Editorial

How to Find Your Unique Sound

Published

9 months ago

October 1, 2024

Finding your unique sound as an artist or producer can feel like an overwhelming task in a world filled with endless music and constant innovation. However, carving out your own sonic identity is not just about standing out—it’s about discovering the authentic expression of your creativity. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your style, this guide will help you navigate the process of finding your unique sound.

1. Discover Your Influences

One of the first steps in finding your own sound is understanding what influences you. The music you love and the artists you admire can offer insights into your tastes and preferences.

Explore Various Genres: Dive into different musical styles, even ones you’re not familiar with. Whether it’s jazz, electronic, classical, or folk, each genre has something to offer. Pay attention to the instrumentation, rhythms, and melodies that resonate with you.

Analyze Artists You Admire: What draws you to certain artists? Is it their songwriting, production, vocal style, or use of effects? Try to pinpoint the elements that captivate you. However, avoid the temptation to copy; instead, use their work as inspiration to fuel your own creative ideas.

Once you identify your influences, start combining different elements from them. This blend of diverse styles will begin to form the foundation of your unique sound.

2. Experiment with Sound Design and Instruments

Your sound is more than just the genre or style you work in—it’s also about the tones, textures, and instruments you choose to use.

· Sound Design: Explore different sound design techniques, such as synthesis, sampling, and effects. Learning to craft your own sounds or manipulate existing ones allows you to tailor a sonic palette that’s entirely your own. For instance, experiment with creating your own custom synth patches, tweaking drums, or layering unusual sounds into your tracks.

· Try Different Instruments: Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone with instruments. Adding unexpected elements, like a violin in an electronic track or a distorted guitar in a pop song, can bring a new layer of uniqueness to your music. Even small changes, such as altering how you play a familiar instrument, can yield new creative results.

3. Find the Emotional Core of Your Music

Your sound is not just about how your music sounds—it’s also about how it feels. What emotions are you trying to convey through your music? Do you want your sound to be uplifting, melancholic, nostalgic, or intense?

· Identify Themes and Moods: Think about the themes and moods you naturally gravitate towards in your work. What stories are you trying to tell, and what emotions do you want to evoke in your listeners? These answers can guide your sound development.

· Lyrics and Songwriting: If you’re a songwriter, pay attention to the stories you want to tell through your lyrics. The way you write—whether abstract, direct, poetic, or narrative—can shape how your sound develops. Make sure the music and lyrics align emotionally, reinforcing the overall mood you want to create.

Focusing on the emotional core of your music ensures that your sound will resonate with authenticity, which is key to establishing a unique identity.

4. Develop Your Technical Skills

Technical mastery is essential to bring your creative vision to life. While some musicians thrive on spontaneity and intuition, understanding the technical side of music production gives you the control to shape your sound exactly the way you want it.

· Master Your Tools: Whether you’re working with instruments or digital production tools, know them inside out. The better you understand your DAW, synthesizers, effects, or instruments, the more freedom you’ll have to experiment and innovate. You should also look into singing classes London UK to truly understand how to make an impact with your voice.

· Mixing and Effects: Learn how to use EQ, compression, reverb, and other effects to sculpt your sound. The way you mix can dramatically change the feel of your music. For example, a dry, upfront vocal mix gives a different feel than a heavily reverbed, distant vocal sound. By playing with these elements, you can make your music sound distinct.

· Arrangement and Structure: Experiment with song structures and arrangements. Breaking away from traditional verse-chorus structures can set your sound apart and give your music a unique flow.

Having technical skills at your disposal will help you push creative boundaries while ensuring that your music sounds professional and polished.

5. Trust Your Instincts and Evolve Over Time

Your sound doesn’t need to be static. Allow yourself the freedom to evolve and adapt as you grow as an artist. What you may consider your unique sound today might shift and change over time as you gain experience, explore new ideas, or encounter different influences.

· Don’t Chase Trends: While it’s tempting to follow popular trends, doing so can stifle your authenticity. Instead, focus on what excites you personally. Your instincts are your best guide to creating music that’s true to who you are.

