My Dream Job

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Hola from Spain! I’ve been settling into my new home in Cómpeta for the past two weeks. I’ve actually been ill for most of the week, but honestly, it’s been the least miserable period of sickness I’ve ever had — the sun, the heat, and the Spanish vibe are making up for it. You can see plenty of shameless photos on my Instagram (and there will be many more to come). My music room is currently decorated like a nursery 😕 and my makeup is already two shades darker. I may identify as a goth, but the sun loves me — so I’m embracing it.

Meanwhile, Mish, Anna, and Garry have been laying down drums and guitars for the new Crimson Veil record. And in other exciting news — the first single from our HVIRESS album drops Friday 22nd August. It’s called I Am the Snake Queen and comes with a visualiser video. We’re thrilled to be working with LA-based label Give/Take Life on this release.

Before we get into the main topic, a quick favour: if you enjoy the podcast, please leave us a 5★ rating and a comment. If something we’ve said has helped you, those comments are the ones that really help us in the algorithms and bring new listeners to the show. Thank you!

This Week’s Topic: My Dream Job

This week we’re talking about the transition from having music as a dream to making it a functioning, sustainable career — and running it like a small business.

First, it’s worth saying: music as a full-time career isn’t for everyone. For some, keeping music as a passion rather than a job works better. That might work for you and it's something I've considered myself many times!

My Turning Point

For me, the moment music became “the only option” was when I was about nine. I’d become a bit lazy with my practice and got rejected from a quartet I wanted to join, which was a total wake-up call. My mum was crying, and I realised: I either take this seriously or not at all. From then on, music became my main focus.

I’ve had the usual scattering of day jobs — pubs, cafes, teaching assistant work — but both Mish and I struggled with the structure of regular jobs. She quit early on to do music full-time, and while it’s daunting to jump into something as financially uncertain as this, it forces you to commit. For me, the thought that keeps me going is: time is your most precious commodity — you can’t get it back.

The “Dream” Stage

When we first started our bands, we thought fame was months away — that kind of naïve optimism is pretty common (and, honestly, helpful) for new artists. My edge in those early days was being a classical violinist in a rock band, with plenty of punk-rock attitude. Looking back, my voice needed work, but I blamed my lack of progress on bad luck or missing connections.

Here’s the obvious but important truth: the better you are, the more people will want to listen. If you want fans, you need a musically compelling live show. That’s the foundation.

Turning Your Band Into a Business

In our Money Money Money episode, we talked about income streams for musicians. Mish’s advice: in the early days, try as many as possible to see what works for you — merch, vinyl, Patreon, YouTube, whatever brings you joy and money.

On social media, we’ve found that forcing content rarely works. A better approach is to film the natural, day-to-day tasks you already do as a musician. Mish might share a music theory tip, Anna might post a drum exercise — this feels authentic and tends to land better than staged reels.

The Importance of a Team

The best way to sustain music as a job? Build a team. Delegation is essential, especially if you’re not naturally consistent. We’re lucky to have Simon, our manager, who handles admin and socials; Mish, who carries a lot of my workload; Jim, our creative director; and Andy, the most reliable band member you could ask for.

In the old days, musicians made money from recordings. Now it’s more about finding people who buy into your vision long-term — and rewarding them when success comes.

Mish’s advice: never be afraid to ask for help, and invest in yourself. Need a career-boosting music video? Find a way to fund it — even if it means using a credit card.

Burnout is common in music, which is another reason a strong team matters. Personally, I lean on my partner Dara financially, which gives me more freedom in career decisions.

Advice to Our Younger Selves

Mish: I wish I’d had a musical peer slightly ahead of me who supported me. I got burned a lot and thought, maybe it’s me. Find your tribe. Stick together. Support each other. Have people you trust who can give you constructive criticism you’ll actually listen to.

Hana: I wish I’d trusted myself more. Early on, I let (mostly male) figures convince me I couldn’t succeed without them. More confidence would have sped up my growth and attracted better people.

Final Thought

If you treat your dream like a business, it will still feel like a dream. Keep investing in yourself — the returns will come in ways you never expected.

Question of the Week

What’s your favourite part of being a musician?

• Mish: Being on stage. I feel like my higher self when I’m performing.

• Hana: The first stage of writing a song — pure magic, like giving birth to a child.

The Weekly Whinge

• Mish: My whinge is… me! In a social, oestrogen-fuelled mood, I make too many plans — then regret them when my energy dips.

  
  

• Hana: Vegan shoes! Too many are only accidentally vegan because they’re cheap. I want vegan leather that’s not ugly, overpriced, or poor quality.

  
  

That's it for this week. Don’t forget to rate, comment, and share the podcast. See you next time!