You Have To Start Somewhere

Ever since I can remember, music has been a part of my life. From watching live concerts on DVD while playing in the floor, to using toy shovels as electric guitars and golf clubs as microphones, I’ve imagined myself being a musician since childhood. Even though this desire was placed inside me, it didn’t take shape until much later on. Ironically enough, I didn’t even know how to play an instrument until I was about 15.

Whether from lack of exposure, or lack of self-confidence, I never really picked up an instrument and fully connected with it until much later than most would. I don’t regret this but mention it to say that we all start somewhere. I began taking piano lessons because my younger sister had started a little while before. Though I picked up some of the concepts quickly, I wasn’t bonding with the instrument how I wished. Ultimately, the enjoyment came from messing around with the piano outside of my lessons or learned pieces of music.

I ended up quitting piano lessons and shifted my attention to other more enticing prospects. I inadvertently fell into playing drums for my church, which built a firm foundation for rhythm and song structure. Through school, I found a love for poetry and creative forms of writing. This enforced a desire to write real songs even though I didn’t have the skills to fully actualize them yet. I latched onto playing bass and then guitar. Learning about recording and some light production techniques came a little later. With a bit of natural talent, and a desire to accomplish a small dream, I was writing and recording my own music, completely self-taught.

So How Do You Do It?

Back in the day, studios and record labels were necessary to create a real recording that could be released widespread, but now all you might need are some instruments, a few mics, small recording equipment, and your phone and computer. Honestly enough, you could go more minimal than that! For example, I’ve created multiple songs you can listen to right now on streaming services that were recorded straight into my phone. I sat on my bed with an acoustic guitar, played into my phone, used that file on my computer and added a few light effects, and then exported it. That was it.

There are many trustworthy distribution services you can release your music through, but my preferred selection is DistroKid. By following the steps and instructions on their site, you can set up your release to go out on popular streaming services and be heard by people all over the world. You can add your album cover, writing credits, and even song lyrics through their service. Of course, this isn’t free and they design their service in a way to make you want to pay more for certain perks. But in terms of the basics, you can get your music up on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. for about $40 a year.

Am I making that money back through streaming payouts? No, not fully at the moment. But think about it this way, you’re paying for legitimacy. When you play a show or tell someone you make music, they usually respond with something like “Oh, are you on Spotify? I’d love to check you out!” To which you can confidently reply, “Yes! Just look up (enter name here)!” Whether they listen or not, you have made it as easy as possible for them to hear you, and that’s what is important.

What Advice I’d Give To Someone Starting Out

1. Listen, I don’t have that many monthly listeners, not for want of trying, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. In fact, most times it won’t. Understand that the reason you’re doing this is for the music. It should always be the motivating factor no matter how famous you are. The fact that you can write a song, record it, and release it on your own is incredible. Take advantage of that opportunity!

2. Don’t get in your head about songs. Aim for excellence, but don’t lose the plot. If you have an idea, go for it! Put that out there, because you never know if people may come across that and enjoy it.

3. Treat your music as a real form of expression. When people hear these songs, it should be a reflection of who you are, not anyone else. Gaining inspiration is important, but blatantly copying is another. Understand that you have a unique voice in the world of music, no matter how small you may feel.

I’ve had to wrestle with all of these points personally. Don’t let any of that stop you. Keep writing, developing your unique voice, and creating music that is meaningful. If you make music already, or were inspired to release your tracks because of this post, please let me know!

Lastly, for any who may be interested, you can listen to my music here!