The Paradox is reclaiming the pop-punk scene, and their rise has been anything but ordinary. Formed in July 2024, the band went viral almost overnight, gaining over 100K followers within their first month and earning opening slots for Green Day and Jack White, plus a performance at When We Were Young Festival and playing NPR Music’s Tiny Desk.

On this episode of Have I Made It?!, The Paradox gets candid about what it’s like to experience success at full speed. From the moment they first heard their music on the radio to being accused of being industry plants, Eric Dangerfield, Donald “Rayman” Bryant, Christopher “Xelan” Bernard, and Percy “PC3” Crews reflect on building something they believed in, even when they weren't sure the world would get it.

The band shares how they found each other through Facebook, what it felt like for drummer PC3 to play as an opener for Jack White when he had never been to a large live concert before, and why they hope their journey inspires more people of color to find their place in alternative music.

Listen to the latest episode of Have I Made It?!, Sofar’s series featuring honest conversations with artists about success, the journey behind it, and everything in between.

Check out our featured artist:
@theparadoxband
Host: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Director of Photography: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co
Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

For Martin Luke Brown, signing a record deal at 21 felt like making it.

Growing up in Leicester, England, where money was tight, locals already thought he had “made it.” But behind the excitement, he was learning that someone else’s definition of success doesn’t necessarily become your own.

In this episode of Have I Made It?, Martin reflects on signing his first record deal, studying to become a therapist, and how lockdown gave him unexpected time to develop his songwriting when the idea of a music career felt uncertain.

He also opens up about the cathartic process behind "damn, look at the view!", the role therapy played in exploring heavier themes, and his latest album, "life&death etc", an exploration of mortality that finds the balance between the silly and the profound.

So, has he made it? Maybe that’s a question only Martin can answer.

Listen to full conversation and get to know Martin Luke Brown beyond the music.

#MartinLukeBrown #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds #Sofar #success

Check out our featured artist:
@MartinLukeBrown
Host: Yaz Akyol | @yazakyol
Director of Photography: Omri Dagan | @omridagan
Second Camera: Etai Shomri | @etaishomri
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co

“The core of my identity and what I really pride myself on is the music I make and the songs I write” – Prateek Kuhad

So, has he made it? For @prateekkuhadmusic , it depends.

The singer-songwriter has built an international career around intimate, cinematic songwriting, from “Kasoor” and “cold/mess” to his latest album, Full Moon Chamber. But his path to music wasn’t exactly linear.
He studied math and economics at NYU, got fired from a consulting job after graduating, and took it as a sign to finally give music a real shot. He’s now one of India’s most popular and recognized artists.

After sold-out tours and years of growing into his craft, Prateek has had moments where he’s felt like he’s made it. But he still feels there’s more to achieve. For him, ambition is a practice in itself.

At the core of it all is the same thing that started it: the songs. No matter how his career evolves, Prateek wants the focus to stay on his songwriting and for his music to stand on its own.

#prateekkuhad #HaveIMadeIt #SofarSounds #Sofar #success

Check out our featured artist:
@prateekkuhad
Host: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Director of Photography: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co
Host & Creative Director: Lea Geschwinder | @leasophiag
Social Producer and Set Coordinator: @mimiwright__
Editing: Yuval Yosha | @bigfable.co