Becoming an independent musician was never something I planned out perfectly.
For me, it started from a place of needing an outlet.
After losing my brother in 2022, music became something I leaned into more deeply. Writing songs became a way to process emotions, tell stories, and turn difficult experiences into something meaningful.
Eventually, that led me to creating Matt Soltis Music and taking the next step from someone who writes songs privately to someone who shares them with the world.
Being an independent musician means doing everything yourself.
That is one of the most exciting parts of it, but it is also one of the hardest.
The Reality of Doing Everything Yourself
When people think about being a musician, they usually think about the creative side.
They think about writing songs, playing guitar, singing, and performing live.
Those things are a huge part of it, but they are only one piece of the puzzle.
Being an independent artist means wearing a lot of different hats.
You are the songwriter. You are the performer. You are the person recording the music, creating content, managing social media, building your website, promoting your releases, and finding opportunities to get your music in front of people.
A lot of the time, you are working on your music career without actually playing music.
That was one of the biggest surprises for me.
I did not realize how much time would go into everything outside of the actual songs. Creating content, learning marketing, improving my website, planning releases, and building a brand all take time.
But those things are what help people discover the music.
The Hardest Part Is Staying Consistent
The biggest challenge of being an independent musician is not always talent.
It is discipline.
Finding time and staying consistent can be difficult, especially when you are balancing the rest of life at the same time.
There will always be reasons to wait.
Maybe you need better equipment. Maybe you want more songs finished. Maybe you do not feel ready to share something yet.
But progress comes from showing up consistently.
Writing one song, posting one video, playing one show, or improving one part of your craft might not feel like a huge accomplishment in the moment. Over time, those small actions add up.
The artists who continue growing are the ones who keep moving forward.
Why Michigan Is a Great Place for Independent Artists
Being an independent musician in Michigan has some unique advantages.
When people think about building a music career, they often look toward places like Los Angeles or Nashville. Those cities have incredible opportunities, but they also have thousands of artists competing for attention.
Michigan is different.
There is a strong music history here, especially around Detroit, but there is also room to stand out. There are venues, open mics, local communities, and opportunities to connect with people who support independent artists.
In some ways, having less competition makes it easier to build genuine connections.
You do not need millions of listeners overnight. You need real people who connect with your music.
A single person who hears your song and relates to it can matter more than a thousand people who scroll past it.
Why I Keep Building Matt Soltis Music
The journey of being an independent musician is not easy, but that is also what makes it rewarding.
Every song written, every performance played, and every person who listens is part of the process.
I am still early in this journey. I am still learning how to become a better songwriter, performer, and artist.
But that is the exciting part.
If there is one thing I would tell someone who wants to start making music, it is simple:
Start now.
You do not have to have everything figured out. You do not need the perfect setup. You do not need to wait until you feel completely ready.
The only way to grow is to begin.
Being an independent musician means building something from the ground up. It means learning, adapting, and continuing even when it is difficult.
That is the reality of creating music on your own, and it is also what makes the journey worth it.
