Lack of Motivation

[TimeToProduce]

I don't feel like making music. I've felt like this for a while now. The thing is i started listen a lot to Twenty One Pilot and Porter Robinson and i usually don't do that. Every song that they make has some story to tell. The lyrics or the song itself. Then i started to comparing music i make and others do to the stuff made by geniuses. The music i make feels so heartless. Like for example stuff made by Oliver Heldens, Martin Garrix, or someone else. The music they make sounds good, but whats the story? Like song by Martin Garrix Animals or Tremor, something you want to jump to but there is no story. The most artists from spinnin records are making music that has nothing to tell.


What are your thoughts? Need to talk about this, cause i might be going crazy.

[ras.s]

Is there something in particular that is keeping you from telling stories with your music?

There's definitely a lot of people in the world who talk a lot, but say very little. Now that you have noticed it yourself, it's up to you to decide if you want to be like that or not.

[OzoneJunkie]

Write a song about what you posted. Get on it.

[JJ_Jettflow]

Music is an artform and that means you go with whatever way seems to express your feeling best. Some music tells stories; some like you said just make you want to jump. That is because there is no "right way" to express yourself. Like I said, whichever way suits you best.

But being unhappy with your current music is a good motivational tool for you to explore different writing approaches. Years ago when I wanted to expand my guitar playing, I picked up a keyboard to learn how to play. This made me listen to bands that had prominent keyboards in their music which lead me in a whole new direction I had not thought of. Listen to the music you like and then ask yourself what makes you like it. Try then to incorporate that into your writing style.

[TimeToProduce]

Is there something in particular that is keeping you from telling stories with your music?

There's definitely a lot of people in the world who talk a lot, but say very little. Now that you have noticed it yourself, it's up to you to decide if you want to be like that or not.

The things that are stopping me is that i have produced this kind of music for a long time, and there is no turning back. Either i keep going or stop, but not change to for example singing. The question is if it's possible to express something human trough these kind of genres?

Write a song about what you posted. Get on it.

I'm not songwriter nor singer. Still think i should write a song about this?

[funky lime]

Personally, I find that musical growth happens by pushing through those stages of "not feeling like it." I mean, there are days where I don't feel like eating or cleaning the house or doing laundry or whatever, but I do them anyway even though I don't feel like it. And then, at the end of the day, I feel better about having done it even though I dreaded it the whole time.

Don't get caught up in trying to make the next best song that will melt hearts and drop panties. Just make a song, any shitty song, even if it's silly or emotionless or repetitive. Push through, because there is a music maker inside you, even if it doesn't want to get out of bed lately.

The part of your brain that lights up when you do something new to you doesn't light up as much once that thing you're doing becomes habit or second nature. When I'm stuck in a rut, I like to try to explore new angles rather than beating my head against the same spot. Pick up and learn a new instrument from the second hand shop, or experiment with an alternate tuning on guitar, or just throw a mic in the kitchen and start banging away on whatever makes a sound. After having made music for almost 20 years, I find that I'm not nearly as curious as I used to be about it all. Change things up, and it will create a new challenge that will stimulate that inner curiosity, because you will have to take everything you think you know and figure it out from a new angle.

Also, we tend to look for meaning in things, even if it isn't there (at least not in the form in which we are perceiving it). So if you feel like a piece of music has no story... well, every sound is a metaphor, every instrument is a character, every riff is a statement. Every second of audio is generally very intentional, and it could be that intent itself that is the story being told. It's easy to lose sight of this as a musician... a simple major triad might be boring to me most of the time, but it could end up being the most powerful statement of a piece. A hot drum loop that you've had on repeat in your DAW for a few hours won't sound fun to you anymore, but when the listener hears it for the first time, he or she could still be blown away.

It could be, if your music lacks heart, then you need to go out and do new stuff. I get more ideas in a ten minute walk in an unfamiliar neighborhood than I do spending ten hours in front of my DAW. Also, "heart" in music comes from expression. I try to add more control and expressiveness to my virtual instruments by using foot pedals and sliders to control stuff while I play it in; if the sounds are too static, then the music will lack a human feel. And yes, you can draw automation after the fact, but it won't have the same "soul" as a performance that was recorded/manipulated live.

