From a local musician in Salem, Oregon to working on Grammy-nominated and platinum records… how does that actually happen?

In this episode of the Creative Tides Podcast, we sit down with Connor Hedge—mastering engineer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and touring musician—to talk about what it really takes to go from local church and independent music spaces to contributing to some of the biggest records in the industry.

Connor has worked alongside top engineers at Becker Mastering and contributed to projects like Doja Cat’s "Planet Her", Snoh Aalegra’s "Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies", and Joji’s "Glimpse of Us"—earning over 500 credits across major and independent releases.

But this conversation goes deeper than credits.

We talk about:

• what it actually means to “serve the song”

• the difference between chasing success vs. developing your craft

• how local creatives can grow without losing their identity

• what he learned working at the highest level of music production

• bridging the gap between church, artistry, and the professional music world

Whether you’re a songwriter, producer, worship leader, or creative trying to grow your skills, this episode is packed with insight you can actually apply in your context.

Creative Tides exists to bring expert insight into everyday creative spaces—by local experts, for creatives.

🎧 Listen on Apple & Spotify | Watch on YouTube

🔗 Visit: [www.creative-tides.com](http://www.creative-tides.com)

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