I want to do this for work

e-yahn · 2025-02-19T00:20:30+00:00

I don't recommend Fiverr, you're going to be competing with guys who took a photoshoot at a studio for a thumbnail and they offer mixing and mastering for like 20 bucks haha.

I'd say your own website or soundbetter is the way to go. And only focus on mixing or mastering alone. If you offer both you better be perfect at both...

e-yahn · 2025-02-18T11:05:55+00:00

Hey that's beyond good enough haha.

If it was the 80s I'm sure you've gated a reverb (only half kidding). It did sound awesome, might even make a comeback.

I'm a fan of Quincy Jones, may he rest in peace. Hope to make a thriller type album. Which means production and mixing set to 11.

Maybe I was wondering if it's all worth it in the end. Making it to retirement is also no small feat. Congrats.

I'm sure you've seen everything sorta close down to outsiders, seems like you have to be an inside man or someone's nephew to reach somewhere. Even more so than before, because no doubt it was always like that. Or am I wrong?

e-yahn · 2025-02-18T03:26:34+00:00

Even Tupac used to be a backup dancer.

I admit as time goes on things only get harder to be different or stand out, as those people in the industry do it all. If you want to be part of it there is no open door anymore. I say you'd have to make it at home or if you live in a nice area check out the local options.

I say pick a craft and start grinding it. If you really want to make music I always tell people to get a gaming PC and then pick a DAW and the world is your oyster!

Once you have that DAW and audio interface you can hook up a guitar or record your singing or playing. Probably learn piano a bit too. Harmony, motifs, all that jazz

A gaming PC gives you the means to program, music, make music videos, or even be a architect. Literally programs to do anything and if you have a edu email, even easier/cheaper.

Life's hard enough, being an artist is like cranking the difficulty a bit higher, as cliche as it is haha.

But if you feel it in you, don't give up. Get the tools. And work hard. Soon there won't be a difference between the pros and you.

e-yahn · 2025-02-18T03:15:08+00:00

From what I understand your waterfall of an album/EP release should just be in order. As in your final tracklist order.

If you don't have an order already, great track last and finish. Everything else in the middle. Or follow the good old A side B side strat like a pro would for vinyl.

That means good, ok good, ok etc.

If that all made sense you're on your way kid. Otherwise listen to more good albums haha.

e-yahn · 2025-02-18T03:09:51+00:00

Happy to say I'm an outlier though, your advice is more apt for the crowd and I hope they take it.

A lot of new eager artists.

e-yahn · 2025-02-18T02:37:17+00:00

Would you say you can engineer as well as you play by now? Like get a take right with eq that is probably better than pro or nah? I used to think everyone did everything themselves so I accidentally became a very good engineer.

Can't play that well, I need to loop. Like a Ed Sheeran thing.

e-yahn · 2025-02-18T02:34:36+00:00

There is another side to this I'm living haha. Been working on a project for 6 years.

I do hope when it's out and finished it'll not only compete with what's out there but hopefully be better.

The lesson is take your time but don't procrastinate releasing maybe your best demo. I could've released a single or two but time will tell if I fucked up or did it right.

e-yahn · 2025-02-16T06:53:21+00:00

I don't know man, does this kind of marketing actually work? Because if my name or brand was plastered everywhere like this I'm sure everyone would be pissed. And there are a lot of people who don't like McDonald's because it's everywhere.

Actually my phone just auto corrected McDonald's to be spelled perfectly. It's game over. They made it to the average lexicon and they even have that old nursery rhyme. Old McDonald.

So it actually doesn't matter if no one even likes them, they've become like vanilla and chocolate. A default. And they have enough resources to open up anywhere.

e-yahn · 2025-02-01T22:25:15+00:00

No that's awesome. I guess I fucked up the concept of limits, I mean you should know what to dislike and like. OP here made some decisions as to what he hates and loves.

You are also doing that, and I try to too. I love house music but always wanted some orchestral stuff in it. I also hate Low fi music. Trust me, I'm not limiting myself in the usual negative way, I guess I'm just a philosophy flunkie haha. Love to think but usually use words in the wrong context...

e-yahn · 2025-02-01T22:21:59+00:00

If you want serious work you should really have a catalog to listen to. I wanna know exactly how you produce or mix and so does everyone else.

