100% Adam! I believe only the best will do. If you spend all your spare time making trance and spend all your spare cash making trance, surely you would want the label to do exactly the same! Great tutorial as always 👏👏👏
Thank you Adam, this one really resonates with me on a personal level. This obsession (that leads to frustration, that leads to depression) lead me to quit making music back in 2015. Didn’t touch again until 2021 as something to do during covid. I now approach it purely as a hobby and learning process. The goal now is simply to get better with every track and everything will fall into place when the time is right. 👊🏻
Like you said, I'm in it just because I love the music and I love creating stuff and fiddling around with new technologies, learning new things. I have zero expectations and if at some point I would be able to get one of my tracks played by one of my favorite DJs that would just be the cherry on top. Everything else is a bonus.
This is excellent advice and Adam has been clear about this with me from the first day I started working with him. Its the right mind set. Would love to see a video on Beatport too.
Thanks for your honest thoughts, Adam. Validation is a slow killer if you’re just chipping away at your craft, but you feel like you’re hitting a wall again and again. I love trance music and always will. I always had the urge to bring something to the community that feels “true” to me in terms of sound quality. What I am interested in - however - if there is a point where you have to be selective on choosing certain labels to send to. Especially considering the sound quality aspect. I get the tiers, but I feel like there should be some kind of narrative too that you and the label should believe in together. In the end it’s a business decision you both make, after all. What’s your experience in this, Adam?
Good advice, I would’ve happily signed to a label that offered to sign a track before, but this had made me do more research into the bigger and better ones and hold off until they come knocking.
Thanks Adam, this is a really great video. I love that you are truly personal and talk about your unique experience and turn what you have learned into really valuable advice. And as always, your passion for the trance scene comes through!
Gid video. One question I have, how do you deal with labels that reject your music or don't reply EVEN THOUGH they haven't listened to the demo? (You can see if it's been listened to via Soundcloud insights) My guess is they see there isn't a massive following on social media and they feel it's not worth their time to listen, but that leaves no choice but to go to the lesser labels.
The trap of low quality labels is such a real thing. I'm so sad to see so many people do this and it always results in either crap releases, or just wasted amazing projects on labels that have no reach. So many things this falls into, and its horrible to see people making that mistake.
Thanks for sharing you experience and opinions. In the end everyone will have to make their own decisions, but some hard earned wisdom from the road can only help :)
As someone who has produced for 9 years and just got my first ever signing to Nocturnal Knights- dont waste your time signing to junk labels. If youve only been producing for like a year and you get an unsolicited email from a label you dont recognise, dont fall into the trap of signing to it. At best, theyll put out your track and get zero hits, at worst theyll charge YOU money for 'mastering' or 'promo' and its a sham label. You DO NOT need to have a following already to be signed. Luckily in the EDM industry- it is more of a meritocracy than a popularity contest. If you are good, and it takes the better part of a decade to be good, you WILL get signed to a major label. Every successful artist ive spoken to took anywhere from 5-10 years to get their first major label signing, and another 5 or so years to build their reputation and repertoire by signing many tunes to major labels to get consistent gig bookings.
Is it just me but I currently have no aspirations to release on a major label, and waiting on Adam Ellis to launch his own Trance label before I start sharing my heavenly bangers with the world?
Haha I had my own for a few years but it’s too much work for the standard I’d expect. I’d need a promo manager, social media manger, and alsorts of costs. If I can’t do something right, I won’t do it.
@@adamellistutorials Never say never. But you are brilliant at teaching and as a mentor, so I am truly grateful you are focused on this. Keep up the great work and I wish you continued success.
Yes, I think a lot of budding producers put getting a track signed on a pedestal. With hindsight, it's probably better to keep working on your music until it's as good as it can be and good enough for the bigger labels.
