David Ninos shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi David, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Loneliness. This modern age has been seemingly engineered to breed loneliness and limit real connections. All the advancements in technology that were meant to bring us closer together have had the complete opposite effect and have driven people further and further into isolation. I have a wife who is truly my best friend, and daughter who I spend a ton of time with, my bandmates; who I connect with constantly, and that truly rare treasure, a group of adult friends, but I still struggle with feeling lonely quite often myself. How much worse is it for people who lack all those things? Maybe that’s why music has always been such a huge part of my life. When those records played, I was never alone.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! My name is Dave Ninos, I am the owner and lead producer of Dragon’s Den Studios, a music production business headquartered in Harford County, Maryland. We record and produce artists, usually those just starting out, as well as support the local music community through our monthly Songwriter Showcase, in partnership with Falling Branch Brewery. Every month we bring three artists to the brewery to share their original music and the stories behind those songs.
You can find our artists works on all the major streaming services. Take a look at www.dragonsdenstudios.com for a list of our recent projects.
I’m also still a performing and recording musician, songwriter, and educator who is busy playing his own music when not actively recording, mixing, and producing someone else’s.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Standing on a stage, behind a piano and a mic, playing music and people actually listening… it’s an intoxicating headrush to realize that other people are giving their time, their energy, to something you created. That your words, your music mean something… make someone feel something. That’s powerful.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Y’all are digging deep with some of these questions… I miss the sense of endless time that I had when I was younger. I felt like there would always be time for another project, another adventure. Now, I understand that, even though I hope I’m looking at many, many more years, my journey will not be infinite. There are certain off ramps that I’ve missed, and this road won’t allow U Turns. No regrets, just a sense of vague sadness and loss for that feeling that I would be able to do… everything.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
That work is the end all be all of existence. Late stage capitalism has sold us a lie that if we just give more time to work, invest in only things that will bring profit, devote our lives to earning and accumulating wealth, then we will be successful.
It’s all a lie. To create, to love, just to Be, these are things that make life meaningful. There’s a lot of very smart, wealthy people out there who are thunderously unhappy because they’ve lost touch with what it really means to be alive.
At the studio we really try to invest in our artists. We know this music that they are trusting us with is something very precious to them and we want to see that vision become something they are proud to share with the world.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Nothing. I embrace the idea that we could go at anytime, so make sure you are living the life that you need to live. Be a good person. Tell people you love them. Be the best you that you can possibly be. Then, if I die tomorrow, or live to be 100, there is no regret, no shame. I have done the best that I could, and that will be enough.
Well… maybe I’d spend a little less time doomscrolling… but everything else above is still true. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dragonsdenstudios.com
- Instagram: @d9bike
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.ninos/
- Other: https://www.dragonsdenmusic.com
