Music Promotion

What Successful Artists Know About Authenticity (And You Should Too)

What Successful Artists Know About Authenticity (And You Should Too) 150 150 Artist Coaching

Before diving into the topic of authenticity, let’s first define what it means in the context of being an artist.

Authenticity is the state of being genuine, true to oneself, and transparent in one’s actions, values, and expressions. It means aligning your actions with your inner beliefs without pretending to be something you’re not. In the realm of art, music, or any creative work, authenticity involves creating from a place of personal truth, free from external pressures to conform to trends, expectations, or the need for validation. It’s about staying connected to your unique voice, vision, and perspective, allowing your work to reflect your true self.

Great! Now that we’ve defined authenticity, let’s talk about it!


My Journey with Authenticity

The concept of authenticity entered my life at an early age. I started my music career in my teens, but my journey toward discovering my authentic self began years later, halfway through my twenties, after I made the decision to quit my career as an artist.

Looking back, I now realize that authenticity was the primary reason I decided to quit. I wasn’t living my authentic life, I was living someone else’s. The moment I realized that, everything changed.

I started delving deeper into myself, uncovering layers I hadn’t explored before. The more I discovered, the more curious and intrigued I became. At 25, I was just beginning to figure out who I was. That felt both crazy and exciting.

Now, in my thirties, I can reflect on that time and better understand how my decisions back then shaped the life I live today.


The Cost of Living an Inauthentic Life

As I mentioned earlier, the biggest mistake I made in my younger years was not considering my authentic self. I lived on autopilot, allowing others to dictate my direction.

Don’t get me wrong—it’s normal at that age to live like this because you’re still figuring out who you are. But sadly, many people remain stuck in this phase, living an autopilot life driven by fear.

As an artist, this lack of authenticity proved detrimental.

  • I wasn’t consistent in the genres I released because I didn’t know what I truly liked. Jumping between tech house, house, and EDM didn’t help me build a dedicated fanbase, as consistency is crucial.
  • On social media, I played a character rather than being myself. I feared judgment, worried I might look strange, sound odd, or post low-quality content.
  • The only place I felt authentic was on stage, but as an artist, that’s where you spend the least time.

As my career grew, it took over my life. I found myself trapped in a life I had inadvertently designed through poor decisions. I lived like this for over five years, but eventually, it broke me. I burned out.


Why This Matters to You

You might wonder: Why should I care about your story, Joey?

Here’s why: After ten years of coaching artists, I’ve seen many make the same mistakes I did. And you might be making them too.

Are you expressing your unique style without compromise, even in the face of trends, market demands, or societal pressures?

If your answer is yes, mazzeltov! You can stop reading here.

If not, let’s continue.


The Temptation of Trends

One of the hardest things for artists to resist is following trends. It’s tough to watch others succeed, especially when they’re newer to the scene than you. The problem? Jumping on trends often leads to inconsistency in your work, preventing you from becoming the go-to artist in your genre.

Another common pitfall is comparison. Social media amplifies this struggle, acting like gasoline on a fire.

Many artists also seek approval by making music that blends in with what’s already popular. Creating something fresh, new, and different? That’s scary but it’s also where authenticity lives.

On top of these external pressures, artists face internal struggles such as:

  • Self-doubt
  • Fear of rejection
  • Anxiety

Practical Tips for Living Authentically

Here are some actionable steps to help you embrace authenticity:

  1. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
    Create for the sake of creation. Don’t limit your creativity by worrying about which label might release your music. Such thoughts create barriers. Instead, let your creativity flow freely and explore what you’re capable of without restrictions.
  2. Reflect on Your Personal Values
    Take time to understand what drives you as an artist. Consider working with a coach to uncover your core values and motivations. Knowing what’s most important to you provides a foundation for your creative work and helps you decide what you’re willing to sacrifice or fight for.
  3. Break the Rules
    Don’t let industry “standards” box you in. Remember, these standards are often arbitrary. The best way to stand out is to be different. Embrace your uniqueness.
  4. Surround Yourself with Supportive People
    Build a network of like-minded individuals who respect your sound and support your journey. Avoid those who discourage you or undermine your confidence with negative feedback.
  5. Be Vulnerable and Transparent
    Embrace imperfections, share personal stories, and connect openly with your audience. By showing your humanity, you’ll build deeper relationships with fans who resonate with your values and vision.

