Ableton Forum

Hi folks.

I've been playing music (piano/keyboard) since I was 7 years old. Music has always been a huge part of my life (even if not professionally). I have played in funk bands, blues bands, rock bands, reggae bands, and even a (not terribly successful) live electronic/accoustic hybrid band. Since 1998 I have written a lot of electronic music. That has been the focus of most of my compositions since that time. A lot of downtempo, abstract hip hop, trip hop, but also some fairly expirimental, melodic but not dance floor friendly electronic stuff. A bit of drum n bass, a smattering of house, etc.

Since I picked up Live 8 Suite in late December, I've been back at it again, with very limited success. And the problem is, I keep recreating what I have already done, or what I hear and listen to... things that have already very much been done. This has been valuable for improving my skills with Live, but most of the music I've created over this time period leaves me feeling cold... often unispired, equally often "not me." I listen and ask myself, "Is this really saying anything? And if so, is that what I want to say?"

So I've come to the conclusion that I want to reinvent myself, musically speaking. I have come to the conclusion that I need to "find my voice"

I'm not looking for "what genre to go to." And I understand that the music that has influenced me throughout my life will shine through whatever I create. But I'm curious if others here have been through a similar state in their musical lives. And if so, how did you go about finding that voice? Did you find it? Do you have any recommendations, do's or don't's?

Any thoughts, ideas, or experiences you've had are welcome.

Thanks,

Chris

I think a valid voice is defined as one that has some sort of resonance amongst people.

So imagine a performer who makes the most derivative 1970's heavy rock imaginable, but if there's a lack of that in his local area, and the performer is keen on gigging then his voice becomes valid. the audience decides validity and value.

A lot of musicians strive to have an original voice, but originality is subjective. Tom Waits was original to somebody who had never heard Howlin' Wolf, Led Zeppelin were innovative if you had never heard all the people they stole those songs off. As over-educated musical types we tend to over-analyse like that, and judge based on things like "that's Booty's bass style, and that's some bad guitar playing, and that sounds just like Sly and Robbie".

From an audience perspective the judgement criteria are more like : "does he rock the party", or "is he moody and poetic", or "is he wild and dangerous", "is this track bassy", etc.

I think that becoming over self-aware is deadly for a musician.
this is why musicians in their early 20s can be more creative than those who are older, because from 15 to 20 you don't know too much, and don't over think it.

tldr; the valid voice is one which appeals to the crowd you like. hang out with that crowd and make some music for them.

Hey Chris,

Tough question man. My own experience is that I went through a long period of making music which sometimes gave me a spark, but frequently frustrated me, not enthusing or exciting me.

I get the most buzz out of writing, so I decided to take that and run with it. Last year I wrote a song a week, put each of them up on my site as I went along.

Undeniably, some of them are awful but equally I feel some of the best things I've ever done are hidden in the dirt. Writing a song a week gave me a sense of always moving forwards, making progress, learning, enjoying the creative process (though obviously there were weeks where I was sick of the whole thing). It seemed though that the further I went the easier I found it to shut off my preconceptions/inhibitions - whatever that crap is that gets in the way when I'm trying to bounce an idea out of me. Maybe I learned a little more about letting my sub-concious take over in the writing, where I've always felt I've come up with my best moments, when the song 'arrives' rather than is written.

Stylistically the songs are all over the shop, couldn't even begin to map them out even if I wanted to, so what I'd suggest is, learn how to play some new instruments, helped me a lot, and make lots of music. You play mainly keys? Buy a ukulele. Seriously, guitar is my first instrument but I got my first uke Jan last year. Got loads of songs out of it - different kinds of songs too. Then, just write. See how a ukulele fits into a downtempo, abstract hip hop, trip hop kindofa song. Could be interesting. You might hate it, but...

Did this process help me 'find my voice'? It certainly found the voice of my next record. It certainly has got me to a place where I think my next record will be the best thing I've ever done. It made me try loads of different things in terms of song structures, production choices, arrangement things, basically was an earthquake in my creative life that shook a lot of ideas (some good, some bad) out of my tree.

Hope that helps man - good luck!

Bill

Angstrom wrote: I think that becoming over self-aware is deadly for a musician.
this is why musicians in their early 20s can be more creative than those who are older, because from 15 to 20 you don't know too much, and don't over think it.

I was trying to say this, but you've expressed it much better.

Thanks for the thoughtful replies.

You're (both) right -- overthinking it - or anything - can become deadly. And that is definitely something I battle with. Great advice, brings me back down to earth again

The new instrument is also a great idea. Have to get over my fear of that learning curve... and my own impatience!