· Be Patient: Developing a unique sound takes time, and it can be tempting to rush the process. Give yourself the space to experiment and explore at your own pace. Consistency and perseverance are key.

Allow your sound to grow organically, and don’t be afraid of change. What’s most important is that your music feels true to you and speaks to the vision you have as an artist.

Wrapping Up

Finding your unique sound is a rewarding journey that requires exploration, patience, and self-discovery. By drawing inspiration from your influences, experimenting with sound design and instruments, developing your technical skills, and trusting your creative instincts, you’ll gradually uncover a sound that is authentically yours. Remember that your sound can evolve over time, so stay open to growth and change as you continue to create. In the end, your uniqueness will come through in your willingness to embrace both the art and the process.

Editorial

Juliana Bonde Steals ELF Stage

Published

3 days ago

June 19, 2025

Amy Farina

With over 80 million views, more than 40 videos, and a meticulously crafted performance on the Electric Love Mainstage, Brazilian influencer and singer Juliana Bonde has been making waves – despite never having set foot at the festival. The Salzburg-based festival is taking the situation in stride with a dose of humor.

Juliana Bonde Steals ELF Stage

What connects Electric Love Festival in Salzburg to a Brazilian pop singer? At first glance, not much. However, it seems the iconic Electric Love Mainstage has crossed the Atlantic – at least virtually. For months now, Juliana Bonde, a popular Brazilian singer and influencer with over 10 million
followers, has been posting videos on her social media channels showing herself and her band performing on the Electric Love Mainstage. The incredibly realistic footage, entirely digitally edited, has left fans amazed. However, Bonde has never performed at the festival. “We had to do a double take and even checked our lineup just to be sure,” the Electric Love organizers joked. “But no – Juliana Bonde has never been here. What she’s created is undeniably impressive, though!”

A Humorous Response

Festival host Jules Hardy (UK) was equally amused. “Someone has stolen Electric Love’s mainstage – you won’t believe where I found it!,” Hardy quipped in a video that recounts the entire story and even extends an invitation to Bonde for Electric Love 2025. “She must be a huge Electric Love fan. We’re gonna invite her to the next Electric Love!” Hardy added. The festival team added: “She virtually already knows our stage inside and out. It’s time for her to experience it live!”

Electric Love 2025
Electric Love Festival will take place from July 3–5, 2025, at the Salzburgring in the picturesque Fuschlsee region. Featuring over 200 artists across seven stages, the festival promises musical diversity with performances by international stars such as Major Lazer, Dom Dolla, Timmy Trumpet, Hardwell, Alan Walker, John Newman, Marlon Hoffstadt, Lilly Palmer, Bibiza, Holy Priest, and more. For tickets and more information, visit www.electriclove.at.

Editorial

Sea You Festival Announce 150 Artists For 2025

Published

4 days ago

June 18, 2025

Preetika Narula

Sea You Festival returns to Lake Tunisee in Freiburg from July 18 to 20 with an expanded edition that stretches across six distinct stages and more than 150 acts.

Sea You Festival is known for combining open-air dance floors with lakeside views and playful summer elements, the event continues to grow while staying rooted in its laid-back yet upbeat dentity.

The 2025 Sea You Festival edition follows back-to-back wins at the Heavent Awards for Best Festival in Western Europe. With redesigned stages, a bigger Main Stage, and the addition of a sixth stage focused on hard groove and ghetto tech, this year brings in more variety without losing its flow. New art installations, more food options, and improved camping conditions are also in place.

Main Names Across All Corners of the Scene

This year’s lineup pulls in artists across techno, melodic house, trance, and EDM. Paul Kalkbrenner (live), Nina Kraviz, James Hype, Deborah De Luca, Sven Väth, Reinier Zonneveld (live), Nora En Pure, and Neelix stand out across various stages during Sea You Festival.

Also on board are Kölsch, Len Faki, BUNT., Alle Farben, Jan Blomqvist (live), Klangkuenstler, Kevin de Vries, Lilly Palmer, Dirty Doering, Nora En Pure, Silver Panda, NTO (live), and Lexy & K-Paul (live). From the progressive side, Raumklang brings in Bliss, Liquid Soul, Phaxe, Berg, Ghost Rider, and Vegas, alongside newer names like Jilax, Hatikwa, and Reality Test.

