One of our main goals at FUXWITHIT is to help new artists. Whether it’s by showcasing their releases, doing spotlights, interviews, offering them guest mix slots, or in some cases, providing advice. One of the biggest pieces of advice I constantly hear from successful artists is that new artists need to invest in their careers. But what does that mean exactly? Is it money? Is it time? How exactly should artists invest? With these questions in mind, I opted to reach out to some of our favourite artists and industry experts to get answers. We’re proud to provide you with advice from Andrew Luce, Anna Lunoe, Craze, Chad Kenney, HXV, the Jadu Dala team, Mayhem, Nick Cathdubs, TroyBoi, Stööki Sound, Yehme2 and Willy Joy. There’s a few common themes throughout like perfecting your craft and saving money, but it’s amazing just how unique each person’s perspective is.
Read their advice and put it into practice.
Andrew Luce
Why Should You Listen: Andrew Luce has been wowing fans online since he was fifteen. After making a name for himself off of remixes, he moved on to crafting stunning original work that includes his debut EP BLANC. As the Co-Founder of Daruma he’s helped put on a multitude of artists and is consistently working to help develop new talent.
Advice: “When you’re getting started, learn the technical and musical basics first. Put genres, cool artwork and branding, and everything else aside until you learn those skills, because those are things you have to learn, not talent you’re born with. When you have your basics in order, think about what’s unique about yourself that you can translate into your music. Always have a clear vision – if you don’t, stop everything you’re doing and figure it out. When you have it figured out, work towards that vision every single day. And save as much money as you can.”
Anna Lunoe
Why You Should Listen: Anna Lunoe is the queen of electronic music. She’s a Producer, Singer, DJ, Radio Host and Label Owner. She was the first solo female to ever play EDC Las Vegas’ main stage and continues to break down gender barriers in the dance music space. With two massive brands (her own and Hyperhouse) and over ten years of grinding, she’s proof that hard work pays.
Advice: “Invest in your creativity and owning your work. Each person’s situation is different so it’s tricky to give blanket rules here, but I wish I had realized that no one is going to come along and make my project happen… and if they do, it might be at a bigger cost than it’s worth! If you have a body of work you are proud of, and you are in a position to make it work within your own resources, it’s possible now. A catchy song can spread like wildfire, and even the songs with the biggest budgets can go nowhere if they don’t react, so it really comes down to focused creative work, timing, and a little bit of luck! At this point, doing music is only for people who would do it even if no one was listening, because there are no guarantees! Anything and nothing is possible at all times and I mean that in the most encouraging way.”
Chad Kenney
Why You Should Listen: Chad Kenney is the Events Producer behind Brownies & Lemonade. The company went from throwing house parties to becoming one of the most well-respected brands in the industry. From small art gallery shows to curating stages for biggest festivals in the world including Ultra, their drive to consistently debut new talent is what helped them to carve out an ever expanding niche. Expect to see their name on events around the world and even more festivals. He is also the Co-Founder of Shifty Rhythms and is currently working with Fool’s Gold as an A&R Consultant if that wasn’t enough.
Advice: “I would say that anyone starting out in any creative field should have a rough business model or frame of reference that they can use to establish some consistency in their work. When you are an artist of any kind, having some semblance of structure allows you to harness that creativity and executive ideas better. Whether it be a release schedule, a list of goals you hit every week, or anything of that nature, you should enable yourself to do something day-to-day that adds to the foundation of your career.”
Craze
Why You Should Listen: Multiple DMC World titles, Co-Founder of Slow Roast Records and 20 years in the game makes Craze the definition of an OG. As half of 2 Cents he recently flipped the game on its head calling names and deading all the bullshit. Raw skills and knack for always being ahead of the curve have made Craze a certified legend.
Advice: “New artists should invest time in becoming good at whatever it is they wanna be doing.”
HXV
Why You Should Listen: Aside from helping to birth the trap movement with artists like Mayhem, Flosstradamus and a few others, HXV is always looking to push boundaries. He’s been a mainstay in the Atlanta music scene for years and is constantly reinventing himself without ever drifting too far from his core. Whether it’s on Twitter or in interviews, few artists drop more gems than HXV.
Advice: “I think one of the best investments new artists can make in their careers is to spend time researching art and artists across all spectrums. All genres of music, all mediums, really study art that is universally considered great. I realize all art is subjective but look at the classics or things that have stood the test of time – not just what is popular at the moment. Pick it apart and study what’s good or what’s bad about it. Taking that time to sit with and learn and then going on the journey of discovering your own voice in your art allows you to be able to stand on the shoulders of those who came before you. The internet has given us such an opportunity to obtain information – use it.”
