As a musician you dream of having your music played on the radio, on TV, or in movies.
At least that was my dream for most of my life. Growing up a singer and songwriter, I worked HARD at creating music that people enjoyed and my goal was to get signed as a rock act.
Turns out God had other plans for my talents and gifts (this is one of them) – and I’m OK with that.
But just two weeks ago, one of my songs was featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon!
How in the world could I spent almost my whole life TRYING to get my music onto a big platform like national television with no such success, and then this summer I help write, record, and mix a single that a few months later gets picked up by NBC without me even lifting a finger?
The answer is humbling – but powerful for you and your music.
The Power Of Collaboration
First things first – my song being featured on The Tonight Show isn’t as big of a deal as it sounds.
They simply needed some “walkout” music for one of their guests, actor Bryan Cranston. The Roots (Jimmy’s live band) covered the song and played it for about 15 or 20 seconds while Bryan walked out on stage, waved to the audience, and sat down to chop it up with Jimmy Fallon.
You can watch it here. Skip to about 21 minutes into the broadcast.
They need music for moments like this all the time, so they’re happy to pay a few bucks and move on.
To me, however, this was awesome! I was telling all my friends and family and I was proud to have my music played by a killer band on a massive TV show.
But let’s slow down.
Full disclosure, I didn’t write this song by myself.
One of my good friends and talented music producer ill Factor came to me earlier this year with a song idea. He had already fleshed out a basic arrangement, the hook, and even a solid vocal melody and some lyric ideas.
Originally it was a song he was writing for a video game, but in the end they couldn’t use it so he decided to ask me to help him finish it for a single release.
I immediately LOVED the song as it seemed to blend that 90s grunge style of Weezer and Nirvana with ill Factor’s signature electronic sound with dirty synths and pulsing bass.
I helped finish the lyrics, played guitar, sang lead vocal, and mixed the single. The song is called Raise My Flag and you can stream it on Spotify or Apple Music right now.
And this is the humbling part, the reason my song got featured on Jimmy Fallon was because it really wasn’t my song.
It was ill Factor’s song.
If I hadn’t collaborated with him on this project, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
ill Factor is a Grammy nominated producer. He works with some of the biggest names in music. His own music has been featured in massive video games. And it was his publishing company that helped land the gig with NBC.
Honestly, I just rode his wave.
Double Your Opportunities And Creativity
Yes, I helped write the lyrics, yes I created the guitar parts, yes I sang the song, and yes it was my mix that was being shopped around to NBC.
But it wasn’t all me.
It was the combination of ill Factor and Graham that made this happen.
And this applies to you in a HUGE way if you let it.
By lowering your pride and finding someone who is more talented than you or at least talented in different ways and choosing to collaborate with him, you instantly double your creative output and your opportunities for success.
You combine YOUR sound, musical ideas, and talents with HER sound, musical ideas, and talents.
You combine YOUR network, connections, fans, and audience with HIS network, connection, fans and audience.
In an instant you are 2x more likely to create something awesome and have it make an impact in the world.
Simply by collaborating.
My man, ill Factor eating some Ramen Cables.
I Dare You To Collaborate
I usually do music all by myself, but it only took collaborating on one song – ONE SONG – for me to have my music played on The Tonight Show.
Why not you?
Why not find someone super talented to collaborate with? Why not offer your talents, gifts, and abilities to them in order to create a powerhouse of creativity?
I dare you to collaborate with someone on even just ONE song in the next 30 days.
What have you got to lose? Nothing but your time.
What have you to gain? The possibilities are limitless!
If you decide to take me up on this, leave a comment below telling me that you accept my collaboration dare!
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My name is Graham Cochrane and I'm the founder of The Recording Revolution, one of the world's most loved audio recording and mixing blogs with over 200,000 readers each month. 
Congrats! Sadly both videos won’t played for my location. I guess it’s a tv license thing.
Anyway, rock on 🙂
Congrats!
Well done Graham. You are always an inspiration to me and I agree fully about collaborating with others.
Congratulations Graham, that’s so awesome and exciting!! You’re a huge inspiration to everyone! 🙂
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations Graham!!!
Congratulations, Graham!
Congratulations on the TV play! So.Many.Ads, its a wonder you got any exposure at all.
Inspiring, as always. Congrats on several things you mention here, major airtime, collaborating with someone recognizable, and having the faith and courage to follow a plan bigger than your own. I’m going to list you as inspirational collaborator on my new project, plus I’m putting your advice to work – every bit I can. Thank for sharing this!
Thanks Kenneth!
Congratulations, brother. You deserve it. You have been given a lot for a long time. Glad to see you’re starting to reap the fruits.
Its good Graham. Deserves the attention.
AWESOME!! Congrats, Graham.
Graham, outstanding song, outstanding posts always. I’d collaborate with you anytime my friend. Congratulations on your continued success and I hope that this next year will be the very finest year of our lives so far!!
Thank you John – means a lot.