Anyway, I'm rambling on... good luck, and I hope you find that spark again.

[funky lime]

Is there something in particular that is keeping you from telling stories with your music?

There's definitely a lot of people in the world who talk a lot, but say very little. Now that you have noticed it yourself, it's up to you to decide if you want to be like that or not.

The things that are stopping me is that i have produced this kind of music for a long time, and there is no turning back. Either i keep going or stop, but not change to for example singing. The question is if it's possible to express something human trough these kind of genres?

Write a song about what you posted. Get on it.

I'm not songwriter nor singer. Still think i should write a song about this?

This was posted while I was in the middle of writing my novel above, so I'll reply separately here. What do you mean there is no turning back? It sounds like you are majorly holding yourself back. Life is organic, it changes over time. People learn new things; if you are so set on doing things the way you've always done them, and can't imagine switching paths, then of course you're going to hit a wall!


You're not a singer or songwriter... then YES, you should absolutely write a song about it! Push yourself out of your comfort zone, and you will learn to flex creative muscles that you perhaps didn't even realize you had.

[TimeToProduce]

Music is an artform and that means you go with whatever way seems to express your feeling best. Some music tells stories; some like you said just make you want to jump. That is because there is no "right way" to express yourself. Like I said, whichever way suits you best.

Well this answers my frustration i guess. And the advice you gave, i'm already on it!

[Jace-BeOS]

I totally empathize with lacking motivation, but it's not for the same reason. Mostly my issue is situational misery and frustration. But I do sometimes think "why should I struggle to make music when other musicians make the stuff I like to listen to?" I sometimes feel like my music isn't what I want to listen to (luckily, I've come to actually quite like some of my own stuff). I try to learn how to capture what it is I like in the music of other artists. Then I ask myself "am I just copying their sounds/technique, or doing my own thing?"

I think, for some of us, it takes doing a lot of work to find one's own style in the art we create. The next challenge is deciding whether or not we like our own style.

Experiment with your art. If there is something another artist does that inspires you, find a way to bring that element into your own work. It might take more effort, but that's really just a standard part of the process: effort.

There's no such thing as "not going back" when we're talking about style choice. That's totally up to you and you can change it at any moment you like. You seem to be putting a lot of emphasis on singing as being something you don't do. Maybe you can learn. You could also possibly collaborate with a singer/songwriter.

Or, at the end of the day, maybe you just don't enjoy creating music enough to put the effort into it that is required to create what you think you should be creating. It's okay to focus on other interests that motivate you more. Maybe you'll come back to music in the future.

[OzoneJunkie]

The things that are stopping me is that i have produced this kind of music for a long time, and there is no turning back. Either i keep going or stop, but not change to for example singing.

Write a song about what you posted. Get on it.

I'm not songwriter nor singer. Still think i should write a song about this?

What you're describing - your issue - your lack of motivation: it's not unique.

The resulting feeling inside of you is unique to you in a sense though. But, what I think you should do is explore that feeling. Why do you feel the way you do? Writing a song may give you not only the motivation you're looking for, but the answers to that question.

[TimeToProduce]

Is there something in particular that is keeping you from telling stories with your music?

There's definitely a lot of people in the world who talk a lot, but say very little. Now that you have noticed it yourself, it's up to you to decide if you want to be like that or not.

The things that are stopping me is that i have produced this kind of music for a long time, and there is no turning back. Either i keep going or stop, but not change to for example singing. The question is if it's possible to express something human trough these kind of genres?

Write a song about what you posted. Get on it.

I'm not songwriter nor singer. Still think i should write a song about this?

This was posted while I was in the middle of writing my novel above, so I'll reply separately here. What do you mean there is no turning back? It sounds like you are majorly holding yourself back. Life is organic, it changes over time. People learn new things; if you are so set on doing things the way you've always done them, and can't imagine switching paths, then of course you're going to hit a wall!


