I have come across a problem, where I don't feel excited making music anymore. I do not finish any mixes, I just start a new project everytime I get stuck on a 8-16 bar loop. I feel like problem is partly that I can't decide what type of music I wan't to make. I switch up and experiment a lot but never finish any of that stuff. Also I don't really know how to get involved in any producer stuff and no one I know creates music.
I just wanna create music as passionate as I did before, where dreams felt more achievable and I had progress making music. Life has just hit me with a curveball, with mental health problems, which I can't figure out to come back from.
What are the ways you have dealth with similar or same situation?
Stuck...
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- KVRist
- 158 posts since 13 Feb, 2015
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- KVRian
- 1182 posts since 11 Sep, 2015
well, if you're talking about finishing something, you have in your mind an idea of a finished product that you want to have or accomplish. what is it?
the good thing is that techno is the cool genre at the moment and if you can make a good 8bar loop, you're already ahead with most of the job done.
the good thing is that techno is the cool genre at the moment and if you can make a good 8bar loop, you're already ahead with most of the job done.
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- KVRAF
- 1791 posts since 17 Sep, 2002
Pick an arbitrary date in the near future, and announce to everyone you know that you will be releasing something on that date.
Alternatively, take a break from writing music. Try transcribing music you enjoy listening to; maybe deconstructing someone else's track will give you a spark of inspiration, and will definitely help you improve your own song making craft regardless.
I think a lot of us have struggled with this kind of feeling at some point. Don't forget that music is a form of expression, a language through which we communicate our feelings. But you've got to have something you want to express. Think: What are you trying to say? Is it a statement? A question? An observation? What is that idea inside you that you need to express, for which words alone are not enough to capture it? Really think about what that thing is you are trying to say. Maybe write down a phrase, a sentence, tape it to your desk. Then, translate that into music.
Without something to express, it's just noises. And those can be fun to make, maybe for about 8-16 bars...
Alternatively, take a break from writing music. Try transcribing music you enjoy listening to; maybe deconstructing someone else's track will give you a spark of inspiration, and will definitely help you improve your own song making craft regardless.
I think a lot of us have struggled with this kind of feeling at some point. Don't forget that music is a form of expression, a language through which we communicate our feelings. But you've got to have something you want to express. Think: What are you trying to say? Is it a statement? A question? An observation? What is that idea inside you that you need to express, for which words alone are not enough to capture it? Really think about what that thing is you are trying to say. Maybe write down a phrase, a sentence, tape it to your desk. Then, translate that into music.
Without something to express, it's just noises. And those can be fun to make, maybe for about 8-16 bars...
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- KVRAF
- 7866 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Sell everything, become a gamer. Post your high scores and pat yourself on the back.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 158 posts since 13 Feb, 2015
Is that what you did with your same/similar situation? If so, did it work out well?tapper mike wrote: Thu Nov 22, 2018 8:20 am Sell everything, become a gamer. Post your high scores and pat yourself on the back.
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- KVRian
- 1158 posts since 6 Jan, 2015 from London, England
You could try working in the opposite direction. Decide on a genre and map out the entire piece in your DAW from the intro right through to the outro, blocking out the verses, choruses, and mid 8s, or builds, breakdowns, and drops. Then, if you usually work on a loop for a drop, start with an intro instead and do the drop last. Don't worry about using the exact presets, synths, samples, and effects until you've mapped out the whole piece.
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- KVRAF
- 7866 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
No I went back to what I love to do the most. Solo guitar covers. But I did spend some time away from anything in regards to music performance / production.TimeToProduce wrote: Thu Nov 22, 2018 12:00 pmIs that what you did with your same/similar situation? If so, did it work out well?tapper mike wrote: Thu Nov 22, 2018 8:20 am Sell everything, become a gamer. Post your high scores and pat yourself on the back.
We aren't that different than gamers We'll never be famous, someone may occasionally give us lip service about how the "like" our music. Regardless how you spend your free time you always need to ask yourself... Do I like doing this. If the answer is no then a better life would be pursuing something you genuinely enjoy living in the now rather than trying to recreate something that gave you joy in the past but doesn't.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRian
- 1090 posts since 24 Jul, 2018
I unfortunately can %100 relate. I think the part you're missing is that music is a communication tool too. What you wrote in this post you can find a way to convery in your music. I do it by finding dialogue to sample, wether it's from a TED speach, a podcast, a movie, ect, I'm always on the look for chunks of dialogue to record and implement in my music.
With the loop block just copy the 8-16 bar loops out to 2-3 minutes. Find more loops that compliment it, add them in. Then start taking some away in arrangement. Don't worry about song structure just worry about if it's repetitive or not. XXXtentacion became a superstar before dying by making songs that consisted of a hook, verse, then bridge and ended after 1:30 lol
With the loop block just copy the 8-16 bar loops out to 2-3 minutes. Find more loops that compliment it, add them in. Then start taking some away in arrangement. Don't worry about song structure just worry about if it's repetitive or not. XXXtentacion became a superstar before dying by making songs that consisted of a hook, verse, then bridge and ended after 1:30 lol
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- KVRAF
- 7104 posts since 22 Jan, 2005 from Sweden
The music "project" for me at least is so wide.
a) getting better at instruments involved
Practising improve so many things - recording takes goes quicker, and sound better.
