I've noticed some people I know that make music are terrified of even unintentionally "copying" some band they like. Ironically, these same people make some of the most bland, generic, uninspired or just poorly executed music I know of in my local scene. Don't be stupid - BE influenced, KNOW your (micro)nieche, OWN it. The uniqueness comes naturally.

songwriting is an adventure of the deepest kind

What I love about songwriting is the battle between the songs you have to fight to write and the songs that come out quick and easy, because it’s so refreshing when a song flows and you know you’re on the right track.

I've struggled with writing music for 15 years now. Suddenly after all this time a big breakthrough happened when I realized, all I had to do is keep recording anything I can think of. Those songs that I could naturally finish, ended up as having my sound to them. It's simply because most of us artists have a limited field in which we can create. You find your field, you've found your sound. Another thing is not caring if you're making a hit or not. If you write a thousand songs one of them will eventually make it, right?

Oh typical. Just as I put the finishing touches to my smashing cardboard boxes LP......

Geez Graham... Why do I always have the impression you talk to me personally? I have been in a rut for a while for that exact reason... wanting to reinvent the wheel. This video is like a wake-up call. Thank you for that! You have a real talent to motivate people. That's for sure!

Great advice! I'm influenced by so many different artists, so I trust that if I pick out the parts I like best and combine them, my sound WILL be unique.

2023 and the algorithm showed me this, still relevant!! Gotta love Graham! Thank You for helping us starting musicians!

I learn my favorite songs on guitar, drums, etc and take inspiration from them. It has really helped me at looking at how they put together the songs and has helped me write my own songs

Graham--thank you for your videos. I was a professional touring musician for several years, but stopped playing when I had a family. Had to get a real job, etc. Now, 10 years later, I'm coming back and playing music again. Getting ready to make a purchase to get some recording gear. I have so much music that has built up over the past decade, and now it's time to put it out there. Your mentality is refreshing.

I actually feel weirdly relieved after this video, still haven't record my music, but definitely will start that, and will work on developing my own sound. Thank you man!

Graham, please don’t ever stop doing what you do, man. Since I discovered your channel I’ve learned a lot of things that have truly helped Me and have made My work better. Thanks to you I’ll be able to build My home studio, which has been My dream for a really long time, but having so many misconceptions and misleading ideas about equipment and such, and also because I live in an country where everything is almost twice as expensive, made it almos impossible until you “cleared up” the idea for Me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this. Your channel has been practically a blessing. And not only because of the tips and lessons, but also because of how amazing you are at giving Me hopes every time I feel discouraged. You’re simple awesome! Greetings from the Dominican Republic!

Just discovered your channel tonight. I've had a bunch of recording gear sitting around for a few years at home in hopes that some day I will compose something great to record with it. You just made me realize how I've been getting it all wrong all this time. As other people have said before, this video was a wake-up call. I can't thank you enough for it. I'm taking it all to heart.

You're the best. You're absolutley right! Thanks Graham. I Needed this.

Thanks Graham. This was exactly what I’ve been thinking about for the past few months. I really needed to hear this.

Right about everything. For all the new and young musicians out there. Stop wondering where or what your sound is or will be or when it will get to you. Anytime you pick up your instrument whether it's to practice or to arrange an idea for a song, or to cover a song, don't fix all of your mistakes, chase some of those mistakes around your instrument because it will take you exploring and exploration brings discoveries. It's the same with a band. The goal isn't to start a new genre. The goal is to go exploring through all of the genres.

You are such an inspiration Graham. You definitely let your light shine like a city on the hill. Thank you!

A lot of your stuff is old news to me, but the thing I like about you is the fact that you always have something new for me to learn, in spite of that. I know all the basics of mixing, but your talks about workflow and finding your sound and business are immensely helpful. And I still use many of your suggestions and tips to this day. So, thanks for helping make me into the musician that I am.

Soooo, sooo many great lessons from Graham! And once again great inspiration! Thank you Graham for all that you! Bless u brother!

There's a reason you were on Pensado's Place - because you absolutely deserved it!. Much appreciation for all you do.

just subscribed. thank you for blessing us with this knowledge. this was confirmation for me. in a nutshell, your sound is you being innovative, taking inspiration from here and there, mixing it with your creativity and re-presenting the material(inspiration). so it really boils down to the way you are engineered as a human being.

The whole world needs to hear your advice because it’s pretty motivating.

Interesting approach. I never had any problems with being influenced by specific artists - I would deliberately try NOT to sound like a specific artist. Since I was nowhere near that artist's skill level in performing, the gaps and glitches in my performance skills would lead to a different sound that the artist I tried to imitate. So I didn't have a problem with sounding too derivative.

Graham, this was FANTASTIC. Thank you much for the precious tips - pure gold.

I'm so glad I found Graham!!! You're a Godsend! So helpful & humble. Wondered 4ever how I could afford to get my songs recorded...because of you, I realized I can do it MYSELF! & cheaper! I'm one of the lucky ones who's songs are already composed TOTALLY in my mind. Can't get them out quick enough. Can't wait to start recording them for myself too. THANK YOU Graham!!!

Excellent video. This topic deserves more coverage. As different as your sound and mine are, you always make your content relevant.

I’m a rapper oriented beat maker, and what I love doing is letting the rapper I’m working with ghost produce the beat.

This has been an inspiration to me, a new songwriter and producer. Nicely done, and TYVM!

Very well said. Thank you for this, Graham.

Totally awesome!! Now I get it!! Confirmation is a Beautiful thing!! Thanks much!!

Thanks for all the advice.

