Dave Hill Jr. Newsletter December 2024
As the year wraps up, I’m reflecting on both the wins and lessons of 2024. While I didn’t meet every goal, I’ve created and grown in ways that make me proud. This newsletter is packed with two months of updates, from my latest single Irony Sings to airplay highlights, upcoming workshops, and insights on embracing creativity—imperfections and all.
🎶 Music Updates
New single: Irony Sings is out now!
Airplay: My tracks Angry Eyes and Ticket to Ride have been featured on KBCS 91.3 FM and other stations!
Bandcamp launch: Check out my latest music and exclusive content here.
✨ Coaching Updates
Looking to tackle self-doubt and ignite your creativity in 2025? Sign up for Season 3 of Doubters Anonymous starting this January.
📖 Latest Blog Highlights
Ride the Lightning: Breakthroughs often come fast—don’t let their speed make you question their value.
It’s Not About the Song: Writing songs is transformational, even if they’re never released.
🎤 Upcoming Event: NAMM 2025
Join me for my free workshop, Overcoming Self-Doubt: Creative Confidence for College Students and Emerging Artists, at NAMM 2025 on January 24th.
Are You Too Smart for Your Own Good? Try Unlearning to Find Your New Path
Sometimes being 'too smart' can limit creativity. Unlearning helps us strip away old habits, letting curiosity guide the process and open up new creative pathways. In music and songwriting, breaking down foundations can lead to fresh inspiration and true artistic freedom.
When Compensation Isn’t Enough: The Hidden Cost of Feeling Unappreciated
As leaders rise in their careers, recognition often shifts from personal praise to compensation alone. Yet, even high-level professionals need to feel seen and appreciated beyond their paycheck. In this post, I explore why genuine acknowledgment matters at every level and share strategies to cultivate a workplace where all contributions are valued.
New Song: "Angry Eyes" by Dave Hill Jr.
Seattle-based songwriter and musician Dave Hill Jr. has released his latest single, Angry Eyes, a deeply personal and raw reflection on navigating emotional conflict. Inspired by a tough night with his son, the song showcases Dave's ability to turn intense feelings into meaningful art. With Angry Eyes, he offers a message of transforming anger into understanding, all set to his unique blend of introspective piano and driving rhythms. Recorded at the iconic London Bridge Studio, the track also marks a reunion with longtime friend and producer Jonathan Plum. Listen to Angry Eyes now on all major streaming platforms!
The Talent Trap: How I Learned to Choose My Development Areas and Be OK with Boring Practice Routines
The Talent Trap: Embracing Boredom for Mastery
We often admire the talent of our favorite artists and athletes, but behind every performance lies hours of slow, repetitive practice. In this post, I share my journey as a songwriter and musician, learning how to love the grind of practice and the power of small, daily improvements. With insights from my mentor Stanton Moore, I explore how going slow and embracing boredom can unlock true mastery. Read on to learn how focusing on 1% progress a day can transform your skills.
Is Jazz Camp the New Las Vegas?🎷
Jazz Camp: The New Las Vegas for Musicians
When people think of jazz camp, they probably don't imagine it’s anything like Las Vegas. But trust me, after spending a week at the Port Townsend Jazz Workshop, I’m convinced they share some serious similarities—minus the neon signs and slot machines, of course.
At jazz camp, just like in Vegas, you gamble a little. You take chances on stage, hitting notes you might not be sure about, and sometimes, you crash and burn. But then, there are those magical moments when it all comes together—the groove locks in, your voice surprises even you, and it feels like you've hit the jackpot.
But the best part? Even when you lose at jazz camp, you win. Every wrong note is a lesson, and no one’s judging—just like that free drink in Vegas, jazz camp is all about keeping the vibes high, no matter the outcome. Plus, you meet some of the most inspiring people, from seasoned pros to those just starting out, all with a passion for music that’s downright contagious.
So, forget the roulette tables—next year, why not roll the dice at jazz camp?
The Compassionate Drummer: Michael Shrieve's 25-Year Journey Creating “Drums of Compassion”
This interview with Michael Shrieve covers Michael's reflections on his 25-year journey creating "Drums of Compassion," the influence of Olatunji, and how it shaped the album. We dive into personal stories and career milestones, including his time with Santana and other iconic musicians. Michael also shares how he overcame self-doubt and the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision. You'll gain insights into his creative process and his valuable advice for aspiring artists.
Doubt Riding Shotgun Audiobook!
Exciting News: "Doubt Riding Shotgun" Audiobook Coming Soon!
I’m thrilled to announce that the audiobook version of "Doubt Riding Shotgun" is officially complete and will be available very soon! Recording and editing this audiobook myself was a labor of love. It was crucial for me to deliver this in my own voice, believing in the power of an authentic, personal touch.
The process was intense, involving countless hours of meticulous editing. I’ve left in a few quirks and jokes to keep it real, but rest assured, I’ve cleaned up 97% of the distractions. This audiobook also includes exclusive bonus content and guided practices.
Stay tuned for the release, and I hope you’ll consider grabbing a copy and leaving a review. If you enjoyed the book, I’m confident you’ll love the audiobook even more.
