Medylandia: On Platinum Hits, Lost Royalties, & Studio Hustle

Medylandia didn’t choose music; he survived into it. Before the platinum plaques and the global collaborations, he was just a 12-year-old kid in 1998, trying to figure out how to put entrance music into wrestling games because Spotify and YouTube simply didn’t exist. He wasn’t looking for a career; he was looking for a vibe.

The Montreal-born producer sat down on The Lexis Star Show to trace a journey that started in a bedroom closet and traveled through the grueling nightlife of the Canadian DJ scene before landing in the global spotlight. It’s a story defined by a relentless hustle and a few expensive lessons learned along the way.

"Give Me Fifty Bucks"

The transition from hobbyist to professional happened with a single, unexpected transaction. While working at Burger King, friends began noticing the beats Medylandia was crafting at home. When they asked for his rate, he pulled a number out of thin air: fifty dollars. When they immediately asked for five more, he realized he could make more in an afternoon than he could in a week of flipping burgers. He quit the same day.

But the early days weren't glamorous. His "studio" was a bedroom closet, and his recording equipment was a bulky, late-90s PC with a basic microphone perched on top. "Sounded horrible," he laughs, "but we were super proud because we were making music." From those lo-fi beginnings, he built a multicultural sound that draws from his Dominican roots, his Montreal upbringing, and an refusal to be boxed into a single genre.

"I've been doing music since 1998. It was never a choice. It was just music for me... it was more like playing Nintendo."

The Half-Million Dollar Lesson

Every creative has the "one that got away," but for Medylandia, it was a massive hit in the French Canadian market. In 2006, he produced a reggaeton track titled "Maria" for an artist named Gobanito. Despite being urged 15 times to register with the royalty collection agency Sokan, a teenage Medylandia blew it off, convinced a French reggaeton track would never go anywhere.

He was wrong. The song exploded, becoming a radio staple that still plays today. Medylandia didn't see a cent of the royalties. Instead, he found himself playing congas for the artist at shows for $200 a night while the song he produced was generating thousands. "That shit killed me," he admits. But looking back at 40, he sees it as a blessing: "Imagine me, 15 years old, just fresh in the game with 500K. That’d be a problem."

The Psychology of the Studio

Medylandia describes his job as equal parts musicality and therapy. He no longer operates as a "vampire," working until 5:00 AM, but his creative edge remains sharp. He recalls being sent to LA to work with a Disney artist, expected to produce pop, only to be hit with a request for a disco track—a genre he had never touched. He spent fifteen minutes in the restroom listening to disco references, came back out, and produced five songs that were eventually accepted by Hollywood Records.

That adaptability is his superpower. Whether it’s Greek music, Indian tracks, or traditional Dominican Merengue, he approaches the board with the mindset that a beat is universal. However, he’s become selective about who he lets into his space. The energy in the room dictates the output. "My job is a lot of psychology stuff," he explains, noted that he now insists on meeting artists beforehand to ensure the vibe isn't "awkward" for six hours.

"My competition is the longevity. You can be super fast now, but then you’re gonna be tired. I’ve been doing this. This is what I do."

Staying Independent at Forty

While the industry is currently obsessed with the "new cats" and viral TikTok moments, Medylandia is playing the long game. He’s skeptical of the standard five-year record deal, noting that at his age, he’d rather keep his independence than be locked into a contract until he’s 45. He’s focused on building his "one-stop shop"—the "Landia" in his name—where he handles everything from the beat to the video.

From the cold streets of Montreal to the humidity of Miami, Medylandia remains a student of the hustle, constantly evolving his style and even embracing AI as a tool rather than a threat. For him, music isn't just about the hits; it’s about the fact that he gets to wake up every day and do exactly what he loves.

Chapters

• 00:00 — Lexi Fumbles the Intro (Again 😅)

• 00:40 — Meet Medylandia: Canada Meets Dominican Fire

• 02:10 — The $50 Beat That Changed His Life

• 04:00 — From Burger King to the Studio Closet

• 06:00 — Finding His Rhythm Through Dominican Roots

• 08:10 — Moving to Toronto & Scoring Platinum Records

• 10:50 — The Power of Belief and Consistency

• 13:20 — Building a Brand: Dreads, Grills & Hustle

• 15:40 — Kingrilla Ad Break – Rule Your Routine Like a King 👑

• 16:40 — The $500K Mistake That Taught Him Everything

• 19:20 — Losing, Learning & Coming Back Stronger

• 23:00 — Music, Vibes & Awkward Studio Sessions

• 27:10 — The Reality Behind “Making It” in Music

• 31:40 — AI in Music & Staying Human

• 35:50 — Fame, Wild DMs & Industry Chaos

• 41:00 — Creating a Beat Live + Final Message