Ok so i wonder if you guys have ever felt this way...i just need some real honesty and advice here
Im starting to question my love for music when i say that i mean whether i should pursue it as a dream or hobby...Music is not a guaranteed career....i think we all know that but ive always had this vision of being a songwriter/producer ...in fact thats what i tell everyone
however the problem is i dream about it but dont fully believe it will happen because i never finish my tracks or songs...i honestly get frustrated and depressed when i cant finish stuff because people hear my snippets and end up wanting to work with me but i tell them not now im still in the learning process which is really an excuse because i fear of failure or not having enough musical knowledge to complete tracks...this has been bothering me for a long time now because im getting older and i fear the future not being what ive been visioning. I use to have fun making tracks and didnt care about what others really thought but now i feel like this is more of a job than something i love to do...i feel like there is a time limit since im 23 yrs old ...i still love music but i feel like im on a treadmill with music because ...ive been having difficulty finishing tracks or songs...my music are just snippets and now im losing the motive to make tracks or practice on my piano to get better which is depressing the hell out of me
Producers blues
Re: Producers blues
step 1: finish something!!
This will make you feel much better about it all. Even if it's not perfect (if you aim for perfection the whole time, you'll likely disappoint yourself).
step 2: that's it actually - if you want to be a songwriter/producer, you just need to start finishing your songs.
This will make you feel much better about it all. Even if it's not perfect (if you aim for perfection the whole time, you'll likely disappoint yourself).
step 2: that's it actually - if you want to be a songwriter/producer, you just need to start finishing your songs.
Re: Producers blues
Everyone goes through that stage - alot to learn etc and at times it can feels like you are getting nowhere.
Stay focussed on the music - if you can write and your a decent enough artist, then the production side can always be fixed one way or another, but if you aint a decent enough artist, then pure production has its limits - better to be good at something then ok at everything.
BTW - do you have anything up on soundcloud or whatever? Even if just clips/unfinsihed stuff etc? Just curious what you do
Stay focussed on the music - if you can write and your a decent enough artist, then the production side can always be fixed one way or another, but if you aint a decent enough artist, then pure production has its limits - better to be good at something then ok at everything.
BTW - do you have anything up on soundcloud or whatever? Even if just clips/unfinsihed stuff etc? Just curious what you do
Nothing to see here - move along!
Re: Producers blues
Tell me about it. Note how long I've been on this forum and the lack of links in my signature.
Most of what I've done is just about together enough to do a gig for my mates. Nothing I'd say is really complete. Always tell myself that the next track will have this killer hook that I'll finish off and post on net.
Anyway it's a hobby and I enjoy it enough of the time to make it worth while. Even a crap session where nothing comes out of it is more productive than watching tv.
Take a random stroll though sound cloud. You'll find some things that will give you inspiration, and others that will make you feel a whole lot better about your own stuff.
I'm 34 for the record.
Most of what I've done is just about together enough to do a gig for my mates. Nothing I'd say is really complete. Always tell myself that the next track will have this killer hook that I'll finish off and post on net.
Anyway it's a hobby and I enjoy it enough of the time to make it worth while. Even a crap session where nothing comes out of it is more productive than watching tv.
Take a random stroll though sound cloud. You'll find some things that will give you inspiration, and others that will make you feel a whole lot better about your own stuff.
I'm 34 for the record.
Re: Producers blues
I can only speak for myself, but;
Lose yourself!!!!!!!!!
Actively dont think about how GOOD anything you do is.
Are you enjoying yourself?? If not, what can you do to make it enjoyable..?? Anything goes!!!! ANYTHING!!!
This (little)idea turned my music on its head and made my musical expression into something I never could have imagined.
The process took many years(and is still going on), but I cant begin to describe how important this has been for me. It changed my life.
I should mention that Im a performer rather that a producer, but the doesnt change anything!
Do what you love, and fuck everybody else!!!
Its your love for the craft that ultimatly shines through and perhaps gives you the bonus of success.
The sucess is just a bonus! Nothing else.
I was 24 years old when I slowly realized this, and begun the process of clearing my head of poisonous thoughts that was polluting my pure love for music and sound.
Lose yourself!!!!!!!!!
Actively dont think about how GOOD anything you do is.
Are you enjoying yourself?? If not, what can you do to make it enjoyable..?? Anything goes!!!! ANYTHING!!!
This (little)idea turned my music on its head and made my musical expression into something I never could have imagined.
The process took many years(and is still going on), but I cant begin to describe how important this has been for me. It changed my life.
I should mention that Im a performer rather that a producer, but the doesnt change anything!
Do what you love, and fuck everybody else!!!
Its your love for the craft that ultimatly shines through and perhaps gives you the bonus of success.
The sucess is just a bonus! Nothing else.
I was 24 years old when I slowly realized this, and begun the process of clearing my head of poisonous thoughts that was polluting my pure love for music and sound.
