In the music business, tours are struggling with inflation and some artists like the Animal Collective have had to cancel their European tours as a result. I anticipate.

The music industry announced 100,000 songs per day uploading onto DSP over-saturating the marketplace. I just got off the phone with a friend who has a music licensing house who talked about how challenging licensing is becoming with too much music flooding the marketplace. In PARTICULAR – music that is not ready to be released saturating the marketplace. I just got a major licensing deal for one of our artists whose record I A&R’d. We spent the time to take the deep dive on the record, writing about deeply personal experiences and carved their own sound.

I cannot stress enough the IMPORTANCE of really honing your material and not rushing to put music out in the marketplace. Stop chasing trends – you won’t stand out. Spend the time to write GREAT songs that align with your artist message and vision.

A little inspiration to build and refine your artist vision!
Finding your unique sound and creating the music you want is pivotal to the life and soul of an artist.
But between the flurry of opinions on social media, marketing tactics, and the voice of the industry, there is a LOT to distract you and pull you off course from your artist vision.

Be sure to visit us over on Instagram where I go LIVE weekly with inspiration and tools for musicians and artists. Click here to read my recent post on developing your vision, sound + direction.

5 Ways for Musicians to Improve Your Vision, Sound + Direction on Your Next Album

1. How does releasing a single vs. EP vs. LP affect my impact?

Singles are good to head off an EP or LP release. On their own they won’t do much for you – and you run the risk of your brand coming across too fragmented. Singles don’t reflect enough of an artist “sound” for fans to lean into and they are not substantial enough to introduce you properly to the business.

Artist need a collection of material to introduce them to the public and create career opportunities. Less than that won’t do the trick. Even music supervisors won’t represent artists who only have singles out.

2. Stop chasing the music pendulum.

Artists need to steer clear of chasing the pendulum. There is a pendulum of trends in music that swings from side to side. In order to stand out you want to get a head of the curve. But the only real way to do that is to find your artist sound – stick to it and then you’ll be ahead when the pendulum swings your way.

3. Taking the time to define your artist vision before the start of your project

By the time you finish chasing the current trend it’s already gone. The trick is to get ahead of them.

There is a music pendulum that swings and if you stick to your sound long enough you will be positioned well when it comes your way again.

One of the ways of doing that is to make the music you believe in, trust your instincts and stick to it.

What is your artist vision of your music? Write it down. Focus on it. A vision needs to be watered daily.

4. Defining your artist message and material.

Writing songs others relate to. This one is tricky. It’s easy to misinterpret this. Particularly in the writing process.

If you write songs with the goal of writing songs that others relate to, it’s easy to sit up on the surface and write in a “general” way. But the problem with that is the songs will tend not to connect in the way they could.

To write songs others relate to, you need to write from a deep place making deeper connections to reach your emotions. Then later go back and remove anything too specific that will interrupt the listener.

It starts with taking an inventory of your life and defining your core message and themes.

We have created process to help you do this. Come write with us.
The Signature Songwriting Circle.

5. Refining and evolving your artist sound and direction.

Everytime you put out a record you want to continue to refine and evolve your sound + direction. It is one of the fundamental keys to connecting with your audience.

Your music creates an experience for your listeners.

You’ll need to find your own lane and stick to it.

When you copy other artists or trends too much your style gets lost. Remember, it’s often your flaws, imperfections and natural instincts that create your unique sound and style. Trying to be too ‘perfect’ can be the kiss of death.

Music is a place to be rebellious, to stand out, to make an artistic statement.

It also requires spending some time really listening to music.
Most of the time (unless you are a producer), you are listening more to the voice or the song.
Try listening to the “music” – to the production.
What instruments are you hearing?
What sounds are you hearing?
What do you like?
What do you want your music to sound like?
What did you grow up listening to?
Make playlists.

Find your signature sound and style.
In fact, it is often the key indicator of having a differentiator in the marketplace – which you NEED.

Our signature alchemical process walks you through these very topics and steps, to completely transform your music and you artistry. Ready to start the process? Click here to learn more.