How To Find Your Sound As An Artist

Near artists aspire to be a "star." To achieve that you must stand out––apart from all the other artists doing the same thing. The success stories in the music business organisation usually involve artists who know who they are and used that knowledge to create a signature sound. Just, the truth is, most artists emulate well-known acts they admire. Unfortunately, that will non help you succeed––unless yous're in a comprehend band or tribute band. In fact, information technology will brand you just like everybody else…and you volition go invisible. To help our readers sympathize how important it is to discover "yourself," Music Connection speaks with four experts who give you tips on how to notice your own artistic identity and signature sound.

HUNTER SCOTT
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Hunter Scott founded LaFamos PR, Branding & Social Media over 10 years ago. His company specializes in helping artists discover their identity and creating a brand. LaFamos creates a story and experience for artists that engages current fans and draws in new ones. He has helped numerous independent artists observe themselves and find success.

Why should artists develop their own identity and audio?
You want to be distinctive. It's the kiss of death if people can't recognize you in a crowd. You'll just blend in and become invisible.

What's your procedure in developing a unique artist identity?
We utilise a broad-ranging questionnaire. We ask why they practise what they do? What they play? Who they sound like? Who they admire? And, what their goals and hobbies are? Their hobbies often reveal their uniqueness.

How encompassing is your approach?
Information technology involves everything––information technology'southward the whole package. In the days of social media, y'all have to comprehend everything. It all has to connect. Videos and promo photos are very of import today. People similar visuals. They should project the artist'southward personality and assistance tell their story.

How important is social media regarding an artist's identity?
Today, information technology's very important, it all has to come together. Information technology allows artists to connect with people they may never have met before. If you practice it right, it can create a customs that follows and supports you for years.

What's the key to establishing an artist's identity?
It'south about the story and staying consistent. We assistance artists build their story. Some acts are more unique to begin with, while others need aid. Ultimately, artists need to develop their own brand.

How tin artists create a brand?
It involves their music, personality and interests. There are different options available to tell a compelling story and brand it unique. Artists should envision what their make looks like, and how it relates with people.

Would y'all work with any creative person?
No… we are selective. If I hear potential, I might take it on. But, if an artist is just starting out, early in their career, they may need time to effigy out who they are. •

STORM GARDNER
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Because of his uncanny ability to aid artists discover their truthful identity and audio, Storm Gardner has been called an "Creative person Whisperer." He has worked with dozens of superstars and performed over 600 songs for the Boob tube testify Glee. A finalist on the 10 Factor (Uk), he worked with Tom Cruise on Stone of Ages, singing 16 of the 19 tracks in the movie. The last few years, he has worked as an Artist Counselor, Operation Motorcoach, and Casting Producer for American Idol. A Grammy-nominated songwriter, he currently mentors Simon Fuller's music grouping Now United, too as Lola Lennox (the Eurythmics) Annie Lennox'due south daughter.

Why is it important for artists to have their own identity and sound?
Southhakespeare said, "Life is a phase." For artists that's especially true. If you want to succeed, y'all must come to life with original thoughts, style and attitude. The best artists enlighten the world.

What process do you use to help artists?
I get back to their childhood––that's where their personality forms. I try to assistance artists unlock their truthful voice and identify what'south holding them back, because existence an creative person is a 24-hr job. Non everyone can exist a pop star, only you tin can accept a career if you can find what makes yous special. It'southward a collaborative procedure. My goal is to brand them leaders.

What's nearly disquisitional in establishing an identity?
The way you wait, apparel and present yourself, artistically and musically, is the almost important weapon you accept in life. We report the greats, merely then take to let it go. Artists need to enquire themselves "Who am I?"

Merely many artists reverberate their influences. How practice you get around that?
That'south one of the most exciting parts of the journey. Information technology's been said that "all artists steal." You demand to larn how to listen with your ears and eyes. Influences can assist you, but they can also arrive the way. You need to add your own personality and perspective to make what you do special and unique.

How do you lot deal with an artist's weaknesses?
I believe strength lies in weakness. Vulnerability is sacred. Yous should gloat information technology. That transformation process is the nigh heady part––making your weakness your force.

How personal is your approach?
I had an identity crisis when I performed on Glee. I was singing everyone else'southward material and didn't really know who I was. That inspired me to assistance other artists find themselves.

But, many artists just desire to fit into the music scene and would love working on a show like Glee.
An creative person'southward chore is to stand out––and not fit in.

How tin artists incorporate their identity into their alive testify?
When y'all study the not bad ones, you'll discover that they control a room earlier theyperform. They are the star and everyone knows it. You need to focus on your posture, your movements and how you walk across the stage. It'south a visual thing as much as a musical affair.

Is there a method that you utilize?
Yeah… information technology's called the "Storm Method." S is for silence––how do I fill this sound? T is for think virtually it. O is for detect, R is for relax. And, finally, M is for manifest––what is the actual sound you want to project.

How does that process evolve?
Once we have a practiced idea of an artist's identity, I will invite them to perform with me in a prophylactic environment. I encourage the audience to support them. My goal is to give them the confidence they need to appoint a crowd.

