Exhaustive Self-Indulgent History

Thanks for your interest in me. I’m an author, entrepreneur and musician.

Most of the time, when I create anything, I create it for you.

But I guess it wouldn’t be too indulgent to dedicate one page to myself, right? 😉

So, here it is.

Timeline:

Here are some of the “highlights”, as it were. I’m sure I’ll keep adding to it. The details are correct as far as I’m concerned, but I can’t 100% vouch for their accuracy.

1982:

  • Born in Camrose, Alberta, Canada.

1986:

  • Moved to Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan.

1995:

  • Survived the Great Hanshin earthquake.

1996:

  • My dad, Roger Wiebe, tragically passed in a motorcycle accident after being in a coma for 10 days.

1997:

  • Wrote my first song.
  • Moved to Barrhead, Alberta, Canada.
  • Moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
  • Made my first website.

2001:

  • Started playing the guitar.
  • Established Academe Design.

2002:

  • Graduated from Sir Winston Churchill High School.

2003:

  • Graduated from Rocky Mountain College with a Certificate in Discipleship.
  • Started teaching guitar.

2004:

  • Formed a band called Lightly Toasted TouchĂ©.

2005:

  • Released A Tale of the Coming Together and Murder of My Heart in the Golden State EP with Lightly Toasted TouchĂ©.
  • Lightly Toasted TouchĂ© breaks up.
  • Started working on my first solo album, Shipwrecked… My Sentiments.
  • My cousin Mitch took his own life.

2006:

  • Established Red Flame (Records).
  • Released my first solo album, Shipwrecked… My Sentiments.

2007:

  • Wrote 365 songs in a year.
  • Began my personal development journey.

2008:

  • Had a panic attack.
  • Formed a band called Angels Breaking Silence.
  • Had my heart broken by my first girlfriend.
  • Wrote songs for my would-be second solo album, Back on Solid Ground. Unfortunately, things went awry during the recording process and the release was postponed.

2009:

  • Angels Breaking Silence breaks up.
  • Started podcasting. David Andrew Wiebe Podcast was my first podcast. It quickly evolved into David Andrew Interview Interviews and Music Business Podcast and finally DAWCast: Music Entrepreneurship.
  • Started making videos. Ended up building a relatively successful YouTube channel around that time.

2010:

  • Started recording my second album, Demos 2010.

2011:

  • Released my second album, Demos 2010, which eventually became Fire Your God.
  • The Active Light released The Active Light EP, which I guested on as guitarist.
  • Joined two network marketing companies.
  • Performed at the Calgary Fringe Festival.

2012:

  • Became the co-host of Inside Home Recording. Unfortunately, the project was discontinued shortly after.
  • Invested in a music industry startup.
  • Jonathan Ferguson released Sweeter After Difficulties, which I guested on as lead guitarist.
  • Andrew Riches released 12 String Monster, which I co-produced, engineered, mixed and mastered.
  • Started working on my first book, The New Music Industry: Adapting, Growing, and Thriving in The Information Age.

2013:

  • Started working as a ghostwriter with Ghost Blog Writers.

2014:

  • Launched my first audio course, How to Set Up Your Music Career Like a Business.

2015:

  • Launched my first book, The New Music Industry: Adapting, Growing, and Thriving in The Information Age.
  • Long Jon Lev released Telltale Heart, which I guested on as lead guitarist.
  • Became staff writer for Music Industry How To.
  • The music industry startup I invested in failed.

2016:

  • Released my first single, Fragments.
  • Launched The New Music Industry Podcast.
  • Started working 100% from home.
  • Released my second single, City Lights.
  • Released my third single, Don’t Wait Too Long.
  • Released my fourth single, Hope.
  • Launched the Using Your Power podcast.

2017:

  • Released my fifth single, Waves.
  • Released my sixth single, Your Eyes Give It Away.
  • Released the Christmas Surf single under pseudonym Compuxor.

2018:

  • Launched my second book, The Essential Guide to Music Entrepreneurship: 2018 Edition.

