Finding Your Own Style

[almostskate100]

Hi all,

I'll try to trim this down to a reasonably sized explanation -- I've been producing variations of dubstep, glitch hop, experimental random shit for quite a while now. I've recently come to the conclusion that I'd like to at least try and make some sort of future out of this in some shape or form. One of the biggest struggles I've had, however, is trying to find my own style.

I feel like every time I listen to an electronic artist within the category of 'bass' music, I sort of subconsciously start emulating his/her style in my next work. It's always about half way through working on a tune that I realize, "this song sounds like something Ill.Gates would make..." or whoever. I really don't like this. In more recent productions, I've been trying to clear my mind of external influences and literally just start throwing down samples, kind of like in my Painting class when my teacher would always say, "just start slingin' paint!" I guess my problem is two-fold then: finding a unique, personal style AND sticking to it.

I realize this is a broad, open-ended question, but I was wondering if anyone had any good tips on developing a personal style or ways of listening to music such that you can appreciate the work of other artists, but stay true to what you're working on without getting discouraged (feeling like their style is the best). Thanks!

[Aufnahmewindwuschel]

hm
the best you can do is to put things into perspective, bass music isnt the crown of creation there are way more talented people out there then any dubstep producer will ever be
so you dont have to put your idols on a pedestal.

on the other hand its really hard to come up with something totally unique. just look at all those subgenres with multiple artist making them. you just have to know what you wanna do atm.

you can still make an alias if you feel you drift away from your first intentions

[fragments]

If you are listen to a lot or exclusively bass music. Stop. Listen to some other things.
Make a lot of changes to your production workflow/experiment even more.
When you realize you are emulating someone too closely fuse that idea with something off the wall Ill.Gates meets Hank Williams...or you know...whatever is way out there...then get way out there in the production until it's almost too weird and back up a few steps.

[hudson]

It just happens. You may not notice it, but there are similarities in all your tracks that come from habits, likes and dislikes, tools, and influence. Even producers who actively mimic others (Volor Flex, for one) have their own unique style. It just happens, don't force a style, you'll end up making music that doesn't feel genuine.

[Johnst]

If you are listen to a lot or exclusively bass music. Stop. Listen to some other things.
Make a lot of changes to your production workflow/experiment even more.

Agreed. Although I have heard some very good producers on this forum argue the opposite... That you need to completely immerse yourself in the style to truly understand it. I've decided that it's a mixture. You really do need to know the ins and outs of what kinds of music you like. You need to try and understand WHAT it is about them that makes you like them so much. What kind of emotions do they convey to you and what elements make that happen? If you like several genres, and break each one down, then you might be able to bring them together in ways that could be very interesting! They could also be shit, but hey, no one said experimentation was easy....

[Hircine]

if you like a genre or an artist, produce it. the more you try to produce different things, the more you will find yourself failing and coming back to a comfortable sound. and, of course, there's the small chance that you develop something new. so yeah,

no one said experimentation was easy....

[Sharmaji]

or, fuck it, just steal ideas outright. Real artistry lies in knowing what to steal, and how to mask it so that it appears original.

[Gurnumsbug]

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." - Albert Einstein

[Augment]

I think your problem may be that the inspiration you take from some tunes is too obvious for you. For example, I take lots of influences when I make track, maybe I'll start with a beat that I've heard KOAN Sound make or something, but I don't straight up copy it. I make changes, so that even though it may be something I copied in the beginning, its now my own. Like Sharma and Gurnum said, masking your inspiration is key.

[lloydy]

I used to use reference tracks in my daw for arrangement ideas or getting the rhythm for drum patterns.Also gaining your own sound and style i think is important for the simple reason being unique will more than likely be what sells you to a label.

[Trichome]

i just make what sounds good, but everything I make is bass-heavy.
my biggest achievement in music is learning to make more than just what others want to hear

[almostskate100]

I definitely don't just listen to bass music. I'm actually super into world music, folk, reggae, metal...been listening to a bit of country. So I don't think that's really my problem.

