The Pinnacle

Teo Domani is the Toronto producer and sample maker behind "Could It Be" by Fivio Foreign and Swae Lee. On episode 32 of The Pinnacle he breaks down how that placement actually happened. He sent a sample out, it moved through a chain of producers he had never met, and eight months later it was a major record.We get into snippet purgatory and the records that never come out, the 20 minute timer method behind his output, why he thinks consistency beats talent, where producers should actually be sending their loops, the paid collab debate, what it took to score short films including one that screened at TIFF Lightbox, and why he believes an unknown artist is just as likely to change your career as a placement with a name.Teo Domani: https://www.instagram.com/teodomani/The Pinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/Beats, samples, limited-run producer tools: https://zenith.gallery/THE BLUEPRINT:00:00 - The Text: "Swae Lee Just Cut This One"00:31 - Meet Teo Domani: Producer, Sample Maker, Film Scorer05:11 - Googling "What Software Does Joji Use" and Downloading Ableton09:21 - Why 20 Is Not Too Old to Start Making Beats10:29 - The Chain Begins: Sending Loops to Kierney12:00 - A Random Tuesday in June: The Screen Recording14:03 - The One Year Rule14:41 - Snippet Purgatory: Records That Never Come Out19:56 - Telegram Over Discord: Where Producers Actually Trade20:25 - When Someone Posts an Email, Send It23:13 - What Working Hard Actually Means23:36 - "Talent Almost Is Irrelevant. Consistency Beats Everything."24:13 - The 20 Minute Timer Method27:21 - Nobody Wants to Be a Content Creator28:34 - To Be Seen Is to Be Heard29:14 - How Opportunities Actually Compound30:29 - Reaching Out When You Think You Have No Reason To32:06 - The Paid Collab Debate34:16 - In the Session: Be Malleable, Be Coachable35:22 - The Producers He Works With Most39:01 - Scoring a Film That Screened at TIFF Lightbox40:36 - The Dream Placement45:13 - There Is Not One Linear Way to Do This47:08 - The Hundred Record Goal47:47 - An Unknown Artist Could Change Everything50:53 - Advice Tweets Are Self Reminders51:20 - Where to Find Teo

He knows zero music theory. He deleted Instagram at his lowest and the first DM waiting for him became a Grammy.FORTHENIGHT has produced for Bad Bunny, SZA, Summer Walker, Don Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert, Mariah the Scientist, Latto & more. In episode 31 of The Pinnacle, he breaks down how those massive placements actually happened, the studio habits that get producers invited back, why he refuses to make beats specifically for placements, and the story behind the credit he almost didn't see.THE BLUEPRINT00:00 - The Hook: Terrible Moments Before Massive Wins00:11 - From Toronto DJ to Global Placements 00:30 - Bypassing the Noise: Turning to Samples in 201801:09 - Branding With the Moon: Scoring Scary Movie Soundtracks02:20 - Pure Networking: Relationships Over Opportunity03:45 - The 50-Beat-a-Day Trap vs. Intentional Value Packs05:13 - Meeting Yoko Gold & The 20-Minute Blind Test06:00 - Executive Producing From Niagara Falls08:51 - Bypassing the Game: The Lotto & Mariah The Scientist Track09:39 - Going to LA: Linking Up with Calvin Valentine10:39 - The Last-Minute Reality of Major Record Placements11:20 - Inside the Executive Bag vs. Rapper Beat Cycling12:13 - 0 Music Theory: Training the Ear to Recognize Pattern Scales13:40 - Managing ADHD, Lawyers, and the Business Routine15:46 - The #1 Rule: Don't Make Music For Placements17:36 - Sync Placements: Direct Bags & Bypassing Paperwork Stress18:24 - Studio Etiquette: Read the Mood, Stop Just Pressing Play20:10 - Handling Failed Sessions & Overcoming Writer's Block21:25 - The Incompatibility Reality: There Are Trillions of Artists22:20 - Releasing Plugins and Mentoring the Producer Community23:00 - The Full Grammy Story: Bad Bunny & The Instagram DM24:54 - Bouncing Back From the Latin Grammy Loss25:50 - The Diamond Mining Meme: Mindset in the Rough Patches27:02 - The Harsh Truth About "Waiting For Inspiration"28:35 - Paying It Forward: Balancing Faith & Ethics in the Industry31:21 - Sound Evolution: Transitioning From Pure Dark Textures32:01 - Why Catchy Melodies Will Forever Defeat AI33:33 - The Boy Wonder Secret: Making Complex Sound Simple34:10 - Why Content Creation Burns Out Full-Time Beatmakers35:39 - Philip Glass & Candyman: Finding Composition Angles36:11 - Essential Gear of 2026: Why You Must Cop a Furman Power Block38:22 - Digging the 60s & 70s Archives for Pure Creativity38:52 - Outro: The Next Big Thing from TorontoFORTHENIGHTInstagram: https://instagram.com/forthenightmusicTHE PINNACLE Instagram: https://instagram.com/thepinnacleshowPINNACLE (Host)Instagram: https://instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop

