in this episode of the guitarwavers podcast, I’m doing something a little different. instead of a guest conversation, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my last year as an instrumental guitarist — sharing what I released, what actually worked, what didn’t, and how the whole project evolved financially, creatively, and emotionally. this episode is a transparent recap of one full year of building calm electric guitar music in public: the releases, the experiments, the numbers, the surprises, and the lessons that only show up when you stay consistent long enough. if you’re an instrumental guitarist wondering what’s realistic, sustainable, and worth focusing on — this one is for you. join the guitarwavers community https://www.skool.com/guitarwavers-1668/about?ref=3431729710fc45ebb914e119a8c509a7 I talked about:– releasing 25 tracks in one year and what bi-weekly consistency really does for growth– how collaborations actually performed (and why they weren’t the magic growth lever I expected)– where my 4.5 million streams came from: label playlists, algorithmic playlists, and listener playlists– using cover songs strategically — without losing artistic integrity– what worked on youtube: long-form masterclasses vs. short tutorials– growing from ~500 to ~2,500 youtube subscribers and getting monetized– one track unexpectedly going viral on instagram and what that changed financially– starting the guitarwavers community and why it became one of the most meaningful parts of the year– launching the guitarwavers podcast as a way to learn directly from artists further ahead– why short-form content still feels hard — even when it clearly has potential– live streaming post-production: exciting, scary, and mentally exhausting– earning ~$13,190 from streaming in one year (after a 50/50 label deal)– the plan for the coming year: coaching, community focus, systematizing youtube, and staying bi-weekly this episode is less about tactics and more about orientation — zooming out, telling the truth about the process, and showing what a calm, long-term path can look like in instrumental music. if you’re building quietly, questioning your pace, or wondering whether this can really add up over time — you’re not alone. sending relaxed energy 🦦 timestamps00:00 why this episode is different01:00 release rhythm, collaborations, and expectations02:10 where the streams actually came from03:00 cover songs as a strategy (and a feeling)04:00 youtube experiments: long-form vs tutorials06:10 getting monetized and early youtube income06:40 one track going viral on instagram07:40 starting the guitarwavers community08:30 launching the guitarwavers podcast09:10 social media struggles and uncertainty09:40 live streaming and creative overload10:40 post-production as a creative playground11:00 full income breakdown and label split12:00 what worked: consistency, long-form, nature13:20 what didn’t: short-form and live streams14:20 mixed audiences on youtube14:50 plans for the coming year16:10 closing thoughts & relaxed energy from sweden 🦦
