5 ways to make your music collaboration a success
Collaborating on musical projects makes everyone excel. Musical collaboration is brilliant (and sometimes complex) art. Any member of a band will tell you. Collaboration offers an extra pair of ears, hands, and extra mint to work with. Gives you VIP access to someone else’s workflow. It helps you overcome your creative blocks. And it even brings out a creative spirit that you didn’t even know about.
In the past, there have been some major music collaborations between artists. An unconventional example can be American musician, singer, and songwriter, Denny Strickland’s recent collaboration with rapper Juicy J. Together, the artists released a song which was an imminent hit and as of its surreal success, they are set to release another track soon.
As a musician, Strickland’s style and work continues to attract audiences worldwide. He has had collaborations with a number of artists who have also been GRAMMY winners, and these collaborations are something which the audience has grown fond of.
But collaborating is difficult. Where do I find a network of collaborators? Where do I begin? How do I make collaboration work? Here are five tips to start (and continue) a fruitful collaboration with other independent musicians.
How to find your musical soulmate
Sometimes finding your musical collaborator is enough to look at your group of friends — and their friends. Getting involved in your local creative community is the best way to start. If you need to explore beyond your community, here are some ideas of where to find contributors:
- Take a look at SoundCloud and connect with people whose music you like
- Go to concerts in your city and connect with the local scene.
- Perform live — people will be more eager to work with you if they hear you work live.
- Find Facebook groups in your area and connect with people.
- Enter online music forums. Many of these forums have threads where artists post their music and get feedback.
- Ask your local university if you can place an ad in the music department (you never know)
- Share your songs with people in your network and ask if they know someone who could help.
Once you have found your other musical half, it is important to keep in mind some points so that the thing works:
1. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses
To be a good collaborator, you have to know what to put on the table. In this way, you will know what you need in your musical collaborator. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How can I contribute with my creative voice and skills?
- What are my short-term goals? And in the long term?
- In what processes do I need help?
- What kind of music do I want to make?
- How often do I do music or rehearsal?
- What visual or musical aesthetic am I looking for?
It is crucial to be on the same page regarding objectives and sacrifices. Don’t just ask yourself these questions at the beginning. Do it also during the process. Honest communication is key. This will help you get the most out of your collaborative work, both now and in the future.
2. Your collaborators are a friend, but also your co-worker
You are going to spend a lot of time with your collaborator. You better get along right from the start! Treat your relationship as a responsibility. Take deadlines seriously. Be on time. Be courteous and responsible. Be open, flexible, and friendly. A criticism always works best if you start by highlighting the positive point. Find a balance between your ideas if you come to blows.
3. Work ethic
A good collaboration starts with the music. Find collaborators based on the music AND the work ethic needed to create that music. If your work ethic, sound, or both don’t match, your collaboration won’t work. As simple as that. The ‘work ethic’ are the values and the way of working. When looking for a partner, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is it easy to work with it?
- Are you a good communicator?
- Do you give importance to the same things that I do?
- Are you punctual and able to meet deadlines?
- Are your schedules compatible?
The most important thing on this list is communication. Sharing projects and staying connected throughout the creation phase is key, and the truth is that navigating between Dropbox, Gmail, and Soundcloud is quite a mess.
4. Establish defined and complementary roles
There is nothing worse than invading the territory of your collaborator. If the roles are not clear, this will end up creating frustration. A vital part of a partnership is for each member to do their best in their part of the process.
Good musical collaborations are very often based on the complementary strengths of each of the members. Let each artist shine thanks to what they do best. Define the roles upfront — either dividing by instruments or by stages in the songwriting process (writing lyrics, arranging, mixing, etc.). Whatever you do, let everyone do what they do best.
5. Respect and trust must be the priority
Collaborators don’t always agree — and that’s normal. The most important thing is to express your opinion to your collaborators, always with respect. After all, music is something very personal.
Don’t let egos get in the way of your work. You are working with a common goal: to make good music. Try all the suggestions before dismissing them. Let your collaborator challenge and surprise you.
