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This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Naethan Apollo, an independent artist known for blending immersive storytelling with genre-bending songwriting. With over 1.4 million followers on TikTok and more than 500K monthly listeners on Spotify, Naethan has built a loyal fanbase through a mix of creative world-building, DIY ethos, and direct fan engagement. His latest project, Tales From Cazilor: Wyldflowers, an ambitious fusion of concept album, musical, and animated series that showcases his unique narrative vision.
In this conversation, Naethan opens up about the intersection of storytelling and songwriting in his work, and how his creative influences shaped his latest release. He also offers a surprisingly hopeful take on AI in music and reflects on how social media played a major role in his rise. The conversation digs into how he built a dedicated community around his work, the importance of setting boundaries for mental health, and how he’s redefining success on his own terms. Looking ahead, Naethan shares what’s next for his career and what motivates him to keep creating.
https://www.instagram.com/naethan_apollo/
00:00 – Introduction and Naethan’s arrival
02:15 – Discussing “Tales from Casalor: Wildflowers”
10:30 – The inspiration behind combining music and storytelling
18:45 – Naethan’s creative process and influences
25:00 – Navigating social media and building a fanbase
35:20 – The role of community and fan engagement
45:00 – Challenges of mental health and setting boundaries
55:30 – Future plans and aspirations for Naethan’s music and storytelling
01:05:00 – Closing thoughts and Naethan’s definition of success in the music industry
Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://aristake.com
