The music in my head turned off

[Jace-BeOS]

All I know is that there is no music in my head and their is bugger all inspiration for lyrics. (actually, not strictly true. I have a lot of rage about the state of the world that I want to scream about, but when I try to put down on paper it looks like REALLY bad teenage poetry)

Maybe this is the cost of growing up if you aren't free to write/produce for a living. I haven't grown up yet and I refuse to.

If that were the case, I would've lost my creativity in my early teens. I was already too aware and too mature for my peers. Too "grown up". But I'm certain I still had something going on inside me creatively after that maturity set in. Continuing maturity has just focused my thinking over the decades and refined my language skills (which admittedly might be a bit of a roadblock since lyrics tend to demand simpler language).

"Growing up" doesn't necessarily require self-censorship or losing any sense of fun and creativity. I think plenty of creative people have grown up and not lost their way, artistically (and even improved). I think it's all nurture. What we learn from experiences shapes how we behave later. Did your life experience teach you that there are rewards for creativity or punishments?

In my case, definitely no rewards...

[Jace-BeOS]

listen to music all the time

I think you might have hit the nail on the head. I did cancel my Napster account to save money and I haven't been listening to music much. Spotify is free but I didn't want to use it because it pays artists dick. But maybe I can tolerate it for the time being. Thanks for the input.

This is definitely part of what gets me making music.

The downside is sometimes I find I'm enjoying listening to music too much to ruin the feeling by stopping the music and torturing myself trying to make my own music. I find the work extremely irritating. To quote a TV writer I just saw in an interview with Charlie Brooker: "I love having written, but I f**king hate writing".

[Hink]

[...](actually, not strictly true. I have a lot of rage about the state of the world that I want to scream about, but when I try to put down on paper it looks like REALLY bad teenage poetry)

I have exactly this same problem. I wish I knew how to direct my rage into music. I feel like the Nine Inch Nails "Broken" EP half the time, but I cannot create that kind of output.

Even "lesser artful" lyrics sound better with appropriate music, but even just putting rage into a poetic structure to attempt to put it to music is out of my immediate grasp. I think it's just that rage is in no way conducive to actually doing the work. Like, I need to get the rage out after I've written and started composition, not before.

But even putting it to words... I mean, I could just make a song where I'm screaming "f**k" over and over with ever increasing intensity (probably ending up with blood on the pop filter), since that's pretty much the level of disgust with things that I feel ... but that's not something anyone wants to listen to. I'm not into the death metal vocal sound either; my goal is "singing rage".

Blah blah blah...

If you ever figure it out, please share

be it in the moment...example, want to write words that are angry? Start writing what's on your mind when things really, really piss you off. You know the rant you really want to let loose at who or whatever pissed you off but you have more self control to actually do it. Write it down, after awhile you should develop a bit of an understanding of your angry writing style and where it comes from. Then be it in the moment

[planetearth]

I'm glad KVRers stepped in to answer @MackTuesday's question. I was a bit worried when I read the first few responses, but thankfully, they've been muted by those who have been where MackTuesday is, and are either still there...or have found their way out, and are shining a light for others to follow.

If I'd seen a post like this two weeks ago, I probably would have offered something to try to help. Two weeks later, I'm here to see if any of these suggestions will work for me. Go figure.

All that said, I do think (hope?) the feeling of "losing the music" is temporary and cyclical. All I can suggest to MackTuesday is that I think (hope?) the music will come back to him, just as I hope it will come back to anyone else here who feels he's lost it.

Steve

[HunterKiller]

[...](actually, not strictly true. I have a lot of rage about the state of the world that I want to scream about, but when I try to put down on paper it looks like REALLY bad teenage poetry)

I have exactly this same problem. I wish I knew how to direct my rage into music. I feel like the Nine Inch Nails "Broken" EP half the time, but I cannot create that kind of output.

Even "lesser artful" lyrics sound better with appropriate music, but even just putting rage into a poetic structure to attempt to put it to music is out of my immediate grasp. I think it's just that rage is in no way conducive to actually doing the work. Like, I need to get the rage out after I've written and started composition, not before.

But even putting it to words... I mean, I could just make a song where I'm screaming "f**k" over and over with ever increasing intensity (probably ending up with blood on the pop filter), since that's pretty much the level of disgust with things that I feel ... but that's not something anyone wants to listen to. I'm not into the death metal vocal sound either; my goal is "singing rage".

Blah blah blah...

If you ever figure it out, please share

Turn your rage into a thing which is helpful and conducive. From chaos into harmony. From white (meaningless) noise, into beauty that uplifts you and others, ceasing your own inner chaos (rage) and giving you peace.

When you have reached peace, then aim to have action without chaos.

When you have reached that, you will have come full circle. Because you will finally be able to express yourself and have meaningful and helpful impact outside of yourself, which you so long to have.

[HunterKiller]

Yeah, I think you need new inspiration, like trip to some forest, mountain, listen to all that beautiful birds and everything, watch sunsets and sunrises, man, I got so inspired just watching the sunsets in the autumn, that beautiful colors, I even got back to making music because of it, I heard tones in all those colors

This track in conjunction with autumn sunsets got me back to music making.



and this one just made me find that missing link

I like your impressionistic approach. Btw that's some REALLY cool music you posted! And the videos are gorgeous.

