“My music is my freedom. It’s my currency. It’s who I am.” — Violetta Zironi

In the streaming era, the economics of music can feel impossible to reconcile with the dream artists are sold.

Early success can open doors, but it can also subtly close off parts of you. In 2013, singer-songwriter Violetta Zironi reached the final of X Factor Italy and stepped into the traditional music machine: visibility, expectations, and the pressure to become a version of yourself that is forced to perform inside someone else’s system.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, singer-songwriter Violetta Zironi joins Simon Clowes to openly discuss the hidden cost of early “success” in the traditional music industry, and what it took to rebuild a sustainable career outside of the gatekeeper model.

The conversation covers the economics of streaming, the emotional toll of chasing visibility, and the mindset shift that led her to explore music ownership on the blockchain.

They discuss what “community as infrastructure” looks like in practice, why ownership changes the emotional contract between artist and audience, and how blockchain technology can support a more direct, human model for music.

For any creative navigating platforms, pressure, and the feeling that “success” is starting to misalign you, this conversation is a reminder: the goal is not to grow at any cost. It’s to build something you can grow without losing yourself.

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Connect with Violetta on X:

https://x.com/violettazironi

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Violetta’s Website:

https://www.violettazironi.com/

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Connect with Simon on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“Stepping out of your old identity will feel scary. But choosing who you want to be is the bravest risk you can take.” — Marko Pfann

Playing it safe can feel logical in an unpredictable market, but in this current creative landscape, safe work is quietly making creatives replaceable. It keeps your work familiar, your opportunities limited, and your identity tied to who you were instead of who you have the potential to become.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, creative coach and Paradiso co-founder Marko Pfann joins Simon for a conversation about risk, identity, and the real work behind being seen as an artist. They explore why creatives fall into the safety trap, how imitation dilutes your voice, and why standing out now requires choosing who you want to be long before the world validates you.

Marko has spent years helping creatives and studios break out of the patterns that keep them stuck. He once had everything creatives are told to want: seven-figure revenue, huge teams, worldwide branding work, and a stack of awards.

On paper he had “made it,” but inside, he felt empty. So he sold his studio and walked away from the safety everyone else expected him to hold onto.

Together with Héctor Ayuso, Marko co-founded Paradiso, a creative retreat and community where he helps creatives reconnect to the part we lose under pressure: identity. His work blends psychology, language, and creative strategy to help people reconnect to their inner compass. To the emotional core that gets buried under deadlines, comparison, and fear.

Together, Marko and Simon discuss how the industry is shifting. Output is becoming more efficient while trends are collapsing faster. In a world like this, your value comes from what only you can bring: your taste, your language, your lived experience, and the identity you’re willing to stand behind.

The conversation traces everything from creative bravery to reputation, from personality-led positioning to the mindset shift required to stay relevant. They explore why the biggest studios invest in R&D, why long-form expression builds trust, and why your “voice” is now as important as your portfolio.

Whether you’re independent, running a studio, or rethinking your next step, this episode offers a grounded path forward. A reminder that creativity is about choosing who you want to be, and having the courage to act on it.

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Connect with Marko on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/markopfann/

Discover Paradiso:

https://paradisofest.com/

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Connect with Simon on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform

“Worldbuilding is how humans make sense of the world. It’s how we learn to play.” — Chris Eyerman

Worldbuilding is how imagination permeates and becomes culture. It’s the practice of creating meaning people can experience and belong to.

In this episode of Object Subject Form, Simon speaks with Chris Eyerman, creative director, worldbuilder, and business architect shaping the future of storytelling through sport, media, and technology.

As the founder of TRBLMKR Sports and creative lead for Luka Dončić’s brand 77X, Chris is redefining what it means to build worlds around athletes, bridging creativity, commerce, and community.

Before founding TRBLMKR, Chris helped pioneer transmedia storytelling alongside Ridley Scott at 3AM, turning films like Prometheus and Alien: Covenant into immersive digital experiences. He later led TikTok’s Creative Lab, guiding the platform’s creative direction during its rise to a billion users and changing how culture spreads online.

Together, Simon and Chris explore how worldbuilding extends beyond film and gaming into fandom, brand ecosystems, and personal identity. They discuss the tension between creativity and business, the power of empathy in leadership, and why understanding both emotion and structure is essential to meaningful storytelling.

The episode centers around the athlete-creator economy, the psychology of building trust and lore around people, and how new technologies, from AI to social platforms, are expanding the relationship between creators, culture, and ownership.

This conversation is about designing culture, and how the worlds we build shape what people believe in, belong to, and build next.

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Chris’ Website:

https://chriseyerman.com/

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Connect with Chris on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriseyerman/

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Lore Drops Substack: https://loredrops.substack.com/

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TRBLMKR Sports: https://www.trblmkr.co/

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Connect with Simon:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonclowes/

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Object Subject Form on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/objectsubjectform