Developing Your Vision as an Artist

I think the first thing you have to have is a vision. You have to know what you want.

I'm a real believer in this aspect. The other thing is that you create it in your mind.

The Importance of Vision in Music

With Radiohead, we spent five or six years before we even signed. We would rehearse, then go to the pub and talk about what we would do when we signed and how we would tour once we made enough money. So, you've got to have a vision.

All of these other professional attributes we've been discussing are basically useless if what you're doing is not true to yourself. Sooner or later, you're going to come a cropper if you're not authentic.

You can chase certain popular trends in music and have relatively quick successes, but then where do you go after that? If you are doing something that you believe in and that remains unchanged by external influences, then you are doing the right thing.

Discovering Your Unique Voice

I sometimes get asked, "How do I figure out what my vision is as an artist?"

I personally think it's really good to:

• Identify what you are uniquely good at
• Recognize the unique sonic space you can provide that isn't represented in mainstream charts or other niche genres

This process can take time and experimentation, so give yourself the time to explore.

Building Your Identity

All of my favorite bands have something additional to the sound they make, something you can believe in and buy into. This could be:

• A gang mentality if you're in a band
• A very particular visual identity
• A unique atmosphere created by the lyrics and music

When we started the band, we had a real feel for our identity because we were huge fans of music and bands. We understood that we needed to go out on the road to gather our tribe.

So, how do we do that?

The bands we admired just hit the road, and that's what you have to do.

While you may not necessarily hit the road, you do need to have a feel for what you want to do.

Embrace the Journey

I believe it's crucial to have a strong sense of what you want. It's like a light.

Don't be scared to daydream. Envision everything in your head.

On the way up, it might not always go as you expect, but accept that, keep learning, and stay open to new experiences.

Enjoy it. It's an amazing journey! But you'd be surprised how many people don't enjoy it as well.

Ultimately, it's a big roller coaster.