Creator Spotlight: Misstiq - From Classical Piano to Creative Empire

In our new Creator Spotlight series, we sit down with the entrepreneurs, influencers, and innovators who are redefining what it means to be a music creator in the digital age. Our inaugural feature showcases Misstiq, the Australian artist who transformed from a classical pianist into a multi-faceted creative entrepreneur. She’s collaborated with everyone from metal bands to Joey Sturgis Tones on her own plugin, which is pretty remarkable when you think about it.

The Journey: Finding Her Voice in the Digital Realm

Every great creator has a moment when they realize their path is different from everyone else’s. For Misstiq, that moment came at 15 years old in a school yard, surrounded by friends planning conventional careers. Though I suppose most of us have had that feeling at some point.

“When I was 15, I noticed I found it difficult to keep up with maths, English, and science at school... but not music,” Misstiq reflects. “I took this as a sign from the universe to keep going with it. I truly felt that I could run with it and make a living, which has all come true, and I know my younger self is so proud.”

What started as classical piano lessons at age six evolved into something much more unconventional. While studying music composition at university, Misstiq discovered the power of blending her classical training with the heaviness of metal music. It's an unusual combination that somehow works perfectly.

“When I first started Misstiq, it was purely a YouTube channel with piano covers of heavy music. I would religiously go through the comments and put my next video together based on what people requested.” She pauses. “I thought, ‘Wow, people are actually digging this.’”

This community-driven approach would become a cornerstone of her creative philosophy. Rather than imposing her vision, she learned to listen to her audience while staying true to her artistic identity. It’s perhaps one of the hardest balances to strike in creative work.

The Creative Process: Visualizing the Feeling

Misstiq’s approach to composition is deeply visual and emotional. Whether she’s writing cinematic features for metal bands or electronic music for festivals, she starts with the same question: “How do I want the listener to feel?”

It's a simple question that probably leads to incredibly complex answers.

“When I'm writing a cinematic feature for a metal band, I first listen to their song loud in my headphones and imagine them playing it live, with my feature, to a big audience,” she explains. “I think, ‘What rhythms or existing melodies can I emphasise to bring their composition to life even more, and what would sound insane live?’”

This visualization extends to every genre she touches. For piano-focused pieces, she pictures the finished score on paper. For electronic music, she envisions the lighting at clubs and festivals. It’s this ability to see beyond the notes that has made her collaborations so compelling. Though I wonder if this kind of visualization comes naturally to her or if it's something she had to develop over time.

The Spiritual Side of Creativity

Beyond the technical aspects, Misstiq credits meditation as her primary creative catalyst. “Meditation. Meditation. Meditation. I do it every night right before going to sleep,” she emphasizes. “I close my eyes, do breathwork, focus on myself, and I start to see patterns, random locations, or people. It resets my brain.”

This spiritual practice isn’t just relaxation. It’s an essential part of her creative process. “Stress stops me from thinking creatively. It’s like my brain gets stuck. But once I fully connect with myself, creative ideas flow, as well as inspired actions.”

The Collaboration: Bringing Gemini Twin to Life

The email that would change everything almost ended up in spam. “I remember receiving the email and double-checking that it wasn't spam,” Misstiq laughs. “I’m really glad it wasn’t because this is the most iconic collaboration I’ve ever done. Never would I have thought I'd have my own plugin, let alone with a brand I love so much.”

The collaboration with Joey Sturgis Tones on Gemini Twin represents more than just a product launch. It’s the culmination of Misstiq’s unique perspective on duality and creative expression. Which, when you think about it, makes perfect sense given her background.

The Genesis of Duality

The concept behind Gemini Twin’s light and dark modes didn’t come from market research or technical specifications. It came from Misstiq’s personal journey of self-discovery.

“I remember thinking, ‘What could be special about this plugin’s concept that mirrors me, but is also understood by most music creators?’ So I started reflecting on the name Misstiq and where it came from - my interest in the spiritual realm. That led me to my star sign, Gemini.”

The connection was immediate. Perhaps too obvious once she saw it. “Since the symbol is twins, representing ‘good’ and ‘evil,’ I just knew we had to include two sides to this plugin. It felt like the perfect way to show contrast, balance, and versatility in one tool. Every producer has light and dark moments in their creativity, and I wanted Gemini Twin to support both.”

How Duality Shapes Musical Expression

For Misstiq, the light and dark modes aren’t just technical features. They’re tools for emotional storytelling. “The dark, sonically fuller sounds from the ‘dark’ side of Gemini Twin are perfect for filling out space and adding mood or intensity. They help anchor the track emotionally. The ‘light’ side's cleaner, brighter tones inspire more melodic ideas and often spark the main themes or hooks.”

This approach has transformed her workflow entirely. “When I write a track, I usually start by finding melody-friendly sounds. But sometimes, no melody comes to mind. In those moments, switching to the ‘dark’ side often leads me to an interesting texture or mood that sets the tone.”

It's a creative solution to writer’s block that I think many producers could relate to. “That can guide me into writing a chord progression or the song's blueprint, which then inspires the melody - often from the ‘light’ side.”