2019:

  • Launched my third book, The Essential Guide to Creative Entrepreneurship: Making and Selling Your Neon Yellow Tiger, which became an Amazon bestseller.
  • Launched my fourth book, Start Your Year the Right Way: Goal-Setting, Planning & Achieving Big in Your Music Entrepreneurship Career.
  • Achieved location independence.
  • Released my first solo EP, No Escape.
  • Released my second solo EP, Nowhere Even Near.
  • Yves and The Talent released Ambivalent Certainties, which I guested on as lead guitarist.
  • Moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

2020:

2021:

About Me:

These are the three things I love most:

I Love Creating

From the moment I was born, I was engaged in drawing, painting and crafting. Because I grew up in Japan, I ended up writing and illustrating my own manga (graphic novels), drawing mazes and conceptualizing video game ideas. This went on for the first 14 years or so of my life.

When I turned 14, I started writing songs. I don’t know why. Maybe it had something to do with my dad passing away. I needed a way to express my angst and unresolved pain. I filled binders with lyrics instead of engaging in school work but I also took as many art classes as school allowed.

At 15, I would perform a rap in front of an audience for the first time, which introduced me to the thrill of live performance. At 17, I picked up the guitar, and I would spend the next 10 years of my life trying to make it in music. I played in many bands and even released some work as a solo artist.

During that time, I also honed my skills as a graphic and web designer, blogger, podcaster and YouTuber.

At 27, my focus started shifting to business, and I ended up joining two network marketing companies. Ultimately, I didn’t achieve much in those companies, though I learned a lot about entrepreneurship and business.

I started to see how everything I discovered in business could be applied to music, so I started Music Entrepreneur HQ, an online resource dedicated to helping independent musicians and music entrepreneurs navigate these tumultuous times in the music industry. This is my main focus right now.

Around that time, I also invested in a music industry startup and worked for them as a digital marketer on a contract basis. I started learning everything I possibly could about digital marketing, including blogging, podcasting, social media, email marketing, PR, SEO, analytics and more.

Shortly before turning 31, the startup no longer required my services and let me go. But after taking a bit of a break, I started focusing on my own projects. I’ve shared elsewhere about the many niche sites I started around that time, as I knew I wanted to be in business. To make ends meet, I also started ghostwriting and working on my first book.

Through my many experiences in digital marketing, my passion for writing became rather apparent, which explains why I’ve written so many blog posts, articles and books since. And, this is where my passion still lies.

Today, I still create a bit of everything, whether it’s artwork, music, articles, books, podcasts, videos, courses or otherwise. I’m looking to get everything I possibly can out of writing and podcasting.

I Love Learning

It sounds crazy, but I got hooked on books because of video games (specifically, my love of SimCity and SimCity 2000). I wanted to learn everything I possibly could about those games, so I would purchase guidebooks and devour them.

In ensuing years, I got into fishing. So, then I started reading books about fishing to increase my chances of catching fish on my outings.

That’s how I’ve processed information ever since. If I wanted to learn about personal development or comedy, I bought books. If I wanted to learn about marketing or business, I bought books.

I’ve been a voracious consumer of podcasts as well, and became a podcaster myself. I’ve been podcasting for over 10 years now.

I still love learning and study on a wide range of subjects.

I Love Adventure

I recently became a digital nomad so that I could begin traveling and seeing more of the world. After over 20 years in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (I’m not a fan but the one good thing about it is that it’s close to the mountains), I moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, in October 2019 and even became an official BC resident. I’m not planning to have a permanent address for a while, but when I do, it will likely be in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

In the coming months and years, I plan to explore various parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, North America and South America.

I love going for walks in strange cities, trying new foods, meeting people, learning about different cultures, speaking and performing in public and more. Like anyone else, I have a shy and introverted side too, and when I’m working, I prefer to work in solitude for long, uninterrupted stretches of time.

Projects:

Here are the main projects I’m focusing on right now. I prefer not to take on more than two or three at a time.

