Diplo: College Dropout To World's Most Iconic DJ
Diplo, a Grammy-winning DJ and producer, discusses his unconventional journey from a troubled youth to a global music icon. He shares insights on the importance of discipline, relentless work ethic, continuous learning, finding unique market niches, and navigating the mental health challenges and work-life balance in a high-pressure industry.
Deep Dive Analysis
15 Topic Outline
Diplo's Challenging Formative Years and Military School
Father's Influence on Discipline and Work Ethic
College Education and Early Career Choices
Transition to DJing and Early Business Acumen
Obsession with Music, Culture, and Record Collecting
Developing a Unique DJ Identity and Sound
Conceptual Approach to Music Production
Impact of Travel and Cultural Immersion on Creativity
The Process of Creating Timeless Music
Balancing an Intense Career with Personal Life
Mental Health, Criticism, and Social Media Management
The Profound Impact of Fatherhood
Navigating Romantic Relationships in a Demanding Career
Diplo's New Album and Industry Frustrations
Advice for His Sons and the Value of Physical Activity
5 Key Concepts
DJ as a Cultural Benchmark
Historically, DJs were selectors who undertook extensive research to understand, catalog, and distribute music. They were adept at connecting diverse musical elements that might not conventionally fit together, serving as cultural arbiters for the music scene.
Conceptual Artist
Diplo describes himself as an artist who approaches music through concepts and problem-solving, viewing it like a math problem or a riddle to combine elements. This contrasts with being a technically proficient musician or master of an instrument, focusing instead on ideas and their application.
Predicting the Future in Music Production
A producer's role, according to Diplo, involves creating music that anticipates future trends, aiming for a futuristic sound that will be relevant six months to a year after its creation. This means setting trends rather than following them, inspired by greats like Prince or Timberland.
Suppressing Highs to Avoid Lows
This is a strategy to manage the intense emotional peaks and valleys inherent in a demanding career. It involves consciously tempering the excitement of major successes to prevent the inevitable emotional crash that can follow, promoting mental stability by treating the work more as a job than a constant party.
Thick Skin as a Protective Mechanism
In public-facing roles, developing a 'thick skin' or emotional detachment serves as a defense mechanism against constant criticism and negative opinions. This allows individuals to maintain mental stability by filtering out external negativity and focusing on trusted relationships, though it can sometimes lead to a perceived lack of emotional expression.
7 Questions Answered
His father, a Vietnam vet, instilled in him a complex concept of discipline, which Diplo later realized was crucial for applying himself to achieve goals in music, despite lacking technical abilities.
He had a strong hunger for learning, teaching himself computers and the business side of things. He started by DJing parties, investing in himself, and promoting his own events to learn business acumen.
He advises young DJs to find a truly unique thing and lean into it hard, even if it feels weird, because that weirdness can indicate a big, undiscovered opportunity. He himself brought Southern sounds to the East Coast when no one else was playing them.
Travel allows him to immerse himself in different cultures and understand the global conversation in music, pinpointing the origins and reasons behind various genres and sounds, which he then uses to create new art.
He learned to manage his time better, especially after having children, and used the structure of family life to become more productive, dedicating intense studio hours when not with his kids. He also learned to prioritize simple, present moments with his children over grand gestures.
He learned to block out the noise from critics, focusing instead on the opinions of his trusted team and family, recognizing that some people just want to be vocal or get a rise out of him.
He believes he never truly understood 'life-changing love' until his sons were born, describing the connection with them as undeniable and a lifelong partnership, while still playing the game of finding a great woman to settle down with.
13 Actionable Insights
1. Cultivate Relentless Discipline
Apply yourself to finding and achieving goals, even if you lack technical abilities. This foundational discipline, instilled early, can be the separating factor for success in any field.
2. Find Your Unique Niche
In a crowded market, identify what makes you unique and lean into it aggressively. If an idea feels weird or untapped, it often indicates a significant opportunity because no one else is exploring it.
