Music influences the way people view the world, themselves, and their circumstances. Musicians have a great power and responsibility to use their talent to shape society and evoke emotions from their audience. In this episode, Tommy talks with versatile Music Producer and Composer Alexander Hitchens, who produces everything from rap to hip hop to classical music. Alexander worked hard as a teacher at the Monarch Center for Autism before he was able to make music his primary source of income. He attributes his success to working hard, putting himself out there, and getting creative about where his music can live.  Alexander chats with Tommy about how he was able to make a living practicing his craft as well as the roles that perseverance, patience, and passion played in his transformation from a Cleveland-based violinist to a Grammy-winning music producer and composer. Key Takeaways [2:53] - How Alexander became interested in music. [5:09] - Alexander’s first money-making musical gig. [7:00] - How music transitioned from Alexander’s hobby to his career. [10:40] - The story behind Alexander’s big break. [16:12] - Alexander’s advice for aspiring producers. [18:50] - How Alexander connected with Christian rapper Thi’sl. [20:35] - Sound clip produced by Alexander, “I Hate You” by Thi’sl. [21:57] - Alexander expands his musical repertoire. [23:59] - Sound clip produced by Alexander, “The Greatest Artist of All Time” by Jefferson Bethke. [25:00] - Alexander gets invited to compose for Nike. [30:30] - Sound clip Alexander produced for Kobe Bryant, “Innovation Master.” [32:53] - How to make a living doing your craft. [35:07] - Why creativity is essential to being a producer. [36:54] - The musical revenue model. [45:04] - The intersection of music and autism. [47:56] - The best way to keep in touch with Alexander. Quotes [09:50] - “I’m a big believer in making peace with the process. You have to lay brick by brick, piece by piece, relationship by relationship until one day, that door knocks.” ~ Alexander Hitchens [42:41] - “We live in a culture where we always want to pick the fruit the same day we plant the seed. But guess what? That’s not how nature works. You gotta plant the seed and trust it, and in due time, you’ll reap the harvest that you’re supposed to reap.” ~ Alexander Hitchens [48:28] - “Be a giver. If you plant and give, you’ll always find yourself in the right room.” ~ Alexander Hitchens Links  Alexander Hitchens on Twitter Alexander Hitchens' Website Alexander Hitchens on SoundCloud Alexander Hitchens on Spotify Alexander Hitchens on Apple Music The Cleveland Orchestra 116 on Spotify Monarch Center for Autism Connect with our hosts Mammoth Tommy on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Learn more about Mammoth Scientific's Health & Tech Fund 1 When you move beyond the point of making sure your retirement goals are on track, your investment opportunities are wider than just publicly traded funds. Step into the world of investing in venture capital by learning more about Mammoth Scientific's Health & Tech Fund 1. Curated by some of the leading medical and fintech experts, Mammoth's Fund 1 is paving the way for health science and tech innovation. If you're interested in helping patient care, provider insight, and instrumentation go beyond possibility and into reality, check it out today at Mammoth.vc. Visit Mammoth.vc today!