Angstrom, I've always battled with creating for other people vs creating for myself. There's no feeling quite like having the whole dance floor going nuts when playing live, and on another level getting positive feedback from friends re: a composition. At the same time, the music is my personal form of release, so I've always asked myself "why does it matter what others think?" But you bring up a good point -- what does my voice matter if there's no one there to hear/listen? If a tree falls...

Some great stuff for me to think about here. Thanks again for your thoughtful replies.

Chris

experiment.
develop your own expression.

Brian Eno said (something like this) "I just shoot my arrow and then paint a target around where it lands (hits), whereas most other people are shooting for the targets that others or themselves have set"

I too recently have been going through some kind of 'self valorization'. I watched a few music documentaries, one of which was a Brian Eno interview.. When he said what I quoted above the self imposed shackles that had weighed on me just kinda slid off...

Another thing you may find helpful is to collaborate with an inspiring friend/musician/producer.. we can get so lonely, lost and self examining in the cold world of computers/software and interwebz

Hd

heavensdaw wrote:Brian Eno said (something like this) "I just shoot my arrow and then paint a target around where it lands (hits), whereas most other people are shooting for the targets that others or themselves have set"

I too recently have been going through some kind of 'self valorization'. I watched a few music documentaries, one of which was a Brian Eno interview.. When he said what I quoted above the self imposed shackles that had weighed on me just kinda slid off...
Hd

if i remember correctly, in that same doco he did also say that he also paid attention to commercial success. if something didn't sell, he would change it up.

I think of it like throwing a ball at a target. If you think too much you will always miss and get frustrated. If you dont think about it and just throw it you will probably hit the target.

If your target is making music than you need to create music without thinking too much. you want to avoid that slight feeling of worry you get when aiming the ball at the target, thinking too much of the consequences if you miss or even never hit it in your life time. Just pick up the ball and throw it. We learn from our mistakes and your unconscious mind is much more powerful than your concious mind so why would you rely on that?. Of all your experiences and the music you have made and listened to from birth up until now is all soaked into your unconscious mind like a sponge. Feed your brain music and the connections will be made. keep practising making music and you will become more efficient at allowing music to flow through you.

I always listen to all music. Dont hold any selfish prejudice against genres or music will flow through you in limited amounts and your unconscious mind will have less options available to it when creating something new. Music wont be able to flow freely through your mind. It will get diverted around, bypass certain areas and stop at traffic light thoughts red when you feel what your making wouldnt please someone else, Amber when it may not fit a demographic. Music will be forced to turn around and find another route. like water flowing down a mountain , You cant control the water, but the flow is hindered by obstructions. So free your mind, dont worry, and allow music to flow out of you like water cascading down a waterfall. with no obstructions. pick the ball up and throw it.

oh and try to find inspiration in things other than music..

Psychoactive_Music wrote:I think of it like throwing a ball at a target. If you think too much you will always miss and get frustrated. If you dont think about it and just throw it you will probably hit the target.

If your target is making music than you need to create music without thinking too much. you want to avoid that slight feeling of worry you get when aiming the ball at the target, thinking too much of the consequences if you miss or even never hit it in your life time. Just pick up the ball and throw it. We learn from our mistakes and your unconscious mind is much more powerful than your concious mind so why would you rely on that?. Of all your experiences and the music you have made and listened to from birth up until now is all soaked into your unconscious mind like a sponge. Feed your brain music and the connections will be made. keep practising making music and you will become more efficient at allowing music to flow through you.

I always listen to all music. Dont hold any selfish prejudice against genres or music will flow through you in limited amounts and your unconscious mind will have less options available to it when creating something new. Music wont be able to flow freely through your mind. It will get diverted around, bypass certain areas and stop at traffic light thoughts red when you feel what your making wouldnt please someone else, Amber when it may not fit a demographic. Music will be forced to turn around and find another route. like water flowing down a mountain , You cant control the water, but the flow is hindered by obstructions. So free your mind, dont worry, and allow music to flow out of you like water cascading down a waterfall. with no obstructions. pick the ball up and throw it.

I like the flowing water analogy. I think you nailed it with this one: I'm finding there are a lot of blockages and diversions. Good ideas get stuck, convoluted routes ensue. Sometimes the result is good -- other times it results in that "loss of voice" I've been talking about. I feel blocked up. (Enter constipation jokes here )

3dot, good point about finding other inspiration as well.

I have to check out that Brian Eno Documentary.

Thanks all.

Chris