Nick Nash (producer for Connor Price, Sleepy Hallow, Kid G) on surviving a bad publishing deal, his 200M-stream record, leaving LA for Nashville, and why 1M TikTok views converted to less than 1,000 streams. In our fourth episode with Nick, we get into who actually controls what blows up in music right now.The Pinnacle is back with new episodes every week. Catch it live: https://www.youtube.com/@thepinnacleshowNick Nash: https://www.instagram.com/nicknashmusicPinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/Beats & samples, curated, limited-run producer tools: https://zenith.gallery/🎁 Stick around to the end of the episode there's something for you. (Code: NICKNASH75)

Quavo and Future producer Macshooter49 joins The Pinnacle to reveal the VSTs, effects and Kontakt libraries he actually uses to design drums and make beats.Macshooter49 breaks down his secret Chop Suey drum-design technique, his favourite plugins from Arturia, Soundtoys, UAD, Teletone Audio, Slate + Ash and Spitfire Audio, and why the real “sauce” comes from processing and combining sounds, not simply owning rare plugins. He also discusses learning from producers like Nick Mira and BNYX, building a drum-kit business, staying consistent without burning out and dedicating most of his life to music while still in his teens.Macshooter: https://www.instagram.com/macshooter49Pinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/THE PINNACLESpotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Iuuuie1skJOOAtLxg3Ie5?si=27de84daf09d4e37Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3GIP58lBLUEPRINT00:00 – Macshooter49 Introduction02:42 – Starting With Ableton and Switching to FL Studio06:30 – Learning From BNYX Streams Instead of Tutorials08:00 – Why Producers Should Learn Multiple DAWs10:10 – Copying Your Influences to Improve14:20 – Planning Drum-Kit Releases and Rollouts17:00 – Building Products for Long-Term Success20:00 – Improving One Thing With Every Upload23:10 – His Secret VST for Designing Drum Sounds25:30 – Learning From Other Producers and Sound Designers28:00 – Inspiration, Copying and Giving Credit32:00 – Discipline, Consistency and Avoiding Wasted Time33:00 – Outgrowing People Who Don’t Share Your Vision37:00 – Basketball and the NBA39:45 – Muay Thai and Boxing40:40 – Diet and Self-Improvement45:00 – Habit Stacking47:00 – Reading and Creativity50:00 – His Favourite Processing Plugins52:30 – Switching to a 96GB MacBook58:00 – Kontakt Libraries and More Favourite VSTs1:03:00 – Prophet and Affordable Hardware Synthesizers1:07:30 – Macshooter49’s Message to Producers

In today's episode, Dave and Pinnacle discuss the future of A.I. and it's role and effect on the music industry. They also discuss Dave's role as Head of Revenue at Audiomack, and his experiences and lessons derived from there as it pertains to A.I. and the future of music. Producers serious about their craft, if you're looking for FIRE, LIMITED copy samples, look no further: https://zenith.gallery/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/daveedwards/ Pinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/ Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Iuuuie1skJOOAtLxg3Ie5?si=27de84daf09d4e37 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3GIP58l Timestamps: 00:00 - Dave Edwards Introduction 01:30 - Audiomack and How it Helps Artists 08:30 - A.I. and the AMOUNT of Music Being Released 10:34 - A.I. is Already Here 14:00 - Artist Intellectual Property 17:00 - What Being The Head of Revenue at Audiomack Looks Like 19:00 - Starting and Making an App 23:00 - The Speed of Innovation in the A.I. Space 29:30 - A.I. Fear and Uses Depending on the Industry 36:00 - A.I. Regulations 36:30 - Helping Software Engineers 38:00 - Having the Best Session Guitarist in The World in Your Studio 40:15 - Record Labels Dealing With Piracy in the early 2000's

