Key Moments
Justin Boreta Interview (Full Episode) | The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast)
Tim FerrissKey Moments
The Glitch Mob's journey: DIY ethos, fan connection, and artistic integrity in music.
Key Insights
The Glitch Mob emphasizes a strong, direct relationship with their fans, stemming from their early DIY approach.
Their music possesses a cinematic quality with dramatic tonal shifts, contributing to its use in film trailers and soundtracks.
As an artist-owned and independently operated entity, The Glitch Mob maintains creative control over their music and brand.
The band's success is attributed to an obsessive attention to detail, a willingness to experiment, and trusting their creative intuition.
Despite not having traditional musical training, The Glitch Mob has developed a unique sound through technological exploration and a focus on songwriting structure.
Revenue streams for The Glitch Mob primarily come from music licensing and sales, with touring being a labor of love invested back into the show's production.
FOUNDATIONS OF THE GLITCH MOB: A DIY AND FAN-CENTRIC APPROACH
The Glitch Mob's journey began with a strong DIY ethos, evident from their early days of handing out mixtapes at shows. This hands-on interaction with fans, initially via MySpace and continuing through modern social media, has fostered a die-hard following. They operate as an artist-owned label, maintaining control and a close relationship with their audience, which includes a dedicated forum called 'The Mob.' This connection has deeply influenced their perspective on music's power and their commitment to their craft.
THE CINEMATIC POWER OF SOUND: MUSIC AS AN EMOTIONAL FORCE
The Glitch Mob's music is characterized by its cinematic quality, featuring dramatic shifts in tonality and texture. This explorative phase, where songs move from ethereal to intense, has made their tracks ideal for movie trailers and soundtracks, featuring in major films. The band views music as a powerful art form that can transcend and deeply affect individuals, as exemplified by the story of Grant Corrigan, who used their music in his recovery journey.
ARTIST OWNERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT OPERATION
Operating as an artist-owned and independent entity, The Glitch Mob has navigated the music industry on their own terms. This independence allows them complete creative control, from production to distribution. While their albums have charted well, their focus remains on artistic integrity rather than chart performance. This model differentiates them from major labels, enabling a direct connection with their creative output and their fans.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE GLITCH MOB'S LIVE SHOW AND PRODUCTION
The Glitch Mob's live performances are elaborate productions, evolving from the band building their own light shows to collaborating with skilled professionals. They utilize Ableton Live for both production and performance, allowing for seamless integration. A key differentiator is their live show's hybrid approach, splitting audio stems like a traditional band to give their sound engineer maximum control, creating an optimal sonic experience for each venue.
CREATIVE PROCESS: INTUITION, COLLABORATION, AND ITERATION
The band's creative process is a collaborative ping-pong between the three members, averaging their creative worlds to define The Glitch Mob's sound. They rely heavily on intuition and their own creative sensibilities, often ignoring external pressures or trends. This iterative process involves numerous revisions, sometimes leading to entire albums being re-recorded, as seen with the decision to bring in professional vocalists for their latest album when lyrics and melodies weren't their forte.
FROM SKETCHES TO MASTERPIECES: THE ART OF REFINEMENT
The Glitch Mob's approach to creating music starts with basic 'sketches' that focus on structure and feeling, often using simple instrumentation. These raw ideas undergo hundreds of revisions, highlighting an obsessive attention to detail and a commitment to perfection. Surprisingly, their most popular and widely resonating songs are often those created spontaneously with less intention for broad appeal, underscoring the unpredictable nature of artistic impact.
THE NON-TRADITIONAL PATH TO MUSICAL MASTERY
Notably, none of The Glitch Mob members have formal musical training. They approached music through technology and intuition, developing a unique sound by bending and breaking rules. This non-traditional path, contrasted with classically trained musicians, has allowed them to innovate. They use tools like Ableton's pitch plugins to work within defined scales, demonstrating a practical, technology-driven approach to music creation.
