Meet Dontpanic. | Music Producer, Audio Engineer, & Drummer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dontpanic. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi dontpanic., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to start my own business because I want to be in control of how I spend my time and my life. Most companies and corporations are irresponsible when it comes to their employees and even customers, so I decided to take a route that is fulfilling for me, whether it made me good money or not. However, I’ve always wanted to be a musician and it is the only career I’ve ever wanted to pursue in my heart, Music has always been a part of me and I’ve always known I’ve wanted to dedicate my life to it in a meaningful way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
dontpanic. started out of many attempts to be involved in several different music projects including several bands and solo projects, but has become an amalgamation of all the lessons and knowledge I have learned on the way.

The name “dontpanic.” stands as a message directed at me, as well as anyone who sees the brand, to just simply take it easy. As someone who deals with anxiety regularly and can be a pessimist, I truly understand that life and its many unprovoked challenges can stand in the way of what people truly want to be experiencing in life, and I just hope to spread some positivity and love.

Many of the challenges I have faced in the pursuit of becoming a music producer have involved incredible social anxiety, fear of rejection and/or actual rejection, financial burden, and medical challenges including my Type 1 Diabetes. However, through all of these challenges, I have realized that if I quit, I will never reach the end of the tunnel in my music career. If I quit, I will have let something stop me from pursuing my dream. No matter what I am facing, time has not run out for me and my success. So through rejection, I keep pursuing my dream. Through medical disaster, I am still pursuing my dream. Through fear of talking to other people, I am doing it anyway and making this thing work.

What sets me and my brand apart from others is that I don’t typically pursue the musical routes that other people take. Sound selection, genre, and vibes can come from literally any direction. When it comes to my music, I derive inspiration from anywhere and everywhere and have been involved with at least one group or artist in almost any genre you can think of. If you were to explore all my of my YouTube, Soundcloud, and streaming platform upload history including old accounts, you’d find a vast array of genres ranging from EDM (house, dubstep, glitch hop, drum and bass, etc) to country, to hip hop (underground, horrorcore, trap, R&B old school, etc), to 80s rock ballads, to jazz. Bands I have been a part of have ranged from country, to classic rock, math rock, jazz and R&B. I take pride in all of the music I have created as it has lead to me where I am today, making the best music I have ever made.

As of today, I produce and engineer for several artists in the DFW metroplex. I am currently employed at the Cabin Recording Studio in Azle, TX with head engineer, Chuck Ebert. I have also interned for the incredible O.Z. at Element Sound Studio in Dallas, TX during my education at University of Texas Arlington. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Business, and have been since putting my education to good use.

I also want to shout out my band Snow Farming, whom I produce and engineer, as well as play drums for. We are an emo, pop-punk, high-octane band with major influences from midwest emo, post hardcore, math rock, and punk. We dropped our debut album in 2024, entitled “Drift”. I want to say how absolutely cracked my bandmates are and how their incredible talent and friendship means the world to me and I am so proud to be a part of this band.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As someone who doesn’t go out regularly, I have a few particular spots in Fort Worth and Dallas where I would take a friend for a good time.

Fort Worth: Japanese Palace Hibachi, Freeplay Arcade/Cidercade, Stockyards, hiking parks, and maybe Tulips for a show 😉

Arlington: Six Flags, Globe Life, AT&T Stadium, Texas Live!,

Dallas: Deep Ellum, Dallas Art Museum, Bishop Arts, and endless food options omg

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The person who deserves the most credit in me still pursuing my passion is my mom, Lawana Witte. No matter what pain or struggle I have gone through, she has believed in me and supported more than anyone. I would’ve quit out of straight guilt and shame for being a musician if it weren’t her. She has helped me believe in myself as well as what I am doing and I can certainly say I wouldn’t be doing this interview right now if it weren’t for her.

I LOVE YOU MAMA ♡

Website: https://www.dontpanicprod.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontpanicprod/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dontpanic_prod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dontpanicprod817

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dontpanicprod0

Image Credits
Tamia Obando