Thanks man!

[jacqueslacouth]

be it in the moment...example, want to write words that are angry? Start writing what's on your mind when things really, really piss you off. You know the rant you really want to let loose at who or whatever pissed you off but you have more self control to actually do it. Write it down, after awhile you should develop a bit of an understanding of your angry writing style and where it comes from. Then be it in the moment

I like the idea in theory. Back when I still engaged in social media, my Facebook rants were something my friends often mentioned as one of the things they actually enjoyed on Facebook. But thinking back, I am a long winded pompous old git when you look at my literary style (a typical retired teacher), sure there was always a LOT of swearing and general vitriol, but I never seemed capable of leaving out the parts that were just the arrogant putrescence that I was so known for...I dunno...I'm becoming ever more inclined to shut myself in my cave with a nice cup of tea, a cheese sandwich and a good book.

[justin3am]

I'm not sure if I have ever had music in my head. As strange as it may sound my approach to music is pretty methodical. Sometimes it's tough to motivate myself to arrange a song but it doesn't require much motivation to play. Inspiration is fickle, undependable.

When I was more interested in writing, my instructors encouraged us to always be writing, whether it's a complete idea or not. It certainly is a helpful way to think when working on music. I know you can't just make music where ever you go but there are lots of ways to express musical ideas.

[CrystalWizard]

I'm glad KVRers stepped in to answer @MackTuesday's question.

All that said, I do think (hope?) the feeling of "losing the music" is temporary and cyclical. All I can suggest to MackTuesday is that I think (hope?) the music will come back to him, just as I hope it will come back to anyone else here who feels he's lost it.

Steve

For he or she who feels like they lost their connection to creativity and to music in particular i would second the suggestion to get outdoors and listen closely to everything. Actually even listening closely to all sounds indoors can be inspiring. IMO getting some air and hopefully seeing some sights can help too. Experiencing other forms of art has often inspired me particularly visual art, literature, architecture, and olfactory. To paraphrase HS Thomson "i wouldn't recommend weed and/or psykadelica to anyone who has lost their connection to creativity but it's always worked well for me." All of the above has helped me immensely, although, more so in a general mental and emotional manner as my creative impulse sticks with me unless i get really depressed (which does happen.) Hopefully this thread helps all who need it. Last but not least as the previous post says, write, write, write, sometimes just doing it works well, like smiling first and then being happy.

[morelia]

I used to have music in my head all the time. It was great. It would be like:

• 1. Get cool idea
  2. Write it down
  3. Later, sit down and choose one of my umpteen ideas
  4. Fiddle with it
  5. Have something cool

I've gone through a period of worrying about money. Things are better now and I want to get back to making music, but I can't bring forth what used to be there anymore. Does anyone know how to bring it back?

Do you play an instrument? I find that is a sure fire way to ensure music is never far from my thoughts. After I play guitar for a few minutes the hard part is to stop thinking about it.

[bachmaninoff]

I used to get inspiration by aiming to do a cover song. I'd start this by setting up a split point on a 61 note keyboard, with a synth bass sound doing 8th note repeats with random rests in the lower two octaves, and the upper half doing pad chords, layered with an arp synth transposed an octave up doing 16ths.
Somewhere along the way I'd get distracted and start playing different chords, taking it in a different direction. Like, 'hmm that sounds good'... Just make sure you're recording yourself in the background in case you discover something cool!

Hopefully your dry spell isn't an indicator of something more serious. Be honest with yourself, and seek help if you need it!

[MackTuesday]

I have a lot of rage about the state of the world that I want to scream about, but when I try to put down on paper it looks like REALLY bad teenage poetry)

Some of those that work forces
Are the same that burn crosses
HUH!
Neeneeneneeneneeer
Killin in the name of
DUHDUH DUH
Now you do what they toldja
DUHDUH DUH
Now you do what they toldja

Bad teenage poetry seemed to work pretty well for them.

[MackTuesday]

I'm glad KVRers stepped in to answer @MackTuesday's question. I was a bit worried when I read the first few responses, but thankfully, they've been muted by those who have been where MackTuesday is, and are either still there...or have found their way out, and are shining a light for others to follow.

If I'd seen a post like this two weeks ago, I probably would have offered something to try to help. Two weeks later, I'm here to see if any of these suggestions will work for me. Go figure.

All that said, I do think (hope?) the feeling of "losing the music" is temporary and cyclical. All I can suggest to MackTuesday is that I think (hope?) the music will come back to him, just as I hope it will come back to anyone else here who feels he's lost it.

Steve

Yeah, so many great responses! I want to thank everyone individually for feeding the conversation, but I just don't have time. I'm definitely paying attention though.

[MackTuesday]

Here's something I find very inspiring. All of the visuals are mathematically generated. The fractal structure is the result of a single iterated function! It's very impressive considering the variety of forms you see in the video. The music is pretty cool too.

[Woodgardens]

Imagine there is a knob in your head, focus on it, and turn it 'on'