Music submission platform One Submit has released guidance stating that the most important question every artist should ask is whether their song is objectively good, and that self-awareness (SA) is the essential skill needed to answer it.
The Self-Awareness Gap
According to One Submit, many artists overrate their own work because they are emotionally invested in the creation process. The company notes that beginners statistically do not produce hits, yet the excitement of finishing a track often leads them to believe otherwise. SA is defined as the ability to step outside one’s own perspective and judge a song as a random listener would, without ego.
One Submit states that this skill is not innate for most people. The company’s own producers recall early work that they mistakenly believed was chart-ready, and emphasize that developing honest self-assessment can take years.
Practical Evaluation Methods
To build SA, One Submit recommends several techniques. First, artists should interrogate their own tracks with specific questions:
- Is the chorus boring?
- Are the vocals strong enough, or does familiarity mask weakness?
- How does the mix and master hold up?
- Is the melody genuinely sticky, or does it only feel that way after repeated listening?
Another method is A/B comparison with reference tracks. Artists are advised to select successful songs in their genre and switch between their own track and the reference, noting where their work falls short in energy, production quality, or arrangement. The company points out that producers and engineers routinely use this technique, and songwriters can benefit equally.
A more advanced exercise involves listening to the track as if it were made by an unknown artist, deliberately detaching from the pride of creation. One Submit says this cold-listening approach reveals weak bars, lazy verses, and ineffective hooks that emotional attachment obscures.
Seeking Qualified Feedback
One Submit cautions that feedback is only valuable when it comes from someone who understands the artist’s goals and can articulate why something works or doesn’t. Friends and family, such as a parent or neighbor, typically lack the technical vocabulary and objectivity needed. The company cites a scene from a Lewis Capaldi documentary in which his mother offers well-meaning but unhelpful advice on a new song, illustrating how such input can confuse a developing artist.
Instead, artists should seek opinions from a respected producer, an engineer, or a more experienced artist. When testing music beyond personal circles, One Submit advises conducting research to identify appropriate music promotion services for the artist’s genre, budget, and career stage.
Career Stage Awareness
The same honesty applied to a track should extend to an artist’s career plan, One Submit says. The company frequently receives inquiries from artists asking to submit music directly to Universal Music Group after releasing only a second single with modest streaming numbers. One Submit advises against such premature outreach, noting that major labels will find artists when they reach the right level of traction and data. Until then, the focus should remain on building.
