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Funny thing about the music industry, I used to be so driven by getting signed, but then I realised that probably the bigger thing in this business as it stands today is not getting signed but actually getting named DJs to play your music. Oddly enough getting signed and having a named DJ play your stuff doesn’t always equate to the same thing.
I have been producing for about 8 years, although I have been involved in other music projects since I was about 15 and have been a DJ for 26 years. It’s not until now that I can actually sit back and think... you know that actually sounds quite good. That’s the crazy thing, I think that you can get signed much sooner, but your music won’t have that maturity and very often you will sound like a clone of whatever else is around (There are naturally exceptions to this as some people are just talented as f**k).
I had my first singing in late 2006, the label approached me, in retrospect I probably wasn’t ready for this but my first release made it to no. 8 on Audiojelly. I was actually quite pleased with this and thought that I would see a fair return but earnings for this were surprisingly low, not that I ever saw a penny from of them anyway (Partly my fault). I went on to have a further 7 releases after that, although due to a dispute with the label (not getting paid) I had some of the tracks removed from the main sites. I now only have two tracks available out there but they are with labels I trust and people I know I can work with.
I have recently put pen to paper with Richard Butler under the Dirtbox Divas guise so this will be my 9th release in total. Never been as happy creatively speaking with the output as I am now. Working with someone is something I thought I would never do well but when I heard his music it kind of felt like the missing piece and it just feels like what one of us doesn’t do so well the other does really well. What I am saying with this is that, don’t dismiss the idea of working with someone, it is often a very sobering approach, plus you know that if you have a track that both of you like then the chances are that someone else also will.
My tracks that are still available can be found on all the usual sites i.e. Beatport et al.
My advice to you is to not make getting signed your main goal, at least not yet. Focus on producing something that you feel that you would honestly think back on and say ‘yes’ that was a good track. Don’t try to out do an original artist on their own sound, create your own sound. Richard and I have found our own way of doing things and I think the result would reflect that. We have had a number of favourable responses from even from some of the bigger boys out there even if they haven’t signed the music.
Had my first major DJ play by Judge Jules in 2004. This actually felt like a bigger deal than getting signed to be honest. It just means that people heard it, call me sentimental but I like the idea of my music being played and enjoyed by people in clubs. The track never got signed though. All I am saying is don’t loose sight of what it’s actually all about. We make dance music, you want people to dance to your music otherwise there is no point in making it.
As a result of both my DJing and releasing tunes I know quite a few people in the industry and could pretty much get most things signed through them if I really wanted. But it’s mostly smaller internet labels and as stated before, most of them don’t exactly go crazy with the promotion. There is a lot of music out there that gets signed that never sees the light of day because there are so many Mickey Mouse labels out there.
My advice is, make the music your number 1 concern and the rest will eventually fall into place.
Cheers
Nem
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https://www.mixcloud.com/Calvin_Karass/
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