3. Maintain a Hunger for Learning
Develop a continuous drive to figure things out and teach yourself new skills, whether it’s music production, business acumen, or cultural knowledge. This self-directed learning is crucial for growth and innovation.
4. Be a Futuristic Trendsetter
As a creative, aim to predict future trends and create work that sounds futuristic, rather than following current fads. This approach, exemplified by greats like Prince and Pharrell, allows your work to trendset and last.
5. Embrace Conceptual Problem-Solving
Approach creative challenges as conceptual math problems, figuring out how different elements combine to work. This mindset can lead to unique ‘flavors’ and solutions, especially when lacking traditional technical mastery.
6. Build a Supportive, Trusting Team
Surround yourself with a team that believes in your vision and allows you to be yourself. This core group’s opinions are what truly matter, providing motivation and stability in a demanding career.
7. Block Out External Critics
Do not get caught up in the opinions of people who don’t like you, especially on social media. Focus on the feedback from your trusted inner circle and family to protect your mental well-being.
8. Prioritize Breaks and Slow Down
Recognize when you are running at an unsustainable pace and intentionally take breaks. Periods of downtime are essential for reassessing life, enjoying family, and benefiting your mind, even if it feels counterintuitive to an obsessive drive.
9. Invest in Your Own Ventures
Learn small business acumen by investing in and promoting your own projects, like throwing parties. This allows you to take ownership and directly profit from your efforts, rather than just working for others.
10. Give Great Songs Every Opportunity
When you have a truly great song, dedicate significant effort to its production and promotion. While not every song will be a hit, the best ones deserve every chance to reach a wide audience.
11. Maintain Daily Physical Activity
Incorporate at least an hour of physical activity, like going to the gym or doing yoga, into your daily routine. This helps manage jet lag and maintain a sense of normalcy amidst a chaotic lifestyle.
12. Be Present with Your Children
Prioritize simple, present moments with your children, such as watching cartoons or playing games, over grand gestures or trips. These everyday connections are often more memorable and impactful for them.
13. Cultivate Inner Resilience
Develop the internal belief that you can lose everything and still be okay, ready to start over in a new endeavor. This mindset fosters comfort and reduces the pressure of external success.
5 Key Quotes
Nobody really cares about like all the adoration you get. You care about the people that don't like you. And that, you get caught up in that.
Diplo
What makes yourself unique? Like what, what really makes you different? Because I get to throw a fucking rock and I'm going to hit a DJ or artists in the head in London.
Diplo
My job is to predict the future. Like when I release this record, after I make it, it's going to take like three months to actually get to the people.
Diplo
I always feel like if you have that feeling inside you that you can lose everything and be okay with it, that's maybe that's the key to success.
Diplo
The love I have with my, my first born son and then my second, my third, it's like the connection though. I'm like, damn, no matter what, this kid stuck with me. Like, this is like my life partner for real.
Diplo
2 Protocols
Process for Making a Great Pop Record
Diplo- Dedicate painstaking effort, potentially spending days on a single verse.
- Ensure every element is a perfect addition, akin to an architect meticulously perfecting every detail of a house.
- Alternatively, produce a large volume of records, knowing that one is likely to succeed.
- Utilize diplomacy by collaborating with other artists, asking for extra records, or trading production services.
- Take an already completed song and enhance its production, then secure all necessary collaborations and deals to make the record work.
- For dance music, identify desired sounds for live effects in the studio and then apply them in the production process.
Managing Public Scrutiny and Mental Health
Diplo- Acknowledge that critics, even a small percentage, will always be vocal and can be bothersome.
- Eventually, decide that the opinions of people who don't know you personally or form opinions from social media are not what truly matters.
- Focus on the opinions of your trusted inner circle, including your team and family.
- Understand that social media operates like a game, where some individuals build brands on being controversial or disliked.
- Accept that being at a high level of success means taking both the good and the bad aspects of public attention.
- Make conscious efforts to limit exposure to social media, such as delegating management of accounts or logging off for extended periods.
- Find people who can help run social media to maintain brand presence without constant personal engagement.
- Regularly take time away from social media and public demands to avoid getting overwhelmed.