Lets Think Of How To Start EDM Music Making & Selling. (And it is not by making music).

To start dance/ electro/ EDM music making enter you dont really need that much stuff, just a computer. To get awesome at it you might need to add some software and a controller keyboard, but again, you don't need much.

You just need the:

ideas and "talent" to understand what people want...and how to recreate that.
input those ideas into something
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That is probably the most important issue that people forget. How to create and recreate music that people want. Most of it requires Jasonera law. And that is why EDM is on this website. Your "sales page/ product" are one of the same. Most of the time it is free and you are competing with other people who are doing the same. So your product that you are trying to sell therefore is:

you
your music
you and your musics alignment within the group that you are targetting.

Your music is your product, you are your product. To sell music you have to get that alignment right.

You thought the process was going to be special?

This is electronic music making. It doesn't matter if you have a super duper machine, a super duper music program. The point is to have an idea and then be able to input that into a music program that you are comfortable with.

First start with a goal...what is your plan.

Then the best way to start is to download all the demos of different music making software and try. Some work if you like samples, other prefers that you have a keyboard/ controller. It's up to you.

Also try to recreate music that you love. Figure out where they go their sounds from, how was it arranged, why do you like it, what effects they put into the sounds. You will find one question leads onto the next and you then get a fuller idea.

In time you create your own style without copying, but you will have "influence" and then build upon that influence.

You will then create your tracks in the program that you enjoy and then upload them to Youtube or other musically preferred websites. At the start you might get criticism and your tracks might not be the best, but you work on them, making them better.

EDM music making is about audience- not you.

This is always going to be difficult for some- because people will love your music, but you must therefore be true to your art.

Sure you can experiment, sure you can try different styles, but do it in such a way that still says "you" as an artist. People will follow you as long as you know who "you" is and what they like about you.

EDM music making formulas will be placed around this website when we go further into the process of music making. But what you will (hopefully) fin is the following:

there are the basics
there are some rules
rules can be tweaked

So here's an example. Movies didnt really have orchestral soundtracks. They had soundtracks but nothing big or epic. none that stood out and became themes. Star Wars was the first time that orchestral music was dominant to tell a story (you has peoples themes, you had "good" music and "evil" music. George Lucas was fought against to stop having orchestral music within that movie. Because even though soundtracks were present, none were that dominant to the movie. What made Star Wars? The music had a huge impact.

Now? Soundtracks are huge business with orchestras being everywhere.

Be the same, but don't

Formulas are OK. They provide safety- you know the end result happens because of what you put into it. Mess up the result- its because of the input.

Formulas are also widely copied.

A formula given to you will also be used by someone else.

Now will you have the same sounding music? Maybe, maybe not.

EDM music making has basics. You will find that to go further you need to push those basic formulas and rules/ boundaries and see where it takes you.

Your audience will want more of you. But there will be a point where they will wonder- is there anything else. Especially so if you just create music with machines and add no vocals.

Check out the following 2 pieces of music. Made for film and mainly done through electronic machines by Vangelis (RIP)

2 different pieces yet still having a similar style. The Conquest Of Paradise video (first one)- 25million views. Comments:

This is THE biggest melody of our generations to me. So epic, so monumental yet soulful.
This song sends shivers up my spine..... the male choir is just incredible. Hell the whole piece is a work of art to me.

The second video. Blade Runner (end titles):

The movie that defined Sci-Fi and the soundtrack that defines soundtracks.
Hands down the greatest synthesized movie song ever in 80s history.

And because Vangelis was the same (orchestral style music) but different (more electro ethereal music) his influence has kept on going. Here's from the music magazine NME:

And while his immediate influence on artists such as Enya, Enigma and Cocteau Twins was apparent, his sonic blueprint would become the touchstone for a vast array of electronic music taking in electroclash, ambient and contemporary acts. Within virtually any music utilising retro-modern ‘80s synth atmospherics – The Weeknd, HAIM, Kendrick, Perfume Genius, Mitski, you name it – lurks a little Vangelis.

Your task

So have a think what styles of music that you enjoy.

How are they made up,
what goes where
what styles make up the song (80s, folk, rock themes etc)
what drum beats are used- are they sampled/ electronic sounding or are they real drums
where does the main synth come in
vocals?
do they have any effects running around
is the music quick or slow
does it remind you of other artists- if so, what are those artists like. Do they sound like anything else
try to find the original music- the original sounds or influences of the artists that you listen to, find those building blocks
go onto whosampled.com and type into their search an artist and see what sound they used in their songs. So for Conquest Of Paradise? It is based upon an old folk song called Folia.

Its a worthy thing to do because you will start to figure out what makes up songs, what people like to listen to (eventually you will start to find multiple familiar elements). And if the songs are new? Well you now have a basis of what people- or fans, would like to listen to.

Want to make EDM, check out the beginner guide here

The 6 best EDM making software.

The magnetic ways for people to download your music

Should we listen to our music mentors and heros?

9 ways to improve your EDM

Dance music vocals- yes or no?

How to stop EDM being boring

What is EDM in the first place?

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10 ways to add more oomph and pizzazz into your computer music

Better synth sounds that actually sound like a pro?

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