KIP MOOREwas recently asked what he tells new artists. He said the most important thing is to have conviction in what you're doing. As in, be yourself, and don't chase a trend because you think that's what you should do.
He used himself as an example, saying if a song "doesn't sit right" with him then he's not going to enjoy playing it. So if he doesn't feel it when he's on stage then the audience isn't going to feel it either. (It's at 5:39 in thevideo.)