Jadu Dala Team
Why You Should Listen: Jadu Dala is the future of labels in electronic music. No label has been as consistently pushing the boundaries while providing quality releases (weekly) like Jadu Dala. They find new talent before anyone else in the industry and are always working to help artists expand.
Advice: “There are a lot of important things that artists should invest their time into, with that being said, one of the most important things is the people around you. You want to surround yourself with positive and uplifting people. Making the right connections from the start will pay off in the long haul.”
Mayhem
Why You Should Listen: Mayhem has over 20 years in the game. From his DnB days, to pioneering trap and working to help evolve the genre, Mayhem is simply the man. He’s also the head of Skrong, a fresh label and management group. Anyone who runs a label and displays this kind of longevity as an artist is rich with wisdom.
Advice: “I think all artists new and old should invest as much energy as possible into creating works of art that have purpose. Creating a dope record sonically is far too easy with Cymatics, Vengeance,
Nexus and the likes at our disposal. Crafting a record that is larger than life comes from designing an environment that the listener can submerge themselves in. Utilizing video and cover art to convey the concept you’ve crafted in audio will be worth it’s weight in gold as we move forward into the era of infinite. At the core of it all is a concept that binds the purpose of the record to its visual counterpart. Find your purpose, take your time, and drop content that matches the blood, sweat and tears we pour into our music.”
Nick Catchdubs
Why You Should Listen: Producer, DJ, Music Writer, and Co-Founder of Fool’s Gold Records, Nick Catchdubs isn’t just in the industry, he is the industry. Building one of the most highly regarded independent labels in music doesn’t happen by chance. He can also speak from more perspectives than pretty much anyone out there, combining his broad experience into one extremely well-informed viewpoint.
Advice: “The most important thing an artist should be investing in – at any stage of their career – is the art itself. It’s very tempting to measure yourself against others, to look at a studio pic and say ‘if I get this piece of gear, I’ll make music like so and so.’ But it’s not about the gear, it’s the ideas that go into it. (Steven Soderbergh has an Oscar and makes his movies with an iPhone now, you know?) Learn your existing setup inside and out. MAKE THINGS constantly…if you’re always learning, each track will be better than the last. Put the work first, and everything else will fall into place.”
TroyBoi
Why You Should Listen: TroyBoi is the embodiment of independent success while staying true to ones art. His music is unapologetically weird and genre-defying. With an incredible debut album under his belt that boasted a feature from Ice Cube and multiple solo headlining tours around the world, it’s hard to not look up to the London producer. While many artists sell out at their first chance, Troy continues to remain committed to the art and somehow still find massive success.
Advice: “New artists should definitely invest time in working and perfecting their craft. Quality is always better than quantity. If you believe in yourself, investing money into your vision is key. At the end of the day, if you pull off what you intended, the reward and further opportunities are priceless.”
Stööki Sound
Why You Should Listen: Stööki Sound are UK trap legends who also helped define the genre. With millions of plays online, multiple world tours and collaborations with some of the biggest artists in the game, their reputation is well-established. Stööki Sound’s is ever expanding, adding influences from grime, world and experimental bass music while retaining the core elements that fans love. They always know how to keep things fresh without ever bending to keep up with trends.
Advice: “Invest time into your mental health. People underestimate the importance of having a strong foundation to work from. Everything moves so fast nowadays that it’s easy to lose yourself.”
YehMe2
Why You Should Listen: YehMe2 went from a party-rocking local DJ in Chicago to becoming half of one of the most iconic duos in dance music with Flosstradamus. But his success didn’t happen overnight, it took years. He also opted to leave Flosstradamus at its peak to explore his own solo pursuits and regain full creative control. He started from nothing and won the race. Now he’s on a victory lap. All that said, he still remains a humble family man who consistently impresses with every release.
Advice: “Save your money. Set up a SEP IRA. Be patient. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Take calculated risks. When you fail, fail BIG. Learn from your failures…that’s where all the best lessons are.”
Willy Joy
Why You Should Listen: As a DJ and Producer he’s played around the world and dropped tracks on the hottest labels out including Fool’s Gold, Mad Decent, TWONK and more. Finding a gap in the dance music scene, Willy Joy recently launched his Back To Back podcast, the first long form talk podcast for the dance community. With guests like Diplo, Keys N Krates, NGHTMRE, and Destructo, Willy is soaking up game every week and is truly doing it for the culture.
Advice: “Learning the craft has to be treated like a full-time job, and you have to show up for work every day. I think one of the most valuable things a new artist can do for their career is to exercise patience, try something new every day, and make hundreds of songs that no one will ever hear. A large investment in time early on will pay off huge down the road.”
