Episode 036: Campus Frequency – Why College Radio Still Matters

In this episode of Why Make Music…, DJ Warm Cookies (aka Willa May) takes the lead in exploring a topic that deserves a loud and proud revival—the power of college radio for independent musicians. Think streaming is the only game in town? Think again.

We dig deep into the human-curated, genre-bending, community-rooted world of college radio and how it’s quietly been the launchpad for legendary artists—from Ani DiFranco to R.E.M., Fugazi to Japanese Breakfast. If you’ve ever wondered whether your music has a better shot on a college station than fighting the Spotify algorithm, this episode’s for you.

We cover:

• The unique programming styles of stations like WXPN, WKDU, WHIP, and WRTI in Philadelphia
• Historical success stories of indie acts who made it through college airplay
• Step-by-step advice for getting your music on college radio (email, mail, etiquette, follow-ups)
• Royalty breakdowns: What pays more—radio, streaming, or sync?
• Why college radio still builds culture and fanbases in a world obsessed with instant plays

Plus, you know we close it out right—ThinkTimm delivers a signature rant that’s part motivation, part manifesto. “Do you want a million forgettable streams—or 50 real fans who ride for you for life?” We answer that and more.

Shoutouts:

• https://www.thinktimm.com" target="_blank">www.thinktimm.com – The hub for everything ThinkTimm
• Follow on Instagram: @thinktimm">https://instagram.com/thinktimm">@thinktimm | @djwarmcookies">https://instagram.com/djwarmcookies">@djwarmcookies | @whymakemusic
• ">https://instagram.com/whymakemusic">@whymakemusic

• Also on: BlueSky (@thinktimm.bsky.social), Facebook, SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

Support Independent Media: College radio matters. Tune in to WXPN, WKDU, WHIP, and WRTI. Donate. Engage. Discover something new.

Listen. Share. Repeat. And always ask yourself: Why Make Music…?

#ThinkTimm #WhyMakeMusic #DJWarmCookies #CollegeRadio #WXPN #WKDU #WHIPRadio #WRTI #IndieArtist #SyncLicensing #StreamingVsRadio #PodcastForMusicians

Episode 035: All About That Bass

Welcome back to Why Make Music…—the podcast where groove meets storytelling. This week, we dive deep (and we mean DEEP) into the low end with our longest, most groove-packed episode yet: All About That Bass.

Hosted by ThinkTimm and narrated alongside DJ Warm Cookies (aka Willa May), this two-hour tribute explores the evolution, emotion, and innovation behind the electric bass guitar. From the pioneers who made it slap to the genre-defiers still pushing it forward, this is a journey through funk, fusion, rock, soul, pop, jazz, and everything in between.

We highlight legends like James Jamerson, Larry Graham, Bootsy Collins, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Verdine White, Marcus Miller, and John Paul Jones—alongside modern innovators like Thundercat, MonoNeon, Esperanza Spalding, Nik West, and Jamareo Artis. We shine a much-needed spotlight on female bassists and include personal stories, like ThinkTimm’s unforgettable night with Meshell Ndegeocello in Philly.

It’s a groove-heavy, gear-geeky, heart-hitting love letter to bass guitarists everywhere.

Shout outs to:

All our listeners, supporters, and groove lovers

All bass players, from pocket-holders to fretless poets

WDMNation for staying tuned in

And of course, T H I N K T I M M—stream all his music on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube

Follow us:

@ThinkTimm">https://www.instagram.com/thinktimm\">@ThinkTimm | @WhyMakeMusic">https://www.instagram.com/whymakemusic\">@WhyMakeMusic

YouTube">https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkTimm-if-nothing-else\">YouTube | www.ThinkTimm.com

This one’s a little longer than usual… because, baby, the bass deserves it.

Keep it low. Keep it locked. And remember… it’s all about that bass.

Why Make Music… Episode 034: Legends Still Shred

Hosted by DJ Warm Cookies (aka Willa May) and ThinkTimm, this week’s episode dives headfirst into the myth, magic, and mastery of the guitar—from blues roots to rock gods, pedal worship to digital rigs, and every soul-stirring solo in between.

We explore how guitars have transcended time and genre—how they’ve served as instruments of rebellion, tools of tenderness, and everything in between. From Hendrix to Santana, from Slash to Frusciante, from classic analog rigs to modern DAWs and amp sims—we cover it all.

ThinkTimm closes the episode with a deeply personal monologue on live instrumentation, home studio production, and the mental clarity that comes from creating honest art in a digital world. He also teases future sync licensing news and reflects on the journey of indie artistry in the algorithm age.

New to the show? Stick around. You might not know us yet—but you just might love us.

