So, it's years and thousands of dollars invested and all I have to show for it is a free Soundcloud page. I really don't feel I have the 'fire' I had when it comes to making music. Nobody buys anything. Barely comments are posted and I feel -for what?
I don't even feel I know music anymore. The stuff I hear I loathe and I've always just made music I like, and not cared what anyone else thinks.
So it begs the question, do I try and sell what I can to recoup some of my huge investment? What if the muse strikes again later?
I don't know if it's just the time of year or the mood I'm in, but I just feel aimless and restless and nothing makes me happy anymore.
Maybe it's just one of those 'life changes' everyone goes through.
WTF knows....
If you don't seem to be going anywhere, should you just stop making music?
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- KVRAF
- 14304 posts since 20 Nov, 2003 from Lost and Spaced
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- Banned
- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
I thought it's SPRING time in the USA, too? New life, new season, new flowers, time of the awakening muse?
(But I feel similar, I haven't made any song since months...
)
(But I feel similar, I haven't made any song since months...
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- KVRAF
- 21348 posts since 26 Jul, 2005 from Gone
Why not just learn other people's music if you're not creating something of your own? I keeps you working on music and it helps you figure out how to do some new things.
No reason to stop just because you can't write something new. Don't you just enjoy playing a musical instrument sometimes 'just because'?
No reason to stop just because you can't write something new. Don't you just enjoy playing a musical instrument sometimes 'just because'?
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- KVRAF
- 12256 posts since 7 Sep, 2006 from Roseville, CA
That's the best reason for making music IMO. Don't let other people's lack of interest in your music get you down.osiris wrote:...I've always just made music I like, and not cared what anyone else thinks.
Logic Pro | LUNA Pro | OB-X8 | Prophet 6 | OB-6 | Rev2 | TEO-5 | Pro 3 | SE-1X | Minitaur | Deepmind 12D | Slim Phatty | TR-1000 | Analog RYTM mk2 | Digitakt 2 | TD-3 MO | TD-3 | Maschine+
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- KVRAF
- 8099 posts since 12 Dec, 2003 from Canada
Bingo!cryophonik wrote:That's the best reason for making music IMO. Don't let other people's lack of interest in your music get you down.osiris wrote:...I've always just made music I like, and not cared what anyone else thinks.
If creating for yourself doesn't do anything for you then maybe it is time to fold.
Pretend it's pre-www times... not sure how old you are but I know I spent decades making music for an audience of 1... myself... well, and maybe the odd family member who was unfortunate enough to wander in to the room.
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- KVRAF
- 15135 posts since 7 Sep, 2008
Thats the very definition of an artist.cryophonik wrote:That's the best reason for making music IMO. Don't let other people's lack of interest in your music get you down.osiris wrote:...I've always just made music I like, and not cared what anyone else thinks.
F*ck everybody else, this is my vision.
If you like it, ok cool. If not, couldn't care less.
"I was wondering if you'd like to try Magic Mushrooms"
"Oooh I dont know. Sounds a bit scary"
"It's not scary. You just lose a sense of who you are and all that sh!t"
"Oooh I dont know. Sounds a bit scary"
"It's not scary. You just lose a sense of who you are and all that sh!t"
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- KVRAF
- 2830 posts since 2 Mar, 2003 from The only civilized county in Texas
I dont' even bother to try and sell. Getting 3rd place and 5th in recent KvR competitions is all the honour I need.osiris wrote: Nobody buys anything.
Yes, I make music for myself, but some external validation is nice....
Victor.
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- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
Mushy Mushy wrote:Thats the very definition of an artist.cryophonik wrote:That's the best reason for making music IMO. Don't let other people's lack of interest in your music get you down.osiris wrote:...I've always just made music I like, and not cared what anyone else thinks.
F*ck everybody else, this is my vision.
If you like it, ok cool. If not, couldn't care less.
...financially I'll never get out reverse...artificially I'll never stop going forward The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- KVRAF
- 21348 posts since 26 Jul, 2005 from Gone
I dream of reaching the lofty heights of 3rd or 5th place in the contest, but never seem to reach that.VicDiesel wrote:Getting 3rd place and 5th in recent KvR competitions is all the honour I need.
But I keep going regardless.
