our label
Expressive Sounds was founded in 2016 by Likhosana Mokoena also known as Likho , avid music fan and record enthusiasts. His passion for artist development made Expressive Sounds the home of choice for upcoming artists including Deep Touch SA, Xhentsa Krew, Deep Kid and many more. With over 2 years of recorded music history, our passion for artistry in music continues today as a new generation and continues to build better Expressive Sound legacy.
How to get signed
1. Write a Great Bio First things first: make sure your brand is properly and professionally represented online.
2. Prepare Your Tunes
Remember about producing and delivering good quality. This is the number one thing Tefo Mahamotsa from Expressive Sounds notices when listening to demos. Make your music release-ready before sending it to a label. Indie record label b-sonic wrote about their experiences in receiving music of bad quality: “Nevertheless, we are noticing a massive lack of quality in the last weeks. Most of the tracks are built on bought templates, sample Cd’s, construction kits and Sylenth presets. Additionally the tracks are mixed badly, have no clean frequencies, are over-compressed in order to sound simply loud and were produced without passion. We got stolen tracks and tracks by ghost producers as well. Good mastering is not done only with a few plug-ins, you should know what you are doing, with or without plug-ins.”
3. Do Your Research
2. Prepare Your Tunes
Remember about producing and delivering good quality. This is the number one thing Tefo Mahamotsa from Expressive Sounds notices when listening to demos. Make your music release-ready before sending it to a label. Indie record label b-sonic wrote about their experiences in receiving music of bad quality: “Nevertheless, we are noticing a massive lack of quality in the last weeks. Most of the tracks are built on bought templates, sample Cd’s, construction kits and Sylenth presets. Additionally the tracks are mixed badly, have no clean frequencies, are over-compressed in order to sound simply loud and were produced without passion. We got stolen tracks and tracks by ghost producers as well. Good mastering is not done only with a few plug-ins, you should know what you are doing, with or without plug-ins.”
3. Do Your Research
Know who you will reach out to. We recommend creating a spreadsheet first, with contact details of the imprints you want to target (including A&R’s first and last names where available), and links to demo submission requirements
4. Be Relevant
A key advice is offered that’s universal to many labels and so it’s a tip you should pay a particular attention to: “only send to labels which will be interested in your style of music.” Don’t blast to every label you can find. Be super focused, and spend time to learn a label’s catalogue to craft a personal, resonating pitch.
5. Send it Out!
It’s time to send your demo. Start small, pitching to one or few labels at a time, and don’t be upset if you don’t hear back. Try with another track later. Do follow up with every contact at least once though, and remember: a rejection is a very good result as well (much better than no response at all).
4. Be Relevant
A key advice is offered that’s universal to many labels and so it’s a tip you should pay a particular attention to: “only send to labels which will be interested in your style of music.” Don’t blast to every label you can find. Be super focused, and spend time to learn a label’s catalogue to craft a personal, resonating pitch.
5. Send it Out!
It’s time to send your demo. Start small, pitching to one or few labels at a time, and don’t be upset if you don’t hear back. Try with another track later. Do follow up with every contact at least once though, and remember: a rejection is a very good result as well (much better than no response at all).
6. Submit a Demo to Expressive Sounds
If you are looking for a record label to contact, consider sending a demo to Expressive Sounds – who helped to compile this play-list. Our focus is on Deep House and Urban, but we accept submissions in other genres as well, so just give it a try – send your email (following the instructions above, Subject: A record deal demo, send us your demo track just 1 and your bio) to [email protected]