If you believe you are a great text writer, now is the time to show the world your talent. A mixtape is the perfect way to do this: it is a low-cost but high-impact music product, which serves to make you known as an artist. A well-made mixtape can open many doors. Creating a proper mixtape is not a question of money, but of determination and talent. Furthermore, a good DJ never hurts.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recording the tracks
Step 1. Invent the basic concept
The best mixtapes have a central theme or recurring concept, which is also included on the cover. If your mixtape is oriented in one direction, rather than being a mere collection of tracks, you will be better able to grab the attention of your listeners.
Step 2. Draw a line between the old and the new
A mixtape is about spreading the word about your talent, so you need to make sure your fans hear something new. At the same time, you certainly don't want to give out all your new stuff for free.
Avoid reusing songs already included in previous mixtapes. Otherwise, you will seem run out of ideas, or worse still lazy. The only time to re-release old songs is when creating a particular remix
Step 3. Find a new beat
If you can't make your own beats and don't know anyone who can help you, you can find thousands online. Instrumental versions of your favorite songs, tracks on demand via the internet, etc. - your options are practically unlimited.
Step 4. Watch the sample
While it's now a popular practice to record over another musician's track, not everyone likes to listen to the same hackneyed beats over and over. Be original: your audience will appreciate your talent even more in this way.
- There are various possibilities if you like rap. Artists like Drake and Lil Wayne have shown that proper sampling and reasoned lyrics can take you very high. The key is to use the sample productively, and not just sing nonsense lyrics over it.
- Since you're not going to make any money on your mixtape, you don't usually have to worry about running into copyright issues. Just make sure you don't always use the same sounds we've all heard hundreds of times by now.
- Since a mixtape is not a commercially sold product, it can be a possibility to use samples that are generally not possible to include in an album. Artists like The Beatles, James Brown, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, and other famous musicians are nearly impossible to legally sample, but feel free to include them in your mixtape.
Step 5. Find a producer or DJ to create beats
If you want to look truly professional, you will have to rely on some of your DJ / producer friends, so that they can produce tracks for you to rap on. Not only will this gain you in exposure and musicality, but you will also help your friend advertise and, who knows, you may have found a partner to play with.
Step 6. Get some studio equipment
Make sure you have at least a good microphone and decent hardware and software. The basic equipment, nowadays, does not cost too much and can really do wonders.
See this guide for information on how to economically set up your own home recording studio
Step 7. Commission or create a cover
A good mixtape needs a good cover. If you don't have great ideas, a nice photo of you will suffice. While you may mistakenly think that your mixtape is all about the music, many people only listen to a mixtape because they are impressed by the cover. Make sure it's your cover that catches the eye!
Avoid filling the cover with logos and URLs. Put your website and other information on the back or inside the case
Part 2 of 3: Get a DJ
Step 1. Make friends with local DJs
DJs control the music scene. They decide what sounds good and what their listeners like. What you need to do is deliver the mixtape to as many DJs as possible, whether they work on the radio or in the club. If a DJ decides that your song is worth listening to, it will be able to reach many more listeners.
- Many club DJs offer pay-for-play services. Contact your local DJs and ask for their prices.
- A mixtape is not a mixtape unless a DJ has mixed your tracks together. A collaboration with a professional DJ will certainly do a lot of good to your image as a musician.
Step 2. Have a DJ play your mixtape
Many DJs and promotion companies offer to play your mixtape for a fee. Often the service includes mixes, tags and drops by a professional DJ, as well as promoting the mixtape and listening to the same radio / disco. These services can be expensive, but your options are varied either way.
- Viral Mixtapes is a popular online mixtape publishing service that also offers social media promotion for its customers' mixtapes.
- DJ Noize is a famous DJ who offers these services; the price varies according to the service chosen.
- Coast2Coast Mixtapes is another popular online service with a lot of followers.
Step 3. Add your drops yourself
If you don't have enough funds to get a DJ to play your mixtape, you can mix your own tags and drops yourself. Let the listener know what they're listening to, making sure your name is recognized when the songs start getting famous. You can use your recording equipment to make them yourself, or if you have some cash you can purchase custom drops.
- Some popular custom drop manufacturers include Wigman and Knock Squared. You can generally buy various tags and drops for around 30 euros.
- Add your tags at the beginning, middle, and end of your tracks. Make sure your listeners know who they are listening to, even if they got the song indirectly.
- Without a host, you will have to promote yourself. See the next section for tips and tricks on this.
Part 3 of 3: Promote your mixtape
Step 1. Promote at the club
It begins to spread the word in local nightclubs. Put up posters and get them talked about. Make sure you always have material such as CDs, USB sticks, QR codes, etc., to distribute at any time to anyone who seems even vaguely interested.
Step 2. Post on social networks
You should start filling all your social media with posts before and after the mixtape is released. If listeners like your mixtape, they'll share it with their friends, exponentially increasing your audience and fame. Social media is certainly not the only advertising medium to deal with, but it still remains very important today.
- Facebook - all the people you know are on Facebook, and also all the acquaintances of the people you know. Your Facebook following is potentially unlimited, and you should make sure you're targeting your potential listeners correctly. Create a Facebook page for your music project, and make it known your intention to release a mixtape soon. Share these posts with all your friends.
- Twitter - Twitter is more than a promotional medium for your music, it is a promotional medium for yourself. People follow people they think are interesting. Make your tweets personal and shareable, and you'll soon find yourself with a large group of followers. Once you've found your followers, you can start releasing information about your mixtape.
Step 3. Post tracks to Soundcloud and Bandcamp
These two online services have a large number of eager listeners, and they shouldn't get out of your sight during the promotion campaign for your mixtape. The purpose of these services is to stimulate the musical appetite of the public. Give it a free track or two, and link to your mixtapes or album.
Step 4. Gain media coverage
Submit a press release to any music blog, magazine, or alternative publication you can think of. Media support has a great impact on the public. A good review in your local music magazine can exponentially increase your musical following.
Contact your local radio station and try to get an interview on any music show. Even if you get an interview on a show that airs at 3am, it's better than nothing
Step 5. Make a video
If you really want your mixtape to be a hit, create a music video for your best single. The mixtape / video combo works wonders for fueling your following, and YouTube can be a very powerful means of grabbing attention.
Video doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. With good directing qualities and a decent video camera, your video can look as professional as many of the most popular videos on YouTube
Step 6. Start working on your next mixtape
The world of music never stops, and it's hard to be the next Lil Wayne with just one mixtape. Self-respecting rappers release multiple mixtapes a year, as releasing new works all the time is the only way to grow and keep your audience.