Producers serious about their craft, if you're looking for FIRE, LIMITED copy samples, look no further: https://zenith.gallery/ In today's episode, Rayan and Pinnacle discuss his creative process and how he draws inspiration from his experiences and emotions. Rayan also talks about his use of layers and how he likes to add subtle details to his beats to make them more interesting. He emphasizes the importance of taking breaks when working on a beat and coming back with fresh ears. Rayan also talks about the importance of staying true to oneself and not chasing trends in the industry. He advises upcoming producers to stay consistent and keep putting out quality work. Guest: https://www.instagram.com/rayanxnami Pinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/ Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Iuuuie1skJOOAtLxg3Ie5?si=27de84daf09d4e37 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3GIP58l Timestamps: 00:00 - Rayan Intro 01:15 - Moving to the US and making moves 01:40 - Getting Credits in Norway by Networking 03:00 - Building Networking Skills and Being Less Introverted 04:00 - Starting Making Beats and Being Hooked Since 06:00 - Getting 10,000 Views on FIRST YouTube Type Beat 09:00 - Being Naturally Good and Experimenting 11:52 - Quality over Quantity, Taking His Time on Samples 14:50 - Producing for Will Power / Most Exciting Placement 17:15 - Sending Out Smaller Packs Now 18:40 - Sending The Same Pack to Everyone 22:30 - Having a Song With Kanye 25:31 - Keeping a Minimalistic Studio Set-Up 27:30 - Learn to Manipulate Sounds to Get the Sound You Want 30:40 - Being Genuine is THE MOST Important Quality 32:22 - Showing His Face More, Branding Better 34:00 - Signing Management and Finding The Right People 37:30 - Almost Signing to TM88 Crash Dummy Records 40:40 - Balancing School with Music 42:25 - Keeping Healthy as a Producer 43:27 - Rayan's Advice to Creatives and Music Producers

In today's episode, Multi-Platinum Producer Txpski and Pinnacle discuss his work with Chris Brown, Ye Ali and MIKExANGEL. They talk about shifting roles in the industry and building a good network and support system. Txpski discusses his future trajectory and what he has in store for 2023. Producers serious about their craft, if you're looking for FIRE, LIMITED copy samples, look no further: https://zenith.gallery/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/txpski Pinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/ Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Iuuuie1skJOOAtLxg3Ie5?si=27de84daf09d4e37 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3GIP58l Timestamps: 00:00 - Txpski Intro 03:15 - Changing Between Producing and Songwriting 05:10 - First Major Placements with Chris Brown on Heartbreak on a Full Moon 08:00 - Using Opportunities to Leverage Other Opportunities 13:00 - Goals of Being Billboard #1 and Changing Goals 16:00 - Biggest Challenges Coming Up / Access to Studios 17:15 - Not Using VSTs for 3 Years / Using Soundfonts 20:00 - How Txpski Learns New Skills 22:30 - Txpski's Day 24:00 - The Process of Sending Out Demos for Artists 28:00 - Music Not Sticking Around Long Anymore / Favourite Projects 30:00 - Protecting Your Ears / Having a Good Support System 35:00 - Modelling Your Beat after a Billboard Hit 37:00 - Being Financially Aware When Going to L.A. etc 40:00 - A.I in Music 41:00 - Releasing His Own Music 42:00 - First Sync Placement

In today's episode, Soldado and Pinnacle discuss his music production and his collaborations with artists such as Baby Keem, Lil Uzi, ASAP Ferg, and Migos, noting his preference for using one shots and emphasizing the importance of unique sound design and FX. Pinnacle and him provide advice for new producers, including the value of consistency and the importance of having fun and being creative. Additionally, they stress the importance of networking and building relationships with collaborators and professionals in the music industry. Producers serious about their craft, if you're looking for FIRE, LIMITED copy samples, look no further: https://zenith.gallery/ Guest: https://www.instagram.com/soldadoaudio Pinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/ Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Iuuuie1skJOOAtLxg3Ie5?si=27de84daf09d4e37 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3GIP58l Timestamps: 00:00 - Soldado Intro 02:00 - Sharing Personal Life Online 05:10 - Sending Out Smaller Packs Because They're Received Better 07:30 - Arranging Samples for Listening or Creativity 08:45 - Making Beats for The First Time 09:45 - Trying and Failing Multiple Times 12:00 - From a Creative Outlet to a Career Pursuit / First Placement with ILoveMakonnen 14:30 - Ryan Bevolo, Making Beats on the Bus 16:00 - Future Astronaut Status / Jordan Diddy 18:00 - Sound Selection 19:35 - One Shots Over VSTs 22:00 - Best Plugins 24:00 - Using Hidden Gems instead of Popular VSTs and Banks 27:00 - Producing Back Hurt for A$AP Ferg and Migos 28:00 - Larry June 31:00 - Regular Work Day / Schedule / Daily Goals 33:00 - Using Starters (Cubeatz) 35:00 - Reverse Engineer Songs 36:00 - NOW is the Best Time to Get Started 37:00 - Using Inspiration Liberally 40:00 - Show Your Personality / Be a Human 41:00 - Burning Bridges After One Placement 43:30 - Balancing University and Music (Really Good Advice Here) 47:00 - A.I. and How to Approach the Industry with This New Technology 50:44 - Linking With Jackson Romain 53:00 - Sending Things Back on Time 54:00 - Kearney and Main.Key 57:30 - Manager and A&R Role

