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- 3 Tips For A Unique Sound
“This is fresh. It sounds like a Brenmar track” said my friend Chris.
“Really?” I thought.
I had known Chris a long time. He was a good friend.
It was the first time ANYONE had ever said that to me.
Curious, I asked, “What exactly does that mean? What does a Brenmar track sound like?”
It’s true…
I wasn’t exactly sure what my own ‘sound’ was at the time.
It’s tough to see your own work from an outside perspective.
Anyhow, I was grateful for having a ‘sound.’
Deep down, isn’t that what every musician strives for?
To carve out a unique musical identity?
Through the years, I’ve gotten a lot of comments about my 'sound' from others.
But how did I do it?
I’ve had a lot of years since that initial conversation to think about it.
The following 3 tips worked for me.
These aren’t vague suggestions.
They're actionable tips that can help any musician stand out fairly quickly.
Follow them to carve out a sound that’s distinctly yours.
Let’s get into it!
Tip 1: Create Your Own Drum Sample Pack
Action: Pick a collection of drum sounds and use them for every track. I personally have about 15 different snares and claps that I rotate and use. Along with a similar amount of kicks and hi hats. You can still process them differently and use effects and whatnot; you just don’t have to go digging for a different snare every time.
Benefit: Consistently using your own drum samples across your tracks creates a signature sound that listeners can identify as uniquely yours.
Tip 2: Limit Your Instrumentation
Action: Choose a few synths to learn and master them. Similar to the above, this reduces decision fatigue. I have a collection of Kontakt instruments that I always go back to and are almost always in every one of my tracks.
Benefit: Deep knowledge of a limited number of tools allows for more creative use and can lead to innovative sounds that stand out.
Tip 3: Copy Tracks from Memory
Action: Try recreating tracks you admire from memory without directly copying them. This is something I used to do out of laziness at first but in hindsight, I think it really gave me an edge when it came to developing my own sound. I've had plenty of happy accidents that likely wouldn't have happened if I was just focused on copying the reference track exactly.
Benefit: This practice boosts your creativity and helps you make music that's truly your own style while referencing your favorite tracks.
Bonus Tip: Focus on One or Two Genres Only
Action: Pick one or two genres for your productions and stick to them! Producing a new genre every 3 months will make it very difficult to build a fan base and develop the deep production knowledge each genre has imbedded within it.
Benefit: Sticking to certain genres lets you really nail down your skills and come up with fresh twists, making your music stand out. Fans also start to have certain expectations and when you meet them…they love you for it!
Finding your unique sound doesn't happen overnight.
It lies in continuous tweaking, testing, and playful exploration.
Remember, the key isn't just in following these steps; it's about making them your own.
Adapt these tips to fit your style, your goals, and your musical journey.
Are these tips helpful? Let me know!
Till next week!
Brenmar
P.S. I have a new edit for you next week :)
Sound Bites 🔉
I’ve been experimenting with Udio to make samples that I can flip.
Receive random music selections from Discogs based on the genre you choose (for the adventurist music fan!): HERE
This Instrument Playground by Google is actually really cool and useful for producers.