One day I decided to make trance music, so I bought Logic, a MacBook Pro and a VirusTI and started practicing all freaking nights after the dayjob to become a proper trance producer. 3 years and sleepless nights later I felt ready, so I signed my first track to a big label and everything started. In the middle there were crappy stuff and absolute fails. Anyway like 10 years ago at some point I used to play Napalm Poet in every set for a while, absolute banger
@@adamellistutorials it was Shamano - Father To Son which came out along with a Manuel Le Saux remix, listening to it today it sounds cheesy af, but 15 years ago the situation was a bit different ua-cam.com/video/dcEBrM-DRAE/v-deo.html
@@adamellistutorials It was Shamano - Father To Son, on Shah Music, came out with a Manuel Le Saux remix, out in 2011 but it was from 2009, you know label timings :)
As a trance fan I make time every week to go through the latest releases. At first I would go through absolutely every label I could find that was even remotely trance focused. Over time I realised all my favourite tracks that would make it onto my playlists were all from maybe 10-15 labels, if that. I soon realised that if a track is good and worth a re-listen then it inevitably was on one of those top/mid tier labels that adam mentioned so over time I slowly stopped wasting time going through the lower level labels and just stuck to the labels I know only release top tier music. Does anybody else do this or can anybody give examples of tracks released on minor labels that I've missed to prove my theory incorrect?
@adamellistutorials of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. With so many releases every week you really have to dig through those smaller labels to find the gold. As you stated in the video there are some massive artists that started on smaller labels who now command the attention of the bigger labels and their hard work has paid the dividends. Every journey is unique and it's about putting the hard work in at the DAW and giving your music the best opportunity you can to be heard and appreciated by as many people as possible ❤️
100% Adam! I believe only the best will do. If you spend all your spare time making trance and spend all your spare cash making trance, surely you would want the label to do exactly the same!
Great tutorial as always 👏👏👏
Thank you Adam, this one really resonates with me on a personal level. This obsession (that leads to frustration, that leads to depression) lead me to quit making music back in 2015. Didn’t touch again until 2021 as something to do during covid. I now approach it purely as a hobby and learning process. The goal now is simply to get better with every track and everything will fall into place when the time is right. 👊🏻
Thanks for this Adam.Refreshing to hear a genuine, honest opinion from the perspective of someone who has been there and done it.
Great video mate and as always very down to earth and honest advice.
Like you said, I'm in it just because I love the music and I love creating stuff and fiddling around with new technologies, learning new things. I have zero expectations and if at some point I would be able to get one of my tracks played by one of my favorite DJs that would just be the cherry on top. Everything else is a bonus.
This is excellent advice and Adam has been clear about this with me from the first day I started working with him. Its the right mind set. Would love to see a video on Beatport too.
Good advice Adam. I think the model of aiming for a mid tier label is sound as you say that gives a platform to achieve better things....
Thanks really great and interesting video from a legend.
Thanks for your honest thoughts, Adam. Validation is a slow killer if you’re just chipping away at your craft, but you feel like you’re hitting a wall again and again.
I love trance music and always will. I always had the urge to bring something to the community that feels “true” to me in terms of sound quality.
What I am interested in - however - if there is a point where you have to be selective on choosing certain labels to send to. Especially considering the sound quality aspect.
I get the tiers, but I feel like there should be some kind of narrative too that you and the label should believe in together. In the end it’s a business decision you both make, after all.
What’s your experience in this, Adam?
Good advice, I would’ve happily signed to a label that offered to sign a track before, but this had made me do more research into the bigger and better ones and hold off until they come knocking.
I’ve waited nearly 4 years now, I’m in no rush I think I’m nearly ready and if I’m not I’ll wait as long as it takes!
Thanks Adam, this is a really great video. I love that you are truly personal and talk about your unique experience and turn what you have learned into really valuable advice. And as always, your passion for the trance scene comes through!
Thank you for this
Gid video. One question I have, how do you deal with labels that reject your music or don't reply EVEN THOUGH they haven't listened to the demo? (You can see if it's been listened to via Soundcloud insights)
My guess is they see there isn't a massive following on social media and they feel it's not worth their time to listen, but that leaves no choice but to go to the lesser labels.
