no talent

[SnaggleLex]

I strongly relate to what you’re describing. I’ve come to believe that, in a very literal sense, almost every sound has already existed somewhere, at some point. No matter what you do, it will always resemble something that already happened somewhere else in the world.
Sometimes I think of it almost like a kind of “quantum problem”: once you operate within the same tools, algorithms, scales, time grids, and cultural references, certain outcomes become statistically unavoidable.
I’ve experienced this myself. Whenever I created something that I genuinely liked, it always turned out to sound very close to something else. I even worked with fairly underground techno aesthetics, showed some of my loops to friends, and got responses like: “Yeah, this is already happening in the underground right now — it reminds me of X or Y.”
These weren’t simple ideas either — they involved heavy Ableton experimentation, complex routings, automation, resampling, things I can barely reconstruct today. And still, the conclusion was the same: it’s already there.
That realization actually made me appreciate real talent more, not less. If everything already exists, then what really matters is who can embody it — who has the intuition, the presence, the voice, the timing, the charisma to make it feel alive now.
At this point, I honestly believe that differentiation mostly happens through performance and presence. Live shows, DJs included. Voice, body language, aura, timing. The human element.
Skill is important, of course. But skill alone doesn’t create meaning. Talent plus skill, expressed through a living person in a room — that’s where things still become unique.

[SnaggleLex]

One thing I’m still genuinely unsure about is how to classify the ability to perform in front of people at all. I don’t even know whether that belongs more to talent or to skill.
Being able to do a live performance — even in front of friends — means dealing with anxiety, exposure, and the pressure of keeping the machine running in real time. You can’t pause, you can’t undo. You have to stay present.
There seems to be a certain kind of aptitude involved: overcoming stage fright, tolerating attention, having the courage to show up in the first place. At the same time, it’s clearly something that can be improved through repetition and experience.
So maybe performance itself isn’t just talent or skill, but a separate layer altogether — a mix of temperament, nervous system resilience, and learned confidence. And it’s probably one of the most underestimated factors when we talk about why some people “make it” and others don’t.

[Opaque]

...

...

Just to offer a different perspective to the two posters above.

Regarding your 'obsession' with what can be or has already been done on a granular level, meaning specific techniques, musical lines, sound design, form, whatever, i think it's important to shift the focus on the overall emergent effect instead. Most of the time it's about these elements adding up to the soundworld that's a result of someone's inner vision/taste, rather than the individual elements being unique or hard to replicate. Instead, it's that source making the thing coherent - more than the sum of its parts.
For example, it's not hard to see what's happening on production/sound design level in Borads of canada, aphex tracks, frank ocean, burial, james blake, etc. just to name some electronic acts, but replicating it would end up as just a cheap imitation of course because there isn't that same driving force behind it that organizes everything - and one shouldn't strive to imitate in that sense imo, or obsess over the uniqueness of every musical or production move.

And this ties in with the question of talent somewhat - if there's some kind of a vision of what to do, or what to say with one's music, or an idea of a soundworld that doesn't really exist yet, then it's just a question of technicalities and experience, or one's ability to pull it off and recognizing what it is that's crucial for it to work.

[zerocrossing]

For me, the funny part is: whenever I actually tried to push a loop further, to put more effort or “grit” into it, the whole thing would suddenly turn weird. If I spent more than 10–15 minutes on something, it instantly sounded overcooked and totally strange.
So I guess in my case it did need some kind of ear or instinct that I simply didn’t have back then.

Not necessarily. I have really bad OCD, and because of it, I am perfectionistic and second and third guess everything. I always feel that everything that I do has already been done, and done better. I always feel like I'm subconsciously ripping of someone else's ideas. I have very seldom ever completed anything, sadly. And it may always be the way for me. But I have fun doing it, and like to challenge myself. Maybe that's part of the reason I use Linux? Who knows..... The point is, if you like it, keep at it. Maybe someday you'll release something that doesn't sound derivative, and sounds fresh, that you can be proud of--I still haven't, but that's not the point.

If you haven't, you should track down some of the interviews of Robert Fripp. He talks a lot about how the love of music compelled him to keep going, even though he initially couldn't keep a beat. Now he composes and plays some of the most complex rock music ever.

[zerocrossing]

I think you are arguing semantics

No, or else why would skill be in the definition of talent? It's something else, you just seem to not understand the definition. Talent is a term that unskilled people use to attribute the skills of skillful people to things they didn't work on themselves.

Again, I will also say that biology comes into play, to some degree. Some people have a vocal range that's crazy, and all the training and practice in the world could never get someone like me there, but that doesn't mean that I can't get better within my physical limitations.