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- KVRAF
- 2726 posts since 19 Dec, 2010 from North America
You seem to know the answer from your post. If you keep just making music you want, obviously it will be difficult to make 'money'. There is still a lot of fun that can be had from making 'popular music'. Plus, once you establish something, you can go back and make some tunes you love... otherwise as others have said, just keep it as your hobby or passion.
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- KVRian
- 979 posts since 7 Jan, 2011 from UK
My advise is don't sell your music gear!!!!!
Just because you feel a bit down about it at the moment is not a reason to sell your gear - Once the feeling of 'whats the point' has evaporated you will want to make music again and all the gear will be gone and sold probbaly for a fraction of what you paid for it all.
Don't sell it
It is frustrating to pour loads of effort into making music only for it to be 'ignored' - You are not alone in this and there are gazillions of tracks out there so it is easy to see how things can not be noticed.
If you enjoy making music then make music for you and keep posting them on sites such as Soundcloud and KVR and ask for feedback etc. Maybe make an EP or an album and get all the artwork made and put it out yourself as a low press and see how it goes.
Just because you feel a bit down about it at the moment is not a reason to sell your gear - Once the feeling of 'whats the point' has evaporated you will want to make music again and all the gear will be gone and sold probbaly for a fraction of what you paid for it all.
Don't sell it
It is frustrating to pour loads of effort into making music only for it to be 'ignored' - You are not alone in this and there are gazillions of tracks out there so it is easy to see how things can not be noticed.
If you enjoy making music then make music for you and keep posting them on sites such as Soundcloud and KVR and ask for feedback etc. Maybe make an EP or an album and get all the artwork made and put it out yourself as a low press and see how it goes.
Synth Magic synths for Konatkt - ARP Quadra, Polymoog and many more. www.synthmagic.co.uk
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- KVRAF
- 6467 posts since 18 Jul, 2008 from New York
We all go through dry spells. Pack it away for a few months but don't sell your equipment. The fire will probably come back and you will regret selling your stuff.
Forget about making money from your music. The few that are making real money are touring constantly and selling merchandise and exclusive editions. Just selling tracks on Bandcamp is not a money making proposition. You might sell a few albums but you would have made more money working at McDonalds if you include the amount of time and money you invested.
Music is the world's greatest hobby but also the world's worst job.
Forget about making money from your music. The few that are making real money are touring constantly and selling merchandise and exclusive editions. Just selling tracks on Bandcamp is not a money making proposition. You might sell a few albums but you would have made more money working at McDonalds if you include the amount of time and money you invested.
Music is the world's greatest hobby but also the world's worst job.
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- KVRAF
- 2158 posts since 11 Oct, 2007 from Almanya
I'm very glad that I haven't yet reached a state of mind that requires other people to like my music in order to be happy making it.
As long as I can listen to my own noise and like it, I'm fine with no one else giving a damn. And as long as I can find pleasure in listening to my own music - I'll continue making it.
I know there are ups and downs, but if you like what you're doing and you just can't get yourself up to make some more because you don't see any point, then just give it some time.
Try making some different music. Not to please others, but to have a contrast to escape into from the monotony, and maybe to learn the odd thing or two on the way.
My main musical interest is all sorts of modern, low-tuned metal. Been doing that for over a decade now. Of course I lost interest and motivation over time, that's why I fled into this whole epic/orchestral genre. I suck at it, I'm pretty sure of that, but it does pose a good contrast to what I do otherwise, and it keeps me "active" and involved.
Or just do something completely irrational - buy a skateboard, go skating, do a few bungee jumps, go for a hike with a couple of friends and camp on a hill round a fire, travel to some other country.
Just do something to pull you out of your everyday routine, and once you come back your mind will (very probably) be refreshed enough to start something new.
On the other hand, if you just feel like you're supposed to be someone, because the music you make is great and others should appreciate it - but they don't ... then maybe you should re-think your motivation.
As long as I can listen to my own noise and like it, I'm fine with no one else giving a damn. And as long as I can find pleasure in listening to my own music - I'll continue making it.
I know there are ups and downs, but if you like what you're doing and you just can't get yourself up to make some more because you don't see any point, then just give it some time.