Building a Community Around Your Authenticity

Strong connections with your fans are vital for a sustainable music career. Fans want to feel part of something, a community where they belong. By sharing more about your personality and life, you invite them into your world.

Take Dua Lipa as an example. Her Instagram showcases not only her performances but also her personal life, friends, trips, food, and more. This creates a sense of familiarity, making fans feel part of her inner circle. That’s what builds unshakable fanbases.

Think about Beliebers or Little Monsters. These communities thrive on shared values and deep connections with the artist.


Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, I hope you feel inspired to live more authentically… not just as an artist but as a person. Living authentically is transformative. I know this from experience.

Regards, Joey

P.S. If you want help discovering your authentic self, check out our personal coaching services. We’d love to guide you on this journey.

Three Things Artists Should Focus On In 2020

Three Things Artists Should Focus On In 2020 150 150 Artist Coaching

It’s crazy to see how much the music industry has evolved in just a couple of years. 

I still remember when I started making music in my bedroom on a computer that was slower than my phone is now.

I still remember having to deal with selling vinyl copies… Reality check.

Since the industry has evolved so much and the world around it hasn’t been standing still either, I thought this would be a good time to stand still and have a look into the future to see how an artist can use all these new developments to build his career.

Music

Creating music still is the foundation of an artist’s career. With music, you’re not an artist. But the importance of music has decreased if you ask me. Back in the days (pre-social media), an artist didn’t have to worry that much about other things than making music. Being in the studio, creating new music was a top priority for an artist and I feel like those times have changed.

Right now, music still is important but it shouldn’t be your only main focus anymore. 

Remember, a lot of things have changed and you have to adapt to survive.

Content

One of the things that should be your main focus for 2020 is creating content.

We live in a world where we spent most of our time online and when I say online, I mean social media networks. You know, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok… As an artist, you should represent yourself on those platforms. It is THE best way to connect with your audience and to build your brand. 

These platforms are driven by content. By creating content you have the opportunity to reach your audience and show them who you are and what you stand for and the craziest thing is that you can reach any person on this planet from the chair in your home.

Photos and videos are a great way to show people who you are and what you’re doing in life. By posting content, you can take your audience onto your journey. Show them your struggles, celebrate your wins. By showing the ups and downs, you will start to create a deep connection with your audience and that is key to building a brand.

Creating content seems to be scary to most artists that I speak to but I want to let you know that if you stay close to your personality, you can never go wrong. Content only becomes scary if you put out lies or things that you don’t agree with. The closer you stick to your own values, the stronger and easier it will become.

What most artists seem to forget is that with your music you will be able to reach people and build a fanbase but content has the exact same effect. The only difference is that you won’t be able to put out three songs a day but you will be able to put out three photos or videos a day. If one of those pieces of content goes viral, you have the opportunity to build a fanbase.

That’s why content is so valuable and that’s why you should start posting as much as possible ASAP.

Consistency

Another thing is an important focus point for artists in 2020 is consistency. Consistency is key if you want to become successful in this industry. 

You need to be consistent with releasing your music and posting content.

Releasing one song isn’t going to do much for you. Of course, you can always be lucky and that one track could end up being a hit but focussing on those chances isn’t a smart strategy if you ask me. Releasing a song every month will bring you more opportunities and those opportunities will give you a bigger chance of success. It will also help to feed your audience with new music each month which will keep you more relevant.

Posting consistently on a daily base is the key to building a fanbase. You want to be on top of mind with the people that follow you. Posting content every day will subconsciously keep your artist name and brand at the top of your follower’s mind and it will create awareness around your artist name.

Consistency is the key to growth.

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