Turn scared into shared.
Let’s face it, sharing the first track out there is not always simple. Particularly when you are new to music promotion.
It was not for me! The perfectionist voice inside my head began excitedly about the criticism I’d receive.
What are my friends gonna say about it?
What will strangers say about it?
What would artists I admire think of it?
However, in the process, I realized just a few things that all music producers should find out about sharing…
Don’t wait. Publish.
I was listening to an interview on Lapsus radio with producer Zora Jones.
She described how she challenged herself to complete 100 tracks before publishing anything.
Once she was achieved, she cherry-picked the best ones to make an EP. She grew her own unique sound in the process.
It is a fantastic story, however, it did not feel right for me.
The best way to find your sound
Take it from me, publish your drafts.
I thought: why not publish and get feedback during the growth process? And not simply from my friends either (they are biased anyway).
Today’s sharing platforms permit you to publish drafts and unfinished ideas. And you know what? It’s okay!
Do not forget that no artist comes fully formed into the world. It is all about error and trial.
And there’s not often only one right method to do things.
Always ask yourself what is right for you.
Share as you go
Fine tune and evolve your sound in public. It could be scary at sharing the first track however you’ll develop as a result.
It is not like it’s getting pressed straight to vinyl tomorrow. So if you start out, think of it as a process.
Plus, you could change the audio file later on SoundCloud at all times. That method you keep away from losing these precious likes and comments!
Don’t you like it if you find an old Bandcamp full of early self-released experiments by an artist you like?
Sharing work that is not excellent permits you to get over that fear of putting yourself out there. And your sound gets better along the way. Who knew?
Open the door to better work
It’ll surprise you how many people respond positively.
I found that sharing work in progress opens the door for collaborations.
People will approach you because they get a sense of what you are about. It provides them with ideas of what to add and provides you with a fresh perspective.
Creators with complementary skills will see chances in your work. And hey, perhaps the 2 of you will form the next huge electronic duo.
Not to mention that labels keep an eye out for diamonds in the rough all around the web.
Testing your tracks with a crowd
Test your tracks with a live crowd before committing to a final recording.
Received a DJ gig? Slip in a couple of your own productions in the combine and see how your audience reacts. Do it many times, in different settings.
Hot tip: master them before so that your sketches are at the similar level as the other tracks in your set.
When you are playing a live set, record it, master it, and upload to SoundCloud.
Sit again and let the likes, feedback, and constructive criticism roll in.
What are you waiting for?
It is nerve-racking to sharing the first track that you have created.
However, there are tons of advantages to putting yourself out there early on.
You do not want to be missing out on collaborations, feedback, getting approached by labels, gig offers and all the other nice stuff.
Your first audiences are the best training ground for success – and your future superfans. Sharing the first track right now…