How to get in 'the zone' (aka Flow State)
- Feb 17
- 3 min read
Have you ever gotten lost in the process of making a track, only to realise four hours had flown by, and a great track emerged without much thought?
One of those sessions where decisions felt deliberate yet effortless—you were fully engaged, not overthinking, and the music was so good it had you bouncing in your chair?
That’s flow.
I’ve had individual sessions and even weeks-long seasons where I found myself in the flow state regularly. Consistently, the music created in those moments has been some of my best work.
Flow sits neatly between challenge and ease—enough difficulty to stay engaged with enough relaxation to let creativity flow naturally. It’s where pure creative energy emerges.
Flow deeply helps music creation, reduces self-doubt, and deepens our connection to the music.
I recently started a book called 'The Art of the Impossible', which explores how peak performers achieve what seems beyond reach within their disciplines.
The key? Flow state. It’s no different for us, music-makers.
Many producers say their most magical tracks came together in hours—without grinding or endless revisions. Flow was likely at work.
Before we get into how to tap into flow. What actually blocks us from getting into that state?
Overthinking: chasing perfection too early.
Technical friction: DAW and plugin fiddling without progress.
Lack of direction: aimless sessions.
Interruptions: that damn phone... or getting distracted by a 20 minute tutorial on compression mid session
These are things that work against our ability to flowingly express ourselves through sound.
So, how do we actually enter flow?
1. Set clear intentions
Define a goal before opening a new project (e.g. “Create a groove” instead of “Let’s see what happens”).
Work within time limits—try 30-minute idea creation sprints.
2. Reduce friction
Use a template with your favourite sounds and plugins ready.
Separate ‘creation’ and ‘mixing’ stages of music making.
Limit yourself (e.g. work with only three sounds to spark creativity).
3. Create an entry ritual
Build a ritual that signals your brain it’s time to create (mine is a peppermint tea and a few deep and mindful breaths).
Other ideas: meditation, physical movement, thinking of a memory or listening to an inspiring track.
4. Trust your instincts—keep momentum
Capture ideas first; refine later. Keep momentum.
Record quickly—keep momentum.
Silence the inner critic—“If it sucks, I’ll fix it later.” Keep momentum.
5. Stay in motion—flow comes from doing
If you feel stuck, don’t stare at the screen—make some kind of move forward.
Use randomisation techniques (shuffle the drum patterns with a sequencer, resample audio or warp textures).
Shift your focus—if drums aren’t working, jump to melody or atmospherics.
The above 5 elements are things that have helped me immensely. They took a bit of adjusting and practice but once it clicks it feels completely natural. It makes music making outside of flow feel a bit like a drag...
So, now that you know what to do, how do you know you’re in flow:
Time flies by.
You’re deeply engaged, making decisions quickly.
You feel excited and ‘locked in.’ Ideas seem to appear effortlessly.
And in case your flow breaks, this is how to get back in:
Step away for 5 minutes - refresh your ears & mind.
Change tools or approach - switch from MIDI to audio, grab a random sample.
Ask a different question - instead of “Why doesn’t this work?” ask “What happens if I…”
In a nutshell, flow won’t appear every session, and that’s okay. But with practice, you’ll experience it more often. Since learning the elements of flow and applying them, I’ve found even more fun in producing—and the music has improved ;)
It’s weirdly counterintuitive but true. In some cases, think less to get better results.
So I hope you consider this and give it a try next time you sit down to make music.
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 shine. Let’s get your music sounding its best and ready to be released into the world.
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