I am on TikTok though I haven’t posted in ages where I talk about albums I’ve been listening to or shows I went to there. They may be a little silly, but I love talking about how albums make me feel or what I think about them even if it’s not the best video out there. I do it more for me to think about the stuff I love! One day - I’ll get back to it! The point is, do you see all of these trend videos - where artists are doing “If I had a verse in XYZ’s song” or “If this person joined this band” or “This song - done in a different style” Or even those songs that are almost diss songs going viral… they are hot trends right now and for the past year or so. I am seeing more and more of them. I do enjoy all of those to be honest, there have been some really interesting ones that I’ve seen but I also feel like it’s overdone now. It’s an automatic scroll for me. I am being honest, that’s not going to hook me in.
I keep sitting back and thinking - is this really what the artist wants to be making? Songs that sound like other people? I’m not sure. It’s a really neat way to add some variety to your content and showcase your skills and for that I do love it. But at the end of the day, what I want (and I think most other people want!) is to see the authentic you.
What makes you different, what makes you an artist, what are you doing that inspires people and makes people sit up and take notice?
You don’t want to just be copying trends and following along with the masses on what everyone else is doing. If you keep on the following path, chasing that viral post, it’ll be really easy to get pinpointed into just being gimmicky, no substance artist. Who wants that really?
This also doesn’t mean that by testing out the trends - that you are simply a gimmick - but that’s the first shot. And trust me, I am painfully aware of how hard it is to get visible as an artist. How to get people to sit up and listen to you.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot as I watch certain performers.. the ones that are truly in the stratosphere, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Taylor Swift, The Foo Fighters and so many more… There is something inherently there whether or not you like them. That isn’t the point. I think it’s the deep sense of knowing who you are and what you stand for as an artist. OK… being a Beatle may put you in another universe all together. =) But I am sure that there is something that draws people to you. How you show up and how you perform and how you speak - those are key! And it’s not just about being the “weirdest” one on the block either.
If you haven’t read the post about treating your band like a business, go check that out. It’s become so important especially now to look at you / your band as a brand and craft the story behind it to a degree. You want a message that is you, that will stick, that will evolve as you grow and evolve, and will be able to provide you a long lasting career as an artist. Hop on some of those trends, sure, but you need to be authentically yourself and nobody else wherever you show up.
People will be attracted to you as you are and the unique qualities you bring to the world. Set forth and start your own trends! Be Yourself : Follower Or Trail Blazer - Who do you want to be?
Struggling to find your voice and how to express you? Get in touch and let’s talk about it! Book a 15 minute discovery call now!
(A little reminder - even as alien as we feel, it's best to be that alien making it all work!)
コメント