Student Success Stories: Michele Conte

From an unknown DJ to having Carl Cox drop his tracks around the world.

This is how Michele Conte transformed his career using content, confidence, and a few $10 Instagram ads. An Italian-Australian producer based in Sydney, Michele crafts high-impact techno that spans from downtempo grooves to peak-time weapons. Known for performing all-original live sets, he’s earned a growing reputation at some of Australia’s most respected underground events.

Hey Michele, how are you?
Hey Grahame! Thanks for doing this, my friend. Thanks for having me—I’m really excited to chat.

Let’s start with the basics. Who are you and what do you do?
I am formally Michele Conte—probably better known as Mick. I’m predominantly a techno producer, music producer, and DJ from the outer Sydney area in Australia.

The Challenge That Brought Michele to the Program

What was the challenge that made you want to work with me?
There were many, but one of the main ones was just how to navigate social media—what to focus on. There’s so much people do that doesn’t work, and they don’t even track if it works. I didn’t know how to communicate who I was or what I was doing. I needed a more focused approach.

You already had loads of music out, right?
Yeah, but it was all hit and miss. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I didn’t even know how to get premieres. I got lucky sometimes with a Beatport feature from a hype label. But really, I didn’t know anyone who knew what they were doing either.

I remember the first time we spoke, my only real question was: Would you be able to help someone like me? And you said: “Definitely.” That was all I needed to hear.

First Impressions and Facing Resistance

I remember that call. You had something going. It just needed direction.
Yeah, and you went straight for the jugular. The stuff you brought up in that first call? It was all the stuff I had the most anxiety about. Stuff I didn’t want to do.

Did I push you in the deep end?
A little, yeah! But it took me a while—I was probably one of the slowest people to go through the course. Took me about a year.

Everyone goes at their own pace. That’s the beauty of it.
There were definitely sections I watched over and over. Especially the ad section. And yeah… I may have harassed you a bit on the calls!

A Total Mindset Shift

How did working with me positively impact you?
Dude—I became aware of a lot of biases I had. I’m not the same person I was a year ago. I do things now I never would’ve imagined. Like last night—I recorded some content. A year ago, even saying that would’ve made me cringe.

I’ve completely changed how I think. Now I say things like, “Yeah, I’ve done the copy, I’ve got the content.” It’s just normal. One of the biggest shifts? You’d say something like, “Why don’t you just email Carl Cox’s manager?” And I’d think, No way. But I’d do it. And they’d write back. And next thing, Carl’s playing my tracks. That mindset shift is everything.

From Overthinking to Action

It’s all about taking a shot.
Exactly. I’ve learned to stop second guessing myself. I used to spiral with self-doubt after conversations with industry people. Now? I know how to hold those conversations. I understand the behind-the-scenes stuff. None of this would’ve happened without being exposed to your ideas—and your encouragement.

You’ve definitely come a long way.
I’ve learned to just make it fun. That was a big lesson. And I’ve learned what to say—and not say—on social media. My humor doesn’t always translate! But now I think before I post. You’ve helped hold up a mirror. I’ve grown so much—personally and professionally.

A New Level of Professionalism

It sounds like you’re showing up more professionally—and being taken more seriously.
100%. People reply to my emails now. They listen to my demos. I’ve been doing this for about six years. But in the last 12 months, everything’s accelerated. I’m finally being taken seriously. I’m confident. I’ve learned how the industry works.

That’s massive.
Yeah, I’ve also had help from labels I signed to—Eddie Santini, Horacio, Barbuto. Actually, Barbuto put me onto you. Once I finished the course and took it seriously, everything ramped up. It’s been crazy.

Huge Wins: From Pete Tong to Ibiza

What kind of tangible results have you had?
Biggest one? I won the Pete Tong DJ Academy competition. That was wild. I’d signed up for the course years ago but never finished it. You told me: “Just finish it.” So I did.

Then I entered the Future Talent Awards. It was a mess—heatwave, gear breaking down. I thought my submission was a disaster. But I sent it anyway. Then I found out I was one of the winners. Out of thousands.

I got flown to Ibiza. I had dinner with you. I met people who played with Carl. Now I’m finishing tracks with them. I even got introduced to Carl’s team at Intec. I’m sending them new music now.

The Snowball Effect

That momentum’s powerful.
It’s not just one win. It’s the snowball. Like the Carl Cox thing—you said, “Send some tracks.” I did. They replied. Carl played them at Glastonbury. And someone told me, “He’s playing your tracks.” That never would’ve happened before.

And you used that moment in content.
Yeah, like the Uber story! The driver was listening to Richie Hawtin. Asked me if I make music. I told him my name. He looked me up and started playing “Testing You Gangster” and said it reminded him of Carl Cox. I told him Carl is playing that track right now in Argentina! That post got 160,000 views.

Content Isn’t Just Content Anymore

It’s real.
Yeah—and doing content has changed how I work. I used to document live jams. Now those clips help me reconstruct tracks. If I lose a session, I go back to the content I filmed. I’m even checking dial positions from old videos to rebuild synth patches. It’s crazy. I never used to do that.

Advice for Others

What would you say to someone thinking of working with me?
Definitely get on a call. Especially if you’ve got self-doubt. Even if you feel too old, too late, too lost—talk to Grahame.

I didn’t think all this stuff was realistic. But it’s happened. And it’s far exceeded my expectations.

If you’re unsure, check out his YouTube or read the book. But if Grahame says he can help you—trust that.

Because it’s not just hype. You can see what’s happening for me. It works.

☎️ Book a Discovery Call for my course, The Artist Blueprint – http://bit.ly/tabcall