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- What I Wish I Knew Earlier
I got my first turntable and music sampler at 14.
I’m 38 now.
That’s a long time playing with sounds and making music.
But let’s keep it real…
Although I wouldn’t trade it for anything, it’s been a grind.
Today's newsletter contains 21 music career lessons I'd give my 21-year-old self.
Whether you're just getting started, looking to switch things up, or looking to level up…
I'm hoping you'll find some gems here that will help you.
Let’s get into it.
Switching up your sound every year is great for your creativity but not ideal for building a fanbase.
Another synth or sampler is not the answer to your creative rut or making better music.
Pay attention to what is popular but not too much attention. You want to understand the context that your music will live in but not be led by it.
Learn marketing. It’s the missing piece of the puzzle to getting heard and building an audience.
Learn business. This will teach you how to manage and make money.
Speaking of money….once you start making it, don’t spend it on BS to impress people you don’t know or really care about.
Imposter syndrome is real until it isn’t. Keep showing up and stacking evidence for yourself. That’s the best way to beat it.
Health is everything. Eat real food, exercise frequently, and prioritize sleep. Not much matters if you feel like shit.
Most people aren’t thinking about you since they are busy thinking about themselves. So do you, trust me on this one.
Fake friends for the look or the clout is rarely worth the hassle. Make friends with people you like and trust.
Be wary of perfectionism. Release the best music you can WHEN you can as MUCH as you can. Just keep the quality as high as possible.
Success is a lagging indicator so understand that things will take time. Likely more time than you would like but staying in the game long enough to reap the rewards is half the battle.
Try to make friends with people who are where you want to be. Help them and chances are, they'll return the favor, directly or indirectly.
Continue to build out your network and treat everyone with respect. Relationships compound. It’s not always who makes the best beats but who is connected enough to get into the right rooms.
Your reputation is everything. Without a good one, your life and career will be more difficult. Continue to preserve and respect it.
Focus on effort, not outcomes. Music is very subjective so it’s really hard to know what will work and what won’t. Show up consistently and let the rest take care of itself.
Don’t be afraid to think bigger and lean into fear. Everything you want is on the other side.
Become a good manager of people. To get to a certain level, you’ll need a team. Investing in your team is worth it.
If you are hustling harder than your manager or booking agent…it might be time for a new team.
In the beginning, it’s okay to say YES a lot in order to get your name out there and build experience. But then it becomes more important to say NO to everything that doesn’t serve the vision.
The most fun, underground club gigs rarely pay that well and the most stale, corporate gigs pay the best. It’s important to strike a balance.
That’s it!
Let me know which ones resonated with you!
Below is my Gunna - Fukumean edit, along with the usual new batch of resources, tools, and cool links.
Hit me up if you have any questions or if I can help in some way.
I respond to every email.
Thanks!
Brenmar
