Is listening to another song while making yours fine ?

[Kevin Deas]

I'd never think of doing that, but I'm not a multi-tasker. I always felt multi-taking was just an excuse for not giving someone or something your undivided attention. Hey, whatever works for you.

[Sparky77]

I'm new here and this is my first post.

I'm learning to make mainly afro-pop beats plus every other kind of beat I can manage to make.

(Not always, but) Sometimes I hear beats from big producers in my area and I want to make beats like that, not exactly, but similar. It kind of make me feel less creative.

My question is, is it fine/ok to listen to a song in a particular genre while making a beat in that genre ? Probably using similar drum lines, and then put my own piano, synth etc.

Thanks for your response.

Seems like a distraction to me or perhaps the road to being derivative.
If you are listening to another song while recording , then you are attempting to copy it on some level.

Why not just listen to yourself.

Make something from you, not another artist.

[arkmabat]

Many people a-b their mix to one that sounds like what they want. Usual practice I think.

[4damind]

If you mean at the last step while mastering.. yes, it's common to compare with similar "reference tracks". But it's more for the frequency balance, the loudness and all this stuff. This can help to find mixing mistakes and come a bit closer to your desired overall sound.

But not for composing/arranging. At this stage it's a very bad idea! Listen to the music you like very often but if you switch from listening to composing mode, the only thing is your creativity. You don't need inspiration from another song.. this will kill your creativity and the development of a own style and at the end of the day you will be unhappy with the results.

[nighteye]

All the comments here are great. I've learnt a thing or two.

I think listening to the genre a lot before production will be good.

[nighteye]

and maybe using loops when necessary.

[4damind]

and maybe using loops when necessary.

There are no rules but the result should be IMO unique and not sound like a copy & paste thingy

[DJ Warmonger]

My works end up totally unique even though I strive to reproduce different sounds and styles from my favourite tracks. Every artists gets inspired by earlier works of someone else, but that doesn't people stop from being creative.
Also, this whole "creativity" is overrated. No one in the world knows what did you do while making the track, it's the final result that people hear.

[arkmabat]

Yep. I heard a Metallica riff (beginning of master of puppets) in an old 70s song. Kurt Cobain used twang from country. It's weird listening to older music because you realize how much they influenced modern music. You'll hear similar bass lines, similar rhyming words, all sorts of stuff.

[Zombie Queen]

Cool idea. Listen to some other music, while making music, which implies, don't listen to the music you make, while you're making it. Many people must be doing it this way, I think...

[V0RT3X]

Honestly it depends on what effect you want to capture with your song. If your a EDM producer and your job is to appease the masses who expect a bunch of cookie cutter style sounds then yes.

If you like to go in your own creative direction and make your own stuff then just do what makes you happy. It's sometimes good to use a inspiring track for a mastering reference that you can compare with while finishing. I see nothing wrong in using other peoples music as inspiration to get your creative juices flowing, just don't do the copycat approach like Zomboy does with skrillex. Try to take something mainstream and put your own spin on it.

[Kevin Deas]

Everything here is good advice if you are trying to capture an audience. Trying to capture an audience has ruined many of the greats. Prince is my best example. No doubt he is gifted, but once he began trying to capture an audience he became mundane. As long as he broke the mold he was relevant, but not necessarily popular. He has spent the last few albums trying to prove he can do what the people want. As a result he has lowered himself to the standard others set. I could give a damn if anyone likes my music, I stopped listening to current music years ago. I don't want to be influenced by or compared to anyone else. I'm sure Sly and the Family Stone, James Brown and others did not use reference tracks to make their music. If you listen to their albums they are not flawlessly produced, but they will be played for eternity. Why? Because they were pleasing themselves not an audience.

[nighteye]

Got all you've said, it will be useful to me in my works.

[RunBeerRun]

You should listen to Danzig while producing. Mother, do you wanna bang heads with me.

Do it now

[nighteye]

Lol RunBeerRun. Metal ? Guess your kidding.