10 Steps To Mining The Jewel

by Cari Cole

Today’s music is not tomorrow’s sound. It is not the music that is currently pounding the airwaves that you should be trying to sound like — it’s the music you haven’t heard yet. It is the music in rehearsal rooms across the world and that emerging artists are laying down. It’s the stuff you haven’t heard yet!!

Isn’t that cool? It could be you.

But — the only way to get ahead of the curve is to stand boldly in your artistry and not chase trends.

Everything about the business tells you not to do that – but listen with half an ear (I’ll explain why coming up). They tell you not to do that until an artist comes along who defies that and reaches the top of the charts. And then you say – aww.. I could have done that. And you wonder why you didn’t believe in yourself more.

Sound familiar? I have a radical paradigm shift for you.

Your True North

It’s what I call your “true north.”

Your true north is when an artist inhabits their true self – not standing behind themselves or in their own shadow. Like true north on a compass, your true north is a home that is yours and no one else’s.

I often say that when a star is made (besides a whole lot of luck and a destiny) … is when an artist who has come into their true north – at the same time strikes a chord with the world at exactly the moment that the world is wanting to hear what that particular artist is and what they have to say.

I notice that when people become famous that this is the common denominator with all of them. And all artists should look for their true north. In my humble opinion, it’s the only chance you have at being great.

Why?

Because what we love about great artists is that “comfortable in their own skin” thing – their brilliance, “naturalness,” and ease. The way to find it is by going in the direction of your influences and desires and unearthing layer by layer until you arrive at your own door.

Embrace Change – But Don’t Lose Yourself

The funny thing is, you would think it would be totally natural – but it’s not. It’s not a given that you will go in the direction that is naturally yours, because the messages out there in the world – in advertising, movies, TV shows and media – give us this idea that who-we-are naturally is not good enough. We have to be air-brushed and spruced up, made up, and “improved”… that to be prettier, smarter, richer, better — even different from who we are — is just – well — better!

Now – let’s be clear – I’m NOT saying NOT to embrace change – change is great – and so is progress, growth, technology, and all that stuff because those things are all fantastic! But in this case I am talking about the inner you – your artistic self – and the real you. So I am saying: Embrace change and growth – Learn and improve – Just don’t lose yourself in the process.

Mining the Jewel

Why do I say that? Because, each artist has a gold mine inside of them. The question is – will they get to it or get distracted by life or enticed by the dangling carrots of the business? Or by wanting to be liked or be popular – famous even?

So if there is this jewel waiting inside of you — how do you find it?

You start by digging – paving the way. First you have to dig the tunnel and then you go on the journey into the darkness. It’s like going into a dark cave and chipping away at the surface to illuminate the inner sanctum – the core – which is at once just as solid as it is vulnerable – and it holds the key – your key – to who you are as an artist.

I once heard Clive say that developing an artist is about getting them more comfortable in their own skin than they ever thought possible. With so many, not only successful but incredible stars under his belt, I’m with him.

It’s easy to get thrown off track — here’s how:

1. Getting caught up in the musical wave of the moment
2. Getting sidetracked by generic advice
3. Poor planning – not developing or planning out your sound & style
4. Staying in the cave and not coming out into the world.

This is an invitation to strip down, radically examine and explore the chemistry behind finding one’s “true north”. In these 10 steps I’m going to ask you some questions that I want you to take very seriously and I’m going to ask you to do some digging – okay?

10 Steps to Mining the Jewel

1. What kind of song is your favorite? (I said “favorite” – pick one. I know that’s not easy – did I say this was easy?). Is it a big ballsy ballad? Is it an up-tempo that makes your pulse race, or is it a mid-tempo awesome groove based tune? (One of the ways you can tell is when you are in a really good mood – what is the song you put on?). Write that down. Remember your favorite (be honest).

2. What are your favorite lyrics? Print out the lyrics of your top five songs. What is the lyrical theme? What do they all have in common? I bet you’ll find a great similarity in lyric content or structure. That should bring you closer.

3. What kind of song do you sound the best singing? Analyze 5 of your recordings. Be honest. You might need to survey your friends (and tell them you want a straight up answer). Get 5 opinions to get a 3-2 or 4-1, etc. This brings you another step closer …

4. If your best friends were to describe you, your personality – what would they say? Is it big? dramatic? or quiet/introverted? (make it a part of the music survey from #3). Write that down. Now, what kind of music or songs fit that kind of personality.. this will help you get closer..

5. What Top 3 artists have a sound that is close to what you want? Describe what you like about their sound/voice/music and what you would do differently. Write it down.

6. Growing up who were your biggest influences? What artists or songs did you listen to the most? Write them down. Then write down your top all time favorite songs ever. Print out the lyrics and listen to the music, the chord changes, and the tempos – analyze them all. Any similarities? Any lyrical themes poking out at you?

Insider Tip: I often ask artists to tell me their top 3 favorite Producers and advise getting to know their songwriting and production as a tool to improve their own. For instance, Linda Perry is a producer who writes and produces for many artists including Christina Aguilera. She has a particular style of writing and producing. Knowing who’s out there producing and what their niche is only helps you define yours more. And hey, don’t you want to know what producer you want to work with in case you stumble upon them?

7. Write a lyric. Since you have learned from the steps before what subject and style of lyric writing you love – try writing a lyric with that subject and style. Make it about a real story – something that really happened to you. If that’s too hard – then write it as a “wish” – something you wish would happen to you. And.. whether or not you usually write music first – try writing the lyric first (use Masterwriter software to help you with phrases and help you rhyme – it rocks).

8. Guitar or Piano? Were most of the songs you loved guitar based or piano based? That should tell you something about you. If you play both instruments, try writing a song on guitar and then playing it on piano or vice versa. If you don’t play an instrument then start – now. No excuses. Every great artist plays well enough to accompany themselves.

9. Listen to your top 3 Favorite Songs ever. Analyze the production (the instruments and arrangements in the music). Write down the tempo’s (use metronome.com). Pick a tempo and groove that best fits the emotional nature of your lyric in Exercise 7 and write a song using that tempo and groove and basic chord structure without ripping off the melody (visit copyright.gov for more info on that but it’s basically 8 bars of melody) and even if you only play guitar – if most of the songs you love are piano based – have someone play it on piano once it’s written (or if you play both then switch instruments!).

10. Listen again to your top 3 Favorite Songs ever. Analyze the vocals – what style are they? Are they rootsy or bluesy? Are they textured, breathy, layered harmonies? Are they gutsy or rough? Are they using lots of scoops into notes or hitting the notes straight on? Now sing your song and try to emulate the vocals that you like, to improve and maybe add something to your vocal style.

I hope this helps point you in the direction that is YOURS and guides you to your True North. It is my passion to help artists find theirs.

Happy Mining…