Ice Nine Kills Snuck Into Warped Tour… and Sold 10,000 Albums

In this episode of Loyal To The Craft, we’re backstage at When We Were Young with Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills) for a real conversation about building a sustainable career in music - one step at a time. Spencer breaks down how it all started (from watching Nirvana on MTV to picking up a guitar to starting bands), how to make the right creative connections, and what it actually takes to grind through the “no’s” until things finally click. If you’re an emerging artist chasing something bigger than life, this one is packed with lessons you can apply immediately. In this interview, Spencer shares: - The moment that sparked it all (and why obsession can be your superpower) - How to build connections the right way: be genuine, don’t chase favors, help others first - Why patience matters — and how Ice Nine Kills pushed through years of rejection - The “make your own luck” mindset (and the fan-voting grind that changed everything) - The real Warped Tour hustle: sneaking in, selling 10,000+ CDs, and working the lines for fans - How to approach modern platforms like TikTok/YouTube without losing your identity - What “Loyal To The Craft” means: authenticity, creating what you love, and running away from trends If you’re building your sound, your brand, and your community, this is your reminder: keep writing, keep practicing, keep showing up.

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