And always new ideas every time I practise - keep an dictaphone within reach and just for memory of frasing and stuff which I think is difficult, unless you spent an hour with it right then.
b) improve recording and mixing skills
Read some books or take part of some YT channel etc.
New things in the back of your head while mixing.
c) familiarize with sounds and for own synths make new patches and categorise
Explore the libraries you have on computer etc.
Always handy to keep in mind when bringing about some feel to piece.
d) the recording and mixing process of started projects
Each makeover trying making it more professional sounding. Changing arrangements etc.
Still going back to old projects made 15 years ago, and even some things I did in the 80's to make a piece of music from a rough idea.
e) Even just listening to favourite artists bring inspiration - fine musicians dedicating a lifetime to music.
Especially live concert videos on DVD and such - really nice. You can look for gear they use etc.
And study why you like a certain song - and listen for everything in there. Usually there is so much more than you first realise, even hearing it 100 times before. What is that going on in the background - all the little things usually there when starting to listen for it.
Finding these layers in the music makes it completely new - and unless you have it in your own music you might bore the listener too quickly.
It's the same as with good poetry - so many layers - and each read brings different ideas to mind.
f) started doing some films and make score to that
Very different approach and many musical ideas not fitting as a song will fit to just create a feel to a scene.
You can get into making sounds like foley artists and stuff
g) learning more about film making - and how to make it more interesting for viewer.
Always jumping between these categories and the "project" moves forward - always.
I can't imagine just sitting pounding myself doing recording all the time.
I see song writing at least as a separate process not needing to be at computer.
Music to film is right there watching the video though.
So a bunch of ideas from me....focus on something else in music making in between - not pounding yourself at the computer all the time.
a) getting better at instruments involved
Practising improve so many things - recording takes goes quicker, and sound better.
And always new ideas every time I practise - keep an dictaphone within reach and just for memory of frasing and stuff which I think is difficult, unless you spent an hour with it right then.
b) improve recording and mixing skills
Read some books or take part of some YT channel etc.
New things in the back of your head while mixing.
c) familiarize with sounds and for own synths make new patches and categorise
Explore the libraries you have on computer etc.
Always handy to keep in mind when bringing about some feel to piece.
d) the recording and mixing process of started projects
Each makeover trying making it more professional sounding. Changing arrangements etc.
Still going back to old projects made 15 years ago, and even some things I did in the 80's to make a piece of music from a rough idea.
e) Even just listening to favourite artists bring inspiration - fine musicians dedicating a lifetime to music.
Especially live concert videos on DVD and such - really nice. You can look for gear they use etc.
And study why you like a certain song - and listen for everything in there. Usually there is so much more than you first realise, even hearing it 100 times before. What is that going on in the background - all the little things usually there when starting to listen for it.
Finding these layers in the music makes it completely new - and unless you have it in your own music you might bore the listener too quickly.
It's the same as with good poetry - so many layers - and each read brings different ideas to mind.
f) started doing some films and make score to that
Very different approach and many musical ideas not fitting as a song will fit to just create a feel to a scene.
You can get into making sounds like foley artists and stuff
g) learning more about film making - and how to make it more interesting for viewer.
Always jumping between these categories and the "project" moves forward - always.
I can't imagine just sitting pounding myself doing recording all the time.
I see song writing at least as a separate process not needing to be at computer.
Music to film is right there watching the video though.
So a bunch of ideas from me....focus on something else in music making in between - not pounding yourself at the computer all the time.
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- KVRAF
- 4420 posts since 7 Nov, 2005 from Florida
My 2 cents:
Music is very emotional. Some of the best music ever created were based on the emotions of the musician or composer at the time. The minute it becomes a chore, just stop.
You need something to happen to you. Inspire you. Upset you. In any case, something to cause an emotion so strong, you must create. In the end, it's all about creativity and the passion to create music and express yourself.
Do only what you love. Find something to inspire you. A new love. Something to hate. Something that moves you or something that really, really, really pisses you off.
Then make music.
One last thing. It's always good to have a process. Not someone else's process. Your process.
Mine goes like this:
Play the keyboard till I come across something I really like.
If it's virtual instrument or computer based, then I create the groove first, then the other parts as the production comes together.
Not long ago I became disenchanted with it all. I decided to stop gathering new instruments, samples, etc and focus solely on playing hardware synths/piano/arranger keyboards.
That did it for me. Now I play all the time and as a added bonus, my chops became much, much better.
That's my 2 cents. That's because i'm broke and really only have 2 cents.
But they're yours now.
Mike
Music is very emotional. Some of the best music ever created were based on the emotions of the musician or composer at the time. The minute it becomes a chore, just stop.
You need something to happen to you. Inspire you. Upset you. In any case, something to cause an emotion so strong, you must create. In the end, it's all about creativity and the passion to create music and express yourself.
Do only what you love. Find something to inspire you. A new love. Something to hate. Something that moves you or something that really, really, really pisses you off.
Then make music.
One last thing. It's always good to have a process. Not someone else's process. Your process.
Mine goes like this:
Play the keyboard till I come across something I really like.
If it's virtual instrument or computer based, then I create the groove first, then the other parts as the production comes together.
Not long ago I became disenchanted with it all. I decided to stop gathering new instruments, samples, etc and focus solely on playing hardware synths/piano/arranger keyboards.
That did it for me. Now I play all the time and as a added bonus, my chops became much, much better.
That's my 2 cents. That's because i'm broke and really only have 2 cents.
But they're yours now.
Mike