Steven Machat of SSK Records: 5 Steps We Must Take To Truly Create An Inclusive, Representative, and Equitable Society
… We need schools that teach that love is the answer. Hate and misery is not the answer.
We need to check people’s egos, and ensure nobody is raised to believe that they are better than anyone else.
As part of our series about ‘5 Steps We Must Take To Truly Create An Inclusive, Representative, and Equitable Society’ I had the pleasure to interview Steven Machat.
Born and raised in NY City Steven Machat is one of the world’s most successful entertainment moguls and owner of SSK records. He’s worked with a who’s-who of artists including The Electric Light Orchestra, Genesis, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins. More recently he’s produced Snoop Dogg and Bobby Brown.
Machat, even as a young child, has always had a strong belief in the spiritual world and questioned all aspects about life, but mainly imperial governments and imperial religions. Following the tragic death of his music producer son, Barron, in a car crash in 2015, he dedicated his book Spiritual Insomnia, and embarked on a journey into processing his grief, finding meaning and learning to ‘let go’.
His belief has intensified and his determination and discoveries for ‘truth’ has led him to publish his tenth and final book “We’ve got to get out of this place!” which looks at life, death and beyond. The book explores the smoke and mirrors that surround humanity, religion and philosophy, revealing the truths that remain hidden in plain sight. He delves deep into the exploration of Earthly death, ascension and reincarnation and draws convincing research-based conclusions to five of the most significant questions for mankind, including, ‘what happens after we die?’
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to ‘get to know you’. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I grew up in a society where I was surrounded by music, and many of the big artists of the late fifties to mid-sixties. My dad was in the entertainment legal business, he handled the likes of Sam Cook, James Brown, The Who, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones. He worked with Alan Klein and the Beatles.
And so I grew up in this world where I could meet the artists and ask them questions, which taught me a lot. My friends all went to school and were taught what the capitalist curriculum wanted them to believe; this tried to encourage them to believe in imperial religion where people argue about their god being better than that of others. They were taught that America is the greatest democracy ever created, and so they’re allowed to go into other countries and kill and steal.
I believe in the equitable distribution of the energies of the community that we call mankind. I do not believe in sky gods. I do not believe in Imperial governance, be they kings or democracies, which are fraudulent, or Republics, which are a joke. I believe in the equal distribution of love. I believe we came here to learn love. I believe we came here to discover.
Are there any particular books that have had a significant impact on you? And can you share a story as to why it resonated with you so much?
Yeah, Animal Farm.
I read Animal Farm in my teens, 1984, Clockwork Orange Chariots of the Gods, all in my teens. I didn’t believe that the school system that I went to was choosing the best books for me to read. I wanted to experience the others. I wanted to experience the other side. I didn’t want to read anything that confirmed that there was a God looking over me, that would judge me if I was good or bad, and then sentenced me to hell, if I was bad, or if I was good, I could get to sit next to God. I wanted to read books which challenged this ideology.
I read every day. I can’t stop. I want to know why people fall in line and obey. Accepting what they’re told.
Do you have a favourite life lesson Quote and any stories around how this was relevant to life or work?
I think, therefore I am. I’m conscious. And I’ve studied my whole life to discover what consciousness means. Consciousness is where we all come from. And consciousness is part of the Supreme Being.
We are all single drops of an ocean of greater consciousness. We all come from one source.
How would you define leadership?
Leadership is one that will do what’s right, regardless of whether or not others agree or disagree. It’s someone that believes, and there’s no money that can make them see others except the truth. And truth is the greatest currency you could ever have. If you live true, and I’m older now, you will be able to look back at your life and say, you know, something, you were never able to buy me? And who’s that? It’s the third parties that own and control our daily routines.
In my work, I often talk about how to relieve and release stress. What do you do to prepare your mind and body before a stressful or high stakes meeting talk or decision? Can you share a story of some examples? So, what do you do to prepare your mind and body before a stressful situation or a meeting or a discussion?
I have developed strategies for dealing with stress over time, and now I feel I can remain very calm in extremely stressful situations.
This is something that was bred in my consciousness. If you’re getting stressed, you need to travel to a safe space in your mind. Your brain convinces you to enter fight or flight mode when you’re unsure of the outcome of a stressful situation. If you don’t like what you’re looking at, go to your sacred space in your consciousness.
Love is the beginning of a higher consciousness. Inhale love. Inhale light. Inhale it. Close your eyes. Go to that sacred space that’s yours.
So, let’s move to the main focus of the interview. The United States is currently facing a very important self-reckoning about race, diversity, equality and inclusion. This is of course a huge topic. So just briefly, can you share your view on how this crisis evolved to the boiling point that it’s at now?
It’s really at the boiling point since the creation of our country. America, with its extensive history of slavery and segregation, still remains a racist country. My books discuss the disease that is racism that has engulfed mankind throughout history.
The creation of our nation began with the murder of the natives. We invaded their land and their sacred space and stole it from them. What we are seeing now is bravery in those speaking out about their lived experience and how America has been oppressing them.
So, can you tell our readers a bit about your experience of promoting diversity and inclusion in either your work or your life?
I have been lucky to have had the experience of producing music of all cultures all over the world. I have produced with musicians from African countries, people from Latin America, Native Americans. Which has been an enlightening experience. I think it’s important to experience and learn from other cultures. Music is a beautiful way to come together. Championing the talents of creators from all over the world is really important to me.
Ok. Here is the main question of our discussion. You are an influential business leader. Can you please share your ‘5 Steps We Must Take To Truly Create An Inclusive, Representative, and Equitable Society’?
- We need to have elders running our society who will teach each that everyone has something here to do. Something special to offer.
- We need to stop believing in Imperial gods. We need to stop believing that these gods have authorized the Imperial governments to kill in their name, and then kill in their glory.
- We need to create a government that works for the people, providing health, welfare and safety to us. Working for us, not for themselves.
- We need schools that teach that love is the answer. Hate and misery is not the answer.
- We need to check people’s egos, and ensure nobody is raised to believe that they are better than anyone else.
As a society, we’re going through a rough period right now. Are you optimistic that this issue can eventually be resolved?
We’re not going through a rough period. We are a rough period. The world has never been without war. It’s never been without misery. We have always killed each other. We have always been racist. Look what we do in the name of this imperial God. It’s insane. We all have the same God, get over it. Worship it, it’s your version.
Is there a person in the world with whom you would most like to have a private conversation breakfast or lunch with and why?
I’d rather talk to everyone, and have big, constructive discussions, with everyone in the world.
Everyone has a value. Everyone has a purpose. Not all of us are equal in treatment, but we’re all here to have an equal opportunity to reach our full potential. We just need a government that will support everyone equally.
How can our readers follow you online?
Here’s a link to my website and you can find me on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenmachat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevenmachat/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmachat/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenmachat_official/
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
