Starting out in the music industry can feel like stepping into the unknown, whether you are still discovering your signature sound, fine-tuning your preparation, or battling a surge of nerves the second you step into the spotlight.
Even though imposter syndrome shows up in almost every profession, it can feel especially intense for creatives who are walking in the shadow of some of the world’s most acclaimed musical talents. The truth is, every one of those artists started exactly where you are now.
From Beyoncé to The Wiggles, every chart-topping act has had to uncover their inner strength, make peace with their inner critic, and slowly but surely find their unique sound. Anyone who has spent time around musicians or passionate music fans knows that this journey is rarely walked alone, and your peers are often the first to lift you up, challenge you, and push you forward when you start to doubt yourself.
After speaking with some of the biggest names in the Australian music business at the 2025 ARIA Awards, one message kept coming through loud and clear: the most important thing you can do is not give up.
“Tap into your creativity and give yourself permission to let it rip,” 90s pop icon Rick Price shared.
“Really back yourself and get behind yourself. If you love it and you love your ideas, chances are other people will too. You can’t predict what other people are going to like, so you’ve just got to dig in.”
Whether your passion lies in contemporary or classical music, every artist on the carpet highlighted the importance of commitment and perseverance for any music student building the foundations of a successful career.
“Don’t overthink. The more you overthink, the more you stress out,” said 2024 Best Classical Album recipient Sophie Hutchings.
“There’s a really great book by the record producer Rick Rubin, who said, “When you’re composing, and you feel like you’re having a bad day, because you will have bad days. Other days, you just take off, and you can’t stop. Other days you do nothing, but you showed up,” she continued.
While passion and dedication may be the fundamental tools for industry success, The Wiggles’ Lachy Gillespie also emphasised the importance of giving yourself grace if you’re ever struggling to take your talents to the stage.
“I remember being so nervous, particularly taking over Jeff’s role; there was some real anxiety going on at the start. I suppose when you trust yourself, you can also be yourself,” he shared, adding, “That’s quite hard to get across initially because you want to put walls up but just trust that process and know that what you’ve got is going to be great, and then you’ll kind of sink into that and hopefully be a bit more comfortable.”
“Try and take the pressure off yourself and think about what you’re doing, in terms of the performance.”
At the end of the day, every piece of advice from these industry heavyweights circles back to a simple truth: the artists who make it are the ones who keep showing up, backing themselves and staying open to growth.
Whether you’re composing your first piece or performing for your hundredth audience, their message is still the same – your job is to keep creating, keep learning, and keep stepping on stage, even when it feels scary.
If you can hold onto your passion, practice with purpose, and treat yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a bandmate, you are already building the foundations of a sustainable, successful career in music.
Ready to start your journey? Reach out to our Future Students Team to explore how AIM can help you make your mark on music.
