Today we’d like to introduce you to Neil Feldman.
Hi Neil, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was introduced to piano at a young age and studied at the Peabody Preparatory Conservatory, where I developed a strong musical foundation. In the late ’90s I fell in love with rock music, picked up the guitar, and spent my college years playing in bands and writing songs.
After college, life took me in a different direction. I built a successful corporate career while eventually discovering electronic music production and DJing under the name Neil Nines. That path led to performances at clubs, festivals, and countless nightlife events, and over the years evolved into DJing primarily weddings and special events. Along the way, I sharpened my skills as a producer, songwriter, performer, and entrepreneur.
As my DJ career continued to grow, I reached a point where I knew I had a choice to make. I decided to leave a stable corporate career behind and pursue music full-time, a leap that gave me the freedom to build Neil Nines into a career spanning DJ performances, music production, and original electronic releases.
In 2025, after years of releasing EDM singles, I completed my first full-length electronic album, *Wunderlust*, inspired by my travels abroad and a summer sabbatical in Berlin, Germany. While creating that record, I found myself reconnecting with the rock music that first inspired me as a teenager. I began writing and producing rock songs on the side, and what started as a creative outlet quickly grew into Scarlet Cinema. Rather than feeling like a departure, it felt like the natural next chapter, a way to combine my lifelong love of rock with everything I had learned through years of producing electronic music.
Today I continue to DJ professionally while building Scarlet Cinema, which blends alternative rock, grunge, and cinematic electronic elements into songs rooted in storytelling and emotion. It feels like a full-circle moment, bringing together every stage of my musical journey into one creative vision. I’m focused on building an authentic catalog, connecting with listeners around the world, and continuing to grow as both an artist and entrepreneur.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. Like most independent artists and entrepreneurs, there have been plenty of moments of uncertainty. Leaving a stable corporate career to pursue music full-time was both exciting and intimidating, and building a sustainable career as an independent musician requires wearing a lot of different hats, many of which have pushed me well outside my comfort zone, from embracing social media to learning the business side of the industry. On any given day I might be writing songs, producing music, DJing an event, filming content, answering emails, or managing the countless behind-the-scenes tasks that come with running an independent music career. It’s also a lifestyle that many people don’t see: long nights, weekends spent working while others are off, and countless hours spent creating alone before anyone ever hears the finished product.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning to embrace the long game. It’s easy to compare yourself to artists who seem to break through overnight, but the reality is that most successful careers are built one song, one relationship, and one opportunity at a time. I’ve learned that consistency and deep work almost always beats chasing shortcuts.
Launching Scarlet Cinema has been another reminder that starting over can be both humbling and exciting. Even after years in the music industry, beginning a new project means earning trust, finding an audience, and building a catalog from the ground up. At the same time, it’s also been one of the most creatively fulfilling experiences of my career, and I wouldn’t trade that challenge for anything.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work today spans several areas of the music industry. I’m a professional DJ, music producer, songwriter, recording artist, and music teacher. I continue to DJ weddings and special events while creating original music through both Neil Nines and my newest project, Scarlet Cinema. I also enjoy working with young musicians, taking a holistic approach to teaching that blends musicianship, creativity, songwriting, production, performance, and confidence-building rather than focusing solely on technique.
What I’m most proud of is that every chapter of my career has built on the last rather than replacing it. My classical training taught me musicianship. Playing in rock bands taught me the power of collaboration and live performance. Years of producing electronic music refined my skills as a producer and songwriter. DJing taught me how to read a room, connect with people, and build a sustainable business as an independent artist. Teaching has challenged me to become a better communicator and reminded me that every musician’s path is unique. Scarlet Cinema brings all of those experiences together into one creative vision.
If there’s something that sets me apart, it’s my willingness to embrace seemingly different creative worlds instead of choosing just one. Rather than seeing classical, rock, electronic music, DJing, teaching, and entrepreneurship as separate paths, I’ve found ways for each to inform the others. I believe the most interesting artists are lifelong students who continue evolving while staying true to what first inspired them to create.
More than any single accomplishment, I’m proud that I’ve built a life around music. It’s taken years of persistence, continuous learning, and plenty of reinvention, but I wake up every day excited to keep creating, keep improving, helping others discover their own creative voice, and seeing where that journey leads next.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
People are often surprised by how much I enjoy learning and exploring outside of music. I love traveling and have found that experiencing new cultures is one of my biggest sources of creative inspiration. I also love cooking, staying active through tennis and fitness, and learning languages. Tennis has actually been another full-circle experience for me. I loved playing as a kid, stepped away from it for years, and rediscovered it as an adult. It’s become one of my favorite ways to challenge myself, stay healthy, and connect with others in the community.
My parents are from Moldova, so I grew up with a Russian cultural background. I’m currently learning Spanish, and I’ve also been studying Romanian as part of pursuing Romanian citizenship through my family’s heritage.
I’ve always been naturally curious. Whether I’m traveling, cooking, learning a language, or writing music, I enjoy the process of learning and improving. I think each of those experiences gives me a fresh perspective that I can bring back into my creative work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://scarletcinema.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neilnines
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scarletcinema
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@scarletcinemamusic
