Are My Songs Good Enough?
My first question to someone who asks this would be, good enough for what?
Music, like most artistic expressions, is a subjective medium. The Beatles might be one of the most popular groups in contemporary pop history but I rarely go out of my way to listen to their music. I appreciate the craftsmanship but it just isn’t a flavour I crave.
Maybe a better question might be, is my music suitable? Now we’re thinking about context.
Who Is Your Tribe?
Who do you want to listen to and love your music? If you’re writing for fans of downtempo synth-pop and your song uses a two-step polka beat and steel drums you’re going to have a tough time convincing them to listen.
You need to make choices when writing, recording, producing, mixing and mastering your make to make it accessible for your audience. We’re not talking about imitation either. I like the 80/20 rule as a rough gauge. 80% should be pretty stock and recognisable and then you need to inject 20% that is you and unique.
So when you’re writing, think about your tribe (who you want to listen to and love your music). If it’s just for you, then go for it and make something you love to listen to too. If it’s for a wider audience, go for it still but keep those people in your mind as you write, as you produce, record, mix and master the song/s.
The Takeaway: “Good” in music is a nebulous term and completely subjective. Thinking in terms of intended audience is a better frame of reference. You’re not trying to copy the genre, you’re trying to add to it in your own way.
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