Conversations with Ian Janco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Janco

Ian, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up on a ranch in the wilderness of Idaho, surrounded by nature, creativity, and music. My parents were both caretakers and artists, and some of my earliest memories are of listening to my mom’s records in our cabin and spending time in the music studio with my dad. Music was always present but never forced, and I’m grateful my parents encouraged me to explore it freely.

I started with drums, jamming with my dad and learning the basics of songwriting and recording from him. At 8 years old, I recorded my first EP of original songs. Later, after moving to a bigger town, I joined bands that played classic rock covers—Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan—and eventually formed an original band with friends, sparking a deeper love for songwriting.

When I was a high school freshman, we moved to California. Feeling out of place, I threw myself into music, channeling a mix of angst and mellow inspired by Kurt Cobain and Jack Johnson. By the time I graduated, I had started making my own records, selling CDs while busking, and playing local gigs. After high school, I traveled through Europe, falling in love with the culture and history. It was a time of exploration—I loved music and songwriting, but I wasn’t sure how to turn my passion into a career.

At my mom’s suggestion, I applied to the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in the UK. To my surprise, I got in, and my life’s trajectory shifted. Over three intense years, I earned a BA in Music, performing in several bands, doing countless solo gigs, working as a musical director for theater and dance, and releasing a single that received national radio play. With my network growing and my career gaining traction, I applied for a five-year visa and moved to London after graduation.

Living in London was my crash course in being a professional musician. I started out working in a café in a music hub, but soon landed a studio assistant job and began co-writing with incredible artists, writers, and producers. Thanks to my manager, I booked countless sessions, quit my café job, and supported myself by playing cover gigs in pubs across the UK on weekends while writing 4–5 days a week. That period taught me hustle, resilience, and the value of hard work. During this time, I signed a record deal with Young Poet Records and released songs that have since surpassed a million streams.

When Covid hit, everything came to a halt—sessions, gigs, and much of the industry. I had to adapt. I set up profiles on Fiverr and SoundBetter, initially as a temporary solution, but to my surprise, it grew into a sustainable business. Today, I work remotely with a wide network of clients, producing and writing music, while also earning from sync production and co-write royalties. These multiple income streams allow me to stay creative and release my own music on my terms.

Now based in Nashville, I spend most of my time writing, producing, and helping other artists as an A&R for a couple of amazing organizations. It’s not always easy being my own boss, but I’ve built a career that feels true to who I am—nimble, independent, and free. I’m endlessly grateful for the wild journey I’ve been on so far, and I can’t wait to see where it leads next!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In hindsight, it’s been smooth. I can look back now and see the connections. But man, there were times when it was confusing as hell. I experienced a lot of anxiety and existential paralysis in England. Moving away from my family to a new country across an ocean to pursue something I was passionate about—and feeling the intense need to make it work—was a big deal for me. That pressure led me to make some creative compromises in my music in an attempt to make it commercially viable. That was tough. It felt like I was dishonoring my soul and my authenticity. I’ve since regained a strong sense of who I am, but the process definitely took a toll.

Being a freelance music maker is no easy feat. You’re kind of always living hand to mouth, month to month. I see a lot of my peers rising through the ranks of the industry. I’m genuinely happy for them, but sometimes it stings because I made the choice to stay free and nimble. There’s a saying: “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” I think about that every day when I sit down in my studio. I can do whatever I want. That’s an incredible gift, but it also takes a lot of effort and energy to stay motivated and aligned with my goal: to be the best songwriter, artist, producer, and human I can be in this life.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a singer-songwriter, producer, and artist with a focus on creating music that feels authentic, honest, and deeply connected to the human experience. My work spans folk, indie, and pop influences, and I specialize in storytelling—both in my own music and in the custom songs I create for others. Beyond that, I’ve spent years collaborating with other artists, writing songs that amplify their voices and visions while staying true to my own creative values.

What I’m most proud of is the way my music has impacted people. Whether it’s a custom song for someone’s wedding or a track that someone stumbles upon and tells me helped them through a tough time, those moments mean the world to me. On a personal level, I’m proud of building a sustainable career that allows me to create on my own terms and connect with people all over the world.

What sets me apart is my ability to tap into a person’s or story’s essence and translate it into a song that feels deeply personal and universally relatable. I think my background—growing up in the wilderness of Idaho, then diving into the industry in the UK, and now working in Nashville—has given me a unique perspective and a deep well to draw from creatively. My goal is always to make music that uplifts, inspires, and connects people to their own authenticity.

How do you think about luck?
I believe you make your own luck—both spiritually and professionally. Life tends to give you what you’re ready for and hold back what you’re not. You also reap what you sow; treating people with genuine kindness and compassion eventually comes back to you. Creative industries are, at their core, people industries.

That said, no amount of talent or best practices can override the fact that, especially in the arts, success often requires the stars to align. Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers” highlights the role of luck in shaping geniuses. The Beatles wouldn’t have become the performers they were without Brian Epstein meeting a Hamburg club promoter by chance. Bill Gates wouldn’t have mastered coding without living near one of the few IBM computers in the country at the time.

This perspective takes some pressure off—it’s not all within our control. But it also underscores the importance of putting yourself in environments that increase the likelihood of opportunity, effectively creating your own luck.

Pricing:

• Songwriting – $200
• Acoustic Demo – $300
• Full Production – $1000
• Song Feedback – $25 (action sheet) – $250 (in depth two hour consultation and mentoring session with action plan and follow up)
• Mix / Master – $250 per track

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ianjanco.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ianjancomusic/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/ianjancomusic/
• LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ian-janco-8102398a
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/ianjancomusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ianjancomusic
• Other: https://ianjancomusic.bandcamp.com/album/reverie

Image Credits
James Matthews of Nash City Media
www.nashcitymedia.com