Are you always at your best?

[riteup3]

I have periods of great creativity and some of relative drought, I say relative because I manage to keep working even if I am not enjoying it, but this is when my music is most uninspired, no surprise.
Some folks here like Ken Lewis seem to be always on and at the top of their game 24/7 which I find quite amazing.

So what is the secret to such productivity?

[ryst]

If music is your life then you should have no problem finding inspiration somewhere. But certain things always help me if I am in a creative rut.

Random stuff:

- If you are working at home, get out of the house. Try and find somewhere else to get music done. You will feel different...in a good way.

- When I am lost for ideas, I will do a cover song. That usually gets the creative juices flowing. And cover a song you normally wouldn't think about covering.

- Listen to something completely different than what you usually listen to.

- Get out and network. Watching other people work and grind is always a great inspiration to me. I love watching other people work. Plenty to learn from.

- Create new instruments. I usually will sample something in my house or outside, throw it into Ableton Live and start making new instruments. I have a ton of weird cool stuff and every time I load them up to play, I always seem to write a new song.

- Learn a new instrument. Study music theory.

That's all I can think of right now.

[illacov]

More than 2 shows a week, I start to go on autopilot

I know some people would say wtf?? But after that second show I cease to feel fatigued until I do my last show for the week. When you do all of your songs for 3 hours a night 3 or 4 times a week, you basically absorb your material and it becomes you. Thats how I think anyways.

I don't even remember the lyrics to my songs anymore, but the minute that count in hits, I just start reciting my rhymes. Its almost like muscle memory. IT really helps when you want to adlib and interact with the audience.

Since I sing too, I have to really be conscious of how I exert my voice every night.

One little thing I have been doing is just stopping short of blowing my voice out, so I'm not totally hoarse but I'm not totally under rapping or singing.

So far its worked well, but large cups of hot tea make it possible.


Believe it or not, all these live shows has made me the best writer I can be. It allows you to catalog people's responses to your mannerisms that writing in a studio can't. I love it. Eventually you can tell just by the way people record their songs, if they've performed alot. Just something about the way a cat flow that lets me see how many years of performing he's done.

KRS and Rakim are prime examples of performers who recorded versus recorders who performed.

But yeah at my best as much as possible. SO far shows that I thought we didn't play well, were still greeted with standing ovations and cheers. Call me OCD. They hear music they like. I heard 2 flubbed solos, a shitty tom tom fill and 4 flat notes, 1 missed cue and a sloppy transition. But yeah at our best for the most part lol.

Peace
Illumination

[MYAMS]

get your ass out the studio and hit the club

[alyricalmind]

I just don't touch the music until I am in the determined mood to make some. I've noticed that none of my work comes out great if I do it while feeling bored. Of course for clients, it's different... you gotta do it even if you would rather be doing something else... gotta stay professional.

[wildpark]

id think its a question of finding hidden untouched power reserves

personally i tryd meditation and mental sports like tai chi wingchun yoga (yoga only the moves not that esoteric site)

another part is too eat good food

for your body no allways your tongue (no mac donalds... right time)

of course it helps that i learned cook as first profession.



its like chinese ppl say

your body is the jacked of your soul !

[MYAMS]

Yeah I try to make sure I am relaxed and in the zone... I always have a good workout and do stretches. Also be mindful of what you eat. People tend to order junk in the studio and that can wear you down and make the blood you need in your head rush down to your stomach.

Me and Popeyes is a real bad combination when I am trying to be productive lol... Im obsessed with that shit. After stuffing myself with greasy fried chicken and biscuits I am more than likely going to plop myself on the couch and play videogames/ watch tv/ straight up pass out then get back to work...

[tonymission]

when chris and i are working together, we are always at our best. never disappointed, we seem to pick each other up and push each other to new levels. it's been months since it hasnt vibed properly. we usually link up for a couple hours a day and jam as much new content together as possible... then i go home and mix/arrange/get sounds together for tomorrow/whatever. every day it seems to be "damn, where did that beat come from?!"

not trying to sound cocky, just how it is ...

[filterayok]

Its impossible that you make your best song ever every time... you can only set a standard for yourself, and keep pushing every track to rise above that standard... Like life, there will be moments/songs that are inspiring, different and stand out, and there will be lot of boring crap as well.. Thats what makes hist game what it is... What you hear becoming classic hit songs are someone's greatest moments that were recognized by others as special... Even stargate i'm sure has to make a few crappy songs before they get something that's better then the rest of their stuff... Making crappy tracks is just part of what we do, i wouldnt worry about it, just strive to be the best every time...

[lpuma]

Day jobs kill my creativity... unemployment is where it's at. lol.

[beat you down]

you see... i'm a genius but the thing is i'm never at my best so my beats turn out above average at best.
imagine the frustration.
it's tormenting.

