DIY musician: Quality Over Quantity

Quality is always the best approach! Especially today, when you hear from every corner about the significance of consistency and the need for creating content. With that narrative being translated everywhere, it’s possible to lose sight of what’s important - your creative expression. In this post on the DIY Musician Blog, we’ll explore why quality over quantity still wins and how to strive for it in every aspect of an independent music career.

Less is more

Whether it’s your music, content you create around it, or anything else, less is better for a multitude of reasons. You can choose where to invest your time, effort, and money. Fewer projects are prone to be higher quality, even if not all of them will be finished. Pick what to focus on in the moment and move gradually. Even when you have multiple projects simultaneously, mindfully considering each will help you to create the ones that better fit your skills, time, resources, and inspiration.

Noise does not resonate with the audience

In various projects, whether my own or not, I’ve encountered a wide range of content strategies and creative approaches. At times, in their pursuit of promotion, musicians can lose sight of the essence of their music and even forget the core of the project. Again and again, I’ve observed that posting solely for the sake of posting does not produce real results. Of course, you’ll need to try a bunch of stuff before finding what truly resonates with you and your process. For some, it will be about a YouTube channel, for others, some fun content on TikTok, or an Instagram focused on your art. The key is to find the one that resonates with you first. Valuable, quality content that you were inspired to create will always work best! And no, you don’t have to post every day, trust me!

Avoiding burnout and forced ideas

Similar to the previous point, the same applies to your music and creative ideas. By creating less and not pressuring yourself to produce constantly, you’ll leave breathing room to live your life and find inspiration. Important projects may require focus and timely completion, but that’s a positive aspect. When you have only a few projects that align with your skills and values, the output is remarkable! Don’t force it. Some ideas will strike quickly, while others will require time. There’s room for both. Choose the ones for which you have the resources and desire to create now. Let go of ideas that linger for too long, and new ones will appear sooner than you think. It’s also important to set aside time when you don’t create at all, so burnout doesn't catch up with you and derail your plans later on.

You don’t have to release everything you create

«Kill your darlings», they say, and I would add, keep some to yourself. Time will change how you feel about things. Some music won’t be as relevant, and a few songs might be too personal to share. When you find yourself «in between», time is your best friend. Let your ideas stay untouched for a while, when possible. The ones you still want to release after some time are usually the best. With practice, you’ll train that «feeling» for whether the idea is working. At some point, you’ll be able to identify it on the go.

You’re not obligated to release every single one of your creations. In fact, some of your songs that are based on intimate personal stories might already have found their audience - you. If, with time, you feel that these stories are the ones you're ready to reveal to the world, go ahead. That’s a powerful and inspiring action! But remember that it’s okay to create just for yourself and keep some ideas in your archive. A few lines you have written down but weren’t able to turn into a full song by yourself might spark a banger when collaborating with someone many years later.

Create your own filter

Here’s the interesting one. There’s no «one size fits all» filter that would help everyone. Only you can create the filtering system for yourself, because it’s interconnected with your personality and creativity. When starting, be playful with it, and as time goes by, narrow it down. Think of it as a calibration of your inner compass. There are many techniques for this. Try a bunch and even come up with your own.

Here’s the questionnaire that I find helpful for myself:

1. Alignment with the main values and goals

2. People on the project, and will I be able to work with them?

3. Will it get the projected results?

4. Will it get the projected income?

5. Do I have the required specialists or need to hire them?

6. Do I have funding, or where can I get it?

7. Do I have enough time to dedicate to the project?

8. Do I have at least three backup plans?

9. Can I survive the worst possible scenario? Is the risk inside the range I can take?

10. Will both sides involved benefit from the project?

Go through at least 3 times: fresh when the idea just appeared, the next morning, and after one week. Add your little spin on it, if you feel like it.

Expand strategically

And finally, think of ways you can create more or bigger without taking too much on yourself. After all, if you decided to make music your career, you have to treat it as a business. It’s natural to gravitate towards bigger projects, but often musicians are afraid of loosening their control and inviting others on board. Find your balance between collaboration and solo work. Identify which aspects you’re good at and most inspired to do, which work can truly be done only by you, and focus on them. Invite others to help you and bring fresh perspectives.

Bigger and more complex ideas are realized by teams, and participating in multiple projects doesn’t have to lead to exhaustion. You can also try dividing your tasks between specific days and working during the same period on projects that are distinctly different from each other. And most of all, expand slowly. This way, you’ll have the ability to adapt and change things without being overwhelmed and see your next steps with clarity.

As you get free of the quantity, you’ll notice that it’s happening not only in your creative projects, but also in life. The quality will increase, and the things you enjoy become more vivid. Implementing this mindset will shift not only your expression and productivity but also free you from noise and clutter. Once your filter is on, pretty soon you’ll see that the spaces created by doing less will invite ideas and inspiration that are truly yours.

Be well, stay tuned!