New Song: The Way You Make Me Pay
Dive into my creative process behind my new song "The Way You Make Me Pay," where a couple wayward guitar strums evolved into a a wild musical journey of love's complexities.
This song, characterized by its dark yet rebellious tones, combines simple melodies with introspective lyrics to challenge the traditional rules of relationships.
Through a blend of acoustic and electronic elements, it invites listeners to reconsider what keeps us bound to others, even in the face of challenges. Join us as we unravel the layers of this compelling track, crafted to resonate with anyone who's ever questioned the conventional norms of love and connection.
New Song ‘Over The Line’
"Over The Line" is the latest in Hill's monthly single releases, where he flexes his storytelling chops across various Americana styles. This particular track channels The Big Lebowski's wandering anti-hero to describe feeling down and out, grasping at redemption to "get back" from crossing too many lines. For fans of the film and gritty Americana tunes alike, it makes for a moody, memorable listen.
THE BEST PRACTICES BOTTLENECK
We often get caught in the "best practices bottleneck" - seeking advice from experts that doesn't apply to our unique business. This leads to analysis paralysis rather than action. The truth is you know yourself best. Instead of following someone else's best practices, just start doing and aim to continuously improve. Meet your audience where they are, build trust in the marketplace, and don't get hung up trying to check every box. Focus on what will drive real growth for your specific business.
Communication Overload: How to Set the Right Response Time Expectations
As a VP of Marketing, I’ve averaged over 100 emails a day and easily sent 30-50. These days, my clients are still using email but have also added Slack, WhatsApp, Text/SMS, and other messaging services. They are also fairly prolific on the major social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.).
But how much communication is enough? How often should we respond, post, broadcast, or interact with our followers and social contacts? Who sets the expectation for how these technologies are used and their expected response time?
The Lost Art of Context Setting
Why is context setting important for effective meetings? Even in a one-to-one conversation, context-setting is vital and often helpful to grounding the conversation and determining the agenda of what needs to be discussed. In an effort to help you have better meetings, here is a quick checklist to set the context and clarify the reason you are meeting: State what is the meeting about. Propose why is it important now and any recent developments. Define what you are trying to accomplish in this meeting. (Hint: the big opportunity — lean in folks! This is important.) Optional: If time allows, you might open the floor to questions before you begin. This can usually be done in less than one minute (with a few more minutes for questions).
Dialing In Your Marketing Mix with the 8 Ps of Markting
Marketing 101 courses typically talk about the “4 Ps” of marketing: Product, Price, Promotion, and Place. While these are still important, I find that using 8 Ps is more nuanced and helpful when planning a product launch or new campaign. These 8 Ps help marketers find a fresh perspective and uncover new opportunities for their marketing mix. Take some time to think over each “P” below with my starter questions to see how you and your team might improve your next go-to-market plan, product launch or sales campaign. Product (or service): What you’re selling - How might our product or service promote itself? Price: The value exchange - What does our price say about our product/service in terms of value or accessibility? Promotion: How products are pushed or placed into the market - Where do our customers live? Partnerships: Other audiences and companies that want to help you market your product - Which brands, companies, or key people would be a beneficial partnership for our product launch?
My Year of Fearlessly Finding my Voice
This year, I fearlessly embraced my voice as a songwriter, releasing several songs that hold deep personal meaning. From overcoming grief to finding catharsis in music, I leaned into my doubts and discovered a new passion. Join me as I reflect on my creative rebirth, share my journey, and offer insights into how you can unlock your own voice.
Do What Gives You Goosebumps
Do you know what makes your heart sing? What lights you up? What makes your heart sing? Or as I like to say, what gives you goosebumps?
I think it’s really important to listen to your heart and body as they tell you how you find your best joy.
Don’t Wait for the Diagnosis
Inspired by a powerful message from Andrew Huberman’s podcast, I reflect on the idea of living without waiting for a diagnosis. Don’t wait for life’s wake-up call to start appreciating and acting on what truly matters. In this post, I discuss how the simple advice, "Don’t wait for the diagnosis," can motivate us to take action and embrace life fully.
Recent Dave Hill Jr. Podcast Interviews
Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to be interviewed on several podcasts where I discuss leadership development, self-doubt, and my coaching approach. Check out my conversations with Matt Poepsel, PhD, Sharon Spano on Other Side of Potential, and JP Hogan on Next Steps. We dive deep into topics like personal growth, the power of music, and how coaching helps us navigate life’s challenges.
My Bumberdrum Performance at Bumbershoot
Here's a fun and historic piece of music I performed on with Michael Shrieve (The original drummer for Santana who played at Woodstock ‘69)
I am so proud to have played at this event and am thrilled it ended up being something that Michael released.
I even helped composed few of the drum set grooves along with Michael and another Seattle drummer named Conrad Ormsby.
Please Think Highly of Yourself!
In my book "Doubt Riding Shotgun," I reference an inspiring story from the remarkable Irish poet, David Whyte. He once recounted an interaction with his aunt where she scoffed at his decision to become a poet. She said, "Well, you certainly must think highly of yourself!" And without hesitation, David replied, "In fact, I do! And so should you!"
This story has resonated deeply with many readers, so I thought I'd make a video reminding us all of the importance of embracing our worth and recognizing the unique qualities that make us special.