I recently stumbled across a Fast Company article highlighting a partnership between Rick Rubin & Squarespace where Rubin designed a website template. The collaboration stemmed from Squarespace’s “Squarespace Icons” initiative where they team up with creatives to design a website, followed by designing a “template inspired by that website”.

It got me thinking…what if more artists and creatives shared an inside look at the specific tools and resources they utilize to create with their fans?

This newsletter covers:

• An inside look at your favorite creator

Let’s dive in ⬇️ 

According to the Fast Company article, “Rubin’s website, like his podcast series, is called Tetragrammaton. As Rubin described it in an email to Fast Company, it is “a quiet website that gets out of the way,” or a “reaction to the general experience of the internet and how the internet feels today.” (Tetragrammaton hasn’t officially launched yet but anyone can access a prototype by signing up here.)”

Here is the demo site Rick Rubin designed:

Here is the template (not yet available to the public)

There’s an interesting idea here…what if your favorite creator designed a preset file utilizing the style they’re known for and made it accessible for other creatives to use?

Here are a few examples:

1. Gibson Hazard

What if Gibson Hazard sold or gave away a set of files with the specific preset settings he uses that have made his editing recognizable?

It could be a really motivating and fun thing for an aspiring videographer or editor to download that file and learn exactly what goes into Gibson’s style - the specific transitions, effect names, filters, etc with an example file of something he’s edited.

Gibson may not want to share too much of his secret recipe (since it’s what helps make him unique) but something like that could help develop and strengthen the relationship with his audience while providing tremendous value.

There are tutorials on YouTube sharing similar content (ie: How to Edit Like Gibson Hazard) but there doesn’t appear to be anything from Gibson Hazard himself.

2. 40

What if 40 shared a sample Pro Tools file with all of the preset settings, transitions, reverb, etc he used while working on a specific song with Drake?

40 has shared specific elements of his work - for example, this package of keys with Native Instruments.

Imagine as a Drake or 40 fan how cool it could be to buy something like this and not only learn from it but have it also serve as sort of a collector’s item being an inside look at how your favorite creator makes their art.

40 & Drake may not want to share this information (especially since tracked out files make it easier for people to manipulate or edit that specific song), but a version of this could be a really powerful tool for any producer - Rick Rubin, Metro Boomin, etc.

Elements of this do exist (ie Splice Sample packs) but a preloaded file complete with all sample elements would be cool.

3. LaRussell

What if LaRussell shared the process for how he creates and edits content?

For example, a literal behind-the-scenes look at the shooting and editing process - how many pieces of content are shot per day, how long it takes, etc.

Then the editing process - what font, transitions, filters, etc are used to maintain the same branding etc.

Now…I know I might sound crazy but I totally recognize there’s a fine line between doing something like this and not revealing too much of what makes each creative unique (and possibly giving away strategies to help the competition). These are just situational examples that might spur future ideas for how creatives interact and engage their audiences.

Thanks for reading, until next time.

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