5 Q&A With Reduction in Force
What was the creative process like for this particular song?
The writing process for “What’s Next?” started on a long drive from San Diego to the Bay Area. I was feeling ambivalent about life post-retirement—music has always been my first love, yet I felt like I was just circling around it instead of diving in.
Funny enough, the first verses I wrote were bitter—almost angry. But as I kept going, something shifted. I realized music is all I’ve ever truly wanted, and if that’s the case, why was I still holding back? Why not just commit—even if changing identities is brutally hard?
That realization led me straight into the bridge, which became about hope and reconciliation with my past. From there, everything clicked. And that feeling didn’t just shape “What’s Next?”—it started invading all my songs. I don’t want to dwell on what could have been. I want to own the fact that, despite everything, I have the chance to do this now.
Not sure how the creative process works for others, but for me? This moment, this mindset—it’s pouring out of me in song. I’ve got a stack of songs waiting for their turn.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for "What's Next?" to life?
I have to start at the beginning. I could get my music to about 75% of “radio-ready.” But I wanted 100%.
So I found SoundBetter and said, “Screw it—let’s see who can take me there.” I wrote a detailed manifesto about what I was trying to accomplish and got amazing responses. One of them was Alex Aldi (Passion Pit, Dreamers). I sent him a reference sheet a mile long, and we had a deep conversation about music. Then came the big moment—I handed over the stems, hoping what came back would be somewhat close to my vision.
What I got blew me away.
My demo lacked low end—drums and bass weren’t hitting. Alex locked it all in, bolting on exactly what was missing. The moment I heard it, I knew I’d be making music for a LONG time.
As for our process, it was crucial to me that the song remained mine. I didn’t want a producer to take my track and hand back a fully finished version. Every pass needed to incrementally improve what I’d already built—giving me space to add my own layers and ideas.
Everything was done in the box, and over two months, we refined it, pass after pass, until it became exactly what I wanted—absolutely larger than life.
What impact do you hope "What's Next?" will have on your audience?
I hope it makes them think. That it feels both familiar and new at the same time.
And then, I hope they hear the message: We will always find ourselves at turning points. We’ll always be tempted to blame the decisions that led us here. But how you got here is also your way forward.
Shed the doubt. Be proud of what you’ve built. See the advantages you have now because of what came before. Until we’re done, there’s always What’s Next.
Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
I’m a Second Act creator, shifting from corporate to creative and doubling down on connecting through music. After decades as a legal executive, I honed skills in critical thinking, bringing big projects to life, and rallying teams around a vision—now, those same skills fuel my music:
As frontman of Reduction in Force, I create Adult Alternative Anthemic Rock—big songs with big themes, blending synth and guitar with an updated nostalgic edge. A sound steeped in the best of the past but built for now. Music powerful enough to reset the nostalgic clock.
It’s never too late to reinvent yourself and pursue what truly matters.
How do you perceive the current state of the music industry, and what trends do you find most prominent?
The music industry is transforming before our eyes. AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a force threatening to cut humans out of the process entirely. It’s like the last days of the Old West—when people rushed out, not just for gold, but to be part of something before it vanished.
I’m releasing music now, in part, because I want to experience being an artist while it still means something. AI can be a powerful tool, but it should never replace the human connection at music’s core. Even if AI creates “better” music, it can’t convey human emotion—because, well, it’s not human. And if music loses that, why listen?
