James Fargo, or more commonly known as ”Twizz” is a music producer hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. He is most known for producing songs for the likes of: Polo G, Lil Baby, Tory Lanez, French Montana, NLE Choppa, and DDG amongst others. We had the pleasure of interviewing the young talent on his journey thus far.
How has the present day social media scene increased your success as a young producer in the music industry?
Social media has been so important in increasing my success as a producer so far. A lot of my first big songs and connections were made via Instagram, and it was a huge reason why I was able to get my foot in the industry at such a young age. It also helps me connect with talented artists and producers from all around the world, that I wouldn’t have been able to get in contact with otherwise.
Who were some of your biggest inspirations when making your final choice in becoming an entrepreneur?
My dad is definitely a huge influence in giving me an entrepreneurial mindset; he always reminds me to invest, and spend the money I’m making off music wisely. In terms of artists, I’m very inspired by the business mindsets of Kanye, Rick Ross, and Drake. They all took the money they made from music and invested it into other business ventures, and made their money back tenfold.
What were some obstacles that you have faced while balancing your entrepreneurial mindset with school and work? How did you overcome them?
Being in high school while trying to maintain a full time career as a producer was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do, but I would write down a list of everything I had to do in the day and figure out time slots for each thing to make sure I got everything done. Proper time management has been super important in my success so far.
Why did you decide to begin your career in the industry as a music producer rather than choosing a different lane?
I actually tried starting my music career as an artist, and would attempt to make beats for myself. At the time, though, I didn’t have the money for a good recording setup or the knowledge on engineering my vocals, so I realized producing was a much easier way to gain motion. I started taking producing for other artists more seriously after that and once I started making money off my music, I reinvested it back into myself and began to make my own music too.
How did you get in contact with your first big name clients?
A lot of my first major placements were with my melodies, and the other producer’s drums. I would send out these melodies to producers who were directly in touch with major artists, and they would send our beats out to them. A lot of the networking I did was all about trying to find something unique you can offer that everyone needs.
Having recently graduated high school, how did you assure artists such as Polo G that your talents deserved to be collaborated with theirs?
First off, I always make sure my business is on point. A lot of industry producers are hesitant to work with younger producers with no credits, because they end up complicating the paperwork and splits. Handling good business carries weight in the industry, and word will spread fast if you do bad business. As far as my sound, I made sure that the music I was sending out was unique and fresh, and able to catch the ear of major artists like Polo.
Do you have any advice for your fellow peers who aspire to accomplish what you have already?
Consistency is a huge key to success for sure. From the time I started sending out beats and loops, I’ve sent out every single week, without fail. Even if I was sick, swamped with work, or on vacation I would always make sure that pack went out. Once you start to build a network people rely on your punctuality and if you’re skipping weeks you end up missing out on potential opportunities. Patience is another major virtue; a lot of producers will be going for a placement for a couple months and then give up on it. It might take years for you to get that one record you’re really hoping for, but if you keep at it you’re going to beat out the producers that quit a couple months in.