Try making some different music. Not to please others, but to have a contrast to escape into from the monotony, and maybe to learn the odd thing or two on the way.
My main musical interest is all sorts of modern, low-tuned metal. Been doing that for over a decade now. Of course I lost interest and motivation over time, that's why I fled into this whole epic/orchestral genre. I suck at it, I'm pretty sure of that, but it does pose a good contrast to what I do otherwise, and it keeps me "active" and involved.
Or just do something completely irrational - buy a skateboard, go skating, do a few bungee jumps, go for a hike with a couple of friends and camp on a hill round a fire, travel to some other country.
Just do something to pull you out of your everyday routine, and once you come back your mind will (very probably) be refreshed enough to start something new.
On the other hand, if you just feel like you're supposed to be someone, because the music you make is great and others should appreciate it - but they don't ... then maybe you should re-think your motivation.
Reaper user? Get my free JSFX plug-ins, also available via ReaPack extension.
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- KVRAF
- 6482 posts since 8 Jun, 2009
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- KVRian
- 1224 posts since 2 Dec, 2008 from Finland
No way man, don't even consider selling anything you have, you will only regret it.
Some options to consider:
- Look into some other creative activity, something totally different. I've found it can complement music very well. My choice is woodworks, and I just helped someone do wallpapers (actually print them by hand)..
- Learn new instruments, they always teach something new about music. I've got myself a ukulele a few months ago and earlier this week I made a rather unorthodox kantele, both are blowing my mind to places I've never been to..
- Search and find that vocalist/partner-in-crime you've been looking for, someone who is just a bus-trip away. I haven't made music with anyone in quite a while, but I'm well aware doing music with someone is totally different from doing only one's own thing..
- Try new musical styles, listen what you like about them and what you dislike about them and do them better. Some balkan heavy metal trance dub, perhaps? I've been a computer musician from my musical beginnings, always had some acoustic instruments on the side, but now I'm veering more and more to that direction, and my next compilation of tracks probably going to have strong elements of cumbia and mento instead of just plain ol' minor key reggae. Plus that kantele ..
- Take a walk on the wild side and spend time in the nature. Nature provide everything for man, still true.
I haven't recorded any music for months now, but it's mainly because I'm so deep into learning these new instruments now.. Got plenty of new stuff when the time is right. It has also been a great joy to just give up the 'need' to record and produce and just play and compose. Nothing seems to happen, yet so much is constantly happening ..
I had a very good reasoning with a friend of mine last weekend, it boiled down to him saying 'man has to have it, what is your aspiration?'. It was like he would have hit me with a baseball bat. I take it music isn't your profession, like it isn't mine either, but it's a vocation for all of us here. Musically, what is your aspiration?
Some options to consider:
- Look into some other creative activity, something totally different. I've found it can complement music very well. My choice is woodworks, and I just helped someone do wallpapers (actually print them by hand)..
- Learn new instruments, they always teach something new about music. I've got myself a ukulele a few months ago and earlier this week I made a rather unorthodox kantele, both are blowing my mind to places I've never been to..
- Search and find that vocalist/partner-in-crime you've been looking for, someone who is just a bus-trip away. I haven't made music with anyone in quite a while, but I'm well aware doing music with someone is totally different from doing only one's own thing..
- Try new musical styles, listen what you like about them and what you dislike about them and do them better. Some balkan heavy metal trance dub, perhaps? I've been a computer musician from my musical beginnings, always had some acoustic instruments on the side, but now I'm veering more and more to that direction, and my next compilation of tracks probably going to have strong elements of cumbia and mento instead of just plain ol' minor key reggae. Plus that kantele ..
- Take a walk on the wild side and spend time in the nature. Nature provide everything for man, still true.
I haven't recorded any music for months now, but it's mainly because I'm so deep into learning these new instruments now.. Got plenty of new stuff when the time is right. It has also been a great joy to just give up the 'need' to record and produce and just play and compose. Nothing seems to happen, yet so much is constantly happening ..
I had a very good reasoning with a friend of mine last weekend, it boiled down to him saying 'man has to have it, what is your aspiration?'. It was like he would have hit me with a baseball bat. I take it music isn't your profession, like it isn't mine either, but it's a vocation for all of us here. Musically, what is your aspiration?