5 Tips to Start Releasing Music

One of the hardest parts of making music is releasing your first work. In this post, I’m going to share 5 tips on how to build momentum when creating music so you can release more often.

Please note that these tips are mostly applicable to beginners who have never released music before. Many of this will and should change as you progress on your journey.

1. Outsource help

Probably my most helpful tip to give is that you don’t have to do everything on your own. There is something to be said for finishing a work - even if you didnt’ do 100% of it.

Sometimes I feel there is a stigma against getting help on a project and I’m not sure why. Professional artists have teams helping them write, record, mix, master… why do you feel the need to take all of these things on your own when you’re just starting out?

If you have a friend who is into music, that’s a great place to start. If you don’t, but you have a few extra bucks, look for hired help using services like Fiverr. If that’s not an option, there are plenty of forums and subreddits out there to find folks who might be willing to help. Don’t be afraid to ask.

2. Use virtual instruments if possible

My first time recording guitar, I jumped straight into buying a mic and trying to record my guitar by mic’ing my amp. I sure learned a lot this way - like how it’s pretty hard to do as a newbie and how it’s hard to recreate a sound.

Since then, I’ve started using amp simulators on my computer and it’s made things so much easier. I can record once and re-amp it to tons of different sounds, saving me time from re-recording. I have way more options at my disposal. It’s way easier to get a good sound.

In general, I think it’s easier to get an acceptable sound out of virtual instruments compared to trying to record acoustic ones, so I recommend starting with digital instruments.

3. Consistency

You won’t ever release anything if you don’t put the work in. Maintaining consistency and working on your project each day is the fastest way to improve and make progress.

I’m not saying you need to sit down and have a massive four hour music creating session each day. Even just spending fifteen minutes actively listening to your mix and trying to identify improvements is putting the work in. Just do something every day you can and you’ll see improvement over time.

4. Get feedback

This one can be a little intimidating but it’s so helpful to get feedback as you’re working on music. I’ve learned so much just by the random people who have listened to my track and given me a couple thoughts. You can only listen to the same track so many times without checking out. Getting a fresh set of ears to hear your song for the first time can be so benefical.

My favorite way to do this is to use the subreddit r/MusicFeedback. You have to give feedback on 2 or 3 other people’s tracks before you’re able to post on, which means you’ll normally get at least a response or two. Sometimes the feedback is phoned in and not helpful, but I’ve gotten a lot of great critical feedback using that subreddit.

Another option is of course to bug some friends and family for feedback. This isn’t always my favorite approach if your friend or family member isn’t as into music as you are. Sometimes it feels like you’re just being a burden, so I’d use this as a secondary resort if you can’t find another avenue.

5. Don’t make it perfect

Lastly, at some point, you just need to release it. There will ALWAYS be improvements to make on a track. You need to get comfortable at saying it’s good enough and moving on.

Again, momentum is real. If you get music released, you’ll get a big wave of energy that will hopefully propel you to your next release.

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