(Advice) Getting to the next level in music production

[Wonder_Beats]

Hello everyone,

I am making this thread because I am needing advice on how to move to the next level with music production and I trust you guys the most when it comes to this sort of thing.

I live Missouri in the United States and I have been doing music production for many years. Although I am still learning everyday I feel that I am to a point where I have enough skills to move on to something bigger.

An issue I am having is where I live, there are not many people that are big into dubstep/EDM music. All the local Dj's are playing "Top 40" songs. Whenever I DJ and I play any type of EDM it doesn't usually go over well with the crowd. Also, I'm not familiar with many labels and am having trouble finding information about them.

Does anyone have any advice or experience they can share with me? I make mostly dubstep/EDM but I also have made hip hop tracks that I've really enjoyed as well.
Music is what I want to do with my life, I just don't know how to get there.

Thanks in advance.

[KosmonautOfficial]

Great idea for a thread man, I don't really have any serious knowledge of how to make it big or anything but If I were you I would try posting your tracks on community music networks on youtube. I just released my first song and I spent a good weekend just searching on youtube for networks that I could have a chance with and I ended up get my song out there. Of course it was nothing big like a few hundred views or something but my point is the way to make to the next level is to just keep trying to get your music out there and work hard every day just like you are until one day you are an over night success Post one of your songs in this thread and I will check it out Good luck brother.

[Wonder_Beats]

Hey, thanks for the reply. I have tried finding groups and sharing my music but I haven't had any luck as of yet.

Here is something I just finished up. It's a remix of Song of Storms from Zelda - OOT
Soundcloud

I have a lot of original stuff along with remix's so feel free to explore if you'd like.

[Banesy]

Just recreate a Zomboy bass and post it in sound design and you will have 500 people look at your profile. It's like magic.

[dansci]

If your trying to appeal to crowds and it's not working, just try another crowd. If your playing for 30+ people with kids and a job, odds are edm especially dubstep aren't going to connect with them. You should aim for the 16-24 demographic and probably should spin at edm only or hipster dominated shows.

When you start your set you shouldn't start off playing the hardest death or robo step. You could gradually get harder as the set goes on.

From personal experience, most teens are pretty receptive to non skrillex dubstep if it's melodic and bright. The acceptance of dubstep goes dramatically up when you mix in rap. You could get away playing dubstep+rap in ghetto crowds.

Note: There will always be that one or two people who vocally hate edm and dubstep and will harass you for playing it. I use to be one of those people.

[Wonder_Beats]

Thanks for the advice guys. I guess as of now I just need to keep trying to share my music with groups and different people and just hope I have better luck. Thanks everyone.

[pulsewaves4stopsines]

I can relate to your struggle, as I live in Utah currently, where people are even less perceptive to any music outside top 40, trending hip hop or alternative/indie/hipster rock type shit...

I don't try to play anything out because I'm not trying to make it big or anything right now, but even just trying to show my friends the music I make, or even trying to play the types of edm I like at parties usually doesn't go down well at all. Trust me, there is NO scene for dubstep beyond the likes of skrillex, bassnectar or whatever here, and outside of dubstep... well, it's not worth getting into. It's like the people here are oblivious to music that is made after 2010 imo.

So, I don't care what kind of music you make, but as far as getting to the next level when it comes to production, composition and such, I'm willing to share a few things regarding that sort of nature. Like, post a tune in this thread, or hell, PM me a link of a tune or two you've written if you want to, and I'll give you some feedback. I sympathize with your struggle, being from an area where edm is not popular, and I just like to share the love.

[AxeD]

If you're serious about wanting to get into the business, you'll have to move
to a city with a proper market for electronic music. The nights/festivals/record stores are
the heart of it all. Not youtube or any online platform like that.

Obviously, moving to a city with a healthy scene does not guarantee anything but
a good time.. But that's worth a lot in and of itself.

I don't know about dubstep though. It hasn't been around for a while here.

[ChadDub]

Try googling top 40 pop songs and then try finding an acapella for it on acapellas.eu and then remix it in a popular genre. 2009 - 2012 was dubstep. Right now it's either Big Room or Trap. Put it on Youtube/get it on a promotion channel and see how it goes. Play it in your set and see how it goes.

[nowaysj]

Get real with what you really want from music. There are more and more people making music, and less and less people paying for music. Music was never an easy proposition, but it is ridiculous now.

I think europe/uk have a much better musical culture, not better music, but better culture around music. I can't imagine having any integrity and making music your life in America. I think the best option is live cheaply, do valuable work with hours that you control, and make music in your free time.

Get real with this shit, we're in the future.

[Sharmaji]

This sounds to me like it's less a Q about nuts-and-bolts production, and more like a Q about how to grow an on-the-ground following.

If there's no scene for the music you love locally, no venue's that consistently book it-- do it yourself. Find the deadest venue in town and book a dubstep night on a Wednesday.

Scene's don't appear out of nowhere. Low End Theory didn't just happen in LA in the late aughts. DC hardcore didn't just happen in the 80s.

90% of the time, if you build it-- yeah they won't come. Your night will fail. You'll lose money. BUT you'll make the connections with artists/agents/managers/pr folks/etc who can help you grow things, and if you have a reputation as a person who works hard and invests in your event/brand/whatever-- you literally can't buy that kind of credibility. And those connections last forever.

There definitely are independent music scenes in MO-- my old hometown of StL, KC, Springfield, Jopin, Rolla-- no it's not East London but there's definitely opportunity out there, and connections to be made.

[Wonder_Beats]

Wow, thanks for all the advice everyone. I know this is something most of us probably struggle with. The music business is definitely not something easy to get in to. I do know one local club that has an EDM night on the weekends so I think my plan of action right now is to try and get a couple tracks that I think would sound great in a club and try and introduce myself to the DJ's there and see if I can get anything going.

Thank you again for all the advice. I wish everyone luck!

[Banesy]

The acceptance of dubstep goes dramatically up when you mix in rap. You could get away playing dubstep+rap in ghetto crowds.

Hmmm

[dpwb]

I feel you on this OP. I too dont have anyone in my circle that knows anything outside guitar music/top 40. Use the internet as much as possible: forums, blogs, youtube and twitter are the best resource i have found. Twitter can help you find labels, just follow people you like and see who they follow. If you really have exausted those then maybe its time to move..

[legend4ry]

Why do you need a local scene?

This genre is the first example in the whole history of music, that the internet can turn a genre from something local to a world-wide phenomenon.

There is guys from the middle east who've toured the world in every place but their home country.

There is people from quiet corners of the world who have made marks in the scene without barely leaving their bedroom...

Make good music, make sure the right people hear that good music and things will happen.

[nowaysj]

Think it is a lot harder to just spontaneously make good music in your bedroom. Much easier and realistic to grow your skills in a community, imo. I'm deep bedroom (basement). My only companions are rock, snow and clouds.