My First Post

Music was my first language. Tech came later, but quickly became the most expressive medium I’ve found.

📣 1. From Stage to Screen: A Non-Traditional Path into Tech

My career started in the entertainment industry, specifically in music. I picked up the guitar at 14, discovered I had some talent by 14-and-a-half, and by 21, I was playing professionally in bands.

Supporting myself this way was a dream - write a song in the morning, rehearse during the day, then perform for money, applause, and free drinks in the evening. It felt pretty cool.

But soon I realised it wasn’t just the instrument I loved, it was music as a whole. I preferred the jam over any one label or style.

To expand my musical horizons, I learned drums and bass guitar. Before long, I was juggling several bands, playing drums, bass, or guitar - sometimes multiple gigs in a single night, often as a substitute or a session musician in studios.

💛❤️🖤 2. I Wanted To Feel A Part Of Something

Playing in bands gave me a sense of belonging and the creative process was magical: starting with a blank canvas, building ideas, iterating over those ideas, and within hours having a song ready to share.

When bandmates truly connect, it’s almost telepathic. Ideas flow with ease, although that harmony takes years to build and the right people to spark the creative fire.

I felt I'd reached my peak as a musician - playing sought-after stages, sharing unforgettable moments, and meeting fascinating people. The euphoria was the ultimate dopamine hit.

After a few years, that high started to fade sooner each time. The process became repetitive, and like anything repetitive, it began to feel mundane. I’d climbed my mountain, planted my flag, and wondered: what’s next?

📈 3. From Standard-Time To Business-Time

Wanting to be part of a community and curious about the business side, I landed a job as a booking agent.

Starting as a two-person team booking one venue a few nights a week, our model quickly grew to 30-40 events weekly, covering solo shows, band showcases, and tours - over 100 artists booked per week.

This success came from genuine care, consistency, and industry knowledge.

We moved into an office within a recording studio, where I was promoted to Operations Manager, leading a team across several live music venues.

My role involved pitching live nights, negotiating, organising artists, managing logistics, and overseeing smooth shows.

Though it was hard work, I was surrounded by good people and live music - it was a rewarding experience.

🌏 4. I Want It All

I left the company to pursue my own ventures and founded a booking agency - Swash Agency.

We grew from managing one venue two nights a week to organising most of the live music in the local area, partnering with a wide range of artists and venues. I led a team of four, booking 10 - 15 shows weekly, a manageable pace that gave me a real sense of pride and achievement.

During this time, I realised I needed a website and began exploring software-heavy topics like web development.

This sparked a huge passion for coding - perfect timing, since COVID hit shortly after, putting all our clients on indefinite pause until the world settled down.

💻 5. Selling Music to Selling Software

I spent 6 to 12 months learning full-stack development with the MERN stack, gradually discovering the incredible world of technology with the help of the community over at 100Devs. After that, I spent about two years continuously building projects.

Along the way, I noticed parallels between music and software development: both start with a blank canvas, involve setting up systems, iterating on ideas, collaborating with a talented team, and ultimately creating a product to share with the world.

I decided to offer my services as a freelancer and put the word out. Through word of mouth, I landed several freelance contracts and began building my portfolio.

💡 6. Plan, Develop, Iterate.

There’s always so much to learn and never enough time. Now, I dive deep into specific topics with focus and intent.

I’ve re-learned how to learn - embracing consistency and persistence - and developed a capacity for growth I never thought possible.

I’ve always been a self-starter, but now I’m thinking bigger and exploring new directions.

Along the way, I’ve met some great developers and am grateful for the supportive tech community around me.

☕️ 7. Creative Roots, Melbourne Vibes

I live in Melbourne, Australia - a city that’s felt like home from day one.

It’s packed with creative energy, quirky characters, and quiet brilliance.

Outside of coding, I write music, draw, paint, and skateboard.

I used to live for nightlife; now I cherish quiet mornings, open notebooks, and good coffee.

🎯 8. What I’m Building

Right now, I’m validating a product idea: a lightweight async communication dashboard for small creative teams.

Think check-ins, feedback, and SOPs - without the clutter of Google Docs, Slack, Notion, or Basecamp. I have wireframes, a prototype in progress, and plenty of market research ahead.

I’ll be documenting the process here, so if you’re a solo founder, studio manager, or builder-artist, stick around.

🔁 9. What I Bring With Me

Leading a band taught me invaluable lessons about collaboration - more than any formal workshop could offer. I learned how to listen deeply, balance different creative voices, and build something greater than the sum of its parts. That experience shaped how I approach teamwork today, valuing open communication and trust above all else.

Performing live was a masterclass in handling pressure. On stage, there’s no script and no second chances - you have to think on your feet, improvise when things go off-plan, and keep the audience engaged no matter what. That ability to adapt quickly and stay present has been crucial in fast-paced development environments.

Running businesses sharpened my skills in selling ideas, adapting to changing circumstances, and outright survival. I learned to read the room, pivot when necessary, and maintain persistence during challenging times - qualities essential for any entrepreneur or builder.

Bringing all these experiences together with my passion for coding, I’ve developed a unique approach to building software. It’s grounded in creativity, adaptability, and resilience - the foundations that guide every project I take on today.

👋 10. Let’s Connect

If you’re passionate about software, creative tools, or building something meaningful, I’d love to swap ideas.

Follow me on LinkedIn.