Your First Steps as a Music Artist: The Foundational Moves That Never Go Out of Style
Feeling overwhelmed as a new artist? You're definitely not alone. With advice coming from every corner of the internet—YouTube tutorials, TikTok trends, self-proclaimed industry experts—it's natural to wonder where you should actually begin.
You know you've got talent. You have melodies stuck in your head and maybe even a few rough recordings on your phone. But turning those creative sparks into a real music career? That's where most people hit a wall.
Let's break through that wall together.
Here's a straightforward, practical guide to the first steps you actually need to take as an independent artist. These are the timeless, foundational moves that won't become obsolete when the next social media algorithm changes.
1. Start With Your "Why" — Not Just Your Music
Before you start chasing streams, followers, or viral moments, take a step back and ask yourself: Why do you want to make music?
This might sound simple, but your "why" becomes your North Star. It influences everything from your sound and songwriting to your visual style and how you connect with people both online and on stage.
Think about artists like Dolly Parton. Her music centers around heart, home, and honesty. That core purpose has shaped her entire career for decades—from her lyrics to her public image to her charitable work.
Your why doesn't need to be earth-shattering. Maybe you want to create music for people who feel misunderstood. Maybe music is how you work through your own struggles. Whatever drives you—identify it, embrace it, and let it guide your decisions.
2. Build a Daily Creative Practice
Here's something most people don't want to hear: Waiting for inspiration to strike doesn't work. Professional artists develop consistent creative habits. You should too.
This doesn't mean you need to write a complete song every day. Your practice might include:
Jotting down lyric ideas or melody fragments
Recording quick voice memos of musical thoughts
Playing your instrument for 15-20 minutes
Practicing songs in front of a mirror
Think of it like athletic training. Athletes don't wait until game day to prepare their bodies. Artists shouldn't wait for "the perfect mood" to exercise their creativity. The more you practice creating, the stronger that creative muscle becomes.
3. Define Your Artist Brand
Your brand isn't just a logo or color scheme. It's the entire experience people have when they encounter your music, see your photos, and read what you write online.
The easiest starting point? Choose three words that capture who you are as an artist. Consider words like: honest, rebellious, nostalgic, dreamy, raw, playful, intense, or vulnerable.
These words should influence:
Your photo shoots and visual content
Your album artwork and graphics
How you communicate on social media
The types of songs you choose to write and release
According to recent industry data, independent music revenues grew by 16.1% in 2024, significantly outpacing overall industry growth. This means there's real opportunity for independent artists who can clearly communicate what makes them unique.
Take Kacey Musgraves as an example. She built her brand around being dreamy, clever, and stylish. You can see this consistency in her fashion choices, her album visuals, and even her social media captions.
4. Establish Your Digital Foundation
You don't need to master every platform right away. Focus on building a solid foundation with these essentials:
Choose Your Primary Platform: The biggest social platforms currently are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X and Pinterest. Pick one or two where you'll focus your energy and post consistently.
Create a Link Hub: Set up a Linktree or simple website that includes your bio, music links, photos, and contact information.
Maintain Visual Consistency: Keep your visual elements uniform, such as color schemes, fonts, and logos across all your social media accounts. This visual consistency helps people recognize and remember you.
In 2024, the main goal for social media success is sharing valuable content with a purpose. Don't just post randomly—think about what value you're providing to your audience with each piece of content.
Make sure your artist name is available across platforms. If it's taken, try adding "music" or "official" to maintain consistency.
5. Protect Your Mental Health and Mindset
This might not feel urgent now, but it's actually the most critical factor in your long-term success.
Building a music career is emotionally challenging. You'll face days when it feels like nobody's listening. You'll encounter rejections. You'll experience periods of silence that make you question everything.
This is completely normal.
What separates successful artists from those who give up? They don't quit when things get tough.
Look at artists like Chris Stapleton or Lainey Wilson. Both spent years performing for small audiences before gaining widespread recognition. The difference was their persistence and belief in their music.
Focus on progress over perfection. Celebrate small victories—a great rehearsal session, completing a demo, gaining a new genuine fan. These small wins compound over time.
Build your support network early. Connect with other artists, find mentors, work with co-writers, join music communities. Trying to build a career in isolation is unnecessarily difficult.
What Changes When You Get These Fundamentals Right
You stop second-guessing yourself. You start making real progress.
You'll:
Have clarity about who you are and why your music matters
Develop a recognizable brand that people trust and remember
Attract genuine fans instead of just random social media engagement
Feel confident about your next moves, even when the industry feels chaotic
This foundation sets you up for everything that comes next in your career.
Get Honest Feedback to Accelerate Your Growth
Most new artists only share their music with friends and family. While this provides encouragement, it doesn't necessarily help you improve.
Seek feedback from:
Other musicians at your level or higher
Local producers or sound engineers
Music mentors or industry professionals
Honest friends who understand music
The feedback might sting initially, but it will make you better. 2025 is described as "the year of independence and innovation" for indie artists, which means standing out requires continuous improvement.
Your Career Starts Now
You don't need a record deal to begin your music career. You need a solid foundation, clear vision, and the determination to keep showing up consistently.
Streaming currently captures 42.36% of independent artists' market share, proving that independent artists have unprecedented opportunities to reach audiences directly.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start building something real, these fundamentals will serve you throughout your entire career. The music industry will continue evolving, but artists who master these basics will always have an advantage.
The most important step is the first one. Start where you are, with what you have, and keep moving forward.
