Have you recently decided that you want to pursue your passion for music, but have no idea where to start? If you’ve been doing music as a hobby for a while now and you want to get more serious, you’re in the right place.
In this blog, I cover all the major pieces and beginning steps you will need to think about when setting the foundation for your music career as an independent artist.
Even if your end goal is to sign with a major music label, I think you still need to apply these steps. Just know that in the current climate of the music industry, thanks to the internet, you are no longer dependent on music labels to make a career in music, especially the majors. You have the freedom to do it yourself.
If you have chosen to become a professional singer or songwriter, Congrats for choosing one of the most difficult professions. According to one study the chances of becoming a successful singer is just 0.0003% imagine that. But that’s not a problem if you are determined and are willing to work your ass off.
I too have chosen this career and can only hope to influence the world with my music.
But Let’s get started. First of all let’s talk about the profession “SINGER/SONGWRITER “ . Then I will share some ideas including some tips and steps which are helping me and which i hope will help you too.
Although many vocalists sang their own songs, including early rock & rollers like Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, the term Singer/Songwriter refers to the legions of performers that followed Bob Dylan in the late 60s and early 70s. Most of the original singer/songwriters performed alone with an acoustic guitar or a piano but some had small groups for backing.Their lyrics were personal, although they were often veiled by layers of metaphors and obscure imagery. Singer/songwriters drew primarily from folk and country, although certain writers like Randy Newman and Carole King incorporated the song craft of Tin Pan Alley pop. The main concern for any singer/songwriter was the song itself, not necessarily the performance.
However, most singer/songwriter records have a similar sound, which is usually spare, direct, and reflective, which places the emphasis on the song itself. James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and Joni Mitchell were the quintessential singer/songwriters of the '70s, and most of the songwriters that followed them based themselves on their styles, or Dylan's. Singer/songwriters were at the height of their popularity in the early '70s, and although they faded away from the pop chart, they never disappeared. In the late '70s, artists like Rickie Lee Jones and Joan Armatrading that were heavily influenced by the sound of the original singer/songwriters crossed over into the pop charts, as did Suzanne Vega and Tracy Chapman in the late '80s. This resurgence of the style in the late 80's led to a new popularity and exposure for a new crop of contemporary singer/songwriters.
According to me,
What we believe affects how we think which affects our behaviors and how we act which affects our results. [ Beliefs — Thinking — Behaviors — Actions — Results ]. Question what you believe to be true.
I’ve heard music industry people say ‘it’s really difficult to make it in the music business’ and conversely I’ve also heard other music industry people say ‘there’s never been a better time to have a career as an artist’.
So if you really want to accomplish your dreams of becoming a singer or a songwriter START BELIEVING that you can. This is the first and mist important step.
Let’s talk about the elements that you would require to start your career.
1. Good singing voice
You really need to have a good singing voice if you have to become a singer (Well that’s obvious). Many of the greatest singers you hear or heard have their beautiful singing voice naturally i.e. by birth. They are born singers.
So if you are one of them you are very very lucky. Even if you are not no need to worry because you can improve your voice by practice as many if the greatest singers did.
2. Basic recording equipment
You gotta have the basic recording gear which is available with ease. These include a budget laptop, recording mic and a software to edit your creations. Ya that’s all you require to start to record stuff.
3. Basic music theory
You have to learn this, it’s one of the most essential things needed. You can learn from various sources like you can surf the internet or you can learn from the you tube. It’s entirely up to you. You can also approach a friend or a known that has knowledge about music theory.
4. An instrument
Learning to play a musical instrument has so many benefits – whether it’s building your confidence, enhancing your memory or widening your social circle. Playing and succeeding at a musical instrument gives you a huge sense of pride and achievement, especially when you manage to perfect a passage you’ve been struggling with for weeks. It also helps to write better songs and provides some insight into the song development. It is also good for your artistic image. I too know how to play the keyboard and guitar.
5. Social media accounts
Social media for singers has become one of the most significant platforms for self-promotion. It’s important that you, as a singer, use them as wisely as you can. Produce great content and you’ll spread the word about yourself as a musician far and wide. Social media is vital for promoting yourself, engaging with your fans and creating a brand. Getting your social content right can make a massive difference in your career. Which is why savvy social media for singers should be a priority.