I think your problem may be that the inspiration you take from some tunes is too obvious for you. For example, I take lots of influences when I make track, maybe I'll start with a beat that I've heard KOAN Sound make or something, but I don't straight up copy it. I make changes, so that even though it may be something I copied in the beginning, its now my own. Like Sharma and Gurnum said, masking your inspiration is key.

See, my problem is, I take aspects from certain artists I like, and "make it my own," but then my friends (who don't really know anything about music production, but they're who I show my tracks to) will say stuff like, "Nice track man, sounds like <insert already existing artist's name>" which frustrates me. I guess it just takes time? I've been seriously producing for a while now, but I'll never stop!

Overall, I feel like I'm just having trouble putting myself into my music. But that just takes practice and learning, I suppose.

EDIT: And thank you for all of the replies so far everyone!

[Augment]

I definitely don't just listen to bass music. I'm actually super into world music, folk, reggae, metal...been listening to a bit of country. So I don't think that's really my problem.

I think your problem may be that the inspiration you take from some tunes is too obvious for you. For example, I take lots of influences when I make track, maybe I'll start with a beat that I've heard KOAN Sound make or something, but I don't straight up copy it. I make changes, so that even though it may be something I copied in the beginning, its now my own. Like Sharma and Gurnum said, masking your inspiration is key.

See, my problem is, I take aspects from certain artists I like, and "make it my own," but then my friends (who don't really know anything about music production, but they're who I show my tracks to) will say stuff like, "Nice track man, sounds like <insert already existing artist's name>" which frustrates me. I guess it just takes time? I've been seriously producing for a while now, but I'll never stop!

Overall, I feel like I'm just having trouble putting myself into my music. But that just takes practice and learning, I suppose.

EDIT: And thank you for all of the replies so far everyone!

Ahh, yeah, I see. If you dont really enjoy the music you're making, that's where your problem is I think. I love each and every one of my tracks, even though I've listened to them for x amount of times. I've always been making music for myself that way, and still I listen to some of my old tracks.
Make music that really speaks to you is my best tip really!

[ehbes]

so i kinda struggled with this for a while. I'm a pretty emotional person so what did was when i was either in a high or low mood i listen to things that i connected with. I basically just tried to express my mood and than eventually developed into a style. also, try and focus your tunes around a couple of elemetsn that you really like, and work from there

[jrisreal]

Here's my timeline of my own personal "style":

Trying to be datsik >> Making brostep, but with my own emotional twist >> Calmed down and implementing emotions and musicality a lot more >> Making deep/liquid dubstep and dnb >> Making emotional tunes of ??? genre and being my slightly depressing self...

[Samuel_L_Damnson]

I dont know about you guys but ilike reverb so thats nmy style

[Praya]

If you wanna have your own sound, create a virtual band. By that i mean put together a drum kit, from samples, drum machines...etc, make sure they have a vibe that you love i.e tribal, industrial, 808, whatever.
Next make a bass or two, again think what kind of bass you love before you make it, then do 2 pad sounds, 2 leads and maybe grab a couple of acapellas of a voice that you like. Also create a daw template, with your favourite reverbs, compressors, saturators and eqs set up on channels and busses.
Once you have all this at your fingertips, you can now start to express yourself however you feel and make a big batch of tunes, using just these elements. Then polish your favourite 3 or 4 into an e.p.
They should all have a distinct cohesive vibe about them, yet if you've wrote them in different keys, rhythms, generally been creative, they should not really sound similar.
Remember the key is to put together your perfect 'band'. i.e your fav sounds.

[NinjaEdit]

Take less inspiration from it is there, and more from what isn't.

[deadly_habit]

or, fuck it, just steal ideas outright. Real artistry lies in knowing what to steal, and how to mask it so that it appears original.

“Good artists copy, great artists steal." - Picasso

[Attila]

I don't think of it as stealing, I think of it more as...innovating a previously written piece of material.