[ryst]

Originally Posted by lpuma

Day jobs kill my creativity... unemployment is where it's at. lol.

LOL

[tonymission]

Originally Posted by filterayok

Its impossible that you make your best song ever every time... you can only set a standard for yourself, and keep pushing every track to rise above that standard... Like life, there will be moments/songs that are inspiring, different and stand out, and there will be lot of boring crap as well.. Thats what makes hist game what it is... What you hear becoming classic hit songs are someone's greatest moments that were recognized by others as special... Even stargate i'm sure has to make a few crappy songs before they get something that's better then the rest of their stuff... Making crappy tracks is just part of what we do, i wouldnt worry about it, just strive to be the best every time...

i somewhat agree with that. the only difference ids that "crappy tracks", IMO, just never get finished. or... you get 4-5 layers deep into it, what you started with isn't really vibing, but whoooooa... that newly-added bassline is HOT!!

ok ??? everything gets muted and we go from there... until we looking at each other and noddin like "yo, that's IT right there" then we keep dubbing. it's gotta be unanimous and in a partnership-case, you gotta be willing to go at it a lil bit with ya dude and be able to know when to axe some shit cuz it aint there.

the other night we we going through some samples ... 20 minutes turned into 40 and we're arguing about shit (what was that one sample you played 15 minutes ago?! .. uhhh?) and then we were 3 minutes into listenin to an over-happy song with potential but shit-- when the key changed all of a sudden and we just looked at each other... that was it... chopped it on the mp, added keys from the G, tracked to logic, chopped the fantom stuff some more, arranged, i mean... frustration turned into "i wasnt expecting this" ... we nitpicked everything back and forth down to hi hat patterns and progressions

when im jammin by myself, i just really try to enforce those same standards and honesty.

it's harder i feel sometimes ... but you gotta know when to take something in a new direction. that's all feel and improving that area, i think, after acquiring the technical/skill side, is the next big hurdle for every producer. it's a non-stop improving process if you make it one ...

good discussion tho...



agree on the dayjob thing too... or slanging or whatever... that shit's such a distraction... cant be on someone elses time when im tryin to have a lot of output... one-track mind!! having a lil drummer on your shoulder helps

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by tonymission

i somewhat agree with that. the only difference ids that "crappy tracks", IMO, just never get finished. or... you get 4-5 layers deep into it, what you started with isn't really vibing, but whoooooa... that newly-added bassline is HOT!!

ok ??? everything gets muted and we go from there... until we looking at each other and noddin like "yo, that's IT right there" then we keep dubbing. it's gotta be unanimous and in a partnership-case, you gotta be willing to go at it a lil bit with ya dude and be able to know when to axe some shit cuz it aint there.

the other night we we going through some samples ... 20 minutes turned into 40 and we're arguing about shit (what was that one sample you played 15 minutes ago?! .. uhhh?) and then we were 3 minutes into listenin to an over-happy song with potential but shit-- when the key changed all of a sudden and we just looked at each other... that was it... chopped it on the mp, added keys from the G, tracked to logic, chopped the fantom stuff some more, arranged, i mean... frustration turned into "i wasnt expecting this" ... we nitpicked everything back and forth down to hi hat patterns and progressions

when im jammin by myself, i just really try to enforce those same standards and honesty.

it's harder i feel sometimes ... but you gotta know when to take something in a new direction. that's all feel and improving that area, i think, after acquiring the technical/skill side, is the next big hurdle for every producer. it's a non-stop improving process if you make it one ...

good discussion tho...



agree on the dayjob thing too... or slanging or whatever... that shit's such a distraction... cant be on someone elses time when im tryin to have a lot of output... one-track mind!! having a lil drummer on your shoulder helps

I totally agree. Every track I make is better than the last one and a learning process throughout. Sometimes I will start something thats a little whack but it will get scrapped within 5-10 minutes.

[Hot Lipps]

Originally Posted by lpuma

Day jobs kill my creativity... unemployment is where it's at. lol.

I made alot of hot shit when I was on unemployement a few years ago. $900 every 2 weeks and all day to make music was cool though.

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by Hot Lipps

I made alot of hot shit when I was on unemployement a few years ago. $900 every 2 weeks and all day to make music was cool though.

How do you get on unemployment being a (presumably) healthy young male?

[Hot Lipps]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

How do you get on unemployment being a (presumably) healthy young male?

A person I hired ended up being my girlfriend. I ended up getting the ax because that was against corp policy. I filed, got $1800 per mo. and milked it. bout three years ago. I'm good now though!

[ryst]

Originally Posted by Hot Lipps

A person I hired ended up being my girlfriend. I ended up getting the ax because that was against corp policy. I filed, got $1800 per mo. and milked it. bout three years ago. I'm good now though!

