Becoming an EDM or Pop Vocalist and Topliner

Hey *|FNAME|*,

Trying to become an EDM or pop vocalist? Are you a songwriter looking to get more placements for your songs?

At a recent 👥LA Songwriter’s Collective meetup, EDM vocalists, songwriters, and producers shared their advice for writing, finishing, and releasing more songs.

• Meggie York: Songwriter/Vocalist
• Lexi Scatena: Songwriter/Vocalist
• Lauren Ioffrida: Songwriter
• LOCKBOX: Producer

Here’s what they shared:

1. Simplicity Wins: Keep your melodies and lyrics emotionally authentic and simple. Trust your gut and focus on what's catchy and memorable during a writing session.
2. Don’t be Perfect: Don't wait for perfection before sharing your new ideas. Sometimes a voice memo is enough to get started. Vocalists and songwriters don’t need to produce full demo tracks with synths and drums to convey their vision. Often, producers prefer receiving a simple vocal memo or a guitar and vocal track that they can draw inspiration from and fill in the gaps themselves.
3. Extra Vocals: When reaching out to producers, in addition to a lead vocal, send some creative adlibs, harmonies, and doubles. These extra vocals can enhance the vocal as it grows with the track.
4. Collaboration: Networking is essential. Attend local music networking events in LA (like LASC) and introduce yourself to new people. Use TikTok and Instagram to connect with producers. Send them brief and sincere DMs about your interest in working together. Share a private Soundcloud or Disco link to your new vocals and songs.
5. Writing Camps: Participate in writing camps with friends and other songwriters. They can be a great way to meet other writers quickly and work in a professional environment with the aim of releasing music. These are often scheduled by artists and their managers who invite writers from previous sessions.
6. Indie Writing Camp: Host your own writing camps to write and produce multiple songs over a day or two. Share the writing and production credits with everyone involved. Rent a studio for a full day or weekend and invite a group of songwriters for 3 or 4-hour sessions. Write several songs and pitch them throughout the year.
7. Publisher Outreach: Contact independent or major publishers to explore opportunities for your songs via DM or email on their website. Send them a private Soundcloud playlist with some of your toplines or songwriting demos. Some EDM and pop publishers may pair your songs with producers or other vocalists to create opportunities for their artists.
8. Get Credit: Ask for clear songwriting credits, royalties, and master recording ownership when negotiating with producers and labels. Songwriters and vocalists are often the last ones to get involved in the financial side of a track. Being prepared with your split sheets and songwriting credits can avoid awkward conversations later. Be direct about your songwriting % and backend royalty requests.
9. Small Habits Daily: Develop consistent daily habits that can build to significant progress. This could be writing a few lyrics every day, reaching out for collaborations, sending your demos to publishers or A&Rs, or organizing your samples and songs in folders for easier pitching. Focus on building steadily rather than in large bursts.
10. Stems: When sending vocals for review, try hosting your music on Soundcloud to attach a download link to the samples or vocal stems. Always send vocal stems with your song. If a producer likes what they hear, they might want to start producing the song immediately. Make it easy for them to start creating.