REVENUE, PHILOSOPHY, AND PERSONAL HABITS
The Glitch Mob's revenue primarily stems from music licensing and sales, as touring is a 'labor of love' heavily reinvested into show production. Their personal philosophy emphasizes 'don't force it,' a guiding principle for creative work and life. Daily routines often include Transcendental Meditation, avoiding technology in the morning, and focusing on mobility and healthy eating, reflecting a holistic approach to well-being and productivity.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Products
●Software & Apps
●Companies
●Organizations
●Books
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
The Glitch Mob started in 2006 with a DIY approach, giving out CDs at shows and interacting personally with fans on platforms like MySpace. This direct interaction and a focus on serious, meaningful music contributed to their die-hard following.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A book by Daniel Levitin that delves into the neuroscience and evolutionary thinking behind why music affects human beings.
A book by Oliver Sacks about the neurological nature of music, which Tim Ferriss expresses interest in reading.
The book Justin Boreta would take to a desert island, a philosophical novel by Milan Kundera.
A book by Tim Ferriss, which utilized 99designs for its cover concepts.
A ubiquitous digital audio workstation (DAW) program that The Glitch Mob uses daily for production and performance, highly recommended for beginners due to its ease of learning and robust features.
A digital audio workstation (DAW) that The Glitch Mob used in the past.
An online marketplace for graphic design, used by Tim Ferriss for book cover concepts and other design needs.
A digital audio workstation (DAW) The Glitch Mob used in the past, mentioned as being more complex than Ableton.
A basic music production software, mentioned as a starting point for rough sketches or demos due to its simplicity.
A platform where the Tim Ferriss Show podcast is available for subscription.
A digital audio workstation (DAW) that The Glitch Mob used in the past, and mentioned as potentially more robust than Ableton but less efficient for speed.
A popular software synthesizer frequently used in electronic music production, known for its presets and sound design capabilities.
An exercise movement Justin Boreta includes in his morning workout for a quick 'bang for my buck' fitness benefit.
A movie for which The Glitch Mob's song 'Can't Kill Us' was used in the trailer, personally chosen by director Robert Rodriguez.
A movie for which The Glitch Mob's music was featured in trailers.
A movie for which The Glitch Mob's music was featured in trailers.
The Glitch Mob's first full-length album, created during a difficult period as a cathartic and personal record without commercial intent, but which unexpectedly led to their cinematic success.
A film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, mentioned by Justin Boreta as one of his favorites.
A song from The Glitch Mob's new record, used as an example to illustrate the extensive revision process, from a simple sketch to a finished version over two years and 394 revisions.
A movie for which The Glitch Mob's music was featured in trailers.
The Glitch Mob's second album, which debuted at number one on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart and number 13 on Top 20 Digital Albums.
A podcast episode recommended by Dean, which explores a philosopher's perspective on nihilism and apocalyptic feelings, connecting to why 'badass' music resonates as a shield against darkness.
An album by Amon Tobin, highlighted for its master-level mix engineering and creative undertaking, comprised almost entirely of recorded real-world sounds.
A film directed by Robert Rodriguez, mentioned by Justin Boreta as one of his favorites.
A popular song by The Glitch Mob featured in the Sin City 2 trailer. It became their most played track from the Love Death Immortality album.
The album Justin Boreta would take to a desert island, known for its ambient electronic music.
One of The Glitch Mob's most popular songs, which began with the working title 'Something's About to Happen'. It was unexpectedly successful, demonstrating that the band cannot predict which songs will resonate most.
A long-running animated TV show, joked about for its predictive capacity of future events, like Mr. Burns blocking the sun.
An artist-owned electronic music group composed of Justin Boreta, Ed, and Josh. They are known for their cinematic music, DIY approach, and strong fan connection.
A social media platform where Tim Ferriss and Justin Boreta initially connected, and where The Glitch Mob interacts with fans.
An early social media platform that The Glitch Mob used to interact with fans and distribute mixtapes at the beginning of their career.
A file hosting service used by The Glitch Mob to sync their Ableton sessions across different machines for a distributed studio setup.
A social media platform mentioned as a current channel for The Glitch Mob to maintain close personal relationships with fans, and where Justin Boreta reads posts.
A company that makes plugins used by The Glitch Mob to emulate outboard gear, allowing them to travel more easily.
A car brand for which The Glitch Mob did commercial work.
