I've kinda been thinking about it lately. Some of you might think it's a stupid question which is fair enough but do you think we should strive to be like our favorite artists? When I say that I mean should we make an effort to copy and sound like them in every shape or form?

I ask because I'm inspired by a lot of artists but I can never sound like them you know? Whenever I try to sound like Zedd, Grey, or Joe Hisaishi I just end up sounding like me. At first that was really annoying but I'm kind of learning to accept that I'll never be able to sound like either of them.

Then again it's like you can learn a lot by copying other artists. Shoot that's how I learned sound design and instruments in general. So the fine line is a bit confusing you know?

Thoughts anyone?

I think the best thing you can do is try really hard to sound like someone else, then fail miserably, and end up making something completely different in the process. Just a while ago I read in an interview that Skrillex tried to imitate Noisia and the result was what you hear on Scary Monsters.

Your're a genius Arktopolis. 

You are you, they are them.

This is still an introspective question and worth being worked out over time.

I've gotten so tired of not getting what i want, and ended up being ok with what i do make. Because, no matter how hard you try to be like something else, you can't dispute the fact that you're separate from the thing you want.

Besides, those people worked on themselves, shouldn't you work on you?

There's a Japanese concept called "sh ha ri." It's the different stages of learning a craft and ultimately artistry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuhari

With "shu" you copy and follow the tradition.
With "ha" you break from that.
With "ri" you no longer follow the rules—making up your own.

In the beginning, we all need to follow and copy—just to even get the basics under our belts.

After a while—years perhaps—you get tired of that, and want to start striking out on your own. Even that stage can take a good amount of time to fully develop.

Then you get to a point where you can totally throw it all out the window, and be driven by pure inspiration and passion.

Jimi Hendrix is a good example of this. In most people's book, he's the best guitar player that ever lived. Plus he was a huge innovator. But before he started playing with distortion and his own sound, he played as a backup player for many acts.

Same thing with the Beatles. They played covers for a number of years before ever beginning to write and record original music.

Cooking is similar. You follow recipes until you get a basic understanding of the techniques and processes. Then, if you want, you're free to create your own dishes without following any recipes.

I think most people start out copying. And I think that's a good place. But the problem I see often, is that many people don't ever really move past that to start creating their own original sound and approach.

That seems like the scary part.

There's a Japanese concept called "sh ha ri." It's the different stages of learning a craft and ultimately artistry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuhari

With "shu" you copy and follow the tradition.
With "ha" you break from that.
With "ri" you no longer follow the rules—making up your own.

In the beginning, we all need to follow and copy—just to even get the basics under our belts.

After a while—years perhaps—you get tired of that, and want to start striking out on your own. Even that stage can take a good amount of time to fully develop.

Then you get to a point where you can totally throw it all out the window, and be driven by pure inspiration and passion.

Jimi Hendrix is a good example of this. In most people's book, he's the best guitar player that ever lived. Plus he was a huge innovator. But before he started playing with distortion and his own sound, he played as a backup player for many acts.

Same thing with the Beatles. They played covers for a number of years before ever beginning to write and record original music.

Cooking is similar. You follow recipes until you get a basic understanding of the techniques and processes. Then, if you want, you're free to create your own dishes without following any recipes.

I think most people start out copying. And I think that's a good place. But the problem I see often, is that many people don't ever really move past that to start creating their own original sound and approach.

That seems like the scary part.

I really really like this.