Ep. 84: From Zero to First Avenue - How Lasalle Built a New Band Fast

A lot of artists want the outcome. Fewer artists want the process. The posting, the reaching out, the showing up to jams, the awkward early gigs, the constant question of, “Am I being genuine or am I marketing myself?”Lasalle and I talk about that exact push and pull: wanting a bigger platform, wanting your art to matter, but not always wanting to do the public-facing stuff it takes to build momentum. And the best part is he doesn’t pretend it’s easy. He’s honest about perfectionism, about the awkwardness of “networking,” and about what actually helped this project go from an idea to real shows, fast.A few things we dig into:Going from drummer to frontman, and the uncomfortable parts of suddenly being the “face” of a project. Lasalle - Full EpisodeHow he met his bandmates: showing up to jams, being consistent, building trust, and making real friends instead of trying to leech off the scene.Art vs. business: how to promote shows without sounding like you’re copy-pasting the same post, and why “excitement” is the best marketing strategy when it’s real.Why there’s no release yet, and how he thinks about timing when opportunities come before the recordings are ready.A simple mindset shift I loved: if you treat the local scene like something you’re lucky to be part of, it tends to treat you well right back.Lasalle is also playing First Avenue’s Best New Bands of 2025 alongside Chutes, GR3G, Maygen & The Birdwatcher, Mother Soki, Sallyforth, and Sophie Hiroko on January 17, 2026.Episode Links and Mentions🌐 Dylan Hilliker🌐 Anna Devine🌐 Chutes🌐 Nate Walker🌐 Aiden Intro🌐 Eli Awada🌐 Room 3 Collective🌐 Flavor World🌐 Brandyn Lee Tulloch🌐 GR3G🌐 Maygen and the Birdwatcher🌐 Mother Soki🌐 Sallyforth🌐 Sophie Hiroko🌐 Soul FlowerConnect with the Guest:🔗 https://www.instagram.com/lasallesounds/Get new episodes by email: Join the Secrets From The Scene newsletter.Secrets From The Scene is made by Helvig Productions, a Twin Cities recording studio for artists and bands.