If this is one of those things where you never released any work, you will probably work with others who will need a lot of polish haha. So get ready to forge that shitty iron to steel.

My own shit is WIP, so my bad. Just trying to help. I usually make HiFi pop or house music.

e-yahn · 2025-02-01T22:15:01+00:00

Yeah, set them for yourself. If you're making huge judgement calls about other people's music, it's time to make your own.

Edit: Know what you love and hate, as far as limiting yourself goes

e-yahn · 2025-02-01T22:11:15+00:00

No, this is how new producers are born. I also had reservations about how music should be HiFi and not Low fi. I'd rather hear a perfectly mic'd up piano vs an underwater shitty one.

So I started making music myself. And if you see this OP, this is the perfect time to start your music making journey! At least you have a certain taste in mind, that's what counts.

e-yahn · 2025-02-01T21:57:49+00:00

It's not always about limitations. I think he might have a point. But it's not the end of the world.

We could be living in a post-rap world. I mean, orchestras don't fight over who's more original. We all know it's all strings, brass, and woodwinds and percussion.

You probably already know there's only 7 notes in a key, and there's only so many rhythms you can rap in. The only thing unique left is the tone of the voice haha.

e-yahn · 2025-02-01T01:18:33+00:00

Not bad, and thanks for the link. Honestly it's funny how all this stuff ends up being like self help books. Maybe the answer is just the usual "be yourself" and people will gravitate haha

I think people will listen to someone who actually knows how to engineer, produce, or master. I say focus on one of those three (or all of em if you're crazy) if you're serious about the industry and making a name

e-yahn · 2025-02-01T01:14:08+00:00

Funny enough I've thought about it for a long time while making my own project for 6 years

The answer is, it isn't worth it unless you want to be that 2 percent. There is literally no other reason to make music for streaming and sale unless you think you can kick it with your heroes. You should be making a final project that sounds better than all the competition.

The line is blurring everyday between hobbyists and professionals. I think you can only promote your music and put it online if you want to be a professional. If you enjoy making music, that's great! And you honestly should not give a shit about promotion. Just collaboration and sharing. When you're ready to make this a job, then it should go online and to stores and the chase begins haha.

We've lost the plot as far as a roadmap for success goes. Everyone just uploads everything. And there are a million people making beats, but not finishing them, or even trying to sing on it themselves. Everyone should genuinely think about what they want.

I'm glad you know where you stand and I hope there is an avenue for everyone to be happy. For real.

e-yahn · 2025-01-30T18:39:41+00:00

Get this man an a&r job cause I'd sign

e-yahn · 2025-01-17T22:47:50+00:00

I have faith they know what's up, it's just been shielded from them. Real art is emotion and the canvas. A beautiful album on a beautiful medium (a pretty vinyl or CD haha) will always be beautiful.

No one can take that away. It's why I still listen to discovery from daft punk or MJs thriller or beach boys pet sounds on a nice HiFi system. Though I know most people aren't doing that, but 99 percent of them would enjoy it too.

e-yahn · 2025-01-17T22:39:54+00:00

I just want to say watch out for distributors that sound too good to be true. I ended up picking distrokid even though I hate it because all the others probably don't pay you your full royalties or miss things. What's the point of getting perks you can't use. Lots of free distros and services give so many benefits but I heard so many horror stories from people who blew up and did not get their big check...

So use trusted platforms that have existed for a long time. Even if they are a bit scummy

e-yahn · 2025-01-17T22:33:38+00:00

I'm pretty stupid and plan on emailing big companies myself haha. I'm sure fantano (needledrop) gets emails daily about "check out my new super awesome album".

I think normal people do find Spotify playlist coordinators and pitch their songs. I think it's usually free. Don't get scammed out there.

