Writer’s Block Cure: Looking Back In Time
Writer’s block can effect us at any moment as a music producer and creative, so it is good to know a few strategies to deal with it!
One tool is looking back in time for inspiration. This can be old family photos, videos from the early days on Facebook, chatting with friends you went to school with, or any other way you can think of to travel back in time!
Some examples are:
Browsing old family photos
Videos from your old, grainy digital camera - you'll have the SD card somewhere!
Chatting with friends you went to school with
Asking you parents/ Guardians/ Family to tell stories from the past
Trying an activity you used to love but have stopped doing (eg, skateboarding, cycling, swimming etc)
Cooking or baking a meal or treat you haven't in years
You’ll find memories, emotions and nostalgia bubbling to the surface, and quite often this can spark new ideas!
Recently, I’ve been doing this with my brother James. We are re-releasing our very first album, which we made FIFTEEN YEARS ago! It has made me reflect on my attitudes to music making back then, how I’ve changed, and how I should fit some of my old music making process into my modern day skill set.
Below is a video from the album, filmed in Oban, Scotland, Circa 2006. Enjoy!
Also, MY FREE GIFT TO YOU!
Register below, to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook!
My course combines the skill of being a producer, as well as advocating for a positive mindset and the well being aspects of music production. I am sure you’d love it!
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If You Listen to One Podcast This Summer, Make it THIS…
If you are a music producer that doesn’t listen to podcasts that’s OK.
But here is one you have to hear!
In this interview, the sassy, straight talking, no BS New Yorker artist James Victore breaks down all conventions and barriers that could be stopping you from releasing your true potential as a music producer and artist.
In a funny way, he deals with things like your fear of failure, of rejection
He talks about overcoming procrastination, and not being afraid to use your own unique voice.
I recommend this very highly and I will be upset if you don’t give it a listen lol
Also, MY FREE GIFT TO YOU!
Register below, to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook!
My course combines the skill of being a producer, as well as advocating for a positive mindset and the well being aspects of music production. I am sure you’d love it!
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
My First Ever Synth!
Aw yes, I have a total soft spot for the Yamaha PSS390 keyboard, which has built in synth controls!
It was my first ever synth, and in this video I
give the full story behind it,
a full demonstration,
and also a performance running it through some pedals
This is now the most watched video on the Whisky and Synths YouTube channel, so I hope you enjoy it too!
Want to become a Lord of Synths yourself?
Then you can Register below, to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook!
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
Synthwave Music Production Tips
Want to learn about synthwave from someone who is a master of it?
Well, you’re in the right place. Memorex Memories has recently played huge synthwave festivals in America, and also is signed to one of the best synthwave labels out there.
In this interview, captured at the Edinburgh Festival of Sound, he tells us some of his secrets, and also does a 20 min live performance for us!
Want to become a Lord of Synths yourself?
Then you can Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook!
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
How can your Bass Be Better?
The Edinburgh Festival of Sound is a huge celebration of all things sound and music in the Capital of Scotland, and our YouTube Channel Whisky & Synths has had a strong presence there since the first iteration!
In this interview, I get to chat with Simon Stokes, who is a well known artist and DJ, signed to Soma Records as Petrichor.
He also runs the SubSine Academy of Electronic music, which is an incredible facility that is also home to an array of studios and synth building workshops!
In this interview he answers the question, “how do you get better bass?”
Also, remember you can Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
How to Play Live Electronic Music -Rachel K Collier
The Edinburgh Festival of Sound is a huge celebration of all things sound and music in the Capital of Scotland, and our YouTube Channel Whisky & Synths has had a strong presence there since the first iteration!
As well as hosting our panel talk, I got to interview the now very famous synth YouTubber, Rachel K Collier.
It was a pleasure to meet her, and she had some amazing tips for playing live electronic music. Check out her advice here!
Also, remember you can Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
10 Ingredients You Need in Your Track
This free video tutorial is for beginners, just starting making tracks. Consider it like a checklist for the kind of things you would want to be putting into your tracks.
If your track is a meal, and you are the chef, consider this your receipie!
Also, remember to Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
How to make Ambient Techno / Electronica
I made this video late one evening when I was pretty tired out, but I knew I needed to make some ambient techno / electronica for an installation I was working on, and the deadline was looming.
I thought, hey, why not document the process? I didn’t think it would turn out well, but it’s become one of the most watched videos on my Whisky & Synths YouTube Channel and the track also became the closer for my Last of the Free album!
In the video you’ll learn:
how to get creative on low energy
sampling from unusual sources
synth sound design tricks
how to quickly get a beat together
tips on arrangement
Also, remember to Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
BBC radio feature!
The idea of having our School of Electronic Music studio launch party from a great podcast I listen to about entrepreneurship (shout out the Six Figure Creative! FKA the Six Figure Home Studio).
It tied in with a previous idea of a gallery style exhibition of all the art, photos, videos and installations that have been created in Tonic Note’s FIVE YEAR (!) history.
So, after doing a bit of organising and set up in April, I managed to get it all booked up., with that art gallery opening vibe - Celebrating five years as a music production community and year one as a full blown School of Electronic Music.
I’m pleased to say it was also featured on BBC radio! You can read more about how it came about below.
Enjoy the video & remember, if you like this, you can register below to get your FREE, Ultimate Guide to Synths eBook!
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
Somehow, Dominic King at BBC radio heard about the event on Twitter (I don’t even use Twitter, so shout out whoever shared us!), and got in touch. I was chilling on the sofa, a random un-identified number called.
I thought it was a sales call. Especially when there was loads of background noise and no voice for a few seconds. I almost hung up then, but I’m glad I didn’t because the conversation we had led to a feature on his show!
I was so happy to get the chance not only to let people know about the new courses & classes, but also shout out four other producers who have been cornerstones of Tonic Note since day 1, playing clips of their best tracks.
If you like the idea of joining our music production community or taking one of our classes, you can book a free, 20 minute 121 call with me here to chat about what you’d like to do in music production!