Tell us a little bit about what you do professionally, and who you are as a person.

I live in Maine with my wife, 5-year-old son, and two dogs. I make a lot of music, both personally and professionally. I do artist relations for Native Instruments, iZotope, and Plugin Alliance. (this basically means being the bridge between the companies and the artists/producers/engineers of the world– to make new products, get product development insights, get marketing assets, biz dev guidance, etc.) Recently I’ve worked with two non-profits near and dear to my heart: Earth/Percent (Brian Eno’s organization that leverages the music industry to help fight climate change) and Mamas In Music (which provides resources and community for mothers in all parts of the music industry).

What’s a non-conventional phrasing to explain what you do? 

I help people bring more music into the world, and hopefully help elevate the overall craft of music-making.

Is there something that you read, watched, or listened to that changed your approach to music?

I recently had two revelatory conversations with Brian Eno and Herbie Hancock, which were surprisingly similar, about the value of mistakes and randomness. The best creative moments are usually stumbled upon, yet we tend to gravitate toward tools that are focused on heightened control. Reconciling these two concepts may appear contradictory, but solving that is actually a key to unlocking creative success. This really resonates with me.

Advice for an artist or producer working with brands for the first time, for successful collaborations in general?

Authenticity is the most important thing. That same advice goes to both the artist and the brand. An artist endorsement will fall flat if it’s not rooted in real-life love for the product. And brands should encourage their content to be more real and less canned. The audience can tell when something is manufactured, and it renders everyone’s efforts futile.

What’s something happening in the music industry at large that makes you feel hopeful or inspired? 

I think people are just as inspired and enamored by music as they’ve ever been. I honestly dont think that’s changed at all, over the centuries. People watching Beethoven 200 years ago and people watching Charli XCX today are driven by the same feeling. At its core, the art of music serves an unchanging element in our lives. But the industry, genre, formats, etc. are constantly changing. It’s easy to overlook this, but I find it reassuring.

Who’s someone you admire? 

Tony Berg. Over multiple decades, he’s been effective and successful in roles across varied disciplines: musician, producer, engineer, A&R, artist development, music tech… his insight encompasses a truly holistic understanding, which is missing from many other executives/industry veterans. He’s also proven himself a brilliant mentor, launching careers of people like Blake Mills and Shawn Everett.

Who’s an artist you’re excited about right now?

Monica Martin. She’s got a hold on a certain thing everyone’s always chasing in songs. So much heart, inherent sense of phrasing, ear for melody, sheer singing talent, the ability to turn pain into art, and to do it light-heartedly… I think she’s going to make a serious impact on the music world in the coming years. She’s already made an impact on mine.

Also Klark Sound. Sort of a Nick Drake / Paul Simon type of songwriter/guitarist whose music is particularly gentle and calming. But never “simple.” His melodies and chord changes are really clever and interesting. When I listen to him I have lots of “I wish I’d written that” moments. Always the mark of a great writer for me.

And from 200 years ago: Chopin. Old reliable. His music is an endless source of inspiration. It can somehow be complex compositionally and articulate a simple feeling with a lot of heart.

What’s something happening in your specific field that you’re excited about right now?

I think we’ve finally hit a tipping point where virtual emulations and new technology are no longer imitations or novelties. There used to be a rift between people using these tools and people using old/analog gear and instruments. Now the newest technology is as seamless and motivating as all the other parts of music production from decades past. Everything from generative AI tools to virtual instruments to creative new plugins. I guess that’s a little vague, but I really think something happened in the past few years collectively across the industry where we hit a stride technologically. I’ve seen it manifest in the workflows of all the producers and engineers, in a way that’s finally wholly creative and natural.

Can you describe a project that was a big learning experience for you?

I made an album with Gene Ween (singer of the amazing band Ween) about 10 years ago that taught me a lot. We co-wrote and produced a bunch of songs where he would talk about the importance of going “all the way” with creative ideas. I.e., never just dipping a toe in a production concept. Better to go as far as possible in whatever direction that is– you’ll end up with a 50/50 chance of it either being the best thing ever or the worst thing ever. High risk, high reward.

What’s your favorite product or recent project at Native?

Working with Jacob Collier last year. We made a plugin designed to re-create the experience of his “audience choirs,” in which he plays his audience like an instrument. Ultimately the plugin works like a synth pad, using the real voices of his audiences singing all over the world. It played a major role in the sound of his most recent album (Djesse Vol. 4, which was nominated for album of the year at the grammys!) and it set an all-time record for user traffic at Native Instruments. He’s one the most gifted musicians I’ve had the pleasure of knowing, as well as one of the kindest humans.

Keep up with Dave:

www.davegodowsky.com

https://www.instagram.com/davegodowsky/