You're not a singer or songwriter... then YES, you should absolutely write a song about it! Push yourself out of your comfort zone, and you will learn to flex creative muscles that you perhaps didn't even realize you had.

The thing is i'm already doing that. I'm trying to learn how to sing (alone of course!) and playing a guitar that always wanted to learn and began recently. And i made 3 songs in different genres. The thing is, it feels like changing style completely. Yes trying out new things sound fresh, and will 100% improve my creativity, but if i change style then it feels like i begin from the beginning. Like going from EDM producer to creating a band and playing guitar. Going back all the way to start again. I just wanted to find faith in electronic music again. And i think i am feeling like this because, it's winter and me and winter dont get along too well..
You also mentioned you have created music for 20 years now. Can i get a link to any of your music?

[harryupbabble]

Some people make music and some people are poets. I am only totally guessing, but rare seems to be the person that is excellent musician/composer and at the same time also excellent poet. Something to do with the way brains are... maybe. Yeah, although Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen are supposedly very good with words, they are supposedly no Mozart. And Mozart is no Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen etc, supposedly.

Very, very, very good songwriters might be freaks. And some freaks can't sustain it, like Procol Harum, only had that one great lyrics + great music "evident" in their song A Whiter Shade Of Pale. But, I suppose, everybody has their own idea of what "very, very, very good songwriters" are. I think David Bowie was one. Sure, some may say "David Bowie was no excellent poet nor excellent musician" but to me no one came close in terms of being just "good" at both as opposed to "excellent". Plus his catalogue of songs is huuuuuuuge. David Bowie had quantity + quality + variety + popularity. Plus there is rumour that he was more "well endowed" than Jimi Hendrix. And he didn't go bald. If I was David Bowie, I couldn't probably help liking myself. Hahaha. Made me think of the lyrics "You're so vain. You probably think this song is about you."

Ooops what's the topic again again? Something about Martin Garrix. Yeah, I would be supersurpised if he all of sudden wrote a song like "Heroes".

[TimeToProduce]

I totally empathize with lacking motivation, but it's not for the same reason. Mostly my issue is situational misery and frustration. But I do sometimes think "why should I struggle to make music when other musicians make the stuff I like to listen to?" I sometimes feel like my music isn't what I want to listen to (luckily, I've come to actually quite like some of my own stuff). I try to learn how to capture what it is I like in the music of other artists. Then I ask myself "am I just copying their sounds/technique, or doing my own thing?"

I think, for some of us, it takes doing a lot of work to find one's own style in the art we create. The next challenge is deciding whether or not we like our own style.

Experiment with your art. If there is something another artist does that inspires you, find a way to bring that element into your own work. It might take more effort, but that's really just a standard part of the process: effort.

There's no such thing as "not going back" when we're talking about style choice. That's totally up to you and you can change it at any moment you like. You seem to be putting a lot of emphasis on singing as being something you don't do. Maybe you can learn. You could also possibly collaborate with a singer/songwriter.

Or, at the end of the day, maybe you just don't enjoy creating music enough to put the effort into it that is required to create what you think you should be creating. It's okay to focus on other interests that motivate you more. Maybe you'll come back to music in the future.

The last bit might be the case, except i feel that way about all the things. So it's not only music.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

i might be going crazy.

If only more people felt like you do, then I reckon the music 'industry' would be in a much better state.

Personally, I wouldn't be looking to dance music to give you a story, or even, "heart". It's not impossible to imbue dance music with such qualities, but dance music really only needs to satisfy one criterion

And if you want your music to have heart, then make it with heart. If that means having to change genre, then do so

[fluffy_little_something]

Same with me, no real motivation to make music.
I don't want to make more trash, there is already more than enough of that out there. And I am probably not talented enough to make good music, I don't have a message, nor the passion good musicians have.

Actually, I have been wondering for a couple of weeks now whether I should simply give up music and stop wasting so much time for nothing. Most people are not cut out to be musicians. The ease with which anyone can get a virtual studio for little money these days is deceiving.
Often I don't even feel like opening the DAW anymore, it has become more of a routine or even bad habit rather than something I really want to do.