How to Succeed as an EDM Producer (Interview with Lempo)

If you want to get your music out to the world (or make a living from it), learn from someone who’s already doing it.

I recently interviewed Grammy-shortlisted UK producer “Lempo” of Applique Music (A.K.A Mike McGuinness) about what it takes to succeed in the music industry. He’s supported artists such as Hardwell, Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Disclosure, Steve Aoki, The Prodigy, DJs all over the world, has music synced to television and often tops the download charts.

We go deep on loads of subjects, such as:

How to get started in the music industry.
The one part of music production that can make or break a song.
How to get gigs.
Remixing Snoop Dogg.
Working with Deadmau5’s vocalist.
Getting plays on Radio One by Pete Tong and Danny Howard.
Tips on how to contact record labels, artists & DJs (successfully).
How to produce world-class music even if you’re not the best at everything.
Building a cohesive artist profile.

You can watch the whole interview at the bottom of this post. Let me know if you like these interviews and – if enough people want it – I’ll look at putting together a podcast so you can listen without having to watch videos. Cheers! 🙂

Here are some of the key takeaways from Mike (categorised under 1. Mindset and 2. Production Tips):

1. Mindset

“Take influence from other genres of music, and weave them into your own.”

“There’s more to success than just the music; it’s the whole package (brand, artwork, promotion, marketing).”

“Stick to your guns in terms of brand. Don’t keep switching artist names.”

“Haters gonna hate! You have to turn a blind eye to the trolls and not take it to heart, and it’s mostly jealousy that you’re doing something you love.”

“Be brave and relentless, but courteous.”

“Go above and beyond. Make the effort and get to know people. Don’t just ask for stuff.”

“Don’t send unfinished songs to record labels! It’s a waste of their time, and they’ll be less likely to listen to your next song. Get feedback elsewhere (friends, DJs, Submit hub, etc.)”

“Nothing worthwhile happens overnight – be patient.”

2. Production Tips

“Finish your loop, then reverse engineer to work out the arrangement.”

“THE MIXDOWN IS SUPER-IMPORTANT! It can make or break a record.“

(*With that in mind, if your mixing could be improved please don’t forget about The Ultimate EDM Mixing Course. The price goes up on Tuesday 1st May when I launch to the public, so get it for much less whilst you can.)

“Use a DAW template for fast-writing.”

“Record ideas into phone to get the ideas, as inspiration comes at any time.”

“Work with other people more-skilled in other areas to compliment your strengths. Build a strong team.”