East coast singer-songwriter Lee Wilson began his career as an aspiring pop/R&B artist. After years of bending his sound to fit label expectations—and burning out in the process—he took a chance on a collaboration in a new genre, which reignited his passion for music and sparked his career success.
In this spotlight, Wilson shares how trusting his instincts and taking full ownership of his work while embracing collaboration, transformed his career—and how you can do the same.
The Early Years: Music Ran in the Family
Wilson grew up surrounded by music. “Music was part of our culture, our environment, our home,” he said. His parents played soul records daily. His uncles—both musicians—encouraged him to take up keyboards and begin writing lyrics. Meanwhile, his aunt performed in talent shows and helped nurture his performance skills. When Wilson joined the school chorus, he found a mentor in his music teacher.
Musical Influences: From Boyz II Men to Stevie Wonder
As a developing artist, Wilson gravitated toward 90s R&B—Usher, Boyz II Men, and everything in between. “Usher was that guy, but really any 90s R&B was an influence. As I started to grow and study music, I fell in love with Stevie Wonder and realized lyrics are so important. You know, are you telling a story? What are you singing about through melodies, harmonies?” he said.
Ultimately, it was Stevie Wonder’s genre fluidity that helped Wilson find his own creative ethos. “He creates so much different music — you can’t put him in a box. And that’s how I’d like to think of my career. I’m always creating, inventing, and trying not to be pigeon-holed.”
Pivot Point: Burnout and a Genre Switch
In 2015, after years of chasing a record deal in the R&B world, Wilson hit a wall. “I wasn’t being true to myself. I was trying to be whatever artist [labels] wanted me to be on that particular day.”
It wasn’t until a snowed-in trip to Boston led to an impromptu studio session, that Wilson found new inspiration.
“A friend of mine had a studio and invited me over to write. He was a DJ at the time, doing house music, and said my voice would sound really good doing house,” Wilson said.
The session went well and Wilson’s friend sent the demo to legendary DJ and producer Kenny Dope, who immediately took interest and arranged a collaboration with Wilson. That was an inflection point—both creatively and professionally—for Wilson.
“From then on, I really got involved in that community. It’s really freeing–dance music. I work really hard so I was able to reach out and continue to collaborate with people. It’s a very collaborative genre,” Wilson said.
Collaboration Drives Inspiration and Success
Wilson’s open-mindedness and attention to other artists fueled his passion for collaboration.
“People are often too caught up in their own music or circles. You need to listen to other artists’ music. If I heard something I liked, I’d reach out and say ‘I like your music, I’m a singer-songwriter, and I’d love to collaborate.’ People started replying and then my name started popping up on more records. Now I live for collaborations,” he said.
In turn, collaborations have provided Wilson with unique exposure.
“Some of the collabs I’ve done have brought me all over the world and helped me develop fans in new markets. Working with other artists brings you into their orbit and people who would never have heard you start to listen.”
On top of the exposure, there’s a creative payoff too, Wilson explained. “If you’re collaborating with the right people, it pushes you to write better music and learn how other people work creatively,” he said.
Industry Lesson: Forget the Myth of Overnight Success
Meeting and collaborating with artists taught Wilson an important lesson: there’s no blueprint for success.
“Nobody knows what they’re doing; everyone’s trying to figure it out,” he said.
But that’s not to say the best artists lack method: strategy and consistency still pay off.
“Even when you think you see overnight success, there’s so much more work behind it that people don’t know about. I’ve found people just rarely talk honestly about it. It’s so much work, networking, and navigating the gatekeeping,” he said.
In finding a creative path, Wilson encouraged artists to trust themselves. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to do your own work and do it because you love it. You have to trust yourself, because if everything you make is based on whether someone else likes it, that’s going to be hell for you. Follow your own gut, do your own work, and collaborate with people who you really admire,” he said. “The numbers don’t matter. Just create.”
Artist Independence with CD Baby
Wilson’s first release was a physical CD through CD Baby. After years of chasing labels, burning out, then finding his voice, it was an empowering moment. Since then, Wilson’s trusted CD Baby with all his digital music distribution.
“It was huge for me to be able to put out my own music. You don’t have to wait for anybody to tell you you’re good enough,” Wilson said. “I was playing shows to packed rooms and I thought, I have an audience, what am I waiting for?”
Wilson has access to tools to monitor audience data, plan targeted promotions, and build smarter release strategies. “So many artists now have the tools to do it themselves and that’s changing lives,” Wilson said. “Distribution with CD Baby is amazing. It’s allowed me to reach people in places I’ve never been able to reach.”
Using Data to Grow Strategically
Lee’s breakout hit “Summertime” has hit over 3 million streams. With CD Baby’s insights, he was able to see where the song was catching on and plan his marketing, concerts, and collaborations accordingly.
“As an artist, you have to remember you have to do the work. But with the CD Baby dashboard, I’m no longer shooting in the dark. I can see my demographics, where my streams are coming from, and my music statistics. I can note whether a demographic or country is really rocking with my music then I can focus in and promote there. If a single’s doing well in an area, I can target some ads to that area or if I want to play a show, I can see where my numbers are strongest and reach out to artists in that area to perform together.”
Releasing without Reservation: The Value of Singles and EPs
Wilson writes routinely. And while it can take months to finalize and plan for an album release, sometimes he senses a theme across a few songs and wants to get them out fast. That’s where singles and EPs come in.
“I feel like there are some joints that I’m like—these are a mood, this is a vibe. And in the rehearsal studio, I perform a medley of those tracks, maybe release it as a music video—you know, stuff for people to share online—and I’ll see how people react. For some songs, I’ll even put the instrumentals out first and then the vocal mixes. It’s a way to play with the stuff I have and give people more than one song.”
He’s currently working on releasing a series of three thematically differentiated EPs—collections of songs in his backlog. It’s a cost-effective alternative to an album that keeps an audience engaged over time.
“Albums can be expensive. Not everyone can afford to mix and master a whole album. You can start off with a single and ride it out, then put out another, and waterfall up to an EP. You can build up and learn as you go—what works and what doesnt—so you don’t have to put money into a project that doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would.”
Release what you want, when you want, with CD Baby
With CD Baby, Lee doesn’t have to wait for approval or sit on songs for months. “It’s my music. If I want to release something on a Monday, I can do that,” he said. “CD Baby distribution lets you release how you want, when you want, and you can test things to see what works.”
Ready to follow in Lee’s footsteps and take full control of your career? Sign up for CD Baby distribution today and start releasing your music worldwide.
Key Takeaways for Emerging Artists
Here’s what you can take from Lee Wilson’s story:
- Collaborate strategically: Seek out artists, producers, and DJs whose work excites you. Every new collaboration is a chance to grow your sound and reach. Send your first outreach today!
- Release consistently and experimentally: Don’t wait for perfection on any front. Get your music out and start to build and understand your audience. Then you can gain momentum and release confidently.
- Trust your instincts. Don’t chase trends or bend your sound to fit what you think others want. Make the music you believe in
- Use data as a guide, not a ruler. Pay attention to what’s resonating with your audience, but don’t let numbers dictate every creative decision.
- Play live when you can. Performing in front of people is the best way to build genuine connection and keep your energy for the music alive.
- Stay adaptable. If you feel burned out or stuck, explore a new genre, try a new release format, or seek out a collaboration that puts you in a new context.