How to turn frustration into flow: the forgotten ingredient of your music-making process
- Oct 23, 2024
- 5 min read
Making music, like any art form, is elusive, subjective, and hard to define. The idea of what makes a piece of music "great" is impossible to pin down with objective metrics.
When a track deeply touches your soul, what allowed the artist to come up with that idea?
What emotions were they experiencing at the moment of creation?
I’d argue it’s impossible to clearly lay out the facts and dissect exactly how the artist got there. But we can explore some ideas...
I've been making music for over half a decade, experiencing nearly all the "seasons" of being an artist. From starting my journey just hoping to create something I didn’t hate, to getting my tracks released on my dream label, and even ghost-producing music in a completely different genre, I’ve felt it all.
There have been times when the music just pours out of me, filling every waking hour, as well as months of frustration where I struggle to finish a single piece I'm proud of. If you’re reading this, it’s likely you’ve faced something similar.
Maybe music doesn't feel as fun right now as it once did.
Maybe the excitement and joy you used to feel have turned into frustration and doubt.
Maybe you're caught up between the decision of taking music seriously with all your passion or giving up entirely.
This often happens when we lose sight of the most fundamental reason we started making music in the first place. It happens when we start focusing on the wrong things—when making music begins to feel like a chore.
Our minds, misguided and confused, forget where the magic comes from. We start cracking the whip, trying to force ourselves to finish just one more track.
Addressing this problem is crucial because once making music stops being fun, two things happen:
Making music loses its purpose. We do it because we love it. If the love fades, what's the point?
The music itself loses its magic. A track made from frustration and force won’t have the same soul-touching impact as one fuelled by excitement and joy.
So, what’s the solution?
It's deceptively simple on the surface, yet endlessly inspiring in practice: the solution is curiosity.
Curiosity is that subtle spark at the back of your mind that gets you fired up.
It’s the feeling that keeps you going at 2 a.m. when you're in complete flow, working on a track that excites you.
It’s the energy you felt in the first few months of making music when you were discovering what each button did and the endless creative possibilities they opened up.
By learning to tune into our creative curiosity, we unlock a flame that fuels our motivation and brings the magic back into our music.
When we sit down in front of the screen, ready to breathe life into a new musical idea, curiosity guides us toward something exciting and unique. The goal is to tap into our minds and explore what really lights us up about music.
Is it a particular artist? A different genre? A specific sound or texture? Maybe it’s a technique, a plugin, or a profound feeling that needs a vessel for expression.
Becoming aware of the things inside us that spark excitement turns music-making from a problem to be solved into an idea to be explored. It removes external pressures and unhelpful influences, giving us a clear, internal "sat-nav" that makes the process not only more fun but also more effective.
"Making music is about rediscovering the magic that first sparked your creativity. When frustration replaces fun, it's a sign to reconnect with the curiosity that fuels your passion. Let your music be an exploration of what excites you, not a task to be completed. The more you lean into that spark, the more your music will resonate with the soul."
Now, let's break down some practical techniques and mental frameworks that I regularly revisit to reconnect with my curiosity and keep the magic alive: 1. Set aside expectations and focus on playfulness
Remove pressure: When you sit down to make music, let go of any pressure to create a "finished track" or meet certain standards. Focus on exploration and having fun with sounds, without worrying about the outcome.
Play with new tools or techniques: Try experimenting with a new plugin, a different genre, or an unconventional technique. Treat the process as playtime to rediscover the joy of making music, much like you did in the beginning.
Limit your time: Set a timer for 30 minutes where you commit to just having fun and experimenting. This time-boxed approach helps free your mind from the burden of needing to accomplish something big.
2. Follow your excitement, not a plan
Tune into what inspires you: Take a moment to identify what excites you right now. It could be a specific sound, an artist, a genre, or even a personal feeling that you want to express. Use this as your creative compass.
Let your curiosity lead the way: Rather than forcing a song to go in a particular direction, follow the ideas that naturally grab your attention. This could mean taking a track in a completely unexpected direction or starting fresh with a new sound.
Embrace unexpected results: Be open to "happy accidents" during the process. When something unplanned but interesting happens, lean into it and explore where it can take your music.
3. Change your environment or routine
Incorporate new stimuli: Bring elements into your creative environment that can evoke curiosity. This could be playing music from a different genre, reading a book, or looking at visual art for inspiration. New sensory input can help stimulate fresh ideas.
Alter your workflow: If you usually start by building drums, try beginning with a melody, or vice versa. Breaking your routine disrupts habits that can lead to stale ideas and opens you up to new creative paths.
Move to a different space: If you've been working in the same spot for a while, switch it up. Try working in a different room, or even just rearrange your current workspace to spark new inspiration.
4. Limit your tools to encourage deeper exploration
Impose constraints on yourself: Instead of using your entire library of plugins and sounds, pick just one synth, drum kit, or effect to work with. Limiting your tools forces you to get creative with what you have, leading to unique and original results.
Set small goals: Aim to explore a single idea deeply rather than trying to create a full track. For example, try to create one interesting texture, a unique drum pattern, or a short loop. Let this exploration be a way to reignite your creative curiosity.
5. Reflect on what excites you about music
Journal your feelings: Write down what gets you excited about music. Is it the emotion in a certain track, the texture of a specific sound, or the experience of playing live? By articulating what you love, you’ll be better equipped to seek out those elements in your own work.
Revisit old projects: Listen to some of your previous work, especially projects that you enjoyed creating or that capture a certain energy. Reflect on what it was about those sessions that made them feel effortless and enjoyable.
Reconnect with your original motivation: Remember why you started making music in the first place. Consider what you wanted to express or experience back then and how you can bring that essence back into your current work.
I hope you find the spark you're looking for and let it guide your next project!
Big love
Eryk
Comments