CEO @
DAWn Audio
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Next time you feel like making music, imagine if you could jump into an Xbox-style lobby and collaborate in real-time with artists from around the world to create a track—all while using your current DAW setup.
That's a future Diego Pinzon, CEO and co-founder of DAWn Audio, is working to make a reality. Diego joins us to share his vision for a live music creation network that allows artists to transcend the limitations of traditional studios, digital audio workstation (DAW) learning curves, and physical location. This episode offers a look at how DAWn Audio is bridging the gap between emerging talent and seasoned pros through its technology, creating a community of spontaneous creativity and learning opportunities.
We discuss the value of music as a creative journey, through an Ana Gabriel cover performed by Diego, his father and his uncle. We dive into the nuances of creating environments conducive to creativity, whether through physical spaces and events like Dreamville's 10-day "Revenge of the Dreamers 3" artist camp, or via digital platforms like DAWn. From J Dilla and Madlib's legendary Jaylib collaboration, to fostering connections across generations (exemplified by the pervasive sampling of Hank Crawford's timeless track "Wildflower"), this conversation uncovers how music acts as a timeless thread linking artists and audiences alike.
Throughout, we discuss the technological and community innovation DAWn brings to the table, particularly in eliminating the barriers for musicians to collaborate on their own terms, and focusing on the communal cultural impact the act of music-making has within communities.
DAWn allows musicians to collaborate on tracks in real-time, regardless of which digital audio workstation (DAW) they use. Core to DAWn's ethos is putting the act of creating music at the centre of what they do, and allowing artists to do this on their own terms, in their own environment and with a workflow that works for them
With the dominance of digital distribution and consumption platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, music has become an increasingly commodified product, with many artists focusing on streams and social media following to get paid. However, Diego emphasises the importance of the social act of creating music together, something that DAWn enables for professionals and hobbyists alike
The technology also enables a broader vision: a network that allows users to meet new collaborators, engage in challenges and competitions, and amplify the social benefits of live music-making across communities. While much of current music tech innovation is focused on new ways to produce and monetise music (itself a worthy cause), the broader social and cultural power of the application of DAWn has a potentially transformative impact for social connectivity and cultural exchange
DAWn does not seek to replace in-person collaboration, but instead increase access to it, bridging the gap between aspiring and professional artists, physical locations, and the knowledge and creativity that comes with working with new and different people
The Pinzon Family
Hank Crawford
Dreamville ft. JID, EARTHGANG, Buddy & Guapdad 4000