Re: Producers blues
I totally agree with Rabalder and andydes. And everyone else for that matter.
This is definitely something one goes through. Maybe (like myself) more than once.
One thing I will say, don't worry about your age. I know it feels like the grey hairs are about to start sprouting out of your ears, but you've got plenty of time. Whether you make music a hobby or a career, you've got plenty of time.
One of the hardest things I've had to learn in music production (I'm a "hobby" musician, btw) is when to say "it's done." Even if I come back later and say, I could have done this or changed that, knowing when to say "this piece is done" has been a very helpful tool to me. The result has been that I can trace what I've learned from each track or collection of works that I've finished, and I think my music has gotten better and better as a result. I've found that when I say a track is done, I get the same satisfaction as completing a difficult college course -- even if I get a C- I have the satisfaction of sticking it out and know what I've learned in the process -- and what I want to work on next time!
Also, ditto on looking around soundcloud; I've recently started spending more time on the Link Your Music forum here, and really enjoy listening to what others are doing. I have a job where I can listen to music at work, and just from doing this I have all kinds of new ideas for this weekend when I have some more time to create.
Stick it out.
I'm also interested in hearing some of what you're working on. Soon I'll grow a set and put a link up to some of my own stuff!
Keep with it.
This is definitely something one goes through. Maybe (like myself) more than once.
One thing I will say, don't worry about your age. I know it feels like the grey hairs are about to start sprouting out of your ears, but you've got plenty of time. Whether you make music a hobby or a career, you've got plenty of time.
One of the hardest things I've had to learn in music production (I'm a "hobby" musician, btw) is when to say "it's done." Even if I come back later and say, I could have done this or changed that, knowing when to say "this piece is done" has been a very helpful tool to me. The result has been that I can trace what I've learned from each track or collection of works that I've finished, and I think my music has gotten better and better as a result. I've found that when I say a track is done, I get the same satisfaction as completing a difficult college course -- even if I get a C- I have the satisfaction of sticking it out and know what I've learned in the process -- and what I want to work on next time!
Also, ditto on looking around soundcloud; I've recently started spending more time on the Link Your Music forum here, and really enjoy listening to what others are doing. I have a job where I can listen to music at work, and just from doing this I have all kinds of new ideas for this weekend when I have some more time to create.
Stick it out.
I'm also interested in hearing some of what you're working on. Soon I'll grow a set and put a link up to some of my own stuff!
Keep with it.
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alexjholland
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:22 am
- Location: Cambridge, UK
- Contact:
Re: Producers blues
The beauty of Live, is that you do NOT have to finish ANYTHING - certainly in the sense of verse/chorus/verse.
For a long time, I'd get a great idea down, then feel an obligation to copy and paste it in the arrangement view a few times and write a 'bridge'.
Bullshit. Now I have over 100 'ideas' that are mainly one to several awesome loops I constantly move between and tweak - and delete if they stop going anywhere - that I'll bounce down to audio files to DJ in one awesome, constantly evolving set!
The more you enjoy something, the faster you progress. If you aren't enjoying it, then simplify how you approach things; simplify your setup; and simplify your goals.
For me, it's about grabbing my drum pad or guitar - both of which are ready to go at all times with my streamlined setup and perfectly-tuned default set - and just loving my beat or riffing, then building on it.
Finally - and most importantly - GET OTHER HOBBIES! My music is turbocharged by my weight-lifting, running, snowboarding, boxing, travelling and exciting experiences with friends.
If you sit at a computer with a MIDI keyboard all day, sooner or later your music's just about sitting in a room with a MIDI keyboard - and what could be more boring or irrelevant!
Have fun, do completely exciting, different and challenging things then just pick up your instrument and have fun with it!
For a long time, I'd get a great idea down, then feel an obligation to copy and paste it in the arrangement view a few times and write a 'bridge'.
Bullshit. Now I have over 100 'ideas' that are mainly one to several awesome loops I constantly move between and tweak - and delete if they stop going anywhere - that I'll bounce down to audio files to DJ in one awesome, constantly evolving set!
The more you enjoy something, the faster you progress. If you aren't enjoying it, then simplify how you approach things; simplify your setup; and simplify your goals.
For me, it's about grabbing my drum pad or guitar - both of which are ready to go at all times with my streamlined setup and perfectly-tuned default set - and just loving my beat or riffing, then building on it.
Finally - and most importantly - GET OTHER HOBBIES! My music is turbocharged by my weight-lifting, running, snowboarding, boxing, travelling and exciting experiences with friends.
If you sit at a computer with a MIDI keyboard all day, sooner or later your music's just about sitting in a room with a MIDI keyboard - and what could be more boring or irrelevant!
Have fun, do completely exciting, different and challenging things then just pick up your instrument and have fun with it!
Re: Producers blues
Your solution is in the thread title.
