We recently had the chance to connect with JSH B and have shared our conversation below.
JSH, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A typical day for me starts around 8 or 9 a.m. I head to the studio and spend the morning working on beats or developing new ideas. If I don’t have any early sessions booked, I’ll grab lunch and come back to mix records or create content—whether that’s short-form videos, behind-the-scenes clips, or educational material. Most of my recording sessions start around 4 p.m. and can run anywhere from 10 p.m. to as late as 4 a.m. depending on the artist. Every day blends creativity, production, and building a brand that lives beyond the music.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Joshua Bateman, but most people know me as JSH B. I’m a music producer, engineer, and studio manager based in St. Louis. I’ve been producing since I was a teenager, and over the years, I’ve built a name working with artists across the country. But beyond the music, what drives me is creating a space where creativity, culture, and opportunity come together.
Right now, I manage Funky Dope, a studio known for its creative atmosphere and artist-first approach. What makes Funky Dope special is that it’s more than just a place to record—it’s a place where people grow. We’ve built a reputation in the city as a creative hub where artists, producers, and engineers connect, collaborate, and level up.
Whether I’m producing, mixing, creating content, or mentoring, I’m all about pushing the culture forward and helping people tap into their creative potential. That’s what makes this work meaningful.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was just a kid curious about sound—making beats in my parents’ basement, recording on whatever equipment I could find, not chasing validation, just chasing the feeling. I was someone who believed creativity could be its own form of freedom. No rules, no image to uphold, just passion and possibility. And honestly, I’m still working every day to stay connected to that version of myself—the version that created because it was love, not business.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me patience, humility, and perspective—things success rarely slows down long enough to offer. It showed me who I was when no one was watching, when there was no applause, no recognition—just me, my doubts, and my drive. It taught me how to create without comfort, to lead without ego, and to build even when nothing around me looked promising. Success might sharpen your image, but suffering shapes your character. And that foundation is what makes the success worth something when it finally comes.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the music industry tells itself is that talent alone is enough. The truth is, relationships, timing, access, and consistency often matter more than raw skill. Another lie is that everything needs to go viral to matter—when in reality, long-term careers are built off community, not clicks. We also pretend that everyone’s independent, but behind the scenes, most success stories have real backing—whether financial, political, or strategic. And maybe the biggest lie of all? That struggle always has to be part of the brand. Sometimes we glorify pain instead of healing, just to make art that sells.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing what I was born to do. No one told me to chase music—I found it on my own, in my parents’ basement, before there was an audience, a check, or a name attached to it. Every step I’ve taken since has been about turning that inner passion into something real. I’ve had to learn the business, navigate the pressure, and evolve—but the core of what I do still comes from that original spark. Nobody assigned this path to me—I claimed it. And every time I help someone else find their voice through music, it confirms I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://prodbyjshb.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prodbyjshb/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prodbyjshb/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prodbyjshb
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@prodbyjshb
Image Credits
@jay_lesto_thephotographer @remrod @fyne_print_