B2B sets include Adrian Mills B2B PRADA2000, Callush B2B Dasstudach, and Koboyo B2B Fjusha. The full range spans from big room to underground, with local names and emerging talent spread throughout the Sea You Festival.

Six Stages with Different Directions

Each stage at Sea You Festival takes on its own musical identity.

The Main Stage leans toward large-scale live sets and high-impact melodic acts
The Techno Dome focuses on industrial, driving rhythms
The Sea View Stage mixes dance-pop, commercial house, and upbeat electronic
The Hard Dome hosted by Gotec is darker, faster, and more raw
Stage 5, restructured for progressive trance and psychedelic sounds
The newly introduced Stage 6 brings harder, hybrid sets and Lake View sounds

This range gives room for long-time Sea You festivalgoers to drift between scenes without losing momentum, and it invites new listeners to explore genres they might not usually hear.

A Summer Setting Few Can Match

What defines Sea You Festival is its balance between world-class music and its natural setting. Floating dancefloors, inflatable flamingos, watersports, shaded lounges, and that long stretch of shoreline all play a part in the atmosphere. It’s built to be as much about the experience as it is about the sound.

With music running daily from afternoon into late night, and camping open until Monday, Sea You 2025 offers a weekend built around freedom, movement, and summer energy.

Tickets for Sea You Festival are now available at www.seayou-festival.de, with past editions often selling out ahead of time.

Editorial

Martin Garrix Confirms His Second Album Is Coming in 2026

Published

1 week ago

June 12, 2025

Preetika Narula

Martin Garrix has officially confirmed that his second album is in progress and expected to arrive in early 2026.

Martin Garrix made the announcement during a live segment on Fun Radio, where he explained that the majority of the material is already finished. What remains is the last round of refinement, which he described as the most time-consuming part. His goal is to have everything wrapped up by November.

This will be his first full-length record since Sentio, which was released in 2022. That album brought together several collaborations and included songs he had already tested out during festival sets. Since then, Garrix has been focused on releasing one-off singles and smaller projects. His recent output, including the IDEM EP and songs like “Breakaway” and “Weightless,” has shown a shift in tone. Some of the newer material leans more experimental, while still keeping a strong connection to the sound that shaped his earlier career. Martin Garrix’s evolution in these projects is quite intriguing.

Tomorrowland Will Preview What Comes Next

Martin Garrix also shared that he has completed a brand-new club-oriented song that will be premiered during his Tomorrowland set this summer. He described the production as more aggressive than usual, suggesting that the upcoming album may explore a heavier direction than his previous body of work. Given his history of using major festivals as a platform to debut unreleased material, Tomorrowland is likely the first place fans will get a sense of how the album sounds, echoing Martin Garrix’s pioneering approach to live performances.

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While no details were given about featured artists or the final lineup of songs, this new approach to performance and pacing hints that the album may not follow the structure of Sentio, which leaned heavily on vocal collaborations. Instead, it seems like Martin Garrix is exploring a format that reflects the kind of music he builds specifically for his live sets, demonstrating Martin Garrix’s intent to innovate.

A Different Kind of Album Rollout

Unlike his first album, which was promoted over several months with visuals and teasers tied to each single, this next phase feels more grounded in the moment. Rather than building an extended campaign around each individual release, Garrix appears focused on finishing the record as a whole and presenting it when it’s ready. The fact that he is premiering new material live rather than on streaming platforms shows that this process is being driven by instinct and audience feedback, not just marketing cycles, showcasing the practical and instinctive side of Martin Garrix.

With his timeline now set, fans can expect a gradual rollout beginning later this year. If the new club piece receives strong reactions at Tomorrowland, it may end up as one of the album’s lead singles. Either way, 2026 looks set to mark Martin Garrix’s return to full-length format, something his listeners have been anticipating since his last studio release, furthering Martin Garrix’s reputation for excellence.