Alumni Showcase

“I was hired less than 3 weeks after I graduated from 1500 Sound Academy in August 2022, and I know that the hiring manager loved that I'd attended music school and had a diverse set of musical skills that lend perfectly to the role. My role is Music Executive at Moonbug Entertainment for the Little Angel Animation Brand. Moonbug is a global kid's entertainment company that creates and distributes some of the most widely recognized kid's brands in the world including CoCoMelon, Blippi and Arpo. As Music Creative for Little Angel, I am responsible for supervising and managing a team of composers and mixing engineers and monitoring each step from beginning to end regarding all things sound for Little Angel.

I absolutely LOVE what I'm doing and I'm using EVERY skill I learned at 1500 every day :)"

“I've just released my latest single, "Blind 2 The BS'' on all streaming platforms. It already has well over 100K views in its first week on YouTube! I will be in New York promoting the single & upcoming releases.”

“I've been working on an instrumental album (Sounds of Life). It's finally done and I'm getting it set to release within the next month. I do have a few tracks already on sound cloud.”

“After the release of my debut project 'The No Say EP', I've had the privilege to perform the work live from having recorded and produced it in my bedroom, it feels like a full circle moment. I am currently working on music videos for two songs on the project in tandem with working on my second EP, Root Chakra with music in my home language isiXhosa.”

A Chicago native, Isaiah has made it into the Sunday Service Choir in August 2019 and shares his experience.

“I’m from Chicago and Kanye is one of my idols. He’s a genius of his generation so he changes things on the fly- we are ready for everything. The gospel album he recorded has our voices on it- we did Gospel, we did Opera, and I was just so amazed by the starpower of the choir. These vocalists are cream-of-the-crop, so I am constantly on my toes learning from them. Being so close to greatness, and being on his Gospel album that won a Grammy is a huge deal. Its innovation”.

“Since graduating the academy I’ve been hired by Beacon Street Studio for several commercial vocals. “Spread Love Anthem” featured my vocals for Body Shop skincare company that’s a national spot. I've also had several shows in Downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach. Additionally, I’m completing an EP to be released this summer! ”

“ “BDAY” was a trail run for me. It was my birthday and I decided to try my hand at sampling. This is the second beat I made and rapped to. This song was a quick update for my folks back home to let them know I’m still creating and growing. More to come! I’m taking my time perfecting the art of producing. The academy put a new fire under my feet. I feel like there is a school that teaches music and then there is the 1500 sound academy. They took a lot of critical situations, either good or bad and figured out how to tailor the curriculum for aspiring music geniuses. That vulnerability has shaped the way I approach business and personal relationships. I use to be selfish in my thinking; assuming that I had to be the greatest at everything by myself. I took note of how some of the greatest creatives, that are paid at the highest level still humbled themselves enough to ask for help. I feel empowered to be and assist in a change in the music business for the better.”

“ “ I Choose You” - this song was actually a morning stream of consciousness for me. It’s easy to tell someone you love them, but another to tell someone that they inspire you to be a better person and are always your light and so that’s why you choose them every day. People really seem to connect to it and I’m going to be releasing it as a single this summer! At the moment, I am working on strengthening my catalogue of songs to pitch for film and tv while continuing my practice my skills as a producer and engineer. The Academy has been so great for me because it has pushed me out of comfort zone as a songwriter and allowed me to have practical experience as a producer and engineer. Even though I wasn’t the most experienced engineer, I ended up being the one in the room running the sessions and that simply allowed me to practice those skills everyday. Which was so crucial. Now I feel so confident walking into a session a comfortably and confidently running the session on protocols and even giving it a solid mix.”

“1500 has helped me become a better artist by helping understand the basics of music theory . I like at scales like fundamentals in sports and once you know major a minor scales you have a upper hand in music production. I feel like my music has grown in a technical way. Paying attention to detail and mixing is key to great music production.”

“ “More Than A Lie” is my re-entry into music, my first single release in a long time. Written and performed by myself and produced by Austin Crute. As with most of my songs it’s based on real life experience. About being at the crossroads of saving someone’s feelings and being one hundred percent truthful, because often times the truth hurts more than a lie. 1500 has not only encouraged me to take a deeper look at where my creativity stems from, and how to effectively translate that into songs, but they’ve also given me priceless knowledge, tools, and resources that I can use to build my career & maintain longevity in today’s industry. My time at the 1500 Sound Academy has changed the way I look at myself as a creator and it has empowered me to erase any limitations I put on my artistry. Learning from Rance, James, and every guest speaker we’ve had inspires me to be the best version of myself, to not skip grades and really put in the work."

“I like to experiment with jazz, folk, soul, r&b and hip-hop, whatever elements I find appealing. Oasis is about my journey as an artist in Los Angeles; it highlights the struggles that I’ve faced in the city since moving here in 2016, and how I cope with the harsh realities of the hustle while still maintaining a positive mindset about my career. When I go into nature & relax, I escape from all that so I can breathe & just be at peace with myself. That’s what the oasis is to me. 1500 has not only encouraged me to take a deeper look at where my creativity stems from, and how to effectively translate that into songs, but they’ve also given me priceless knowledge, tools, and resources that I can use to build my career & maintain longevity in today’s industry.”

“My single “You 3” is about this girl I dated for 5 years & we are breaking up, thought I had her record the song with me. It tells a story about me coming to LA trying to own her back, however she saying that she doesn’t want that right now. So its rejection, but an honest rejection. Lately I’ve been trying to create from a space of authenticity and staying true to myself. Some takeaways I got from the Academy- Always looking to learn above all and create from a pure place with yourself & others relationships and the importance of loyalty. Business acumen and how to move around the sharks while along your own plan to success. Learning an instrument is key in expanding your artistic palette. Knowing music through the ages gives you major insight on what works in the public diaspora. And not being a jerk. Just being authentically yourself is the best way to build relationships."