Music Entrepreneur HQ

I’m focused on two things with Music Entrepreneur HQ:

  • Making The New Music Industry Podcast the go-to resource in the music business.
  • Creating value-packed, profit-generating products, including books and courses.

I’ll Say “Hell Yeah” to:

I’ve been a part of a variety of projects over the years. These days, I prefer not to spread myself out.

With that in mind, here are some things I will say “hell yeah” to:

Being Interviewed

I estimate that I’ve conducted well over 300 interviews (musicians, entrepreneurs, marketers, etc.) to this point. The truth is, I liked being interviewed more than I like interviewing others. So, if you’d like to interview me for your blog, magazine, podcast, YouTube channel, TV show or otherwise, my answer is “hell yeah!” I will do everything in my power to add value to your audience.

Public Speaking

I’m happy to speak just about anywhere, assuming my travel and lodging expenses are covered, and I can solicit the attendees for their contact information and sell my books, courses and music.

Writing for Select Publications

My content has appeared on sites like Ahrefs, DIY Musician Blog, Bandzoogle and others. As a ghostwriter, my work has even shown up on sites like Entrepreneur and Huffington Post.

I would say “hell yeah” to writing for Huffington Post, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., Fast Company, Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review and the like. Sure, I’ll write for major music industry, creative or marketing blogs too. Otherwise, my answer is probably “no.”

Co-Authorship

If you’ve developed a course geared towards musicians and music entrepreneurs, I can take that content and turn it into a book with both our names on it. A book can be used to boost your authority, drive more leads and customers, and to some extent, increase your revenue. If you’ve got a quality course, then we need to talk.

Note: I’ve set ironclad, immovable goals for 2020, so I probably won’t be striking up any co-authorship deals until 2021.

My Expertise:

I have experience as a singer, rapper, songwriter, composer, transcriber, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, beat maker, band leader, band member, recording artist, session player, church musician, backup musician, music instructor, producer, studio engineer, live engineer, audiovisual technician, graphic designer, web designer, blogger, guest blogger, ghostwriter, freelance writer, interviewer, podcaster, YouTuber, author, marketer, public relations liaison, strategist, futurist, public speaker, presenter, coach, advisor, community builder and host, digital nomad, entrepreneur, investor and more.

Education:

Honestly, my education doesn’t say much about my expertise. What you need to know is that while earning these credentials, I was mostly just drawing, writing songs or playing guitar.

  • High school diploma, Sir Winston Churchill High School (2002)
  • Certificate in Discipleship, Rocky Mountain College (2003)

I’ve Got Over 10,000 Hours (10 Years of Experience) in:

I believe the most useful thing for anyone to focus on is in their specific areas of mastery. I’m not amazing in all of the following areas but I do have over 10,000 hours of experience in each.

  • Songwriting
  • Guitar
  • Bass guitar
  • Composing
  • Singing
  • Web design
  • Graphic design
  • Audio production and engineering
  • Blogging
  • Podcasting

Courses I’ve Completed:

I’m a big believer in ongoing self-education and consider it of greater value than schooling. To that extent, I haven’t been shy about investing in myself. Here is some of the work I’ve completed over the years (this list should not be considered comprehensive):

AppSumo:

  • How to Make a $1,000 a Month Business

Philip Campbell:

  • The Steem Course for Content Creators

ClickFunnels:

  • The One Funnel Away Challenge

HubSpot Academy:

  • Building and Growing Your Twitter Audience
  • Your Ticket to Twitter Content that Attracts, Engages, and Delights
  • The Key to Lead Generation on Twitter
  • Business Blogging

Kindlepreneur:

  • Amazon Advertisements for Books

KLEQ

  • 5 Days To Success
  • Membership Site Profits
  • The Conversion Optimizer Vault
  • The List Ignition Class
  • Traffic Bootcamp
  • Success Maximizers With James Schramko

Landmark Worldwide:

  • The Landmark Forum
  • Advanced Course
  • Self-Expression and Leadership Program
  • The Landmark Forum in Action Seminar
  • Integrity: The Bottom Line
  • Money: From Concern to Freedom
  • The Communication Course: Access to Power
  • The Advanced Communication Course: The Power to Create
  • Team, Management, and Leadership Program – Team 1

