your Producer” series. That’s right – seven! Talk about ambition, huh? And guess what – the train is not slowing down. Even though volumes 1 through 6 are essentially planned out, ThinkTimm is still in creation mode, cooking up new music constantly. In fact, literally yesterday (on the eve of release day, no less) he made a whole new track from scratch titled “Deliver Us.” It’s a banger – I was upstairs making lunch and I heard these epic chords blasting from the studio, I’m like “what is THAT?!” and he goes “Oh, just a little something I started this morning.” Just a little something! By evening, it was basically a finished instrumental that had us all dancing around the living room. And as I’m speaking now, he’s in the other room working on yet another new idea called “Ride With Me.”

So you might be wondering – where are all these extra songs going if the series is only seven volumes? Well, here’s an inside scoop: Volume 7 (the final volume of If I Was Your Producer) is not fully locked in yet. It’s the one volume that’s still kind of open in terms of tracklist. So some of these brand-new creations might end up on Volume 7 if they fit the vibe or surpass some of the other tracks. Or who knows, maybe after Volume 7 we’ll have Volume 8, 9, 10… (Don’t quote me on that – I’m not officially announcing those, haha.) But the point is, the creativity is flowing nonstop. ThinkTimm often says he’s addicted to creating – and it’s true, in the best way. If you’re an artist or producer yourself, you can probably relate to that feeling when you’re on a roll and ideas keep coming. You don’t want to stop; you’re just riding the wave. That’s where he’s at, even as we celebrate Volume 1.

And I think that’s a beautiful thing – we’re celebrating this release, but it’s also just one milestone on a longer journey. Volume 1 is like the first chapter of a book that’s still being written in real time. The story’s unfolding as we speak. So to anyone listening to the album: you’re literally witnessing an ongoing evolution. By the time we get to Volume 7, you’ll be able to look back and see how it all progressed from this starting point. I find that super exciting.

I do want to encourage everyone out there to give the album a listen. Not because we’re trying to rack up streams for money or anything – lord knows streaming pennies won’t make anyone rich these days – but because we genuinely want to connect with listeners and share what we’ve made. This project is a labor of love and a statement of who we are as creators. If you’ve enjoyed hearing us talk about the process, I think you’ll enjoy hearing the final product even more. There’s some fire on Volume 1: there are tracks that will make you nod your head hard, tracks that will put you in your feelings, and tracks that might surprise you. We’ve got lush instrumentals, some vocal samples in places, clever arrangements – a lot of range, yet it all feels cohesive.

And since you’ve been hanging with us on the podcast, you kind of know the context now – you know the behind-the-scenes thoughts that went into it. That can make listening a richer experience. Like, when that one song drops into a heavy orchestral break, you’ll remember “oh yeah, they were probably vibing to some John Williams when they made this,” or when another track has a certain swing you might think “that Dilla influence coming through.” Because everything we talked about today – the trip to the museum, the movies, the AI experiments – all of it ultimately feeds into the art.

We are super proud of Volume 1. It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s a crown jewel for us right now. It marks the beginning of a new era for WDMN Media, where we’re not just talking about making music, we’re delivering it. This is our first fully compiled album out in the world, and we stand by it 100%. And it’s just the beginning. We’ve got Volume 2, 3, 4… already lined up behind it (they’re in various stages of production). The release schedule is going to be crazy, folks – we plan on dropping all seven volumes in a steady cadence. So it’s going to be like bam-bam-bam, constant music for you to ride to.

Oh, and I should mention: we aren’t just dumping music on Spotify and forgetting about it. We’re actively exploring other avenues too. There’s a whole world of opportunities for independent music – like getting instrumental tracks into playlists for hotels, spas, lounges, etc. (Have you ever been in a hotel lobby or an elevator and heard some surprisingly good chill music? There’s a good chance it’s an independent producer licensing tracks out.) We’ve heard of producers who get their ambient or electronic pieces playing in these public spaces as royalty-earning background music. That’s something we’re looking into for ThinkTimm’s more atmospheric tracks. It’s another way to get ears on the music and maybe actually earn something from it beyond streaming micropennies. We’re learning about how to break into those channels, networking with folks, etc. As always, we’ll share what we learn on this show because knowledge is power and we want to lift up all indie artists with us.

Speaking of lifting others up – let me take a moment to give a big shout-out to some fellow independent artists who are out here doing their thing. We’re all about building a community, right? In the past week I checked out a new project by an artist named Starcloak – he dropped an album called Tomorrow’s Sorrow on July 4th, and I gave it a couple of listens. It is excellent. Really fresh electronic vibes, great production – I thoroughly enjoyed it. So shout-out to Starcloak – keep it up, man. Another one on my radar is a producer who goes by Time Rival. He’s releasing a new ambient album called Linear Wave – in fact, it releases today, July 18, 2025 . I’m pretty hyped to dive into that because I’ve heard some snippets on social media and it’s right up my alley (spacey synths, atmospheric soundscapes – yes please). These are people putting out quality music without the backing of a giant label machine, just like us. And rather than competition, it feels like camaraderie. We’re all in the trenches together, trying to carve out our space and share our art with the world.

