03/24/2026
Before Donovan Maes began recording at The Music Company (TMC), most of his songs existed as rough demos recorded on an iPad or phone and rarely developed beyond that stage.
Music had been a part of his life for years. Songwriting came quickly, and by his early teens he was writing constantly. This work branched into two areas: performing with the Mid-City Community Music teen band Circus of Souls, and building his own original project, killer trees.
Through TMC’s Teen Artist Residency Program, Donovan began using the studio to develop original material, rehearsing with Circus of Souls and recording as killer trees.
Before TMC, recording was, in his words, “pretty unprofessional,” limited to whatever equipment he had available. “I would record things on GarageBand on the iPad that we had or on my phone,” he said.
At TMC, those barriers disappeared. Studio sessions provided access to professional microphones, instruments, monitoring, and engineering support, allowing songs to move beyond demo form.
TMC’s role was to elevate his work rather than change it. “They helped bring my songs to a professional level,” Donovan said.
The results have already begun to show. Donovan and killer trees recently won the 2026 Battle of the Bands at Humble Heart in Ocean Beach, a competition that featured 15 bands.
At sixteen, Donovan has already released his first album, ONIONS, with killer trees, while continuing to perform with Circus of Souls and recording material for a second album.
For Donovan, songs that once stayed in voice memos are now moving through a full creative path: written, recorded, released, and performed live. Through TMC’s Teen Artist Residency Program, he has gone from home demos to a finished album, radio airplay, competition wins, and paid performances, all before finishing high school.
Check out Donovan’s full story, linked in our bio, and follow our page to help support TMC’s mission of creating opportunities for local artists❤️