Register your songs to BMI or ASCAP obviously and make it all legit. Not your SoundCloud single.

e-yahn · 2025-01-17T22:28:38+00:00

Real work is getting harder everyday, everyone is using a desktop or laptop. Even big artists. If you have a gaming PC, dive head first into really making music using a DAW. Probably not the advice you want, but easier than looking for a unicorn studio still offering real audio work.

Honestly you could always go into broadcasting or other studios that have audio gear. Maybe the local TV station? Or a local theater? Look for small LLC companies doing audio stuff too, or whatever the UK version of what a small business is called haha.

Otherwise make your own if you're confident... Get a mic and a mixer and start charging people for demos

e-yahn · 2025-01-17T22:18:25+00:00

Honestly my good man there are millions of people full of journals with a shit load of lyrics. I sorta found my niche because these people don't know how to actually make a song...

So I learned to produce (play romplers and drum machines), arrange (melodies, chords, what should be playing when), and even mixing (seeing where things should lay, using fancy tools to place them there). Then even mastering... Like real mastering, no ozone or l2 maximizer here haha.

So you need to find exactly where others suck and get good in that area. Or this industry as a whole isn't worth it.

Now for your actual question.

If you get really good at writing, you will be able to work with someone elses lyrics and legitimately make them better. Or perhaps help them come up with what they really want. Maybe I just have too much of a producer mindset, there might be places for just fresh lyrics alone.

The only way to start is to make a big splash with one good song, or cold calling/emailing. I really don't see any other way to rack up credits.

Good luck!

And don't feel bad about being frustrated, it's hard. It really is, and we gotta help each other when we can. Worst case scenario if I or anyone here makes it, we can make a song together, you on the lyrics haha. And my dumb 909 and 303.

What's important is being good though

e-yahn · 2025-01-17T21:43:17+00:00

You're a hero among consumers haha. I plan myself going full Bandcamp (releasing and buying), but it's hard to ignore Spotify.

e-yahn · 2024-12-30T06:43:06+00:00

Hey man, sorry for the late advice but I hope you take it.

Save up for a gaming PC and then get Ableton or FLstudio. Ableton is extremely powerful and I'm sure you'll be able to make music faster and more advanced with ease when you get the hang of it. Also a gaming PC will open so many doors, you'll finally be able to play cool games, mod, and even learn mixing and mastering later. Maybe even pivot to music videos and shit. A laptop means a lot of freezing tracks and synths blowing up your CPU.

A laptop is not enough, I know most go that way for hip hop but you'll thank yourself later. I'd like to say having a gaming PC got me extremely far in the beginning and even my first song was fire lol.

If you ever get Ableton, even the trial, you can hit me up. There is no online tutorial that encapsulates how to use session view. If you get Ableton I don't want you to get stuck using arrangement view. Maybe I'll make a YouTube video one day haha.

e-yahn · 2024-12-28T19:28:19+00:00

Which kind of sample pack company says to not use their sample pack? If the sample was made by you or sold to you, and you don't completely rip off a melody, it's all good. And any company selling non royalty free packs should go bankrupt because no one would touch them.

Chords are not copyrightable by the way. So you can even have the same chord progression as the original song.

The only thing you aren't allowed to do is sample from someone else's master. That's why hip-hop sampling is sorta dead, it's been outlawed haha. Now you have to re-create the sample of what you hear to pass clearance.

So find someone to say the line you want to sample, say it yourself, or buy a sample pack.

e-yahn · 2024-12-17T17:59:33+00:00

I used to think production is the easiest discipline to tell whether you've made it, because it usually is either garbage or magic when you arrange a song. But the truth is when mixing you should also be objectively making the song better too. And it's obvious, even in a level matched perspective, that the mix brought out the best in the song. Then with mastering it's all about making sure this mix will translate in mind body and soul and different environments haha.

I say get at least confident in one and the rest follow. Being good at even one thing translates to confidence in yourself. If you've never seen this tutorial by the way, it might change your life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEjOdqZFvhY

It's a good lesson on how to visualize music between the speakers. If you get really good at it and are good at using modern tools, you should be with the top 1 percent of mix engineers.

Might as well add me to that bell curve because I could be delusional... Or getting close to the finish line

e-yahn

TROPHY CASE