The art of balance: make your music unforgettable with the 20% rule

To stand out as an artist, you need to truly stand out! This might seem obvious, yet it's so often overlooked.

The 20% rule I’m about to share with you will help you create music that’s not just good, but truly captivating and memorable – helping you distinguish yourself in the current world of the never-ending stream of new artists and releases.

In my early years, I created music brimming with creative ideas, but my mixes were rough, and the unpredictability of my compositions made them hard for listeners to connect with. While the potential was there, the execution fell short.

Nowadays, I see many friends and clients facing the opposite challenge. They produce well-mixed, consistent music, but it lacks that magical spark. Their tracks sound good, but they don't quite capture the artist's essence or push boundaries.

It’s music that’s pleasant but not spellbinding. It gets instantly lost in the world of electronic music that's innately built on innovation and forward-thinking.

Chances are, you’re leaning toward one of these extremes: either your music is innovative but too unconventional, or it’s polished but overly familiar.

The key is to strike a balance between the two – blending the comfort of the familiar with the intrigue of the unexpected.

Achieving this balance allows your music to resonate deeply with listeners. It feels familiar and enjoyable, aligning with their expectations, yet it also offers enough surprise, magic, and uniqueness to keep them hooked and craving more.

This is where the 20% rule comes in. It’s a straightforward yet powerful framework that helps you create music that’s both familiar to your audience and authentic to you.

The rule is simple: make each element of your track 20% uniquely yours while keeping it 80% familiar. This approach might sound basic, but when applied deliberately, it can bring a whole new level of depth and magic to your music.

By maintaining 80% regularity, you give listeners' brains something recognisable to grasp onto, while the 20% of your personal touch – your ‘weirdness’ – adds depth, intrigue and artistic authenticity. Together, these elements form a cohesive experience that more effectively communicates your artistic vision, resonating with the listener on a deeper level.

"True artistry lies in finding the delicate balance between the familiar and the unexpected. When you infuse your music with just enough of your unique spirit while staying rooted in what resonates with listeners, you create something truly unforgettable."

Now that have an idea of what the 20% rule is and why it's important, here is how you can apply it in practice:

1. Identify the core elements of your track

• Breakdown your tracks: Start by identifying the key components of your own tracks, such as the kick, bassline, hi-hats, synths, and effects. Understand what makes each element essential to the overall structure and vibe of your music. These are the elements you naturally lean to that allow you to express yourself.

  
  

• Analyse reference tracks: Listen to your favourite tracks and note the common elements that make them effective. This could be a specific rhythm pattern, a type of synth sound, or a particular way of arranging the track. These elements will partially inform the "80%" of familiarity in your music.

  
  

2. Inject your uniqueness

Alter each element by 20%: Take each core element and modify it slightly to reflect your own authentic style. For example:

• Kick drum: Instead of a plain 909 kick, experiment with layering samples or effects to give it a distinctive punch or texture that’s unique to your taste.
  

• Bassline: Try using an unconventional sound source for your bass, like a sampled noise, organic field recordings or a heavily modulated synth, but keep the rhythm pattern rooted in something familiar.
  

• Synths and melodies: Try layering other sounds or unusual effects on them, or modulating them with unexpected LFO rates or filter settings. This will give it that 20% twist that makes it distinct yet recognisable.

  
  

• Hi-hats and percussion: Add some unexpected percussive elements, fills or subtle variations in timing to create a groove that’s slightly off-kilter but still driving.

  
  

3. Focus on arrangement

Surprise and structure: In electronic music, particularly that designed for the clubs and dancefloors, the arrangement is crucial. Start with a structure that listeners can follow, but inject the unexpected:

• Breakdowns: Use breakdowns to introduce something unusual—maybe change the rhythm, mangle the lead sound or introduce a sound that doesn’t typically belong in your genre but still works within the context of your track.

  
  

• Transitions: Add unique transitions between sections, like glitch effects, a completely new effect or introduce a sudden change in atmosphere, but ensure these don’t disrupt the flow.

  
  

4. Refine the mix

• Balance familiarity and uniqueness: While mixing, keep 80% of your track within the realms of a standard mix (particularly in techno this usually means powerful lows, clean mids, and crisp highs). Use the remaining 20% to introduce subtle effects, such as weird delays, unusual reverbs or panning, that make your mix stand out and your track more captivating without overwhelming the listener.

  
  

5. Stay consistent but evolve

• Signature sound: As you apply the 20% rule across multiple tracks, you’ll start developing a signature sound. Stay consistent in your approach, but don’t be afraid to evolve. The electronic music scene thrives on innovation, so keep pushing your creative boundaries while staying grounded in what makes your music resonate with listeners.

Remember, this will take time and mindful effort but every bit of improvement brings you closer to making incredible music.

Keep having fun and enjoy the creative exploration and learning!

Big love

Eryk

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PS I help artists make more creative, captivating and authentic music through mixing, mastering and teaching.