Defining your music

Defining your music – Part 1

what is music

What is music? There are probably a thousand and one definitions for this depending on which dictionary you are using. Google that question and see what happens. However, all those definitions boil down to one word.

Expression

Music is an expression of emotions, thoughts or feelings combined with a melody to form a harmony.

An expression of what is inside the heart, mind or just your thoughts.

However, that question gets trickier when it becomes, “how do I define my music?” This is the first mandatory question that you should ask yourself before even write down your lyrics let alone going to the studio.

*At this point I will assume that you already know that you should handle your music like a business*

Like any other business, before launching, the first thing you ask yourself is what market gap you want to fill. What is your target market? Who do you want to listen to your music? Why do you want them to listen to your music? Most important question is how is your music going to change their lives?

 

1. Storyline

Whats your story?

People like stories since time started. That is why we have bedtime stories for children and novels for anyone old enough to read one.  For the ones who cannot settle and read a novel cover to cover, a movie will do. Movies have stories too.

Are you already seeing where we are going with this? You need to tell your story to the one who is going to listen. You may indulge in as many topics that please you. You can never run out storyline ideas.  For example love, success, pain, worship, praise and many more.

However, it is important to note that sticking to a specific story line makes you consistent and unique. It also becomes easier to build on your ideas.

During the recent Sauti Sol interview on Churchill Show after their MTV Africa award nomination, Bien said that the group is focused on singing about love in a tasteful way.

 

2. Relate

People relate to music that reflects what they are going through in life. Everyone goes through the

Relate

joys and harsh realities of life. The achievements and hurdles of life are not new to anyone of us. People want to listen to something that identifies their phase in life. Select your target audience, research on various realities they go through and create words they can use to express themselves. Need a brain teaser? How about teenagers and crushes or identity crisis? When adults are looking and falling in love.

 

 

3. Connect

Have a conversation. When belting out tunes during your bathroom/bedroom sessions using the hairbrush/ toothbrush as your mic and you as the star on an international platform, my bet is that you sing with someone/people in mind. It is as if the song writer knew the right words to say to your intended target, right? That right there is having a conversation.

Have a conversation even with your imaginary subject. Check this blog out www.mydeardoris.wordpress.com for ideas

 

4. Hope

What motivates you to listen to music? Is it because the artiste is that good? Is it because the music is that good? Or is it because you hope it will amplify or change your mood?

Statistics show that most people listen to music as a source of hope. A hope that it will change or amplify the way they feel. For example, when bitten by the love bug, you probably find yourself listening to love songs to amplify that feeling. Even television advertisements use jingles to give consumers hope that they can find a solution in the products being marketed.

there is always hope

 

5. Channel

Music provides a channel to express feelings and emotions. This summarizes this post. I feel like I can just drop the mic and walk away now. Research your intended subject, Pick a topic, create a storyline, relate it to life, connect with your listener, provide hope and use all that to provide an expression for people.

This is what pretty much creates a successful track. Can your music help people express what they feel? If your answer is yes, you are on your path to success. If it is no, you need to define your target once more and start the process all over again.

Keep it here for the next post on seizing opportunities available. How do you monetize your super amazing talents?

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Marketing and Music | 4 key elements to a successful music career

Music and Marketing

Music and Marketing

Over the years, the music industry in Kenya has seen a transformational face lift of music being produced. Artistes are putting in hours and resources to not only compete locally but internationally. The effort they are putting in is getting heavily rewarded to the bank. Music can now be referred to as a career that can support artistes fully. It no longer has to be done as a part time thing. The number of musicians doing international tours has grown immensely. We have also had numerous musicians being nominated for international awards such as the BET and MTV Africa awards.

MTV Africa Music Awards

 

Some have also represented us on international platforms such as STL, Sauti Sol and more recently Octopizzo in the Coca Cola world cup anthem- Africa (Kenya) version.

Octopizzo

Sauti Sol – MTV Africa Music Awards

Our local music reward structures also have grown tremendously. “Groove awards” is by far the best we have seen locally. It has given a new definition to gospel music. Gospel musicians are getting rewarded for their efforts as well as growing professionally through trainings under the same program. Truth be told, artistes look forward to being named artiste of the year. Following closely are Kisima and chaguo la teeniez and extreme awards. A lot still needs to be done but it is safe to say they are also on the right path.

groove-awards

Entry into the music industry has also become easier. It now doesn’t have to take years before you get recognized. Social media platforms (especially Facebook and Twitter) have played a huge role in this so at this point maybe we could give Mark Zuckerberg a round of applause.

However, in the same industry, we still have many super talented musicians who do not get the recognition and fan base they deserve while other musicians get all the exposure and appear in all the right places. Still in the same industry, we have also seen musicians rise to the limelight and fade just as fast as their entry.

If you are reading this and have been a victim of this dilemma or better still you want to avoid it, then this series is going to be worth your time. I promise.

So to start us off, I bet you have asked yourself some of the following questions

1. How do I get my music out there? What opportunities are there?
2. How do I secure myself from rogue organizers? Do I have to compromise?
3. How do I improve my music and get people to like it? How do I make it relevant?
4. How do I market my music? How much do I need to sacrifice?
5. And the mother of all questions… How I can make money… a lot of it!!

This 4 part series will give you an insight on 4 key elements to a successful music career.

1. Defining your music
2. Seizing opportunities
3. Establishing distribution
4. Remaining relevant