Pick up a slightly out of tune acoustic guitar with a string missing and a slide!
Pick up a slightly out of tune acoustic guitar with a string missing and a slide!
Re: Producers blues
That's a good point, alexjholland:
"The beauty of Live, is that you do NOT have to finish ANYTHING - certainly in the sense of verse/chorus/verse."
I don't usually think of it that way because I'm not a DJ... I don't usually approach it that way and I make music in an extremely wide range of tempos... not that that should necessarily preclude me from using this approach.
Point taken.
"The beauty of Live, is that you do NOT have to finish ANYTHING - certainly in the sense of verse/chorus/verse."
I don't usually think of it that way because I'm not a DJ... I don't usually approach it that way and I make music in an extremely wide range of tempos... not that that should necessarily preclude me from using this approach.
Point taken.
Re: Producers blues
Yeah. The whole idea of finishing something is a mixed bag. On one hand, it's good (apparently) to get the sense of achievement from completing something and putting it out there. But this is a new thing in music. For literary millennia, music wasn't this way. People just did it.
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simmerdown
- Posts: 3761
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:36 pm
- Location: Northwest Nowhere
Re: Producers blues
its never finished, keep learning, and keep going, thats is the only solution
or
quit, lol
or
quit, lol
Re: Producers blues
stop doing that and see how you feel about it.emotionz22 wrote:in fact thats what i tell everyone
chill on the big ass fonts and all caps FFS, it's too early to read that.
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Re: Producers blues
I knew a guy on our scene many years ago, in fact 20 years ago, he made some incredible music but he just kept changing it because it "wasn't right yet". He never actually released anything.
Meanwhile everyone else on the scene managed to complete half-cocked remixes in an afternoon and albums in 5 days, sure they weren't "perfect" but they existed. Meanwhile he was so hung up on his inflated egotism that he couldn't bear the idea that he might release anything merely "OK".
Despite the fact that we were all unsatisfied with out product, some of our audiences loved it, and some tolerated it. So, we all got to realise that there is no such thing as perfect.
What happened to that guy?
He is still talking-up his big project that never, ever, gets released because it's still not quite perfect enough. Twenty years later he is still in the exact same frozen position and it's through pure egotism. We were all prepared to be called "shit" and "derivative" and not take our selves so serious as to care. He thought himself a prince among men, to lofty too actually release anything.
So my advice: lower your opinion of yourself, just release anything, perform what you have and make it better later. Don't take yourself so seriously.
Otherwise, don't imagine you will change - you will be in the same position when you are 43.
Do a gig now, release now. It's your last chance.
Meanwhile everyone else on the scene managed to complete half-cocked remixes in an afternoon and albums in 5 days, sure they weren't "perfect" but they existed. Meanwhile he was so hung up on his inflated egotism that he couldn't bear the idea that he might release anything merely "OK".
Despite the fact that we were all unsatisfied with out product, some of our audiences loved it, and some tolerated it. So, we all got to realise that there is no such thing as perfect.
What happened to that guy?
He is still talking-up his big project that never, ever, gets released because it's still not quite perfect enough. Twenty years later he is still in the exact same frozen position and it's through pure egotism. We were all prepared to be called "shit" and "derivative" and not take our selves so serious as to care. He thought himself a prince among men, to lofty too actually release anything.
So my advice: lower your opinion of yourself, just release anything, perform what you have and make it better later. Don't take yourself so seriously.
Otherwise, don't imagine you will change - you will be in the same position when you are 43.
Do a gig now, release now. It's your last chance.
Re: Producers blues
^yeah, I'm like that. one day I took a short song I liked, doubled it, wanked out on a synth for the duration and called it done. felt great to finally clear that hurdle.
on Top Gear they had James Blunt on and even he made fun of his own music as being girly and effeminate ("are you kidding, have you heard my music?" <sic>.) people rarely make the music they intend to make. I heard that when Nirvana made Nevermind they were trying to make a Pixies album, it's no Pixies.
on Top Gear they had James Blunt on and even he made fun of his own music as being girly and effeminate ("are you kidding, have you heard my music?" <sic>.) people rarely make the music they intend to make. I heard that when Nirvana made Nevermind they were trying to make a Pixies album, it's no Pixies.
In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?
-Moz
Re: Producers blues
if you have doubts , maybe its not for you... i have recently gone back to school because of my doubts about music and i'm 32, I've been playing for 22 years, and i spent the last 15 years really going after music in various ways, . i started having doubts around 30 and decided that if I'm not 100% into music all the time, all day, then its not really worth it. If your goal is "to make it" and not just to make as much music as you can, then your sunk. all my successful friends have never worried about "making it" and just shed all day. the ones who have trouble are the ones worrying about how to do it, or what to do, or if their shits good enough. So you either gotta go all in, or keep it as a hobby and figure out what to do with your life.