3 years? Same here. I think i only got $1200 a month. Only lasted 6 months but that was a great 6 months! I haven't "worked" since.

[Igotsoul4u]

Originally Posted by riteup3

So what is the secret to such productivity?

1. Sacrifice of a normal life and lots of lost free time. 2. Quality mentors with good habits and skills that can be absorbed by listening and observing. 3. A good space to work with and proper equipment or a proper bag of tricks. 4. Good ears and some musicality 5. A shortening of your life expectancy.

[Dor]

Originally Posted by Hot Lipps

$900 every 2 weeks and all day to make music was cool though.

I'd starve to death on that out here in the Bay.

D

[PettyCash]

Overall, you gotta have balance in your life. If you put 100% of your life into your music, you will go mad someday, if you arent that crazy to begin with. Then there is the whole problem with friends and family thinking that you have gone missing. Or being in a dim lighted studio for so long that you feel like a vampire every time you walk outside into the daylight lol.

Currently, I set my work hours, and commit to deadlines. I go out and have dinner, maintain a good relationship with my family, friends and gf. I frequently take breaks so I can go on trips, and I go out and treat myself to buying something non music related every now and then... having that type of balance has me fresh and ready to go when its time to step into the studio and bang out a potential hit.

[Hot Lipps]

Originally Posted by Dor

I'd starve to death on that out here in the Bay.

D

i know. i stayed wit my mom for that year. i got a house now! Im in hercules

[g22]

musics no different than anything else. even kobe has off-nights when his shots not falling. nobodys perfect. those that appear to be on all the time are probably just doing a great job of keeping their lesser work stashed away and wait to put their best stuff out there.

everybody goes through hot and cold streaks, make music when you feel like you got it, when you don't go do something else, rarely will it come back around while your playing music, if anything it'll just frustrate you more. gotta get your mind off it for a while

[MERC476]

Don't always feel like the music you're producing is crap. I'm sure I don't speak for myself when I say i've had plenty of beats that I was just gonna straight up scrap and throw away or I liked the drums but wasn't feeling the melody and i'll play it by accident one day cause I forgot what the hell beat this is and someone in the studio will be like "WHATS THAT!" This just happened to me recently and now I have two of my R&B clients basically fighting for the beat. Or at least trying to get me to give it them over the other. Even when I feel stuff is crap, i just save it anyway. Months later I go back to it and there may be something I wasn't hearing before....you never know what people will like. Weird....

[tonymission]

Originally Posted by MERC476

Don't always feel like the music you're producing is crap. I'm sure I don't speak for myself when I say i've had plenty of beats that I was just gonna straight up scrap and throw away or I liked the drums but wasn't feeling the melody and i'll play it by accident one day cause I forgot what the hell beat this is and someone in the studio will be like "WHATS THAT!" This just happened to me recently and now I have two of my R&B clients basically fighting for the beat. Or at least trying to get me to give it them over the other. Even when I feel stuff is crap, i just save it anyway. Months later I go back to it and there may be something I wasn't hearing before....you never know what people will like. Weird....

That shit is the craziest -- and always seems to happen! I'll be 20 minutes deep in a listening session and accidentally play a beat because I didn't know the file name and cats are always "wait, go back to that one ... "

I'm thinkin, "wow i made this 10 months ago and wrote it off and this dude's goin nuts on it"

[esmoove]

This is very interesting. As far as quality versus quanity, I heard Rodney Jerkins say you only hear his "best' beats which are a small percentage of the beats he makes. Like he just purges the ideas and the ones that are amazing are what gets to the public. I was around Kanye in the early years and I know literally he was eat sleep and drink beats which makes you both better but once again improves your odds of making hits. Just think if you do a beat a day and 10% of those are bangers. 36 hits is an amazing year for any producer. Speaking for myself when you have a steady production schedule with label deadlines and all of that, a song that inspires you and actually working when you're inspired becomesa luxury. With that said I only hope that I can reach a level where I can work only when inspired. Sounds like Prince or somebody rich like that! LOL

[bgrotto]

The one thing that can guarantee I do a great job is LOTS OF PRESSURE.

Cutting tracks for Aerosmith? Everything'll sound great.

Gotta record and mix a Dresden Dolls record in five days for a big label release? It's gonna be killer.

Tracking basics live on a slim budget with world-class session musicians and no-nonsense producer Sean Slade for a Jules Shear record? You'll never see me set up quicker and get sounds better.

Hell, even those hot-shit rap vocal sessions I used to do where flavor-of-the-month emcee X comes in with twenty of his homies and they all try to pick fights with the long-haired, tattooed white boy engineering the session (me!) yielded some of my best work (I can't say I miss those days, though).

The point is, when I get comfortable, I get sloppy. Some people freak out and buckle under pressure; I thrive.