[vurt]

I'm convinced that early IDM was just guys getting high and drawing dots in their sequencers.

i know you're joking, but for anyone else, idm grew out of the uk festival scene, when the criminal justice act, outlawed gatherings with repetitive beats,

[Uncle E]

I wasn't joking, and I'm shocked to find out you weren't, either!

[audiojunkie]

For me, the funny part is: whenever I actually tried to push a loop further, to put more effort or “grit” into it, the whole thing would suddenly turn weird. If I spent more than 10–15 minutes on something, it instantly sounded overcooked and totally strange.
So I guess in my case it did need some kind of ear or instinct that I simply didn’t have back then.

Not necessarily. I have really bad OCD, and because of it, I am perfectionistic and second and third guess everything. I always feel that everything that I do has already been done, and done better. I always feel like I'm subconsciously ripping of someone else's ideas. I have very seldom ever completed anything, sadly. And it may always be the way for me. But I have fun doing it, and like to challenge myself. Maybe that's part of the reason I use Linux? Who knows..... The point is, if you like it, keep at it. Maybe someday you'll release something that doesn't sound derivative, and sounds fresh, that you can be proud of--I still haven't, but that's not the point.

If you haven't, you should track down some of the interviews of Robert Fripp. He talks a lot about how the love of music compelled him to keep going, even though he initially couldn't keep a beat. Now he composes and plays some of the most complex rock music ever.

Interesting! He's already on my highly respected list, so I'm sure I would find it a fun read!

[ramseysounds]

I think you are arguing semantics

No, or else why would skill be in the definition of talent? It's something else, you just seem to not understand the definition. Talent is a term that unskilled people use to attribute the skills of skillful people to things they didn't work on themselves.

Again, I will also say that biology comes into play, to some degree. Some people have a vocal range that's crazy, and all the training and practice in the world could never get someone like me there, but that doesn't mean that I can't get better within my physical limitations.

definitely arguing just for the sake if it now. I think you’re confusing yourself. Easily done. Never mind

[mixyguy2]

When people say they have talent, it usually means they have some inherent quality that means they don't have to work very hard to get really good. That doesn't exist. When people say, "wow, that person is talented," they are ignoring all the work they did to acquire their skill level. I don't believe a "natural aptitude," exists.

That bizarre belief doesn't negate the fact that it does, but you're welcome to continue in denial all you want. Truly one of the strangest viewpoints I've ever heard though tbh.

[eLawnMust]

There IS talent, Like the late Rick Derringer who received a guitar for xmas at 14 & later would say "I took right to it"... There is also capability...

In 1979 my graduating HS class named me 'most talented' & 'class clown'... But really what set me apart was there was NO TV in the house so I had plenty of time to develop music, comic book art, amateur radio whilst others were junking out on brady bunch & batman... Actually I was not talented at all but was 'capable' developing ear by jamming to 45s & 33s & this was back in the day it was all frickin' HARD... Joining bands & having to deal with all kinda goals & personalities... Nowadays it's so frickin' EASY in comparison but nobody wants to put time into developing their EAR, just jam to songs you like & 'pick' them out, yea in the beginning it will be disheartening but as you go along so will your 'ear'... Forget about creating anything until your ear has developed... When I listen to a tune I am decompiling it in my mind I may find something interesting to incorporate in a tune of my own...

But that's like older jazz-rock, pop, rock, motown & other... Todays music is way too basic with way too much FX piled on, useless... Picking out many modern tunes results in a baby poop lullaby...

And yes, putting the time in is critical... throw out the TV, end the internet, smash that not so smart phone...

[Uncle E]

Whether talent exists or not, there are more examples of success coming from sheer willpower.

[vurt]

I wasn't joking, and I'm shocked to find out you weren't, either!

idm is serious bizniss.
we do not joke about the cja!
tough times really, you'd be edging up on your e, listening to some spiral tribe, then a horde of coppers waving truncheons would emerge from the dawn mist

[zerocrossing]

Whether talent exists or not, there are more examples of success coming from sheer willpower.

Success is another thing altogether. I could think of a dozen musicians that I know that are more skilled than Taylor Swift, but have never managed to make a decent living off their music.

[vurt]

Whether talent exists or not, there are more examples of success coming from sheer willpower.

Success is another thing altogether. I could think of a dozen musicians that I know that are more skilled than Taylor Swift, but have never managed to make a decent living off their music.

i moved back in with my mum last xmas (she's getting on, needs a bit of help)
this also means moving in with my foster brother, who is on the spectrum so at 26 is more 8. he listens to nothing but swift.
given all ive heard all year is swift, i would have expected one track to stand out, be an ear worm, or even catchy enough for me to hum along, but no, it seems to be lacking any character. im actually shocked by it's blandness, why is she so big?