Follow & Stream:

• Website: www.ThinkTimm.com
• ">https://www.ThinkTimm.com">www.ThinkTimm.com

• Instagram & SoundCloud: @ThinkTimm
• BlueSky: ThinkTimm
• Streaming: Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music
• Podcast: Available on all major platforms
• YouTube: Behind-the-scenes, producer series, music & more

Shoutouts: All the musicians holding down live shows and DIY sessions, all the producers using FL Studio, Logic Pro, Akai gear and more. Whether you're in a bedroom or a boardroom, you’re part of the DAMNNATION.

This week’s featured producers: Linda Perry and Trent Reznor. All genres welcome. All music is music.

#WhyMakeMusic #ThinkTimm #DAMNNATION #GuitarLegends #MusicProduction #FLStudio #LogicPro #SyncLicensing #PhillyCreators #WDMN #WillaMay

Why Make Music… Episode 033 | Creation Begins Inside: Finding Balance & Flow

This episode is a journey inward — toward stillness, sound, and the source of all creativity. DJ Warm Cookies opens with a moving poem about love and presence, setting the tone for a deep conversation between ThinkTimm and DJ Warm Cookies on what it means to make music from a centered, soul-aligned place.

Through stories, humor, and reflection, they explore the difference between forced creation and inspired flow, how meditation and mindfulness fuel artistry, and why creating from within leads to the most powerful art. ThinkTimm delivers a heartfelt monologue on legacy, mental wellness, and what it means to be a lifelong creative. There's even a wild yet meaningful story about deer, traffic, and spiritual awareness.

Episode 033 features:

• A poetic opening by DJ Warm Cookies
• Guided meditation to help you reset and return to your creative center
• Conversations about music as healing, water as metaphor, and art as truth
• A candid ThinkTimm monologue about purpose, peace, and leaving a mark
• A philosophical story about deer and Jehovah’s Witnesses — and what it means to be human
• A final invitation to love, share, and stay grounded

Follow ThinkTimm:

Instagram: @thinktimm">https://www.instagram.com/thinktimm\">@thinktimm | @whymakemusic">https://www.instagram.com/whymakemusic\">@whymakemusic | @djwarmcookies">https://www.instagram.com/djwarmcookies\">@djwarmcookies

BlueSky: thinktimm.bsky.social">https://thinktimm.bsky.social\">thinktimm.bsky.social

Streaming: Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud (search: ThinkTimm)

Merch: TeePublic">https://www.teepublic.com/user/thinktimm\">TeePublic | Threadless">https://thinktimm.threadless.com\">Threadless

Website: www.thinktimm.com">https://www.thinktimm.com\">www.thinktimm.com

Share this episode if it touched your spirit. Send it to someone who needs a creative reset. And remember:

“What we give is what we become.”

#WhyMakeMusic #ThinkTimm #Mindfulness #MusicProduction #SpiritualArtistry #DJWarmCookies #ReturnToCenter #PodcastEpisode

Episode 032 – The Artist Formerly Known As Just a Musician

Hosted by DJ Warm Cookies (aka Willa May) and ThinkTimm, this episode of Why Make Music… (dot dot dot) dives into the blurred lines between experimentation, authenticity, and the evolving relationship between artists and technology.

Across five grounded and soulful segments, ThinkTimm and Willa reflect on:

• The rollout of Why Make Music… The Producers series
• Creative evolution from musician to tech-powered creator
• “Accidental expertise” born from necessity, not instruction
• The confusion around what we label “experimental” in modern music
• The ethics and philosophy of AI-generated voices and production tools

They ask: Who defines originality? Is a tool still just a tool if it creates something you love? What happens when art becomes indistinguishable from automation?

Recorded and produced independently by ThinkTimm, with love, labor, and late nights. Stream, share, and follow for more. This is the artist formerly known as just a musician.

Follow: YouTube">https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkTimm-if-nothing-else">YouTube | Website">https://www.thinktimm.com">Website | Merch

Why Make Music…

Episode 031: Not for Money, for Motivation

Hosted by: DJ Warm Cookies (aka Willa May) & ThinkTimm

Episode 031 opens in story mode: a monologue from DJ Warm Cookies reflecting on ThinkTimm’s early days of chasing a dream—digging through old notebooks, remembering 90s-era rehearsals, failed bands, and never-captured sparks of brilliance. It’s a poetic journey through lost songs and found purpose, setting the tone for a powerful message:

You don’t make music for money. You make it for survival. For peace. For you.

