Meet a former A&R rep who was deeply entrenched in the heart of the music industry with giants like Sire Records and Warner and then chose to leave it all behind.
Jeff Serafine is a man of many facets. He navigated the ever-changing tides of the music industry and rubbed shoulders with icons. Jeff left the big labels to pursue artist management independently, but life took a series of unexpected turns. Realizing he wasn’t fulfilled in the fast-paced world of the music business, Jeff, who initially studied audio engineering and music therapy, ventured into assisting startups until he realized that fledgling businesses were a lot like bands. Jeff's story is a blueprint of daring change, a narrative that challenges the status quo and inspires the maverick in each of us.
In our talk, Jeff delves into his experiences in the music industry, sharing insights from his A&R days and reflecting on the industry's evolution. We explore the intersection of art and business, and Jeff opens up about life's unforeseen turns. He humorously discusses the ubiquity of his name and shares his half-serious dream of one day founding a conference exclusively for people named “Jeff.” Our conversation covers everything from the importance of networking – where a simple ride-share could lead to new opportunities – to his pragmatic shift to financial advising. Jeff's journey is a testament to embracing change and finding new paths when the familiar ones diverge. Finally, Jeff shares his love of stand-up comedy and jokes about possibly giving it a try if everything else falls apart.
Wrapping up our discussion with Jeff, it's clear that his story celebrates life's unpredictability. It’s a narrative that challenges us to find excitement in the unknown and to view each 'hard left' not as a detour but as a pathway to new and exhilarating destinations.
Guest: Jeff Serafine
Instagram: @JeffLeopardSerafine
Episode References:
Seymour Stein (Sire Records)
Sire Records (Discogs.com)
Warner Records (Wikipedia)
Millie Vanilli (Independent.co.uk)
Ashlee Simson SNL lip-sync incident (Yahoo Entertainment)
Elizabeth Holmes Theranos scandal (CNN)
Morning Pages (a description by Chris Winfield)
Sleep Token (official website | Spotify)
Story of the Year (official website | Spotify)
Berklee College of Music - www.berklee.edu
Featured Music
Black Cats by Testing Tomorrow (Spotify)
Water by Testing Tomorrow (Spotify)
Nothing Wrong by Lobate Scarp (BandCamp)
About the Host
Language of Creativity’s host Steven Leavitt enjoys discussing the ins and outs of all aspects of creating, creativity, and life with his fellow creators: artists, inventors, designers, producers and more. Along the way he hopes to gain perspective and multiply our understanding of what we share in common while creating, living, and learning.
Personal website and music portfolio - StevenLeavitt.com
Music and media production company, creative consulting - I Create Sound
Hard Left – Jeff Serafine (former A&R rep)