Releasing a single to make the right introduction

Three years before Billie Eilish released her first LP, she put out the singles “Six Feet Under” and “Ocean Eyes.” 

Years before Montero, Lil Nas X released the song... wait for it… you know what it’s called… it’s the biggest single in the universe… “Old Town Road.”

In both cases, those introductions set the stage for everything that followed. Powerful debuts that carved out a distinct sound and identity, they were also an invitation to a particular kind of party. Those first songs not only defined the artist, they defined the audience too. They spoke clearly about WHO the true fan should be.

And while both Eilish and Lil Nas X have matured and evolved, it’s interesting to go back and listen to those first singles. You’ll hear something so quintessential about the artists, and it was there right from the get-go. They were on-brand out of the gates. They were entirely themselves. And so no matter how they change over the years, that introduction contained a promise they can’t help but keep. 

If you’re about to release your first song, is it authentic to who you want to be? Does it clarify who you are as an artist, and who your ideal audience is? If so, you’re off to a great start.