| Listen. This is vitally important. If | | | | out in the week for a no music day. When |
| you do not listen then your track will | | | | you come back to your work you will be |
| be very poor indeed. Listening is what | | | | refreshed, your ears will be willing to |
| most musicians have forgot to do and | | | | take a pounding and you will listen to |
| that is why we do not hear from them | | | | your music differently, tagging pieces |
| again. They have lost their roots, what | | | | that don't fit, sounding strange or |
| ultimately made them famous. Trying to | | | | having a better idea to implement.Listen |
| move away from your group roots is very | | | | to the worst music. Now this isn't an |
| risky. The Prodigy made fantastic rave | | | | exercise of laughing at poor techno, but |
| and deep techno, then starting to go | | | | it is to train you to what is poor and |
| into a rock phase. It didn't work out | | | | what is good. For an example, if I sat |
| too well, now they are trying to get | | | | in any Ferarri I would think it is |
| back into their old territory but its | | | | pretty cool, but top motor journalists |
| hard. Their fan-base has shrunk as new | | | | would always give a downside, will |
| groups have come up. The Prodigy are now | | | | always compare it to something else. |
| releasing their classic hits to try and | | | | Why? Because they have sat in poor cars |
| re-energise themselves to grab back | | | | and they have sat in the best, now they |
| their old fans, telling them "remember | | | | have a scale to use to judge any car. |
| this, you liked it and now we are going | | | | This is what you need to do. How do you |
| to do the same".Alot of money spent, | | | | know a good song is a good song? |
| alot of marketing time used. With | | | | Subliminaly you cross-reference it with |
| example 2, Elton John has constantly | | | | something poor. But instead of doing it |
| chirped out piano tunes for along time | | | | in the back of your mind, dig out the |
| now, always variation on the same theme | | | | poor songs and (unfortunatley) listen to |
| and he is still lasting the | | | | them. Another example. I have seen on |
| time.Listening to your audience, your | | | | some websites they give away cassettes |
| dedicated audience (that will buy from | | | | of their work. I know that this is poor |
| you regularly) is the life-line to your | | | | practise because I have seen MP3s being |
| selling. Go off-track and some will not | | | | offered for download (quicker, free and |
| like it but then again you might attract | | | | better quality).Listen to other styles. |
| some new customers. For me, I would | | | | This may be tringgering the "what is he |
| stick to what you know, you are good at | | | | talking about" response, but hold with |
| it so why change? Sure re-invent | | | | me. On my site I have demonstrated a |
| yourself or adapt to the ever changing | | | | fundamental fact through alot of top |
| music market, but never change style. | | | | techno acts. They all have elements of |
| Case in point. Kyle, pop queen and the | | | | different styles interwound within their |
| lady who brought us the Locomotion and I | | | | own. For example, The Shamen and The |
| should Be So Lucky. But instead of | | | | Prodigy have most noticable rock |
| keeping with cheesy pop she has slowly | | | | influences. The great thing about rock |
| re-invented herself- pinnicling at Can't | | | | is that there is only a few things that |
| Get Your Out Of My Head. Same pop, but | | | | you can do with an electic guitar. So |
| with 21st Century twist.Listening also | | | | their tracks have to be really catchy, |
| means you should listen to other tracks, | | | | employing good lyrics, cool bass and |
| go to concerts, clubs, wherever they | | | | hookable leads. It is no wonder then |
| play your music. DJs are always, and | | | | that other artists from other styles |
| have to be, up-to-date with "whats hot | | | | look to rock as an influence. If I was |
| and whats not". They listen to their | | | | into ambient music, I would listen to |
| audience, and they know sure well that | | | | classical music for inspiration. Both |
| if they get it wrong they either won't | | | | are similar to each other in that they |
| work again or they will get booed | | | | have long sweeps and can go on for a |
| at!Listen to other peoples comments. I | | | | while but still sound fresh, evolving, |
| had a real hard time listening to other | | | | and can still use hooks. Classical music |
| people rip my music apart but I realised | | | | has been an influence for William Orbit |
| it was for the best. You must make sure | | | | (helped Madonna with her Ray of Light |
| that the people who listen to your music | | | | CD, including that cool track Frozen), |
| is your sudience. If you do Drum and | | | | and he technoified Barbers Adaigo for |
| Bass and give a track to your | | | | Strings, a cool classical track in |
| grandparents to hear they might not like | | | | itself and was brought into the light |
| it. Playing a track to your friends of | | | | when it was played in Platoon.Finally |
| similar style liking, or a group of | | | | Listen to yourself. Why did you make the |
| people is much better. A group increases | | | | track in the first place? Were you going |
| the reliability of your "little study | | | | to build it up into a cool chorus, or |
| into your tracks", more people increases | | | | was there an idea that you wanted to |
| the reliability and gives you a better | | | | tinker around with that sounded really |
| opinion of how your tracks will be | | | | cool? Not knowing where the track is |
| accepted. If one person says "ohh I | | | | going, not seeing the light at the end |
| didnt like that sample" keep it in mind, | | | | of the tracks tunnel, or the loops are |
| but if alot of people say the same, | | | | just not sitting right can have a |
| change the sample. It is a rare | | | | negative effect on your confidence and |
| oportuinity to see how your audience | | | | moral. Write down what you would like to |
| will react to your tracks, in the real | | | | see from this track. Maybe even before |
| world your sales would reduce, and you | | | | you start get all the basic loops, or |
| would just scratch your head wondering | | | | downloading website names all collected |
| why.Listen to the best in the genre. If | | | | before setting off. If the track is just |
| you want to know what excellent and top | | | | a notepad, make it so, don't spend too |
| techno tracks sound like ask your target | | | | much time on something that is just a |
| audience who their top artists are, | | | | sketch pad. If it doen't work, fine, but |
| sometimes you might get inspiration from | | | | why, if you have no joy, leave it. Go |
| artists that you haven't heard from | | | | back to it later on, don't make yourself |
| before, then surround yourself with the | | | | too angry or involved in something that |
| tracks. Listen to the tracks and bathe | | | | can have a nehgative impact on all your |
| in their coolness.Listening can | | | | techno making.Dominic Hough has made |
| sometimes mean not to listen. Sounds | | | | music for over 18 years. On his site |
| strange I know. But if you have been | | | | Make your own Dance and Techno he has |
| listening to your tracks day in day out, | | | | proved that you can make, and market |
| then listen to other peoples tracks, you | | | | your own techno songs for free. His site |
| can get a bit bored, tired, and to a | | | | also covers sampling, MP3s, loops and |
| point the tracks get samey. Have a day | | | | much more. |