why some artists feel bigger than their music.


so i’ve been thinking about music releases completely wrong.

for years, my process was simple.

finish the song.
sign the song.
release the song.

then move onto the next one.


most of my leon taro. releases over the last few years have come out through different labels.

which meant once the music was finished, i’d mostly hand the rest over.

the artwork.
the rollout.
the assets.
the release strategy.

i’d still post about the release and push the song out.

but looking back, i wasn’t thinking deeply enough about the identity behind any of it.

releasing single to single through different labels started to feel more like disconnected songs than an actual artist identity.


my upcoming album is grant supported, so i have to release it independently.

and honestly, this process has completely changed my perspective on releasing music.

you don’t realise how much work labels quietly absorb until you have to do every part yourself.


for the first time, i’m not just thinking about the music.

i’m thinking about the visuals.
the pacing.
the artwork.
the emotional tone of the content.
the consistency between releases.

every decision shapes how someone experiences the artist project as a whole.


and i think that’s why some artists tend to feel bigger than just their music.

because people don’t just connect to songs.

they connect to perspective.
identity.
consistency.
a feeling they recognise every time that artist shows up.


the best artist projects feel intentional from every angle.

the visuals match the sound.
the content carries the same emotion as the music.
the release feels like part of a bigger story instead of a random moment in time.

even before someone fully understands the artist, they understand the feeling.


i think that’s what people are really connecting to.

not just good songs.

but something that feels coherent, recognisable, and emotionally real.


for years i was focused almost entirely on making better records.

now i’m starting to appreciate how much the surrounding world matters too.

finishing the song isn’t enough anymore.

i think a lot of artists underestimate how much that side of things shapes the connection people have with their music.

and i think people respond to that more than we realise.


Rich Pilkington.

An insight into my creative world, sharing my knowledge and experience, to help artists, songwriters and producers take their careers to the next level.

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