How to actually 'less is more'
- Mar 24
- 4 min read
How many times have you heard the advice ‘less is more’?
It’s one of those infamous lines you’ve probably come across at some point.
Is it actually true, or is it just one of those clever-sounding ideas that don’t really mean much in practice?
I’m in my seventh year of making music, and I’m still figuring out exactly what ‘less is more’ means and how to apply it effectively.
You might be in a similar boat. You’ve probably heard it from one of your favourite artists on YouTube, in a masterclass, or in a forum or article somewhere.
Maybe you heard it, thought ‘that sounds important’, and then carried on without ever trying to use it.
Or you did try to apply it, only to end up feeling disappointed when the music didn’t come out quite right.
Both of these scenarios were (and still are) me, and I reckon they might be you too.
The real challenge with ‘less is more’ is that it almost never gets a proper explanation.
It’s like the tip of an iceberg: if you don’t really know what it means, you think it’s obvious. But in reality, 80% of the idea is hidden beneath the surface.
On the other hand, once you do grasp it and learn to apply it, ‘less is more’ seems just as obvious—because you realise it’s a concise way of describing a complex idea.
There’s a reason this advice pops up everywhere: it’s crucial.
There’s also a reason people rarely break it down further: it’s hard.
In essence, ‘less is more’ is about intentionally trying to convey as much story or emotion (that magical musical feeling) as you can, using as few elements as possible.
Maybe you’ve got five sounds talking to each other in perfect harmony, or five melodic notes forming an emotional phrase—but the listener perceives just one cohesive story or feeling.
So if you can achieve the same emotional impact with fewer elements, why wouldn’t you?
Using fewer elements matters because:
Physical limitations. In music, both frequency and time are finite. You can only pack so many frequencies into a moment before they start clashing or masking each other. Plus, there’s only so much headroom in your mix.
Psychological limitations. Our ears and brain can only latch onto so many elements (about three to five) before we lose track. Whether you’re hearing one element, two, or four, your brain basically processes one story or emotion at a time.
From a production perspective, if you can reach the same emotional depth with fewer layers, you become both more efficient and more effective.
You’ll save on frequency space, free up the listener’s attention, and keep the track lean and compelling.
This concept becomes even more important for club music, where your track might get stacked with one, two, or even three other tracks in a mix.
Now that you get the theory—how do you actually do it?
Honestly, I’m still learning, but here are some tips that have helped me so far:
Create strong elements. This one’s tough and might take months or years to refine. If your elements feel ‘weak’—lacking conviction or emotional impact—you’ll probably add extra layers to compensate. So focus on crafting sounds that have a clear identity from the start. A strong core element reduces the urge to pile on more stuff.
Embrace space (silence is a sound too). One of the most overlooked tricks of the ‘less is more’ approach is space. Like pauses in a great conversation, pockets of silence or minimal activity let the rest of your sounds shine. When you give your track room to breathe, each sound stands out more vividly. Space also amplifies contrast. By leaving intentional gaps, you heighten the impact when something new enters. The space between the sounds matters just as much as the sounds themselves. Sometimes, the most musical thing you can add is a bit of nothing.
Identify the purpose of each element. Taking the time to define what each element does makes decisions easier. Which elements drive the groove? Which build tension? Which tell most of the story? Knowing these roles helps you use sounds more deliberately—and cut out anything that doesn’t serve the vibe.
Less is more isn’t about stripping your track bare—it’s about making every element count. When each sound serves a clear purpose, your music more clearly connects with listeners. Everything else? Let it go.
Now, go and make some music. And remember: less might just lead you to more.
Big love
Eryk Kabay
Ready for action? Whether you’re feeling stuck or looking for that final professional polish, I’m here to help you cut through the confusion and make your tracks have a real impact. Let’s get your music sounding its best and ready to be released into the world.
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