Tips for Recording Your Best Demo
In today’s highly competitive music industry, it seems like it’s becoming harder and harder for independent artists to break through the noise into the mainstream. Record labels are constantly bombarded with samples from “the next big thing,” but what’s the trick to actually standing out from the crowd? A high-quality demo is the perfect place to start.
A demo is a recording that demonstrates the talent behind an artist or band, usually created specifically for the purpose of convincing a record company (or other opportunities) that they should work with you. It needs to be well thought out, but come off as authentic. Short and sweet, but deep and powerful. Good quality, but not overproduced.
So what are some of the trade secrets to recording a great demo? Here are some tips and tricks.
1. Have a unique vision for where you’re going
It’s crucial when laying down the initial take to be thinking about the overall shape and vision for the idea. It’s a demo, of course, and when being spontaneous you might not want to write detailed parts. However, after you’ve built a strong foundation for a song, every other musical decision you make will come easier because it’s based off of something that is real to you.It’s that genuine passion that can ultimately come out when a record executive listens and helps you stand out, as guitarist Jack Côté explains: “My best guess at what the ‘it’ factor is, is something that’s catchy – familiar enough for people to enjoy, but also different and unique, bold and honest as possible. I think people can tell easily when things feel derivative, so it’s mostly about being as musically unique as possible.”
2. Capture ideas on the fly
Traditionally, recording a demo could only be done in a recording studio. It required time and energy spent writing the actual song, then countless hours rehearsing it before paying to make the final recording. Now, thanks to the ever-changing world of technology, musicians can capturing ideas right as inspiration strikes. They don’t always have to be fully fleshed-out ideas, but rather can serve as a reminder of great thoughts for future reference.
as a band is capturing those spontaneous, genuine moments, often worth, trying to jam out new ideas, committing those sparks of inspiration to a recording simply to listen back to later, and not forget that riff you liked by the next time you meet. It’s good to be able to go back and listen through ideas and moments of inspiration.
3. Don’t sacrifice sound quality
Five years ago if you told a record executive you were submitting a demo that was recorded on a phone, they would have laughed you out of the room. Even today, when recording on the go is becoming a more common occurrence for independent artists who are often traveling from gig to gig, chances are recordings will come out sounding awful, thanks to the less-than-superior microphones on today’s smart phones. Luckily, there are new apps out there that exist to help solve this problem. One of them is Spire, powered by iZotope. Spire is a free 4-track recorder that adds professional polish to your recordings so you can record, mix, and share great-sounding audio anytime inspiration may strike.
No matter how you end up recording a demo, the important thing to remember is to make it a reflection of who you are as an artist. Staying inspired and motivated are traits you should never lose in this industry, and will only help drive you towards that breakthrough musical moment!