Very cool, Graham. The tune is not my style of music at all, but I REALLY liked it. Great hook, and the story and moral were well told. You’re doing a lot of good for the recording/mixing community, and it’s great to see it coming back to you. Good on yer!
Thanks Rusty!
Congratulations Graham, that’s awesome. Collaboration with others is *always* to your advantage.
Bit disappointed Graham, unable to watch the videos. Thanks for the tip!
Balagopal, India
Congratulations on this well deserved Musical blessing!
I really like what you are doing with Recording Revolution, but sorry, I see it as a cop out when people blame God for what they cannot do. We all have free will. We are not preprogrammed robots.
I agree – God has given us free will, to make choices. We are not robots. However, as a Christian I believe that God is simultaneously in control and has a plan for each of our lives. Sometimes that means things don’t go exactly as we would plan them to go.
Congrats Graham! For some reason a youtube video above is not available from my country (Ukraine) as well as the NBC video.
Awesome, man! Maybe some day you’ll be a featured guest, I can see it happening.
The video is not available, unfortunately. I would have been really curious.
Good luck with everything, and God bless!
Awesome Graham. GOD IS GOOD. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE with Him
Awesome! To tell you the truth, you sang it MUCH better 😉
Haha. Thanks. Quest Love kinda sounded drunk when he sang it.
Well done. Congratulations!
Way to go Graham.
Its funny how many songwriters around the world write solely by themselves. We see it all the time with visitors here to Nashville who often respond like this when asked to write together, why would I want to write a song with you? But in a town filled with songwriters and musicians, every one here knows why–because it usually take at least two or more writers to pen a great song.
Producers know you can’t usually produce anything without a few people involved first, which means collaboration. Having a co-writer or co-writers offers a balanced perspective to the writing, meaning if two or three writers can agree the song has legs, then its more likely a good song idea. Its difficult to be objective when you are your only critic.
Its also a way to bring out the best in each person involved. For instance, I write with a friend of mine who doesn’t play guitar very well, can’t sing to save his life, but is a great lyricist. Another writer friend of mine writes killer song melodies and can usually come in with a great foundation for a song idea. Together, each of us brings a little something to the table, and we use our strengths to write the best songs we can.
Whats even better is that today we can collaborate with people from anywhere. We can write via FaceTime, DropBox sessions, stems or song parts as files, the possibilities are endless. I urge everyone to collaborate with other musicians and writers and embrace this process. If you’re still a little unsure as to the relevancy and importance of collaboration, I urge you to read the latest findings from ASCAP. A recent examination of the top 100 songs reveal that on average, at least four writers were involved in each song.
http://www.musicweek.com/publishing/read/songwriting-why-it-takes-more-than-two-to-make-a-hit-nowadays/068478
Great Man. I believe I have heard this song someplace else.
Hey Graham – congrats! …and thanks for RR!
(I’m taking you up on the challenge)
Good for you!
Outstanding Graham ! ! ! Very Happy for ya….
Its a really cool song, catchy, well mixed. Great job and congratulations!
Congrats Graham
Awesome Graham, great track congrats!
GRAHAM… CONGRATS BRO THE TONIGHT SHOW…WHAT’S NEXT THE SUPERBOWL HALF TIME GIG PERHAPS? GOD’S WILL BE DONE!
Haha. That would be a blast.
Congrats Graham
Congratulations Graham! You’re such a wonderful giving man. I’ve learned so much from you and am happy about your story. May the good Lord continue to bless you in every good way!
Thank you!
Hey Graham, Kahoots on the Fallon play. It is indeed a good song. Collaboration is good when you strike a chemistry with someone and that can be difficult to find. I have been involved in collaboration that can become stale and have felt refreshed going back to working alone. Ultimately though, I agree. Collaboration will usually find the best in you and you can’t beat that feeling. Props G Bomb, keep livin large in the suburbs. Cheers.
🙂
Synths, guitars and mangled drums go so well together. Great song, you need to do more of this. Maybe a collaborated EP.
Already in the works 😉
Well done Graham.
Nice one Graham!
Nice work Graham, congratulations to you and Ill Factor. I purchased the single on iTunes, really love the song and production.
Thanks for supporting the song John!
Just wanted to say congratulations! God is Good! I will try to collaborate with someone this month.
Hello Graham, I think you are one cool dude. I’ve learned so much from you. I’m from south Fl. By the time I was around 16 or 17…back in 79 or 80…I started playing in bars, schools ,weddings ,anywhere we could get a gig. I quickly became the guy who bought a P.A. rig and learned how to use it. In 1987 I had saved enough cash to go into a local studio. I had never recorded before. I played a guitar part to a click and then layed down a lead trak. I left the tape with the engineer and asked him to play it for anyone who needed players for a project. Not a month or two later, some guy came in wanting to do an entire original album. He liked my trak and brought me in. It was not for pay…it was just a thing. Very quickly I got to be involved with songwriting, mixing and producing. my live experience helped me and translated into studio production. somehow I had a knack for doing what needed to be done. Around 1995, I bought my first computer. I got a copy of cakewalk and started going at it without really knowing what I was doing. Now years ,later , I’m using Abelton and mostly Reaper. However, I stumbled onto your knowledge bass. Now ,because of all your free help…my skills have gone through the roof. I thank you so much!. I’m not able at this time to repay you monetarily ..but when I can…I will send you something. By the way….Its not a lowering of pride at all. I learned how to play by going anywhere there was live music and begging to sit in. I beg for knowledge from whoever will enlighten me. Once you stop learning…the adventure is over. I love you man!!!!!