RIAA Platinum producer Goldenboy has worked with Chris Brown, Jacquees, Tink, Khary, Tracy T, anders, Garren and more. On Episode 24 of The Pinnacle, he breaks down how his Chris Brown placement on Royalty happened, why marketing is one of the biggest advantages producers ignore, how he built genuine relationships in the industry, and the mindset required to survive the inevitable lows of a music career.Goldenboy: https://www.instagram.com/ohgoldenboy/Pinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/THE PINNACLESpotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Iuuuie1skJOOAtLxg3Ie5?si=27de84daf09d4e37Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3GIP58lInstagram: https://instagram.com/ThePinnacleShowTHE BLUEPRINT00:00 - Goldenboy Intro01:23 - Creating Studio Sessions Artists Want to Return To04:45 - Breaking Through Creative Blocks in the Studio08:27 - Being Timely in Studio Sessions 11:00 - How He Got His Beats Heard13:40 - Moving to L.A After Winning Beat Battle18:31 - Why Marketing Helped Him Land Placements20:30 - How the Chris Brown Placement Happened26:15 - Staying Organized and Keeping A Schedule28:35 - Dealing With Low Moments31:00 - Favorite Plugins & Production Workflow34:52 - Who Do You Go To When You're Feeling Lost38:50 - Types of People You Don't Want to Work With41:41 - Favorite Piece of Equipment45:20 - Advice Every Producer Needs to Hear48:30 - Why Most Producers Quit Too Early52:00 - Why Intentions Matter in Music53:00 - Pessimism in the Music Industry59:00 - Learning As Much As You Can From Your ExperiencesLIVE BROADCASTSEpisodes are recorded live, join us next time right here on YouTube and be a part of the experience or:Twitch: https://twitch.tv/thepinnacleshowKick: https://kick.com/thepinnacle#MusicProducer #ChrisBrown #ThePinnacle

Producers serious about their craft, if you're looking for FIRE, LIMITED copy samples, look no further: https://zenith.gallery/ In today's episode, Moo Latte and Pinnacle discuss making transitions in your career, facing rejection as a musician, playing live shows, and going platinum with Polish rapper Mata. Guest: https://www.instagram.com/moolattemusic Pinnacle: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleatthetop/ Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Iuuuie1skJOOAtLxg3Ie5?si=27de84daf09d4e37 Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3GIP58l Timestamps: 00:00 - Moo Latte Introduction 02:30 - Classical vs. Rhythmic Music 04:00 - Recording in Audacity 04:30 - Producing Journey 08:30 - Playing in a Live Band for a Theater 11:00 - Meeting Deadlines and Work Ethic 14:10 - Being Rejected as a Musician 26:00 - Focusing on Personal Music Projects While Studying 29:00 - Joining His Dream Band and Playing 100 Shows Per Year 32:00 - Trying to Pay Money For a Mentor 36:00 - Hardest Skill for Moo Latte to Learn 39:15 - The Best Music Has Imperfections 41:00 - Composing for Movies and TV Series 45:00 - Grinding Instagram Content, and Burning Out 49:00 - Advice for Musicians Starting Out 52:00 - Creative Block and What to Do About It 58:00 - Going PLATINUM in Poland with Mata 1:04:00 - Touring, Work Ethic and Balance 1:10:00 - Who Do You Go To When You're Feeling Lost 1:12:00 - Best and Favorite VSTs 1:23:00 - Mixing and Mastering Plugins and Process