A Tool for Creative Liberation

What makes Gemini Twin special isn't just its dual-personality system. It’s how it removes barriers to creativity. “One of the most frustrating things we go through is creator’s block. With the effects and adjustments right there in the user-friendly UI, tweaking sounds is super easy and can spark creative ideas. Even just pressing the switch between ‘light’ and ‘dark’ can get ideas flowing.”

For new producers, especially, Misstiq sees the plugin as a liberation from technical overwhelm. “For new producers, Gemini Twin is such a great creative spark. It’s not overwhelming - you can scroll through the presets and instantly get inspired, and the UI is super friendly.”

She continues, “The switch between light and dark sounds lets you explore different moods quickly, which is so helpful when you’re still discovering your style. It removes the pressure to be technical and lets you focus on vibe and emotion, which is what really connects in music.”

The Business: Building a Creative Empire

While many artists focus solely on the creative side, Misstiq understood early that sustainable artistry requires entrepreneurial thinking. Her transition from full-time teaching to full-time music creation wasn’t just about following passion. It was about building a business. And honestly, that's probably the harder part.

“Since transitioning from being a full-time teacher to doing Misstiq full-time, I’ve always been super aware of what I post and why I post it,” she explains. “I realised early on that if I only focused on the creative side - just making music or showing cool content - I might not actually get the kind of work that sustains me.”

The Strategic Mindset

This awareness led to a fundamental shift in how she approaches content creation. “I look at every piece of content as a touchpoint - is this building trust? Is it attracting the kind of clients I want? Is it positioning me for bigger opportunities down the track? That intentionality is what's allowed me to actually turn this into a career, not just a passion.”

Her business philosophy is refreshingly practical. “It’s not about selling out or being overly polished - it’s just knowing that if I don't run my brand like a business, I’m relying on hope. And hope’s not a strategy.”

The Almost Famous Club: Paying It Forward

Success bred a desire to help others navigate the same challenges. This led to the creation of The Almost Famous Club, Misstiq’s initiative to support emerging creators.

“During my Misstiq journey, I developed a deep passion for helping people follow their heart’s desires - and I unexpectedly fell in love with the psychology behind building a business.” She pauses. “I realized so many creative people feel stuck, like they don't know how to take that next step with their goals. And I just wanted to be the person I wish I had when I was starting out.”

The Almost Famous Club is a comprehensive support system, not just a community. Through TAFC, she runs “The Cheat Code,” a course and mentorship program for music creatives who offer services. “It’s for music teachers, producers, engineers - anyone who wants to seriously level up their branding and marketing so they can start attracting the right opportunities and actually grow their career.”

Authentic Business Practices

Perhaps most importantly, Misstiq has maintained her authenticity while building her business. “Saying no (nicely) to things that don't excite me” is the business decision she’s most proud of. “I get emails almost every day from brands wanting to collaborate, but if the product doesn't align with my values or isn't relevant to my audience, I pass.”

This approach extends beyond brand partnerships to every aspect of her business. “I’d rather protect the trust I’ve built with my audience and stay aligned with what actually lights me up. That’s been one of the most empowering decisions in my business - choosing long-term purpose over short-term profit.”
It's a principle that sounds simple but is probably incredibly difficult to stick to when the bills are due.

Advice for the Next Generation

For young creatives looking to build their own brands, Misstiq’s advice is both practical and profound:

“What’s a skill you're really good at? Start learning how to flex that in different ways online. What's a proud moment from your journey that others might find inspiring? Share that. Think about the feeling you want people to get when they first come across you - then start building your colour palette, brand voice, and editing style around that.”

But perhaps most importantly: “Why do you want to achieve your goals? What will it mean to you when you smash them? Keep that reason close. It’ll be the thing that keeps you going when things get hard.”

The Future: Redefining Creative Success

Misstiq’s journey from classical pianist to creative entrepreneur represents something larger than individual success. It’s a blueprint for the new creative economy. In an industry that once demanded artists choose between artistic integrity and business success, she’s proven that the two can not only coexist but strengthen each other.

Her collaboration with Joey Sturgis Tones on Gemini Twin isn’t just about creating a synthesizer. It’s about creating tools that empower the next generation of creators to focus on what matters most: the music itself.

“I’m really passionate about changing the mindset that you have to suffer, overwork, or stay invisible to be a ‘real’ creative,” she states. “I want to show people that it's okay to own your worth, ask for more, and take up space in this industry.”

As the creative landscape continues to evolve, Misstiq stands as proof that success isn't about choosing between art and business. It’s about finding the intersection where both can thrive. And with Gemini Twin now in the hands of creators worldwide, her vision of supporting both the light and dark moments of creativity continues to ripple through the industry.

I think there’s something powerful about that duality concept that goes beyond just the plugin itself.

Want to experience the duality of Gemini Twin for yourself? Discover how light and dark modes can transform your creative process at joeysturgistones.com. For more insights from creators like Misstiq, follow our Creator Spotlight series and join the conversation about the future of music creation.

See more from Misstiq at https://www.misstiq.com/