If only other producers were as honest as you mate! Would love to see a video on Beatport too.
really good advice
The trap of low quality labels is such a real thing. I'm so sad to see so many people do this and it always results in either crap releases, or just wasted amazing projects on labels that have no reach. So many things this falls into, and its horrible to see people making that mistake.
Amen brother.
Thanks for sharing you experience and opinions. In the end everyone will have to make their own decisions, but some hard earned wisdom from the road can only help :)
As someone who has produced for 9 years and just got my first ever signing to Nocturnal Knights- dont waste your time signing to junk labels. If youve only been producing for like a year and you get an unsolicited email from a label you dont recognise, dont fall into the trap of signing to it. At best, theyll put out your track and get zero hits, at worst theyll charge YOU money for 'mastering' or 'promo' and its a sham label.
You DO NOT need to have a following already to be signed. Luckily in the EDM industry- it is more of a meritocracy than a popularity contest. If you are good, and it takes the better part of a decade to be good, you WILL get signed to a major label. Every successful artist ive spoken to took anywhere from 5-10 years to get their first major label signing, and another 5 or so years to build their reputation and repertoire by signing many tunes to major labels to get consistent gig bookings.
Really solid information, especially for the new edm producers that are coming through.
Is it just me but I currently have no aspirations to release on a major label, and waiting on Adam Ellis to launch his own Trance label before I start sharing my heavenly bangers with the world?
Haha I had my own for a few years but it’s too much work for the standard I’d expect. I’d need a promo manager, social media manger, and alsorts of costs. If I can’t do something right, I won’t do it.
@@adamellistutorials Never say never. But you are brilliant at teaching and as a mentor, so I am truly grateful you are focused on this. Keep up the great work and I wish you continued success.
Yes, I think a lot of budding producers put getting a track signed on a pedestal. With hindsight, it's probably better to keep working on your music until it's as good as it can be and good enough for the bigger labels.
Some good advice here!
One day I decided to make trance music, so I bought Logic, a MacBook Pro and a VirusTI and started practicing all freaking nights after the dayjob to become a proper trance producer. 3 years and sleepless nights later I felt ready, so I signed my first track to a big label and everything started. In the middle there were crappy stuff and absolute fails. Anyway like 10 years ago at some point I used to play Napalm Poet in every set for a while, absolute banger
Love this. 3 years is not long. You must have smashed it mate. What tune was it? I’d love to check it out.
@@adamellistutorials it was Shamano - Father To Son which came out along with a Manuel Le Saux remix, listening to it today it sounds cheesy af, but 15 years ago the situation was a bit different ua-cam.com/video/dcEBrM-DRAE/v-deo.html
@@adamellistutorials It was Shamano - Father To Son, on Shah Music, came out with a Manuel Le Saux remix, out in 2011 but it was from 2009, you know label timings :)
@@Shamano79 great label. Will check this out asap
@@adamellistutorials cool mate, cheers!
Appreciate the wisdom.
As a trance fan I make time every week to go through the latest releases. At first I would go through absolutely every label I could find that was even remotely trance focused.
Over time I realised all my favourite tracks that would make it onto my playlists were all from maybe 10-15 labels, if that. I soon realised that if a track is good and worth a re-listen then it inevitably was on one of those top/mid tier labels that adam mentioned so over time I slowly stopped wasting time going through the lower level labels and just stuck to the labels I know only release top tier music.
Does anybody else do this or can anybody give examples of tracks released on minor labels that I've missed to prove my theory incorrect?
You do get some big tunes on smaller labels, of course, it’s just rare.
@adamellistutorials of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. With so many releases every week you really have to dig through those smaller labels to find the gold. As you stated in the video there are some massive artists that started on smaller labels who now command the attention of the bigger labels and their hard work has paid the dividends. Every journey is unique and it's about putting the hard work in at the DAW and giving your music the best opportunity you can to be heard and appreciated by as many people as possible ❤️
Do the Beatport video