When to send my demos to a label? And should it preferably be in a style that fits what I plan to mostly produce in the future?

[Azétris]

Hello! I'm a (mostly) Nitzho producer! ^-^

 

I made some Nitzhonot that I consider good and probably even label-worthy (well... if I'm being honest, a lot of (non-Nitzhogoa) Nitzho that ends up on labels sounds a bit amateurish, so I probably reached that level a while ago already lol)

Now, having few to no contacts (I live in a place where basically all the psytranceheads focus on Hardcore / Hard Techno-style Psytrance), and prefering to talk to people irl rather than sending DMs to strangers and disturbing their peace of mind, I don't have anyone to ask these questions...

 

 

QUESTIONS (with green colour-coding for improved visibility and because I like green :Ꭰ):

 

Question 1:

In the Psytrance (and especially Goa Trance / Nitzhonot) community, should I send my demos when the tracks are completed (except for the mastering), or is it acceptable to send track that are 95% completed (but that may be tweaked a tiny bit before the files are being sent for mastering)?

 

Question 2:

I have potentionally label-worthy music in 5 styles. Should my debut EP preferably be in a style that fits what I plan to mostly produce in the future?

The 5 styles in which I have tracks that I'd consider to be probably label-worthy(You will probably notice an unsurprising pattern... :р):

1. Darkpsy + oldschool Nitzhonot fusion
2. Uplifting (epic Greek Nitzhonot subgenre with brassy synths hehehe :Ꭰ)
3. Hard Techno / Hardcore + acid Nitzhogoa fusion (... but with enough eclectism in intensity that I probably can't make a coherent EP out of these tracks as of yet. Whoopsie! :р)
4. Nitzhogoa (but more Goa Trance-oriented, so hypnotic, a bit repetitive and not-so-anthemic)
5. Nitzhogoa (but high intensity with 155+ BPMs and crazy melodies! >:Ꭰ)

I'd love to release most of my (good enough) tracks in all of these styles eventually, but I mostly make (intense-style) Nitzhogoa (Or very shitty Uplifting. After all these shitty Uplifting tracks I made, I'm starting to believe that the reason most Uplifting is disappointing is due to the genre somehow making it difficult to reach its potential despite how simple it is to produce xD)

If I plan to stay a (high-intensity) Nitzhogoa artist, how much of a problem would it be to release an EP in one of the 3 other styles I mentioned?

 

Thanks in advance for your help! ^-^

[the goa constrictor]

I mean, many artists perpetually tweak their songs over the years. 

If the song sounds done, then it can always be adjusted down the way if you want to

I'm guessing labels are more likely to take interest if they like your song, not your rough sketch beginning idea of a song. I would think you should probably send the completed track. I believe some labels also test tracks on the dance floor to determine engagement before releasing things, so another reason to send completed tracks. 

Others might have other thoughts, but that's my perspective from when I briefly had a couple of record labels. 

[Azétris]

Okay I see, thanks for your response! ^-^

Do you have anything to say about my genre-related questions?

[the goa constrictor]

No. I kinda tuned that part out. 

Not out of disrespect. Just don't really engage with some of that. 😃

[acid being]

As you might have guessed I have never been involved with any labels, but I do know that most labels will have a certain genre, subgenre or range of subgenres in mind for their releases, which may be one reason why a lot of well known artists will release some music on a different label to other music. I am thinking for example of RA releasing Unearthly on Altar Records which is mainly a psychill label, when their other music before that was all Goa trance.

So I guess it would be a more a question of, if you manage to attract the interest of a label, would your future music fit within the boundaries of what they prefer to release? Sorry if I am stating the obvious!

[Proxeeus]

Hi, my 2cents, for what they're worth:

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Question 1:

In the Psytrance (and especially Goa Trance / Nitzhonot) community, should I send my demos when the tracks are completed (except for the mastering), or is it acceptable to send track that are 95% completed (but that may be tweaked a tiny bit before the files are being sent for mastering)?

I know it'll sound stupid, but you should ideally send what you consider complete.

Mastering at this stage is absolutely irrelevant compared to a proper mixdown, which is key. Labels not only want to hear good music (...obviously), but they also want to hear a minimum of quality / technical ability.

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I have potentionally label-worthy music in 5 styles. Should my debut EP preferably be in a style that fits what I plan to mostly produce in the future?

Your EP should preferably fit the style that "you" currently enjoy making. If you're specifically targeting and engineering your musical output just to have a shot at being released on a specific label, or at playing at a big main-stage somewhere, well, I mean that can work, but good luck with that - the competition and level required is absurdly high (and that's before factoring in your networking etiquette (who you know in the business) and all the social media bullshit, both of which are even higher than raw talent/work these days)

Be absolutely prepared to be asked (more often than not) to strictly adhere to a specific "artistic" vision if you submit stuff to a label. Some are more relaxed, some are not, some are open to discussion, and some will absolutely demand that you alter your vision and ideas because whatever their flavor reason of the month is.

Who's right or who's wrong isn't the subject here, it'll be up to you to decide.

Personally, at first, I was so eager (desperate?) to have anything released anywhere, that I would spend days reworking stuff I was happy with, only to have that lead absolutely nowhere. Looking back, I was an idiot. Lesson learned, for years now it's been "what you hear is what you get". Not happy? No problem.

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If I plan to stay a (high-intensity) Nitzhogoa artist, how much of a problem would it be to release an EP in one of the 3 other styles I mentioned?

Zero problem in itself, but be aware that labels and people in general (contrary to what they'll tell you) are very very very VERY fond of "boxes"/categories where it's easy to put people in. If your project name is known for a particular style and you suddenly switch everything up, you'll have to manage the fallout and get the added pleasure of getting torn to shreds in private messages on your socials.

If you plan to release and distribute solo via Bandcamp and streaming platforms, you absolutely don't care.

 

Good luck with your projects, and enjoy the ride

[Azétris]

16 hours ago, the goa constrictor said:

No. I kinda tuned that part out. 

Not out of disrespect. Just don't really engage with some of that. 😃

Ahah fair, thanks for your help!
 

16 hours ago, acid being said:

(...) most labels will have a certain genre, subgenre or range of subgenres in mind for their releases, which may be one reason why a lot of well known artists will release some music on a different label to other music.

I guess I'll have to do that (and self-release some of the weirder stuff regardless of how "good" it is ahah)

 

4 hours ago, Proxeeus said:

I know it'll sound stupid, but you should ideally send what you consider complete.

 

Alright, I'll do that then!

 

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If you're specifically targeting and engineering your musical output just to have a shot at being released on a specific label, or at playing at a big main-stage somewhere, well, I mean that can work, but good luck with that (...)

Be absolutely prepared to be asked (more often than not) to strictly adhere to a specific "artistic" vision if you submit stuff to a label.

I definitely don't want to alter my artistic vision just to fit in somewhere or to get to do more commercial stuff! (nor do I want anyone to do that) I mean, if I were to make music to get rich and famous, I would have picked Pop or Hip Hop or literally anything else than a genre that basically does not exist outside of Soundcloud in the current year of 2026! :р

 

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Zero problem in itself, but be aware that labels and people in general (contrary to what they'll tell you) are very very very VERY fond of "boxes"/categories where it's easy to put people in. If your project name is known for a particular style and you suddenly switch everything up, you'll have to manage the fallout and get the added pleasure of getting torn to shreds in private messages on your socials.

Well, I hope people won't be mad at me switching from a Nitzho style to another :р 

 

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Good luck with your projects, and enjoy the ride

Thank you! :Ꭰ