People are obsessed with killer music. You know that feeling when you stumble on a song that just hits? Next thing you know, it’s glued to your playlist, you’re blasting it nonstop, and your buddies are getting spammed with the link. That’s the magic.

Now, flip the script. You’re the artist. You want your stuff out there, blowing up headphones across the globe. But, like… how do you even know if you’re nailing it? What’s the secret sauce? How do you not end up with a pile of “meh” tracks? Lemme spill some of my go-to tricks for making an album that actually turns heads, maybe even grabs an award or two (hey, dream big).

1. Get Yourself on a Freakin’ Writing Schedule
   Not exactly glamorous, but honestly? It works. Set a time. Write. Repeat. Creativity’s great and all, but discipline is what’ll separate you from the hobbyists. Look, nobody ever got good at anything by just waiting for the muse to tap them on the shoulder. You want those bangers? Crank out a bunch of tunes. Your sound? It’ll show up somewhere along the way, promise.

Here’s what I’d do:

• Seriously, mark it on your calendar. Non-negotiable.
• One song a week if you can swing it. Or one a month if you’re juggling a million things.
• Block out at least four hours for each track—no half-assing it.
• At the very least, get a verse, pre-chorus, and chorus down.
• Don’t stress about making it perfect first try. Tweak it. Rewrite. That’s where the magic happens.
• Make a demo, then move on. Don’t obsess.
• Mix up tempos and keys. Stuck? Steal a tempo from a song you vibe with.
• Write about stuff that actually matters to you. No one cares about generic nothingness.

At my label (ccvm.co, if you’re curious), we straight-up spend a year writing with artists for their albums. We dig deep with A&R, get the direction locked in, and then bring in pro songwriters to help level up the tunes. It’s a whole thing—if you wanna geek out about it, hit the site. There’s a Signature Songwriting Circle and private A&R sessions too, if you’re into that kind of hands-on approach.

2. Dig Deep—Like, Emotionally Excavating Stuff
   Before you even open your notebook, ask yourself: Why this album, right now? What’s rattling around in your head that needs to get out? The best artists, like Hozier, go full hermit and just marinate in their thoughts until the songs pour out. Sometimes you have to shut out the world to actually hear what’s going on inside.

And yeah, sometimes that means poking at the uncomfortable stuff. Sorry, but “real” music isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. People can smell fake from a mile away. Wanna make ‘em feel something? Get real. Write from your life—even if you end up with a bunch of sad songs in a row. Bob Dylan basically says we’re all just rewriting the same handful of themes anyway, so don’t overthink it.

Worried all your confessional stuff is gonna be a snoozefest of ballads? Don’t be. You can pour heartbreak into a fast, punchy anthem just as easily as a slow burner. Sometimes the best trick is to wrap heavy lyrics in a lighter sound. Keeps people on their toes.

3. Expand your sound, but don’t lose the plot.

Alright, so here’s the deal: listen to a ton of music—like, get weird with it, fall down those Spotify rabbit holes, whatever. The more stuff you soak in, the sharper your ear gets. But don’t just become a human jukebox, okay? When it’s time to work on your next project, start narrowing things down. What’s your vibe? What actually feels like you? You gotta carve out a signature sound, or at least get close enough that listeners can go, “Yeah, this is their thing.”

Look, nobody wants to be shoved into a genre prison. I get it. But you still need a home base. Pick a main genre or at least mash up a couple in a way that makes sense. If fans can’t figure out what you’re about, they’ll bounce.

Try doing this:

• Make some lists, for real.
• What did you blast growing up? (Don’t lie, we all had awkward phases.)
• Who were you obsessed with? Like, posters-on-the-wall obsessed.
• What are you into now?
• Who are those artists or songs you love that are a little off-center? Those oddball influences can become your secret sauce—tiny layers or left-field touches that make your music not-boring.

1. Write way more than you think you need.

Dead serious: write 2-3 times more songs than you’ll ever use. Don’t get precious about it. Some tracks are just stepping stones to the bangers you’ll actually keep.

For a single, write at least three songs and pick the best. Seven-song EP? Crank out 14-21 tracks. Full album with ten songs? You guessed it: 20-30. Yeah, it sounds exhausting, but this is how the big names do it—Adele, Mayer, Coldplay, you name it. You gotta have options, baby.

And don’t treat every song like it’s sacred. Sometimes you gotta write a bunch of duds to get to the magic one that just lands outta nowhere. Once you’ve got your pile, step back and listen. The real gems will jump out. Learn to spot ‘em. That’s cherry picking, and it’s how you win.

Here’s a hack:

• Sketch out a song: Verse 1, Pre, Chorus, maybe a Bridge if you’re feeling fancy. (Second verse? Eh, come back later.)
• Do a rough demo with a solid vocal.
• Move on. Next song.
• Keep up the pace. Don’t overthink it.

If you wanna get all-in and actually finish an album, check out my 52-Week Artist Development Plan inside Step Up to the Spotlight. Just saying.

Every time you drop new music, you get a shot to grow and flex your sound. My best advice? Study songwriting like it’s your side hustle. You’ll need those skills. But—and this is huge—write for people, not the “industry.” Don’t get stuck trying to make what you think execs want. That’s a fast-track to nowhere. The best tracks come from writing for yourself. Get your truth out first, then edit out anything that’s too much. But don’t self-censor before you even get to the good stuff, or you’ll end up with bland, watered-down songs.

5. Aim your album at your next move.

Think past just getting streams or a few new followers. Where do you want this album to take you? Bigger shows? Niche audience? Songwriting cred? Sync placements? Set your sights before you start.

Some quick examples:

• Wanna headline bigger venues? Make a record built for those stages.
• Building a niche audience? Tailor your music and production for those specific crowds.
• If you wanna be known as a songwriter, flex your best writing—don’t just show off variety. Lead with your strongest stuff, always. Even if you dabble in multiple genres, you need to present a clear style.
• Going after sync? Write sync-friendly tracks, but don’t go so universal you lose your soul. Real talk, even sync agents want heart, not just generic “inspirational montage” tracks.

Bottom line, if you know what you want your album to do for you, it’ll steer your writing, your sound, and your whole production vibe. Don’t just wing it. Make your move on purpose.