Thanks for the encouragement Jon!
Congratulations Graham. You’re in there, its you.
I’m all about encouraging collaboration, Graham, what a great story/post/brush with international fame! After listening to your and Ill Factor’s single, I cued up the hook and listened to the Roots version right after it, he repeated the hook line a few times over the drumbeat, so cool to hear that. Since Bryan’s new movie is “Last Flag Flying” I’m guessing they did a search for songs (that were available to them) with the word “Flag” in the title and “I’ll Raise My Flag” came up. Good for you, brother.
Congrats, Graham! You are the man! Don’t stop now!
I’ve worked with a band that got to play on the Dave Letterman show, (the last 2 minutes), back when. I know the thrill of being a part of something cool. Thanks for sharing your joy with us Graham, your successes are so well deserved.
Congratulations!
So cool John!
Awesome song and vocal Graham! Really like it…
I too cant view the Roots clip from here in new zealand but love listening to your version…
Paul
So True,.. quite recently i lived that experience too (collaboration) and got nice results and a very interesting deal ahead….
God Bless Your Ministry
Awesome to hear!
Good luck in all things Graham and seasons best greetings to you and your loved ones 🙂
Thanks Andy
Very encouraged to hear this Graham! It’s awesome to see what God will do when we humble ouuselves, take up our cross, and follow Him!he is going to use your music in awesome ways. I am blessed by all youe wisdom and willingness to use your gifts and talents in a way that honors Him and serves others on ways they wouldn’t be otherwise! Blessings to you brother and thank you for sharing and giving the glory to the One who is worthy of it!
Also, great song! I dig the sound and the lyrics! It’s refreshing to hear the produced work of Graham (with collaboration) and that work seeing TV time!
Thanks Jake!
I accept your collaboration dare! Look for a single by Ashley Cressy & Dapper G -“Thirsting” Out soon!!!!
Love it!
Graham, congrats! You’re always giving freely to others, and even in the products that I’ve purchased from you, your generous and encouraging spirit shines bright.
Thank you for all you do, and I wish you much much more success on the big platform.
God Bless!
That means a lot Dustin. Thanks!
Congratulations, Graham. This is very well deserved recognition of your great talent as a musician, producer, and engineer. And as if that wasn’t enough, you are also a gifted educator and explainer. I can’t tell you how much you have helped me better understand (home) recording, production, and engineering. You are one out of the box. Thank you, and good luck with your ongoing projects. I know this will not be the last major breakthrough you have!
Regards
Simon
Thanks so much Simon!
Great job Graham! Big congrats! I too have learned so much from your tips and tutorials through the years. Keep up the awesome work!
Graham,
Congrats brother! God can make things happen all by himself. Praise God for his glory and might in the name of Jesus!
Your a GREAT singer/producer/mixer. Much inspired by your content. I’m glad you received the much deserved attention for your God given gifts! Congrats to you and ill Factor!
Jack
Thanks Jack!
Congrats, Graham. I would really love to hear those songs, but they are “not available in my country”. I understand the first one, but on youtube, I don’t know why that should be blocked? It’s yours, insn’t it? Why do they block *your* content in Germany?
Search for it on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, or wherever you get music.
Same as arT2 and Werner Karl: I couldn`t see the video(s)… But yes, I agree collaboration is a good thing (if and when we find someone to collaborate with; doesn`t seem an easy task here in Portugal).
On the other end and for my experience, it`s sad that some realy talented people (like you) can`t just pop out from the croud unless by using “someone else`s brand”… but I guess that`s just the way it is.
Still, I want / must congratulate you for this achivement (don`t know if it`s well written)and wish you and all your family a Merry Christmas and a (realy) Happy New Year!
All the best from Portugal,
Paulo Andrade
Challenge accepted. Just started a livestream show on Twitch where we do precisely what you’re talking about. Check it out and feel free to hit me up about collab possibilities … thanks!
https://www.twitch.tv/senseihollywood
https://www.twitch.tv/senseihollywood/events
Congratulations Graham; we would’ve loved to have watched/heard your music played on NBC. Unfortunately, since NBC and their corporate partners are a bit greedy, they don’t care about allowing you to share your shining moment of on-air music stardom is shared with your followers. All that we saw was a stark note stating we would have to first suffer through their useless and obnoxious commercials if we wanted to listen. Sorry Mate:)
No worries – I don’t expect everyone to watch all the ads 🙂
Hi Graham!
Congrats all around on this song. This only proves that good things come to those who work at it! I love the “out of the box” think concept!
Thanks David!
I would really love to hear those songs, but they are not available in my country.