Vocalist and producer: making your own records

More artists now write, sing and produce their own music. It gives you speed and a clear sound of your own. It also means you are the artist, the engineer and the critic at once, and that is where things go wrong.

Work in separate passes

Don't try to do everything in one sitting. A simple order keeps things clear:

1. Idea. Capture a voice memo or a rough loop. Don't polish it.
2. Writing. Finish the melody and lyric before you spend hours on sounds.
3. Arrangement. Build the track around the song, not the other way round.
4. Vocals. Record when you're fresh. Take your time with the lead and record more takes than you think you need.
5. Mix. Come back the next day with fresh ears.

Protect your ears and your judgement

When you are close to a track, you lose perspective. Build in habits that restore it:

• Take breaks, and listen at low volume as well as loud.
• Compare against a finished track you love in the same style.
• Ask two or three people you trust for specific feedback: "does the chorus land?" is better than "what do you think?".

Know when to bring someone in

Doing it yourself is a strength until it holds you back. A fresh mixing or mastering engineer, or a co-writer, can fix problems you can no longer hear. Agree fees and splits in writing before work starts, and keep the session files organised so anyone can pick them up later.

Keep your files safe

• Back up projects to two places, one of them off your computer.
• Name files clearly, with the date and version.
• Keep the stems and the final master for every release. You will need them for remixes, videos and live sets.

Turn it into bookings

Producers and vocalists who also perform live are easier to book, because they can deliver a set and also create something new. Put a short performance video and a link to your best two or three tracks where people will see them first, and say clearly what you offer: live shows, features, writing or production.