I’ve been pondering over this question for a while now - how do you find your own style?
Is it something that develops over time or should you try a more structured approach? By the latter I’m thinking of a collection of sound designs, instruments, arrangement templates, genre, BPM, key signature, etc, etc? Would that lead to a consistent body of work recognisable as your own or would it be too formulaic, predictable and bland? Do you stand a better chance of being noticed if you produce something different all the time, or at least re-inventing yourself once in a while?
I’m reminded of a David Hockney quote. When he radically changed painting style the critics complained that his work didn’t look like Hockney any more. He replied “It will in 6 months time.”
Then again, he was quite famous at this point in his career, unlike myself.
i don’t strive for a specific genre, i mostly just mess around. when it comes to eletronic stuff i either try to blend genres or mess around in whatever software i use.
otherwise, I’m a self-taught guitarist who takes inspiration from death metal or the more extreme sides of math rock and avant-garde metal.
basically i try to make an output that is diffrent from one another in some shape or form, not really sticking to any one style or formula for too long. mainly for fear it will turn stale.
just depends on your mindset and how you go about making music in general.
Steal a bunch of other styles and melt them down into a giant copper pot of awesome
Nah
I just listen to what I think is really cool, and try to blend aspects into my own unique… thing.
I think that it’s crucial that you be proud of yourself and seek to find people who enjoy your work, otherwise you’ll be thrown around left right and center between scenes, and you probably won’t find one that just likes your stuff.
Let’s be real, after listening to enough music, all of it becomes predictable and bland, and my guess is that with IDM you can be unpredictable
Because apparently being unique is what people enjoy.
Part 2 that I just thought about-
For an example of being unique (and this is just because I focus far too much on it) hardcore techno artists who become popular have these unique and super cool kicks. Rooler for example - who is a rawstyle artist - has this trademark drop kick that’s just a fat 909 and a bass boosted saw (listen to TOO COLD for example) which is super minimalistic and nearly alien when compared to literally any other rawstyle kick. I dunno, thought that might help with my point.
Hmm… I think there are good ideas here and I think whether or not you cross the line from recognizable to formulaic, predictable, or bland depends on how far you take it, and for how long.
Particular sounds via sound design and specific instruments could provide a bit of that “signature sound” that you’re asking about without necessarily becoming repetitive or bland.
With things like arrangement templates, BPM and Key being the same over just a few pieces, I feel like your work may become boring and overly formulaic rather quickly.
That being said, I don’t think it necessarily is a detractor to have your music all sound similar, I guess it just kinda depends on what it is and HOW similar it is. It all comes down to preference.
I always end up feeling a bit bored and uninspired when i start to feel myself fall into a pattern of writing music that is too similar. I find that i write better when i give myself room to try new things and play around a bit more unconstrained from style. Despite that, I honestly feel like I still have my own style. So then…
Honestly, I don’t know that i will have an answer that is satisfying. I think you have to be at it for a while (which as far as i know about you, you have been) and it sort of naturally forms over time. I would say don’t try and force anything, let it happen organically. That’s not to say don’t make decisions or be intentional about your sound design, genre or production choices, it more just means, just let whatever flows flow as long as you like it and it resonates in some way with you.
For me, choices change from project to project. I have a few different projects (bands, monikers, whatever) that I write as. Each project has their own “style” from a sort of loose genre perspective, as well as from a sound design choice and arrangement perspective.
For each of my bodies of work under a moniker (albums, eps, singles, etc…) I also tend to try new techniques, tools or arrangement styles, mostly because when i sense that I’m falling into repeating patterns, (such as really similar arrangements all the time) start to get displeased with the results.
Despite this, my friends and others that i know have listened to my music can all normally tell when music is mine, even when I switch thing up. I think this is because despite changing the sounds or arrangements, genres, mood, and whatever else, I just have ways of writing that are sort of just mine (I’m sure they are an amalgamation of all of my favorite music and artists, you are what you eat in a way), and that is a combination of all of the things you described earlier and more.
I gotta go, already spent too much type typing all of this, but for what it’s worth, I feel like you already have a sort of style. I feel like when I listen to your tunes I have a subconscious thought of like “oh yeah, this is LFO Juice”. Maybe it’s because i know its you going into it, but I think even if I didn’t know for sure, I would have the suspicion.
It might sound cheesy, but the things that come naturally to you might be completely unique to others, and that’s why it’s always worth trying out whatever blend of elements and styles that you like; you never know who might really enjoy listening to it.
Also, most of us aren’t going to be famous, so we can instead rejoice in the idea that nobody’s going to get pissed off if we totally change styles and try out entirely new things just to see what sticks. There’s no pressure, so there’s more room to experiment
Thanks for some really interesting points in this thread.
I suppose that style is something that develops organically over time, rather than through a rigid, structured approach that can lead to predictability and creative stagnation. If anyone is old enough to remember Stock, Aitken and Waterman then you get my drift . And if you’re not, then you should be so lucky, lucky lucky lucky. God, I’m old.
Experimentation seems to be the key. By messing around, genre-blending, and deliberately avoiding falling into repetitive patterns you can stay inspired and keep your music fresh. I love the idea of having multiple musical projects to explore different styles (Guy. ,) and the point that your friends could still recognize your musical fingerprint is fascinating - does style transcend genre or technique? Is it something deeper, tied to personal expression? Interesting.
My overall takeaway is that style isn’t a fixed formula, but a fluid, evolving expression of taste, curiosity, and authenticity - something that finds you as much as you find it.
Better keep going then. Here, style. Here I am. Come to daddy.
. And if you’re not, then you should be so lucky, lucky lucky lucky. God, I’m old.
