Teach 1 Tuesday

Who Are You In Sound? Build A Musical Fingerprint

• Toni King • Season 1 • Episode 50

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Want your music to be recognizable in three seconds flat? We dig into the art and science of sound selection and show how a clear sonic identity cuts through the noise. From tone and timbre to rhythm and processing, we map practical ways to make choices that align with your story and your listeners.

We start by defining sonic identity as your musical fingerprint, then break down the building blocks: designing original patches, curating presets that actually fit, and shaping depth with layering and tasteful effects. You’ll hear how rhythm decisions—kick shape, hat feel, bass movement—frame the emotion of a track, and why committing to textures with smart processing can set your mix apart. Along the way, we share why an engineering mindset from first sketch to final master speeds decisions and keeps your palette consistent.

Audience insight is the compass. We talk about targeting emotion, setting creative constraints, and using references as lessons rather than templates. Case studies from Grimes, Flume, and Billie Eilish reveal how consistent choices become a language listeners instantly recognize. Then we get tactical: build a tagged sound library, save reusable chains, schedule weekly design sprints, collaborate to widen your palette, and seek feedback from people with trained ears who understand your goals.

If you’re ready to stop chasing trends and start sounding like yourself, this conversation gives you the steps to get there. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a producer who’s building their voice—what’s the one sound you want people to associate with you?



Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@thetonikingexperience7645


Rare Keys Production- https://rarekeysproduction.com


Toni King link: http://www.linktr.ee/toni.king


The Sonic Kingship Art: https://www.rhuffmusic.com/post/it-s-a-big-music-industry-so-where-do-i-fit-in




The Toni King Experience

SPEAKER_00:

Hello and welcome back, everyone. This is Tony King here. This is Teach One Tuesday podcast. We're going to get into some great things today. I'm excited about, but y'all know what it is, man. Before we do that, let's get into that theme music. Alright, alright. Yes, yes, yes. Let's get into this great subject today. Welcome back to Teach One Tuesday Podcast where we explore the art and science of creating music. In today's episode, we'll dive into the topic of sound selection, how to craft a sonic identity that sets your music apart in the crowded industry. All right. And uh don't worry about that crowded apart. It's just, you know, there are so many, uh, so many great artists out there, and it's exciting, but we want to help you to separate yourself. First, let's define what we mean by sonic identity in the music production space. Sonic identity refers to the unique sounds, timbre, and production techniques that distinguish your music from others. It's like your musical fingerprint. When listeners hear your track, you want them to immediately connect with your distinct style. Whether that's laugh, whether that's through lush sense, specific drum uh sounds or vocal effects, these elements contribute to how your music is revealed. All right. The key the key elements of sound selection, let's dive into it and let's break down the key elements that go into crafting your sonic identity. Sound design. Experiment with synthesizers and sound design techniques. Creating your own sounds can provide a unique texture to your tracks. For example, use modular sims or software simps like serum or almosphere. Using them allows you to sculpt sounds that fit your music, and also you can find these things in certain in other in uh in DAWs as well, like Logic. There are sounds and things that already come with it, so you can also design your sounds that way. Sample and presets, while creating your own sounds is awesome. Using high-quality samples and presets can also give you a professional edge. Explore sample packs that resonate with your style. Make sure that they align with your sonic vision. And I think that's great. I use uh complete. Um, I can't remember the last one that I have. I use complete and other things, but complete is what I've been using for my sound design and some things uh a lot, actually, a lot out of logic as well. So don't be afraid to go and to explore uh what's out there and what fits you. Timbre variety. Every sound has this unique color. Using a diverse range of timbre can create a rich auditory palette that keeps the listener engaged, layering different sounds can establish depth, whether it's combining acoustic instruments with electric elements or blending different sounds, rhythm and groove. The rhythm section is crucial to your sonic identity. Whether you can prefer punchy kick drums, intricate hi-hat patterns, or groovy bass lines, your rhythmic choices will define the feel of your music. And I find that to be true in my own music. Effects and processing, the use of effects, reverb delay, distortion can help shape your sound further. Experimenting with different processing techniques can lead to the unexpected sonic outcomes that are uniquely yours. And I think this is very, very important. I really shoot for this in my own music. Of course, I have projects out there, uh Authentically Me and uh Kingdom Radio are my two EPs, and then my single, uh Greater Love, is out there as well. You can go and listen to my music and how I design my sounds, and my and uh there's a new single that's going to be coming out in November, uh Christ the King, that you can check out as well. So sound design for me is paramount, it is very, very important, and I am very specific about what I want at each level, whether I'm laying down instruments, um, whether I am uh thinking about how my how I want my vocals to come across. I am tweaking things along the way. I'm not just you know putting sounds in there and going, no, I pay attention to how everything is sounding. Of course, I am an engineer as well. So I'm thinking about all these things from the beginning to the end. Sound design is very, very important, especially when you get into the uh engineering space, and you know that creativity goes to the next level, and that's definitely a place where you can differentiate yourself. All right, let's get into this next section. Knowing your audience, all right. This is a very crucial uh part as well. Next up, consider your audience. Understanding who you're making music for will guide your sound selection. Ask yourself these two questions. What genres are they listening to? What emotions do you want them to evoke? If you're aiming for a dance track, perhaps focus on uplifting melodies and driving bass. If you're creating a reflective ballad, choose softer atmospheric sounds. Knowing your audience lets you tailor your sonic identity to resonate with them. In the next section, let's talk about case studies of artists with strong sonic identities. This is great. Um, having uh a reference or having references is very crucial. I want to just say this uh before I go on that you know, references definitely in the mixing space is very, very important. It's very, very important, really, the on the whole, as far as the entire process is concerned, um, even when you're creating your tracks, you're laying down your tracks, um, having references not to to uh imitate verbatim, but just have a reference inspiration to help you get to where you want to be. And it's very important, even in the engineering space, at least until you get to a certain place. But I'm sure the professionals always use references just to help them along. Uh, let's get into these, let's get into these examples. Now let's look at a few artists who have developed a strong sonic identity. Grimes, her use of ethereal vocals layered over synth pop beats creates a unique sound that is instantly recognizable. Her sound design combines elements from various genres, resulting in a distinctive blend. Flume, I think I'm pronouncing that right. Known for his innovative uh soundscapes, Flume's music features rich textures, heavy bass, and unconventional rhythms. His ability to fuse genres and sounds has made his sonic identity highly sought after. And we, of course, we all know this next artist, Billy Ellish with minimalistic production, distorted vocals, and dark textures. Billy's sonic identity reflects her personal aesthetic. Her collaboration with producer Phineas, I don't know how to pronounce that, please forgive me. Uh, showcases the impact of crafted sound selection. All right. And then I'll talk about practical tips for sound selection in your production. All right. So, how can you begin crafting your sonic identities? It's very important. Here are some practical tips now because I want to leave you with with as much as I can. I don't want to leave you without some steps. It's important for you to know. Create a sound library, start building a collection of your favorite sounds, samples, and presets that resonate with you. This will become your go-to resource for future projects. Experiment and iterate, and iterate rather. Don't be afraid to deviate from usual sound. Set aside time to experiment with new genres or sounds, and projects often evolve through experimentation. Collaborate with others, working with other musicians or producers can introduce fresh ideas and sound selection techniques that may not have that that you may not have considered. Receive feedback, sharing your tracks with trusted peers can provide valuable insights. Sometimes an outside perspective can highlight aspects of your sound that need refinement. And I think uh this is very important. Please choose people that are skilled, they they know what they're talking about. Don't pick just your favorite auntie and just you know, somebody you just cool with and you just think no. Pick somebody who has ears to hear, has understanding, has understanding of music, has uh understanding of what uh uh uh uh what direction you're going into, has understanding of of telling a story with music, you know, at least they don't need to be uh professionals, but just have uh have understanding. But if you have professionals, go with them. Please uh uh reach out to people that can really give you some very important information for what you are trying to do. All right, and so uh this is very important. I want to help you to carve out a niche for yourself. I want to help you to to differentiate yourself, your artistry, your sound. This is very important. And it may seem like, man, how can I do that in the midst of all these people, all these artists that are out there? Uh you can, because no one is doing really the same thing. Um people who really want to differentiate yourself. Now, there are presets and there are things, there are a lot of sounds that people are using today that where there are a lot of songs that do sound the same. But these people are not really looking, in my opinion, these people are not really looking to do something fresh and new. They kind of want to ride the wave of what's already happening. And so that's I don't look at them as someone that's trying to do something new. Um, but look for artists that are really that have really carved out a sound for them for themselves, vocally, you know, sounds, uh, mixing, mastering. Look for those people and and be inspired by that. Because, you know, just like today, and you can there are certain artists that you can recognize. I mean, just a few notes, and you already know. Um, you already know who it is. And uh, I'll say one of those people is John Legend. Soon as you hear him, you know, as soon as you hear him, you know who it is. You know, he has a very distinct vocal sound, his music. Um, uh Gregory Porter is another one. Uh soon as you hear him start to sing his style of music, you know who it is. Another one, uh Michael Booblay is another one that I really love. I've been listening to Michael for years, and he has his own sound. Even though it is, he has taken a page from Frank Sinatra. We know that if you hear him sing, you you clearly hear it, but it's still Michael. All right. So, and this is something that I am striving for. I want something fresh and new. I don't want to sound like anybody, I want to have my own sound, own identity, and I think that's important. So, if this is what you're going for, then this was for you. All right. Uh, I want to thank you so much for checking this out. Before you go, family, do me a favor and make sure you're going and checking out my YouTube channel, The Tony King Experience, where I have my covers and letting you know of all that's going on. Go check out the the uh my blog, Sonic Kingship Art blog. More information that you can learn uh outside of this podcast, more information that you can learn. Go and check out my music, Authentically Me, Kingdom Radio 2, Greater Love, all streaming platforms, and the new single that's going to be coming out at the end of November. Very excited about that. We got some great things that are coming, and also I'm going to be uh still doing this, but I'm going to have a channel for Teach One Tuesday uh podcast that's coming, and so it is very uh um amazing and rewarding to continue to serve you guys, and I'm very excited about that. Uh, please go and uh on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, go like and subscribe. Do that for me. Hit that bell on YouTube so you know when new stuff is coming up. All right. In conclusion, and sound in conclusion, sound selection is a crucial element in crafting your sonic identity as a music producer by carefully considering your sound design choices, understanding your audience, and being open to experimentation, you'll be well on your way to creating a unique musical signature that resonates with listeners. Thank you for tuning in today. I hope you're having a wonderful day. And if you're not having a wonderful day, you can change that by your mind. So thank you so much.