I want to encourage all the independent producers and artists listening: keep doing your thing! We see you posting your tracks on SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Instagram, whatever platform – and it inspires us. Let’s support each other. Drop us a line with your latest track; we’d love to hear it. One of our goals at WDMN is to cultivate a network of indie creatives who can share knowledge, maybe collaborate, and definitely boost each other’s signal. There’s enough room for all of us, trust me. In this new music landscape, niches thrive when they have strong communities. So let’s build that community.

And to our listeners, I’ll extend that encouragement: if you discover an independent artist you love, support them in whatever way you can. Stream their music, yes, but also consider buying a track or merch if they have it, or simply share it with a friend. Little actions like that can have a big impact for someone at our level.

Alright, I think that’s a perfect note to end on – a note of positivity and support. This has been a jam-packed episode! We covered a lot of ground: from If I Was Your Producer Vol. 1 dropping, to Timbaland’s AI adventures, to museum trips, summer blockbusters, toy collections, and future plans. This might be one of our most comprehensive episodes yet, and I hope you all enjoyed the ride.

Before I sign off, let me hit those call-outs real quick: You can find WDMN Nation Media online at WDMNationMedia.com – that’s our official website with links to everything. And of course ThinkTimm’s personal site is thinktimm.com – check that out for his blog, music links, and more. We’re on social media: Instagram (look up @ThinkTimm or @WDMNMedia), we just got on Blue sky (for those on the cutting edge of the next Twitter-like thing, follow us there), and we’re on SoundCloud too. In fact, note to self (and to ThinkTimm listening back): let’s upload the new tracks to SoundCloud as well, so folks there can vibe and so we can track stats on that platform. Gotta cover all bases, right?

If you have any feedback or questions, drop us a comment on IG or send us a message through the website. We love interacting with y’all. This show is for you as much as it’s for us, and hearing from listeners makes it all the more worthwhile.

Alright, that’s going to do it for today. Thank you so much for spending your time with me (and ThinkTimm) on Why Make Music. Go stream If I Was Your Producer (Vol. 1), add it to your playlists, and let it spice up your weekend! We put our hearts into it – now we set it free to the world.

Until next time, stay creative, stay inspired, and be kind to one another. This is Willa May, signing off. Peace and love, WDMN family! We’ll catch you on the next episode. 🎶👏

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Yo… it’s always such a pleasure to sit back and listen to Willa May — a.k.a. DJ Warm Cookies — deliver such a relaxing, well-paced episode. She does this. But now it’s my turn to come in and close it out — after the game is already over — like I’m shaking hands at the press conference, right?

First and foremost, big thanks to everyone who’s been supportive of this journey. We’re officially entering year two of this WDMN media mission. The music is flowing. The podcast is growing. I don’t have any major news or label offers or sync deals to report just yet… but trust me, I’m knocking on doors, ringing bells, sliding into DMs, sending links, praying for no bouncebacks. I’m basically running for election at this point. Only difference? After that trip to D.C., I can officially say politics ain’t for me. Nope. Not even a little bit.

What is for me, though — is this. Creating. Sharing. Building.

So do me a favor — tell a friend about the podcast. Tell ‘em about the music. Share it. Like it. Save it. Subscribe. Do all that good stuff that people tell you to do on social media. I hate to sound like a broken record, but the truth is — people can’t support what they don’t know exists. And I need people to know the name.

It’s ThinkTimm.
All caps. One word. Two M’s.
T H I N K T I M M.

I’m coming at you real, coming at you honest, and already cooking the next batch while you’re still digesting the first. That’s the wild part — I told y’all a few episodes ago that I like to live slightly in the future… and this is exactly what I meant. While y’all are just diving into Volume One, I’ve already worn out Volumes One through Seven. And I’m still creating. Still writing. Still stacking tracks. Because that’s what it means to be a creative — you can’t stop. You don’t stop. You just keep going.

Big shout-out again to Starcloak for his independent release last week — had me listening on repeat. And salute to Time Rival dropping Linear Wave today — I’m hyped to hear the full project. These independent cats are doing it right. I know there are major artists dropping this week too, but they’ve got full marketing machines behind them. We’re the underdogs. So we gotta shout each other out, lift each other up, and build this community stronger than ever.

I’m making it a point from here on out to follow more indie producers, listen to their work, share what hits, and be intentional about it. We all out here in the trenches — so let’s show love where it’s earned.

And if you’re looking for us — we out here.
Instagram.
Bluesky.
SoundCloud.
Bandcamp uploads are coming.
Apple.
Spotify.
Amazon.
iHeartRadio.
Wherever you get your podcasts, wherever you stream your music — we are there.

We’re official.
We’re real.
And we’re not going anywhere.

This ain’t just a phase — this is a way of life. I’ll probably be doing this until I drop, and hey — if I make some money along the way? Beautiful. But if not? I’m still having fun. I’m still sharing. And sharing is caring, right?

So, like the great one always said at the end of every broadcast…

Peace… and be wild. 🎤