A video-sharing platform where the music video for 'Can't Kill Us' is widely viewed.
A brand that makes athletic, sweat-wicking dress shirts that don't require ironing, appealing to travelers and those seeking comfort.
A major record label, highlighted as an example of a 'big massive company' in the context of the music industry.
A social media platform mentioned as a current channel for The Glitch Mob to maintain close personal relationships with fans.
A retail store where Glitch Mob members bought materials to build their initial light show.
A Los Angeles-based company that serves as an agent for licensing The Glitch Mob's music in film and TV.
A car brand, mispronounced as "Howdy", for which The Glitch Mob did commercial work.
A music streaming service, mentioned as a platform for listening to music and tracking song popularity.
A retail store for musical instruments and equipment, mentioned as a place to buy good sound sample kits for music production.
A company co-founded by Peter Diamandis, focused on asteroid mining to bring resources back to Earth or use them extraterrestrially.
A powerful computer used in The Glitch Mob's live show system, 'Lil' Kim', to run Ableton and other components.
A coffee press that Tim Ferriss has tried and likes, good for smaller coffee quantities.
A type of coffeemaker recommended for making coffee for more than two cups.
A type of green tea that Justin Boreta often makes as part of his morning ritual before meditating.
A tool used for mobility exercises, which The Glitch Mob members use during long studio sessions.
Computers used in The Glitch Mob's live show system, 'Lil' Kim', specifically for MIDI routing for 'The Blade'.
Hard balls of different sizes used for mobility work, especially by people who spend a lot of time sitting, such as in the studio.
Director of 'Sin City 2' who personally chose The Glitch Mob's song 'Can't Kill Us' for the movie trailer.
A fan of The Glitch Mob who, after a snowmobile accident left him unable to walk, used their music as motivation during his physical therapy and planted a Glitch Mob flag at the South Pole after regaining his ability to walk.
Author of 'This Is Your Brain On Music', who explores the evolutionary and neuroscientific aspects of music's impact on humans.
The expert-level stage design programmer for The Glitch Mob's live show, 'The Blade'.
The Glitch Mob's manager, referred to as 'the Buddha' and the 'fourth member' of the band, highly valued for insulating the artists from industry pressures and fostering their creative voice.
A music producer and friend of Justin Boreta, whose album 'Foley Room' is recommended for its complex and layered sound design, using recorded real-world sounds.
Founding member of The Glitch Mob, known for intense cinematic music and DIY operation. He discusses their creative process, business model, and personal routines.
A country artist mentioned in comparison to The Glitch Mob's Billboard chart performance, illustrating major label success.
A specific stage show designer who collaborates with The Glitch Mob to create their live visuals, like 'The Blade'.
A pop artist mentioned in comparison to The Glitch Mob's Billboard chart performance, highlighting the difference between major label and independent artists.
A highly influential record producer, cited by Justin Boreta as one of his biggest inspirations.
Actress in Sin City 2, mentioned as a positive aspect of the movie's trailer.
Chairman of the XPrize and co-founder of Planetary Resources, categorized as a 'techno-optimist' who offers solutions to climate change, such as space-based solar shields.
An entrepreneur known as a 'real-life Tony Stark' for his efforts to improve reality, making Justin Boreta feel optimistic about future challenges.
Author of 'Musicophilia', known for his writings on neurological case studies.
A quad amputee who became a successful competitive wrestler and the first person to military-crawl up Mount Kilimanjaro, cited by Tim Ferriss as an example of emotional openness and strength.
A music producer and dear friend of Justin Boreta, with whom he discussed climate change concerns.
A fictional character (Iron Man) referenced as a real-life equivalent in Elon Musk, symbolizing inventive problem-solving.
An electronic music group known for their 'droney, beautiful music' and distinct sonic world, cited as an example of artists who create a consistent style across albums.
An organization that designs and manages public competitions (prizes) to encourage technological development, whose chairman is Peter Diamandis.
An electronic music duo whose live show is described as a 'perfect marriage between fun visceral classic dance music and crazy techno futurism', highly recommended by Justin Boreta as a life-changing experience.
A non-profit organization that promotes and teaches Transcendental Meditation, through which Justin Boreta received his TM course.
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