When I first started singing & writing songs I tried to be Jon Bon Jovi. Literally I would've been perfectly happy sounding just like Bon Jovi. They were/are my favorite band, and I wanted to make music that felt just like their greatest hits do.
My favorite singer/songwriter Billy Joel admits in many interviews that every song he's ever written is him purposely trying to copy someone or something else. I've always remembered that, and I sort of set out to do the same thing. I now realize that's one of the smartest things I've ever done artistically.
Every artist is in some way "copying" or "imitating" other artists. The art we've seen and heard is what influences us, and there's no way to escape that. Even the most unique artists have things in their art that are reminiscent of other artists.
I think the problem comes when a young artist thinks that they are completely "original", and that the music they make won't sound like anyone else. This is the most immature stance/statement an artist can take, and it basically just means that they have no real grasp over the art they're making, or the skills it requires to produce that art.
The reason I think that my actually trying to copy other artists has been good for me is that "I'm not those artists". I don't have the same set of vocal chords as Jon Bon Jovi, and I don't have the same size fingers as John Mayer (the second artist I spent a lot of time trying to copy). Trying incredibly hard to copy these artists, and FAILING is what's made me sound like me. It's actually that failure that makes us sound like us, but first we must get as close as possible to mastering the skills of our idols in order to realize who WE truly are.
John Mayer wanted to play guitar exactly like Stevie Ray Vaughn. He admits that. But he also admits that he's no Stevie Ray Vaughn. They aren't the same person, and he can never sound exactly like his idol.
So don't be afraid of imitating. Don't be afraid of copying. Learn from the best. Try to be exactly like the best. And once you fail you will find out who it is you really are. Maybe in your failure you will even find that in some way you are "better" than what it is you're copying.
My favorite singer/songwriter Billy Joel admits in many interviews that every song he's ever written is him purposely trying to copy someone or something else. I've always remembered that, and I sort of set out to do the same thing. I now realize that's one of the smartest things I've ever done artistically.
Every artist is in some way "copying" or "imitating" other artists. The art we've seen and heard is what influences us, and there's no way to escape that. Even the most unique artists have things in their art that are reminiscent of other artists.
I think the problem comes when a young artist thinks that they are completely "original", and that the music they make won't sound like anyone else. This is the most immature stance/statement an artist can take, and it basically just means that they have no real grasp over the art they're making, or the skills it requires to produce that art.
The reason I think that my actually trying to copy other artists has been good for me is that "I'm not those artists". I don't have the same set of vocal chords as Jon Bon Jovi, and I don't have the same size fingers as John Mayer (the second artist I spent a lot of time trying to copy). Trying incredibly hard to copy these artists, and FAILING is what's made me sound like me. It's actually that failure that makes us sound like us, but first we must get as close as possible to mastering the skills of our idols in order to realize who WE truly are.
John Mayer wanted to play guitar exactly like Stevie Ray Vaughn. He admits that. But he also admits that he's no Stevie Ray Vaughn. They aren't the same person, and he can never sound exactly like his idol.
So don't be afraid of imitating. Don't be afraid of copying. Learn from the best. Try to be exactly like the best. And once you fail you will find out who it is you really are. Maybe in your failure you will even find that in some way you are "better" than what it is you're copying.