Now as that you have the essentials let’s get started. I will be sharing some steps for you that I believe are the basic stepping stones for your career.
The basic steps are as follows.
1. FIND YOUR INSPIRATION
Look into your own life, your surroundings, and people that you look up to in order to find your muse for writing lyrics. Find a subject you are passionate about.I recommend becoming a student of the genre you most closely relate to, not just listening what's out there today, but what came before. If you like country music, learn about Hank Williams. If it's pop, study Elvis. Study hit songs to understand how they are constructed, and then WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!
2. WRITE YOUR IDEAS DOWN
Once you have found your inspiration, keep some sort of journal. You never know when lyrics may come to you — you could be on the subway, at a park, or in school, and you don’t want to forget what comes to you! Also, I suggest having some type of recording software to record what comes to you. If you keep singing a chorus or melody line over and over your head, record it as soon as you can so you don’t lose it!
3. KNOW YOUR GOALS
You may know that you want to "make it" in the music industry, but what exactly does making it look like? Focus on short-term goals first.
If you're a musician who has never played a show before, maybe getting an opening slot at a local show within the next three months is your first objective.If you would like to start a label, choosing a name and doing the paperwork required to start a business within the next six weeks is a good first step.
4. CRAFT YOUR SONG
Now it’s time to start crafting your song! Most successful songs have 2-3 verses and 2-3 choruses. Anything less or more than that may be a challenge.
Make sure there is a story in your song, and that you have some sort of point coming across. What do you want people to feel and think when they hear your songs? While there is no absolute right way to write a song, many people start out with writing meaningful lyrics, and then putting chords or melody to the words.
5. TEST YOUR SONGS
So, you think you have your song completed and ready to put out there? I suggest performing your song live — at an open mic or a talent show — to get all the kinks out, and to see how an audience reacts to it. Or you may want to start out simple by playing it for your friends and family, since performing original material in front of a live audience can be nerve-wracking!
6. ESTABLISH YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE
If you come off as amateurish, people can subconsciously associate you with lower quality and someone not worthy of attention. This is why having good quality visual components (photos, graphics, videos) is key to a strong online presence.
When starting out, invest in a professional photographer to get high-quality photos of yourself, or band, that you use for your bio, website and social media. If you’re lucky, you might have a photographer friend that could hook you up. Make sure to communicate with them and plan out how the specific shots are going to be used ahead of time.
7. RECORD YOUR CREATIONS
After you’ve been performing the song for a few months, it’s time to record your song! First, decide if you want to book a session in a recording studio or take a stab at recording in a home studio with the equipment you have. With technology today, it’s easy to record your own songs with the right computer software and a quality microphone.
8. BUILD LEVERAGE
Sometimes it can take that one popular tastemaker, blogger, playlister or influencer to get you the publicity and exposure you need to get your career going. These are basically people who have a large audience of followers and can get your name out there to accelerate the growth of your fan base. Assuming, of course, that you have really good music that is worthy of attention.
For most artists, a random request to these individuals asking for promotion will often get ignored. So how do you get their attention? Think about what’s in it for them. How does talking about you or promoting your music benefit them?
9.COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS
It’s fun to collaborate and write with other musicians! Sometimes writing lyrics may be your strongest skill, while it may be a weak point for someone else who is better at writing the instrumental part. Many famous singers collaborate in this way, including Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and Ashford & Simpson.
By collaborating with others, you may find someone that truly understands your music perspective and where you want to take your music, which can be an important asset for you in your career as a singer-songwriter.
10. PITCH YOUR MUSIC
Once you are confident in your original song, it’s time to pitch your music to the industry! This is not easy and won’t happen overnight, but with technology today, you do have an advantage of getting your music heard and seen by important music industry professionals.
One way is by submitting your music online to a music catalog. Many TV shows and commercial companies will look through these production libraries to find songs for their needs, and yours could be exactly what they are looking for!
These are some essentials that I would recommend to you from my own experience.
Everyone has a different journey and different conditions but these are some basic steps which I hope will be of some help to you, keep dreaming and keep working on your dreams, you'll get there eventually...
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