God help us all as I try and stumble my way through an answer. 

Life In Music

What is Producing?

Your voice is at the center of the spiral. That is what every decisions should stem from when making a record. A good record is just a vantage point from which to connect with the artist's voice.

Your Voice is Your Record

If you're a musician and artist, it's not too late. If you're trying out for the next Disney show, yeah it might be too late.

It's Not Too Late, Silly

Creating From Space

Failing right is an exercise in self awareness.

Failing

If you see your fans as numbers or your progress as numbers and yourself as a number then you insult your fans minimize your craft and dehumanize yourself and your numbers will go down. How's that?

You Are Not A Number

Patience doesn't mean being ok with slow results or not pushing forward like an absolute beast. It just means having low anxiety between when a project starts and when it ends, no matter the duration. Impatience is simply a highly anxious state that is only assuaged by finishing something. So it's really a way of missing out and undercutting the process.

Patience

Rolling With The Punches

For communication for abstract aesthetic ideas and for kicking your ass

When References Are Good

Basically take care of all the things that support your art before you barrel headlong into the work and trip over your own feet.

Take Care of the Low Places

Hey I’ve had too much coffee. References are a useful tool and sometimes the only way we can communicate abstract aesthetic ideas. But context is king and each sonic universe should have its own set of internal natural laws or physics that emerge from the vocalist and from the song—and we should do our best to respect and follow through on those “laws” (which real are just externalizations of our own true reactions, instincts and gut feelings). Try thinking about the wholistic energy of the record and makes changes based on listening to the work you’ve already done and coming up with a path forward. Don’t try and Frankenstein a hodgepodge of “referenced” sounds tougher and call it a record —and #fuckthesnaresound —in other words don’t use references as a way to give up on making your own record and doing the hard work of discovering your own sound. BAUM ???♾♾♾ [Edit for clarification: I’m not saying don’t use references. I hoped that was clear but I went pretty hard on em today. We loved our references. This is a post about the potential pitfalls of over relying on them]

The Danger of Using References in Production and Mixes

I’ve found the only thing that insulated me from the highs and lows of people’s criticism and positive feedback is to develop self awareness of both my strengths and weaknesses, so that I’m not surprised and so that my opinion of my work for better or for worse is based on thoughtful self examination not hinged on a need for outside validation.

Handling Rejection, Criticism and Praise (in music and the arts)

If you're struggling with getting started the first and last step is to show up.

First, Show Up

Instead of asking yourself "what do I want" ask "how can I help." The ways you can best serve the situation will define your most authentic self. 

Define Your Creative Identify Differently

It’s a lesson I just keep relearning. And it helps me to always think long term. It mitigates small disappointments and makes the success feel better. It also means that there’s room for creative development and change. Committing to the long haul gives you control over your path and makes things feel less random and more earned.

Good Things Take Time

Navigating the ups and downs of a life in music. Creativity, survival, meaning and happiness.

hubhopper

Life In Music

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