Repurpose.io:

  • The Repurpose Blueprint: How To Become a Content Creating Ninja

SuperFastBusiness:

  • Own The Racecourse
  • Podcasting Growth Tips
  • How to Build a Profitable Email List
  • Podcast Supercharger
  • How To Enhance Your Podcast Interviews
  • How to Get Your First (Or Next) Sales SUPERFAST – even if you have a small list
  • Annual Review – Behind The Scenes Of a Seven Figure Lifestyle Business
  • 2020 Vision – What I’m Doing This Year…
  • How To Improve Your Website SEO Health With Gert Mellak
  • Profitable Membership Business
  • Goal Setting And Planning
  • How to Buy Better
  • How To Generate $100K Per Month Consistently
  • How To Choose Which Business Project To Focus On
  • Lunatic Millionaire
  • Getting To Your First Seven Figures

SuperFastResults:

  • Lifestyle Design Secrets of a Seven-Figure Daily Surfer
  • How To Use Short Videos For Profits
  • How To Develop A Strong Mindset
  • How To Build A Content Site You Can Sell For Big $
  • Work Less, Make More 30-Day Challenge
  • The LifeSheet System
  • Conversational Conversions
  • How To Recruit Your Next Team Member

Notable People I’ve Met:

  • Rick Barker
  • Kevin Breuner, CD Baby
  • Jay Calder
  • Dave Chick, Hatched Productions
  • Dave Cool, Bandzoogle
  • Doug Doppler
  • Rick Derringer
  • Cheryl Engelhardt
  • Bob Halligan, Jr.
  • Ralph Klein
  • Larnell Lewis
  • Paul Phelps, Outerloop
  • Matt Ramsey, Ramsey Voice Studio
  • Chris Robley, CD Baby
  • Greg Sestero
  • Simon Tam
  • Steve Taylor
  • Brent Vaartstra, Learn Jazz Standards
  • Tyler Volkmar, Rock Paper Scissors
  • Greg Wilnau, Musician Monster

My Favorite Things:

I’m sure you can get a good sense of who I am by learning about some of my favorite things. So, here are some of my favorite books, movies, musical artists, TV shows and video games.

Favorite Quote:

“You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” – Zig Zilar

Favorite Books:

I’ve read well over 200 books to this point, though I’ve lost count of exactly how many. Here are some I would consider my personal favorites:

  • Double Double: How to Double Your Revenue and Profit in 3 Years or Less by Cameron Herold
  • The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
  • Work Less, Make More: The counter-intuitive approach to building a profitable business, and a life you actually love by James Schramko
  • Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses by Joe Pulizzi
  • Book Yourself Solid: The Fastest, Easiest, and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even if You Hate Marketing and Selling by Michael Port
  • The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich (Expanded and Updated) by Timothy Ferriss
  • Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur by Derek Sivers
  • No B.S. Business Success In The New Economy: Seven Core Strategies for Rapid-Fire Business Growth by Dan Kennedy
  • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
  • The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favorite Movies:

  • The Goonies
  • Back to the Future
  • The Matrix
  • Inception

Favorite Musical Artists:

  • Collective Soul
  • Dan Reed Network
  • David Bowie
  • Disciple
  • Extreme
  • Harem Scarem
  • Ivana Santilli
  • Jimi Hendrix
  • King’s X
  • Marianas Trench
  • Marty Friedman
  • Mourning Widows
  • Nuno Bettencourt
  • Prince
  • Remy Shand
  • Richie Kotzen
  • They Might Be Giants
  • Van Halen
  • The Veer Union
  • “Weird Al” Yankovic
  • Winger

Favorite TV Shows:

Favorite Video Games:

  • SimCity
  • Final Fantasy V
  • Dragon Quest V
  • SimCity 2000
  • Secret of Mana
  • Final Fantasy VI
  • Dragon Quest VI
  • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
  • Unreal Tournament
  • Half-Life
  • Half-Life 2