What kind of artists exercise you lot work with?
A lot of them are singers. But I too work with musicians. In fact, I've worked with a harpsichord player and I'm currently working with a drummer. All artists, no affair what they do, demand to have their own identity and sound.

This is a tough concern… and artists are sensitive. How can artists deal with critics?

Criticism is non judgment. You do need to exist self-aware and objective about your art and performance, but you can't let someone else'south opinion sway you from your mission.

How can artists convey their identity in their alive performance?

Artists need to understand that they are entertainers. Just playing your music live is non a performance. Artists need to cover what I telephone call the "Three E's." When you perform, you lot need to exist Enlightening, Entertaining and Engaging.

What advice would you requite aspiring artists?

Now is the best time for artists to interruption out of their shell. Don't exist afraid to be controversial. Yous demand to make your audience remember you… Do NOT play information technology condom. •

LARRY BUTLER
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Larry Butler is a Live Operation Coach. At Warner Bros. Records he was the in-house tour manager for WB artists, helping them perfect their live shows. That led to a position as Artist Development Managing director and VP of Artist Relations. He is also the author of The Singer/Songwriter Rule Volume: 101 Ways To Help Yous Amend Your Chances of Success. Now based in Nashville, Butler has been focusing on helping artists discover their ain unique identity.

How of import is it for artists to develop their ain identity and sound?
It's ultra-important. Y'all need to stand out if you want to brand your marking in this business. You can't exist similar everyone else or like some artist who is amend known than you. You demand your own unique personality so an audition can get to know you lot.

Only many artists mimic acts that they admire.
It's fine to have references. In fact, information technology'due south a good affair to know the history behind your manner of music. But real artists add something to information technology––something new and unlike. If they don't, they're bound to repeat the past, including the mistakes.

Does that apply to visuals also?
Yeah… You need to take off your musician's chapeau and realize yous are an entertainer. It involves your habiliment, your expect, the fashion you lot motion, everything about you lot. You accept to be consistent, in all aspects of your fine art, to found an identity. If you're all over the place, you will misfile people. Audition members will make up one's mind whether they like an human activity in the beginning 10 to 20 seconds, when the creative person walks on the stage.

What exercises could artists do to develop their own persona?
First of all, it's not simply about talent. There are a lot of talented artists. It's nigh dedication. Information technology has to be your life. Real artists dedicate their whole life to their artistry. You lot should move one step past your comfort zone––two steps is besides far. Y'all should strive to be relatable and identifiable––just outside of what's expected. If you can practise that, people will recall yous.

What kind of artists practise you work with?
More often than not vocalists. Singers need to develop their ain vocal style, otherwise they'll audio like every other good vocaliser. There'south nothing special about that. They need to develop two voices, ane for ballads and another for uptempo numbers. Nigh importantly, they have to connect emotionally with the cloth. Audiences don't intendance well-nigh perfection––they want to feel something. •

AL SHAW
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Al Shaw is a Public Relations Specialist and Management Consultant with over 15 years of feel in music and media. He is a partner in Machinewerk, with offices in California and London. He too teaches a form called "Artist Identity" for the Contained Artist Program at the Musicians Found in Hollywood, CA. His current clients include upward-and-coming artists, DJs, producers, songwriters, record labels and audio engineers.

Why should artists find their own identity and sound?
Information technology'due south important to differentiate yourself. It will help you build a career. Otherwise, yous'll be just like everybody else. Information technology's especially important for producers to differentiate themselves with identifiable sounds and productions. For example, you can clearly hear the difference between Dr. Dre and Timbaland.

How tin artists achieve that differentiation?
Yous have to study what'due south already been done––and and then tear that down. Think out of the box, deconstruct it and create something new.

Where should artists start in that procedure?
It's virtually telling a story. What is your point of view? What is your bulletin? How are you dissimilar, musically, lyrically, visually, and socially? Artists need to project those things in a unique and artistic way. You need a narrative: Who are you? What is your music near? What is your story?

Can a bio tell your story?
It tin can, but information technology's a struggle for many artists. You need to explicate why yous chose to be an artist, using interesting descriptors. Why do you exercise i thing rather than another? People want to know who you lot are and what your music is about.

Can artists do all that themselves, or should they seek assist?
In teaching an "Artists Identity" class, I've discovered that a lot of artists need coaching. Many have a hard fourth dimension breaking through their preconceived ideas or, even worse, accept no thought who they are and what they represent.

How encompassing is that procedure?
It involves everything. You have to pull it all together to create a brand. Today, image is super-of import. Information technology has even exceeded talent. But, most important is consistency. Everything yous do––including the way you look––will define your identity.

Can y'all requite some examples of artists who did that well?
Adele perfected subtle. Lana Del Ray is more flamboyant. Lady Gaga went through several transitions, starting with a potent image and concept. With all of them, there is an underlying storyline that people found interesting.

Those examples take stiff public personas. How important is that?
In public, artists should stay in character. No ane likes a deadening artist. You should never go normal and boring in public. You should ain your persona and cultivate your colorful personality. •