Why I Became a Sound.xyz Artist

Channeling inspiration into digital matter onchain has been a unique reward of my creative journey.

I just dropped my second single on Sound.

Music has always been an intrinsic part of my life, serving as a constant companion in the backdrop of my everyday experiences. From singing along to radio tunes in car rides, to practicing piano and flute, to crafting poems and prose, these childhood activities were more than hobbies—they were a testament to my deep connection with sound and rhythm.

For a long time, these passions remained untapped; I was afraid to try creating actual music. The music industry felt byzantine and daunting, and the biggest artists have huge teams behind them. It felt to me like the high hurdles for commercial success overshadowed my personal connection to music, making me question whether I was even worthy of calling myself an “artist.”

Then came the rise of music NFTs and web3 strides in the broader musical landscape, lowering the barriers of entry for artistic expression. Scores of artists have already leveraged Instagram and TikTok to grow their grassroots fan base; now crypto-powered platforms like Sound.xyz empower artists to launch music in a matter of days. Any independent artist can mint their music as an NFT—no agent or record label required. Thus, being an independent artist is more plausible for any person than ever before. 

Sound disrupts the music industry by providing a platform for any artist to debut songs as NFTs, allowing artists to retain 100% ownership, while ensuring swift and efficient compensation. The platform further aligns the artist with fans with curator rewards, giving top fans the opportunity to financially benefit as tastemakers and curators. Beyond this, Sound fortifies the artist-audience connection with features like a messaging system, custom perk incentives, and in-depth listener analytics, setting it apart from traditional web2 platforms that require artists to rely on middlemen for such activities. 

Platforms like Sound offer independent artists a new mechanism to earn income from their music, placing value on genuine engagement and connection with an audience, rather than sheer streaming numbers. In this new era, artists can achieve the same payout from the support of just a few dozen dedicated collectors as they might from tens of thousands of conventional streams. 

According to data analysis on Dune from my colleague Jack Gorman, since Sound launched on Optimism on June 9, 155 editions (songs) have earned at least $200, with a median of 38 minters per edition. That number may sound small, but it’s money that many of these artists would not make on big web2 streaming giants. Earning $200 on Spotify is estimated to take 50,000 streams, or 1,315+ plays by each of those 38 fans (unlikely). 48 Sound editions have earned more than $1,000, and the top Sound song on Optimism has earned $65,000. 

As we transition into this new era, music NFTs are doing more than just redefining markets—they are revolutionizing our cultural fabric. Long-entrenched barriers that looked insurmountable for artists like me are now being re-examined, offering fresh avenues for authentic self-expression and creativity. What once seemed like fixed boundaries and market structures are now fluid, inviting us all to reimagine the boundaries we’ve set for our creativity.

I’ve come to understand the act of creating as a universal journey, one that’s not limited to full-time artists but accessible to all who seek to express themselves. Whether through art, song, story, or other formats, creation is the transference of the author’s essence into something tangible, an authentic expression of oneself. A finished piece is more than just a physical (or digital) artifact; it becomes a mirror, reflecting the intention, experimentation, and personal truths that shaped it. Success, within this context, is redefined, no longer tethered to applause or external recognition, but rooted in the deep connections fostered with fans. 

As I begin this journey of making and releasing my own music, my aspiration is to delve into something significant within myself and hopefully convey messages that may find a connection with others. My music serves as an open invitation for listeners to glimpse reality through my unique perspective, and I am grateful for this pathway to explore and unfold my creativity. 

For my latest releases, follow me on Sound.