The loneliness and uncertainty of being an artist
- Jan 20
- 4 min read
Being an electronic music artist can feel incredibly lonely and uncertain. We spend hours, weeks, and sometimes months on our own, staring at screens, trying to express the inexpressible through sound.
It’s an intimate yet isolating process.
And when we finally finish a track? We might not even be happy with it. Even if we are, it could take months—sometimes years—before the music is actually released for the world to hear. The gap between our creative efforts and external gratification can feel painfully long.
And then?
It’s all out of our hands. The uncertainty takes over.
Will the music be received well?
Will it get lost in the noise?
Should we even care about what happens next?
Is this whole ‘music thing’ even for me?
These are questions I’ve asked myself countless times. There have been seasons in my life—lasting anywhere from a few weeks to a few months—when I poured every spare moment into making music. As much as I love it, there are still moments when isolation and doubt creep in.
Music, as a whole, can be incredibly fulfilling and energising, but it can also feel daunting and hopeless.
Why we feel this way
Perhaps your experience is different, but many of the artists I know are similarly neurotic and introverted. It’s a cocktail of feeling deeply, having the stamina to sit in front of a screen for 12 hours straight, and an inherent geekiness about art and technology.
But here’s the thing: those same qualities—our sensitivity and introspection—are what fuel our creativity.
The problem arises when we lose sight of the bigger picture. When we forget why we do what we do. When external rewards take over and we forget to have fun along the way.
Just like the iconic phrase warns:
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
Rediscovering the joy of the process
Making music is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a deeply personal and intimate art form, where what we think and feel is reflected in our creations. When we’re weighed down by loneliness or self-doubt, our creativity suffers.
The most powerful music comes from a place of freedom, curiosity, and unapologetic honesty. Those are hard to nurture when isolation and uncertainty dominate our mindset.
There isn’t a quick fix for this, but I’ve found a few ways to re-centre myself when doubt starts to take hold.
1. Accept the path of loneliness and uncertainty
The life of a dedicated artist will involve loneliness and uncertainty—it’s part of the deal. But it doesn’t have to feel like torture.
There will always be moments of not knowing what’s next or where your art will take you. That’s simply the price we pay for pursuing something we love. There are many of us feeling the same way.
If it were easy, everyone would do it.
For me, reminding myself of this brings peace. It softens the resistance I feel and helps me flow with the process rather than against it.
The river flows that way anyway, so why fight it?
When I choose to pay this price, it doesn’t feel so high anymore.
2. Reconnect with why you started making music
Why did you fall in love with electronic music in the first place?
Look beyond the surface-level goals of releasing on cool labels, getting likes on social media or impressing your mates. Those things are fleeting. Instead, dig deeper into the personal reasons that ignite your creative spark.
Is it the joy of expressing the sound of your soul?
Is it the thrill of experimentation and discovery?
Is it the pure freedom of following your curiosity?
Or perhaps it’s that beautiful moment when all your worries melt away while you’re lost in the music.
This will be different for everyone, but it’s essential that your reason is personal and internal.
Here’s a thought experiment I’ve found helpful:
If everyone else was gone from existence, what would your reason for making music be?
What kind of music would you make?
How would you measure success then?
When you free yourself from external expectations and focus on the true reason you love making music, a huge weight lifts. Suddenly, the uncertainty doesn’t feel so important.
3. Let go of what you can’t control
There’s no need to doubt yourself or fear the unknown if you’re making music for the love of it. That pure and virtuous reason can be your North Star—the thing that fuels and guides you forward.
External success or failure will come either way, whether you obsess over it or barely think about it. So why not focus on what’s within your control? Let go of the rest.
The uncertainty will always be there, but it doesn’t have to rule you.
When you create from a place of joy and authenticity, the creative process becomes its own reward.
Closing thoughts
The path of an artist is not easy, but it’s deeply meaningful. Embracing the loneliness and uncertainty as part of the process can turn those feelings into something powerful.
Ask yourself:
What’s the music you’d make if no one else could hear it?
How would you measure success if it wasn’t tied to external validation?
When you focus on the answers to those questions, you might just rediscover the freedom and curiosity that made you fall in love with music in the first place.
Keep creating, keep exploring, and most importantly, don’t forget to have fun along the way.
Big love
Eryk Kabay
Ready to action? Whether you’re feeling stuck or looking for that final professional polish, I’m here to help you cut through the confusion and make your tracks shine. Let’s get your music sounding its absolute best and ready to be released into the world.
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