Why Music Producers Need to Take Action
In this week's Blog I wanted to mention an important thing for music producers to be doing as much as possible... Taking Action! But what does that mean?
Put Simply, taking action means taking real life steps towards doing what you want, for example:
Want to improve your mix, but find yourself lost watching tutorials? Learn some tricks, but then put more hours practicing as much as possible.
Want to play a gig but aren't motivated to rehearse? Go book yourself a gig and then you'll have a deadline to rehearse for!
Want to be released on Vinyl? Start sending out your demo to as many labels as possible. Let's say 50 labels. You can send 50 emails right? Maybe one person will get back to you. Acknowledging beforehand that it's likely not a lot will reply should reduce your fears of rejection. They're not rejecting you, they are just too busy with their own life and current artist roster! But at least you took action and got a reply!
So you can see how rather than researching skills, plug ins, or gear, this is more important. We learn by doing. We achieve things by doing them.
Research and tutorials are great, but remember if that is not balanced with taking the steps you need to, you are wasting time.
It is not worth just keeping it all in your head but never using that knowledge!
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!
The idea to write about this came to me after recording an interview with my brother James and our host Freddie about our album re-release.
In the interview I tell the story about booking our first gig we were self organising. And how scared I felt to do it. But then how easy it was!
And I felt like "WOW DOING STUFF IS ACTUALLY EASY
Ha ha which isn't always true...
But doing stuff I.E taking action will definitely move you forward faster on your journey as a music producer.
You can watch the whole interview above
All the best and Happy Music Making,
David
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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!
Register below to get your FREE “Ultimate Guide to Synths” eBook
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