Jxmie Blake on Rule-Breaking, Risk-Taking, and Decision-Making

Jxmie Blake is a genre-blending artist, producer, and educator whose work fuses jazz, soul, hip hop, pop, and electronic music into a bold and expressive signature sound. Known for his innovative approach to Ableton Push as a chromatic instrument, Jxmie is a multi-talented creator with a deep background in audio engineering, songwriting, and sound design. With degrees from Berklee College of Music and a client list including Ableton, Red Bull, and Ludacris, he's quickly becoming a leading voice in modern music education and performance.

In this conversation, Jxmie and I dive into the creative mindset—how breaking the rules, following sparks of inspiration, and simplifying your workflow can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. We explore the power of limitations, the importance of finishing ideas (even imperfect ones), and how developing a strong relationship with your tools—like Push—can unlock musical freedom. It's an honest look at the balance between discipline and play, structure and spontaneity, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is stop overthinking and just make something.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Takeaways:

1. Push as a Chromatic Instrument – Jxmie breaks down how Push can function like a guitar fretboard, opening up intuitive, expressive playing that bridges the gap between traditional instruments and digital music-making.

2. Creative Freedom Through Limitations – Embracing limited gear or working with only stock tools can actually foster more creativity and deeper exploration.

3. Breaking the Rules Is the Point – Jxmie encourages musicians to intentionally break conventions—whether it's stacking effects, pushing gear beyond intended use, or warping samples into unrecognizable textures.

4. Music as Self-Expression – The ultimate goal isn't perfection, but expressing what's inside you—your mood, your perspective, your story.

5. Reckless Experimentation Leads to Inspiration – Playing without a specific goal, just to see what happens, often leads to surprising and exciting results.

6. Gear Doesn't Make the Artist – Even basic tools like GarageBand or stock Ableton devices can be powerful when fully understood and creatively applied.

7. Teaching as Empowerment – Through his work at 1500 Sound Academy and his online courses, Jxmie focuses on empowering students to unlock their own creative voices, regardless of background or skill level.

8. Creative Blocks Are Often Internal – As we gain technical skills, creative challenges become more mental and emotional—expectations, self-judgment, and overthinking can block our flow.

9. Start with Play, Not Pressure – Some of the best creative moments happen when you approach music playfully, without the weight of needing to make something great.

10. The Process Is the Product – Whether it's creating sounds, building devices, or finishing songs, the act of exploring, tweaking, and iterating is as valuable as the final result.

Links:

• Jxmie's Website and Push Classes - https://jxmieblake.sellfy.store
• Jxmie's Free Ableton Live Packs - https://jxmieblake.sellfy.store/packs-2/
• Jxmie's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jxmieblake
• Jxmie's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jxmieblake/
• 1500 Sound Academy - https://1500soundacademy.com/
• Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com
• Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc
• 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book
• Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit
• Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast
• Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store
• This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/

Thank you for listening.

Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider!

And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs.

Brian Funk