There is no shortage of people who want to be a psychedelic artist. In a world where even the most niche of genres has its fair share of followers, it seems that everyone wants to be able to craft their own songs or hit pads. But how do you go about becoming one? Are there any specific traits that make someone more likely to succeed? What are the best ways to get your work noticed and seen as something other than an amateur mistake? This article intends to answer all these questions and more. From tips on how to separate yourself from your influences if you’re just starting out, through to advice on marketing and networking if you’re serious about making a name for yourself. Let’s take a look at what it takes to become a psychedelic artist.
Start with the fundamentals
For many aspiring artists, the first step is to put the word ‘psychedelic’ in the title of their tracks. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best way to get your music noticed. Even if your music sounds ‘psychedelic’, there’s a very big chance that it’s not going to be heard by the right people unless you do a few things differently. Firstly, you need to understand that being a psychedelic artist isn’t a genre or an in-joke. People won’t listen to your music if you call yourself a ‘psychedelic artist’. They need to know that you’re talking about the experience of using psychedelics, not the music! Secondly, your music needs to have something that sets it apart from all the others. There’s plenty of trance, dubstep, hip hop, and pop on the scene that could be called psychedelic. But if all you’re doing is adding psychedelic samples to existing tracks, this isn’t what we’re looking for.
Write music you love
This is perhaps the most obvious tip in the book, but it’s such an important one. If the music you’re making isn’t one that you’d want to listen to, then it has no place on the dance floor. There’s no point in pushing yourself to create work that you don’t enjoy yourself, because then you’re never going to get anywhere. It’s ok to take inspiration from other psychedelic artists and genres, as long as you’re also putting your own spin on it. If you love disco, then go ahead and make psychedelic disco tracks. If you love psytrance, make psychedelic psytrance tracks. Don’t feel that you need to make ‘psychedelic electronic music’. Just make psychedelic music that is what you’d find under the ‘psychedelic’ section in your local record shop.
Network, network, network
Unless your name is Flying Lotus or Arjun Vagale and you have a dedicated fan base that will follow you from festival to festival across the globe, you’re going to need some extra-handy skills to get your name out there. Luckily, PsyMusic has a network of creative people who care about their craft and want to help each other out. Whether it’s a fellow musician, a graphic designer, a videographer, or another mind behind an artistic project, make sure to connect with as many people as you can. When you meet people, don’t just talk about yourselves. Smile and make eye contact, and say something about what you do or the type of work you do. Don’t just be a wallflower. The people you make connections with might one day become your business partners, or they could be the friend who holds your hand through an important collaboration.
Stay up on your reading
There are so many ways to learn about the world these days. Maybe you’ve already dived head-first into a degree that fits your passion; maybe you want to learn by reading books written by your favourite musicians. Whatever your preferred learning method, it’s important to stay up to speed with current events and art trends. If you’re just making music by yourself in a studio, you’re missing out on so many opportunities. How can you stay up to date? It’s simple really. First, read about current events and what’s happening in the world of music. This way, you’ll be able to know who’s speaking out about what’s happening, and what this means for your future. Next, read about new music trends. You’ll be able to see what’s popular, what the community thinks about it, and what you can do to build on it.
Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback
No matter how good your music is, there is always room for improvement. So don’t feel as if you need to create work that nobody has ever heard, just because you think it’s perfect. There are many ways to get feedback, and they don’t all have to be public. Perhaps a friend can be your sounding board, or you can send your music to a record label and ask them to give you a short review. There are many ways to get feedback and they don’t all have to be public. Perhaps a friend can be your sounding board, or you can send your music to a record label and ask them to give you a short review.
Conclusion
Being a psychedelic artist isn’t easy. You have to be committed to your art, and you have to be willing to push yourself beyond what you think is possible. However, if you’re ready to take this journey, then don’t let anyone tell you that it’s hard. It might feel unachievable at times, but that’s just how it is when you’re trying to make your mark on the world. There are a lot of challenges that come with being a psychedelic artist, but they don’t have to be insurmountable. With hard work, patience, and a little luck, you can make a name for yourself in this genre. So, the next time someone asks you what it takes to be a psychedelic artist, don’t hesitate to answer!
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