There isn't just one way to be an artist: how to find your own path

There isn’t one way to be an artist.

There isn’t one way to become successful.

There isn’t just one way to make music that you really want to be making.

I spent a long time trying to find that one, secret, optimal path to be an artist. I thought there was a particular method other artists used to make music sound so good. I believed there was some trick that successful artists used on social media to get popular.

In reality, that ‘single magical path’ doesn’t exist in art.

Being an artist is not like being a lawyer, doctor or mechanic, where a linear path is laid out: you get an education, then get a job, and aim for a promotion every once in a while.

In art, there aren’t specific steps you must follow to progress. The world of music is personal, subjective, emotional, chaotic, elusive, intangible and hard to explain.

There are artists who make incredible music using complex musical theory and others who don’t know any theory at all. Some start each track with an empty project; others use an extensive starting template. Many artists depend on social media to grow their audience, while others commit to in-person networking and word of mouth.

The lack of a structured path can feel discouraging because it leaves us feeling lost and uncertain. But it’s simply the reality that every one of us, electronic music artists trying to improve and grow, has to face.

A better way to look at it is through the perspective of freedom, experimentation and problem solving.

From my own experience, these are the three main things that have contributed to me achieving nearly all of my artistic goals so far:

1. How good your music is.
   

I made music for five years before releasing my first EP on Clergy. Thanks to that EP I was asked to release on Vault Sessions. Then at some point Marcel Fengler heard my music and I got invited to release on his label and play for him at HOR.

2. Giving people a reason to care about you and your music.
   

By telling my story in a creative way and sharing my knowledge that helps others, there are 7,000 people on my Instagram and 600 people on this mailing list who kind of want to hear what I do and think.

3. Enjoying the journey enough to keep going for years without immediate ‘success’.
   

Getting here took seven years, thousands of hours and hundreds of failures. I did all of that for so long because I genuinely enjoyed the process. The external success that came along the way was just a bonus.

The goal isn’t to follow a specific path. The real goal is to carve out your own. 

Find what truly interests you in life and music and figure out your own unique way to express it.

If you hate using synthesisers, learn how to make music without them.

If you love melodies, create more music with them.

If you love 70s Japanese jazz, try sampling it in your own music.

Lean into your uniqueness, skills and strengths and use them to grow.

If you’re a social butterfly, go out and talk to people.

If you endlessly binge TikTok, start creating on it.

If you love teaching and helping others, document and share your wisdom with those who it might help.

So, to simplify the process into practical terms, here’s a three-step way to find your own path as an artist:

1. Discover and refine your own way to make the music you really love. The way to make your best music is by finding the way that works for you.
   

2. Give people a reason to care about you and your music. Share it with the world in a creative way. Use your creativity to interest and engage people in what you have to share.
   

3. Follow your interests and curiosity and use them as fuel to keep going. If you keep improving and never stop, success becomes inevitable at some point.
   

Here is something for you to ponder for a few minutes:

If you gave yourself a timeframe of 5 years, how differently would you approach finding your own path as an artist?

If you want to hear more about this topic, take a look at my YouTube video here.

Grab my free mixdown guide and get these articles sent to your email :)

Big love

Eryk Kabay

Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you make better music:

1. Watch my techno production masterclasses. Learn beyond the surface-level ‘how-to’ and get a deeper understanding of the 'why' and 'when' to make better decisions in all your future tracks. View the masterclasses here.

   
   

2. Join my 1:1 music production coaching. Resolve overwhelm and confusion and become a more creative and authentic artist. Learn how to make professionally sounding music that's uniquely yours. Find out more and apply here.​

   
   

3. Get your music mastered, mixed or get feedback. ​Is your music nearly finished? I will help you make it sound the best it can and get it ready to release into the world. Find out more about my music services.