I'm just getting back into music making (my home studio is being setup this month!!!), but I've been following you for years. Seems I chose the right time cause so far, your later videos are EXACTLY what I've needed to hear. Thanks as always Graham. #noexuses

I am inspired by this video to start making new music. Thank you, Graham!

Thank you so much for this video 💕

Thank you for the motivation and positivity I needed this 👍🏼

you are awesome man thanks, I felt this

This is great advice! Ive been doing these things for a while and slowing finding the techniques I enjoy using

thanks man !!! inspirational, encouraging imitation as well as individuality

This is just exquisite thanks man

As always... GREAT TIPS!!!! GREAT INFO!!!! GREAT VIDEO!!!!

Thank you for the way of think, really helpfull.

This really helped me thank you so much, I’ve been trying to understand what I like and how I want music to sound and my voice so this was amazing it helped a lot 🥳🥳🥳🥳

I just found your channel today but I love it already!

Great video, very good points and advices ! Thanks

Thanks helped a lot! Love your vids

needed this so much

Aahhh man!!! your words makes damn sense.... Love your work... Keep giving knowledge 😊😊😊❤💪

Thank you for existing.

Thanks for your guides, it is so usefull!

Yoo, great topic, answer is super on point!

luv ya videos man very informative keep up with good work ❤️

Verry good advices,, thanks!

Thanks for this great video, really so helpful. x

So good man. Thank you.

I have you a round of applause after I watched this 💜

One thing that has really helped me is listening to a variety of music, and create a variety of music. For myself, I listen to Classic Rock, Rock, Punk, Pop Punk, Metal, Metalcore, Deathcore, Japanese Idol Groups, etc. etc. I have created songs in each of those genres, and then what I call my "normal" music, is all of those influences rolled into one. You can manipulate song structures and moods to create something that is unique. Some people can pick out the different influences and say "hey this sounds like ____", but no one will sound exactly like you. You'll always have something special to offer once you do develop your sound.

God bless u, Graham. Thanks!

This is so helpful man..and I agree so much with your thoughts on this✊🏻👌🏻👌🏻

Great advice Thank you Graham

thank you this is so useful

Very valuable information, thank you!

Wow, this was strangely inspiring. It's like you're talking directly to me.

Thank you, u are a blessing.

your teachings are rich

Nice video Graham!

love your videos Sir....great information...great delivery thanks ..Scott Nicol.

what an important message and what a wise man. thanks very much

Wow he literally explained how my workflow is. Great video to show others who are stuck

man... you're on point!!! My last album was southern fried affair.... blues rock with country/rockabilly/reggae tastes. this new album we're working on is layered on punk and grunge with a hint of Pink Floyd lol I'm adhd as a songwriter lol

Can I just say... I'm developing as a fashion practitioner and this hits me. Good advice for any artist regardless of domain.

Thank you Well said

You are absolutely right. Keep up

Awesome God bless even more 😄

thank you for the guide. really helpful. good continuation from mauritius

Such a great teacher, Graham! And even The Beatles were influcenced by american folk, Chuck Berry and Motown. But that band is so original.

Thank you thank you very much,am 20 years old and i am a writer learning about my sound and the growth is amazing cause at first i just liked writing in one genre and at this point i write in many genres but i still remain me cause its just like painting with a different brush

I really appreciate this video.

I started playing guitar in 1985, like you Graham, I wanted to be a ‘Rock Star’ like Guns n Roses, AC/DC, Poison and many more rock superstars. But as I learned classical guitar in high school, and my parents couldn’t afford rock guitar lessons. I took up Bass guitar and joined several ‘pub’ bands after high school. I then unfortunately had a serious motorcycle accident and I thought my music dreams were over. But now 21 years since the accident my music dream is alive and burning again. I don’t have as much rock influence as I did in my teens as I’ve now mellowed into the ‘Country’ genre. I feel that’s my appropriate sound as I write and record songs about life, love and loss.

youre a really great teacher so thanks :)

Good stuff as usual, thanx for the inspiration.

Thanks man!

You really are an incredible dude. I thank you 🙏🏽

Wow!!! This totally changes my perspective about being influenced by others. I have been going about this songwriting the wrong way. Thank you for this video:)

i found it really helpful. very good job!

Damn Graham, you've done it again! Great content as usual! Thank you :) I'm planning on release 4 EPs this year!!

Thanks Graham. The Practical Man. Last seen Rick and Warren on Ricks channel mentioning You. Right on.

It’s hard to find your specific music sound when you don’t know which genre you want. I mean I love hip hop/rap. Ever since I was a kid, I always thought rap was the only kind of music I wanna get involved in. But as I got older, I started listening to other kinds of music, ranging from rock, to pop, to electronic synthwave, to classical, to jazz, and even some metal, and this really jumbles my head. It’s like what should I do? What genre of music should I do to make myself stand out as an artist? Does this sound good? Does this sound lame? Sometimes having too many options can be a bad thing.

how timely! i was JUST thinking about trying to make music in the style that really inspired me while listening to an EP from an artist who's writing in the way that i would never think to write.. but then i started second-guessing myself and thinking "what's the point if they already did it.." until i saw this video, where you specifically said, essentially, "go for it"!!) i'll take it as a sign and go make some music now!)

Love it :) super wise and helpful :)

Glad I watched this video. I've been stuck on wanting to have my sound be unique but thats not the way I should go about it. Time to jam out to my favorite bands!

I haven't heard a speech before which uses words that couldn't be used better. Like thank you man♥♥

This is a awesome channel!!!👍👍👍

Some great tips here!

Great tips. Thank you

EXCELLENT! 👍👍

Very good that insight on community music making. Thanks.

Very helpful 🙏🏼 thank you

super cool

Great advice

Great advice great video!