This episode explores:

• The real cost of building a music setup in 2024
• Time, energy, and confidence as currency
• Marketing, tools, and why visibility is never free
• The truth about chasing creativity while adulting
• What you can offer to the industry, your peers, and yourself

Episode 031 features a full poetic reading of “Poor Lonely Sky,” an original poem written by ThinkTimm, layered into a spoken word soliloquy that captures the spirit of the modern creator.

We close with a powerful benediction—what it means to “clear the trees” and fight for blue sky through the noise of today’s industry.

Follow ThinkTimm:

Website: www.ThinkTimm.com">https://www.thinktimm.com">www.ThinkTimm.com

Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky: @ThinkTimm

SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube: T H I N K T I M M

Merch: TeePublic">https://www.teepublic.com/user/thinktimm">TeePublic | Threadless">https://thinktimm.threadless.com">Threadless

Patreon: Support">https://www.patreon.com/ThinkTimm">Support on Patreon

Be a friend to the process. Share, repost, or just let it sit with you.

This is Why Make Music… dot dot dot

In this milestone episode, ThinkTimm and DJWarmCookies (aka Willa May) step into a new chapter of the podcast, inviting listeners to rediscover the heart and hustle behind the Why Make Music… series. As the 30th episode unfolds, we go beyond just sound and storytelling—we dive deep into soul, upbringing, legacy, and the truth of independent artistry.

ThinkTimm reintroduces himself—not as a star, but as a lifelong student of sound. From the boom boxes on Cedar Park Ave to Prince concerts with friends from the block, he takes us on a journey that’s rich with memory and meaning. We hear about the legacy of his great-grandmother Willa Mae, the mentorship of his stepfather, cassette tape experiments with his brother, and the homegrown hustle that birthed over 156 instrumental tracks across six albums.

This episode is an ode to old-school struggle tech, Philly soul, sidewalk cyphers, and the power of musical influence—from John Williams to Miles Davis, Salt-N-Pepa to Steely Dan. Through dual narration between DJWarmCookies and ThinkTimm (via professional vocal clone), we blend past, present, and possibility.

If you're new here, welcome. If you’ve been riding with us, thank you. This episode is a reset, a reflection, and a reminder: you don’t need fame to make something timeless. You just need purpose, patience, and the right playlist.

Follow & Support:

YouTube: @ThinkTimm-if-nothing-else

Instagram: @thinktimm @wdmnation @djwarmcookies @whymakemusic

Facebook: Think Timm

Website: www.thinktimm.com">https://www.thinktimm.com">www.thinktimm.com

Merch: TeePublic">https://www.teepublic.com/user/thinktimm">TeePublic | Threadless">https://thinktimm.threadless.com">Threadless

Stream the full catalog on Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.

Like what you hear? Share it. Tag it. Talk about it. Word of mouth is undefeated.

#WhyMakeMusic #ThinkTimm #DJWarmCookies #IndependentArtist #MusicIsMedicine

Episode 029: Too Real for the Algorithm – The Mind of a Middle-Aged Music Maker

In this bold and reflective episode of Why Make Music… (dot dot dot), host DJ Warm Cookies aka Willa May dives deep into the real-life, real-time journey of middle-aged music creator ThinkTimm—that’s T-H-I-N-K-T-I-M-M.

This monologue is a soul-powered manifesto about building creative legacy in the age of algorithms, navigating music as therapy, resisting digital burnout, and embracing the sacred process of sound, rhythm, and resilience.

We talk confidence curves, late-night uploads, invisible audiences, the metaphysical origins of music, and what it means to leave behind more than just memories—you leave proof.

From cassette tapes to CapCut, from soul loops to sync dreams, ThinkTimm proves you don’t need fame to be fire, and you don’t need a label to be legendary. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to share your music, this episode was made for you.

Mentions & Shoutouts:

Music produced by ThinkTimm. Hosted by DJ Warm Cookies.

Shoutout to Temple University and Tamron Hall for inspiration behind the name “DJ Warm Cookies.”

Salute to the unseen listeners, late-blooming creators, and those who build legacy from scratch.

Listen, Follow, Support:

Website: www.ThinkTimm.com">https://www.thinktimm.com">www.ThinkTimm.com

YouTube: youtube.com/@ThinkTimm">https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkTimm">youtube.com/@ThinkTimm

Instagram: @ThinkTimm">https://www.instagram.com/thinktimm">@ThinkTimm

SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music

Merch: TeePublic">https://www.teepublic.com/user/thinktimm">TeePublic | Threadless">https://thinktimm.threadless.com">Threadless

BlueSky: @ThinkTimm

“We don’t ask for a seat. We build the table.”

#WhyMakeMusic #ThinkTimm #TooRealForTheAlgorithm