Self Sufficient Musician

There are many resources out there for how to write hit songs.  But few discuss how to become unique.

But think about it.  All the artists that are worth remembering in the history of music industry — everyone from the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Abba, U2, the Police, Tori Amos, Queen, Bjork, Nirvana — are all so unique.  Oft imitated, sure, but never duplicated.

Now, admittedly, some artists become more known for their distinctive persona than originality in their music.  And that is no less valid way to get established.

That said, here I’m going to guide you through how to go about developing your own unique songwriting style, one so distinctive that you can’t help but stand out from the crowd.

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There are many resources out there for discussing how to write a ‘hit’ song.

And there are a number of techniques, like analyzing past hit songs to determine common characteristics and emulate them. That’s useful information if you plan to pursue a hit-based career.

However,  here at SSM, we are more concerned with being unique than hit.  Why?  It’s because being unique is much more reliable and practical way to ensure that you have a lasting career as an original recording artist.

Quickly, here are the reasons why.  (continue reading…)

In the previous article, I stated that it’s very possible and realistic for musicians to earn enough to sustain a comfortable lifestyle while creating, recording and performing music that you enjoy. While the second phrase, the bit about music you enjoy, can include writing jingles, playing string quartets in weddings, or playing showtunes on a cruise ship, let’s narrow it down to what is commonly the ultimate ideal for most musicians writing and playing popular music: make a living from original music.

Is this still possible?

Yep.

So having defined a very specific objective and activity, let’s further break this down into its most fundamental and essential elements. (continue reading…)