I want to get a feature from an established artist

I'm a nobody with 0 releases and for the first EP I would like to get a feature from a semi well known artist who is signed to an establish big indie label.

There is (obv) no available direct contact. 

Should I just give up and die?

When you say "feature," do you mean The Signed Known Artist would perform on your record? Or do you mean The Signed Known Artist will let you perform on their record?

Either way, that's not going to happen on your first EP. But that's no reason to give up and die. Setting up false dichotomies like that ("my first record must be a huge hit/if my first record isn't a huge hit I will give up") is a road map for failure.

I'm curious, Ploki, is this a serious question or did you mean to just provoke a debate?

both actually.

When you say "feature," do you mean The Signed Known Artist would perform on your record? Or do you mean The Signed Known Artist will let you perform on their record?

 

Either way, that's not going to happen on your first EP. But that's no reason to give up and die. Setting up false dichotomies like that ("my first record must be a huge hit/if my first record isn't a huge hit I will give up") is a road map for failure.

The former. Signed to PIAS. 

Not a huge hit, but i want it to be at least somewhat monumental, as in: "I'm going all in with this to make it as good as humanly possibly at my age, experience and financial status" not "i'm holding back because I don't know if it will happen or not", if you catch my drift.

I don't want the artist merely because he's signed for some free promotion,  i really do like his voice and would fit the record nicely. I don't think the feature itself would bring that much to the table anyway.

Do you know this artist personally?

If the answer is yes, full steam ahead.

If the answer is no, forget it. It'll never happen, unless your recordings are the most astonishing things he's ever heard.

Or maybe if you have enough money.

12 or 13 years ago I worked on a project where absolutely "nobodies" flew the featured artist and his entire entourage in, picked them up in a limousine and installed them in a luxury hotel. The featured artist got $16,000 in cash, in the hand.

The whole thing took two days including recording his verse and shooting the video.

Start saving.

I'm a nobody with 0 releases ... Should I just give up and die?

No... what you do is get booked on the Dr,Phil show and act like a total idiot and use the phrase "Cash me outside."  Atlantic Records will contact you,  and sign you to a major record deal.

Or maybe if you have enough money.

 

12 or 13 years ago I worked on a project where absolutely "nobodies" flew the featured artist and his entire entourage in, picked them up in a limousine and installed them in a luxury hotel. The featured artist got $16,000 in cash, in the hand.

 

The whole thing took two days including recording his verse and shooting the video.

 

Start saving.

holy smokes. that's 2x yearly minimum salary in here.

not gonna happen

Do you know this artist personally?

 

If the answer is yes, full steam ahead.

 

If the answer is no, forget it. It'll never happen, unless your recordings are the most astonishing things he's ever heard.

 

well, the answer is no. :/