Hi, I'm Riva Taylor. I'm a singer songwriter and a founder of a small independent label Imprint. I started my career many years ago and I started singing when I was seven on the Westend stage, but I got my first record deal when I was 12 and so this talk for Paradise London is going to revolve around giving some advice for young artists or people considering a breaking in on the music industry, things to consider and maybe some things to avoid. 

So number one, be outside the box. The beauty of the music industry is that you can be champion for being as different as possible. Don't be boxed. Don't be genre specific straddle genres and be your own thing. It's something that I have learnt in adulthood and I certainly wanted to, to find my own lane and my own path when I was younger and I felt the music I was performing then wasn't quite right for me. So yes, if you feel it deep down, go with your guts and, and be yourself. 

Number two. Team, now team is everything. Your team are as good as you, and you were as good as your team. If it doesn't gel, move on. If it does gel however big or small or experienced or not your team are, if it's the right magic combination, you can, you can grow and you can achieve together.

So, yes. If it feels right, then my advice is stick with the team, leave them if they're not answering the phone. Do not stay with them. Point three, take time to develop and find out exactly what it is that you are and hone the music style. I'm not saying you should take five years to develop an album like I have.

But it can take that long. And you know, meeting new people, developing a relationships and a close core of musicians around you. Is so important. And when you feel like you've got that sound right, go and test the market. You never know what could happen. And the most important thing is you're confident in that sound. 

Point four, make lots of noise. And I don't mean going to stand on the top of a mountain and scream. I mean, get involved in as many things as possible. Again, if they remain, if you remain true to yourself and, and your, your values as, as a brand, which we all are as musicians, why not meet as many people as possible? perform at as many venues as possible.

Write as many songs as you can, uh, if that's what you do constantly. Be working, be finessing, and be growing as an artist. Being an artist is all about development and you never know where these are different relationships, these different opportunities could lead you. It's all about the stars aligning at the end of the day.

I'm a firm believer in that. And lastly, point 5, be happy. I know that sounds really simple, but if you're not happy as a musician, it's too hard. It's too hard to not enjoy what you do. Yeah. You have to wake up every day and love what you do, and we'll find the joy, even if days are hard and, and the paychecks aren't coming.

And the longterm vision is so important and belief in yourself and that thought, they can you, yeah. Bring you joy. So yes. The happy music brings you joy. Well, I hope that's been a little helpful for some of you. If you're not in the music industry, maybe I've put you off, but thanks so much for listening. Bye.

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