Navigating the Challenges of EDM: A Path to Success

Is it hard to make it in the EDM industry these days? The answer is essentially yes, but if you believe in yourself, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and practice relentlessly, you stand a better chance. Even if you can't make it in mainstream music, you can still turn your passion into a full-time career. People who try are already 10 times further than those who don't even attempt it. Statistics may say the odds are against you, but I say the only odds against you is yourself.

I work hard every day, and I am young, so hopefully, the cards will fall in my favor. But success in this industry is far from guaranteed. The hardest part is getting started, and even harder is mastering the craft. It requires a deep understanding of technical aspects like music theory, composition, arrangement, sound design, mixing, mastering, and acoustics. Each of these is a complex topic that many people struggle to master.

Starting Your Journey in EDM

The journey to success in electronic dance music (EDM) begins with understanding your aptitude and the genre you want to explore. There are many genres within EDM, each with its unique characteristics. If you have a solid grasp of the basics, you can create music using any means at your disposal, provided you know what you're doing. This knowledge will help you either copy existing things or produce somewhat formulaic versions that could make a living.

Mastering the Art of Music Production

Easy to get started, but hard to master. You need to learn a variety of technical skills to produce and play music to people. You have to understand music theory, composition, arrangement, sound design, mixing, mastering, and acoustics. Each of these is a deep and complex topic. Many people focus only on a few, limiting their creative potential.

Additionally, you need to have a good knowledge of music that has already been produced and what the producers did. If you have all this, you can copy existing things or produce quite formulaic versions of things to a standard that could make a living. However, the real creative challenge lies in pushing and bending the concepts you've learned in innovative ways. This is where standout stuff often comes from.

The Creative Side of EDM

While the technical side is certainly challenging, the creative side introduces genuine unknowns. At work, I can understand anything, as there are no unknowns only things I don’t yet know. But with creating things, there are things I don’t understand that I also don’t expect to ever understand. This is a completely different experience entirely.

I spent over fifteen years to realize I actually had some, and longer than my software career. Most of this applies to all music, not just EDM. The key is to keep learning and pushing boundaries creatively. With time and persistence, you can develop a unique voice that resonates with your audience and propels you towards success in the EDM industry.

If you’re passionate about electronic dance music and willing to put in the work, the rewards can be immense. Success may be challenging, but the journey is completely worth it.