I think

So I'm dry. I doubt I will write another good song. It feels like I've been drained of my life sap. It's happened before, and went away again, but goddammit this time it feels serious. And considering making music is the only hobby I really have that I enjoy, I'm dreadfully scared that I will not get my mojo back.

FML

BTW I'm not in some drugged out state of mind. I'm being serious. I'm scared.

maybe you're just depressed

well once you're employed and in a stable living situation maybe you can spoil your self in an interesting piece of gear that will make you try new things with it, or you could make a whole concept album. Read a cool sci-fi book or watch a trippy 60's movie and get inspired by it. I dunno.

I find if I have enough tangible music making devices in front of me I never run out of ideas of how to use them, my problem is I never have the time to really work on them, and the little time I do I spend it all experimenting with tonality and general ideas, and never take the time to make a real song/recording out of it.

Something that could be really good is buying a cheaper digital feild recorder, making a huge collection of field recordings, and then use those for a basing of your tunes, can make for some really interesting ideas etc. (though has been done a lot and thus also kinda no that great lol) (but even the latest clark album has lots of short clips of various field samples that really add a little extra oomph)

  On 10/2/2009 at 6:57 PM, hahathhat said:

maybe you're just depressed

very

  On 10/2/2009 at 7:17 PM, Glass Plate said:

well once you're employed and in a stable living situation maybe you can spoil your self in an interesting piece of gear that will make you try new things with it, or you could make a whole concept album. Read a cool sci-fi book or watch a trippy 60's movie and get inspired by it. I dunno.

 

I find if I have enough tangible music making devices in front of me I never run out of ideas of how to use them, my problem is I never have the time to really work on them, and the little time I do I spend it all experimenting with tonality and general ideas, and never take the time to make a real song/recording out of it.

 

Something that could be really good is buying a cheaper digital feild recorder, making a huge collection of field recordings, and then use those for a basing of your tunes, can make for some really interesting ideas etc. (though has been done a lot and thus also kinda no that great lol) (but even the latest clark album has lots of short clips of various field samples that really add a little extra oomph)

Good stuff^^^.

i actually have a great idea for a concept album but the drive isn't there Sam, and that's what scares me. Every time i open the DAW i turn into a space case and end up closing it after 10 min of noodling.

Yeah, well maybe then you should try a new DAW. Even if you don't know anything about it, pirate up a new DAW, start doing some youtube tutorials to figure it out, and all of a sudden you might feel like working stuff again.

I personally am not sure if I could strictly work in DAWS again, I mean I do now and then but I really just prefer working with real gear a lot more now, so instantaneous and freeing. You're using Reason right? I'd def. try Abelton, Renoise, FL, or something like that. My friend form highschool uses Renoise, Reason, and Abelton all sync'd together to get what he needs, it's pretty cool.

yeah i just got FL the other day but I'm having a hard time wanting to learn. I mean, i REALLY want to learn, but again, the lack of drive is so strong it's ridiculous. I should be super pumped that i can use vst's and stuff now, but instead, i'm scared.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

let yourself enjoy the break and trust that inspiration will come back to you, because the alternative is to just sit depressed and twiddling with no relief. go enjoy a park or turn it into a study break. pick something music related to read about and be better armed when the inspiration comes back.

try to reproduce an AFX track that you love using what you have. use your imagination. it will obviously sound like shit compared to the original but that's not important

I really suggest looking into other arts for a while.

Cinema, Literature, etc.

  On 10/2/2009 at 9:49 PM, Glass Plate said:

I really suggest looking into other arts for a while.

 

Cinema, Literature, etc.

that's pretty much a constant anyway.

The reason I'm so dead set on getting my mojo back is because when I'm "ON", these is no better feeling in the world, and when a finished product comes out of such a fun experience, a finished product that is in my eyes quite good, well, I LIVE for that.

  On 10/2/2009 at 8:39 PM, Adjective said:

let yourself enjoy the break and trust that inspiration will come back to you, because the alternative is to just sit depressed and twiddling with no relief. go enjoy a park or turn it into a study break. pick something music related to read about and be better armed when the inspiration comes back.

that's what i did for the 1st 2.5 weeks. Now it's just getting silly.

  On 10/2/2009 at 9:06 PM, Brian Tregaskin said:

try to reproduce an AFX track that you love using what you have. use your imagination. it will obviously sound like shit compared to the original but that's not important

you know I just may, just to do SOMETHING, and chances are, if I go through with that experiment, I most likely will end up with an original as opposed to a cover. Thanks guys.

buy a new piece of gear

broke and jobless. rub it in mr just got an 808.

jobless? done with the butchery?? already?

dude you just made consequences, how many great tracks do you need to blurt out in such a short time frame..

don't force it, it will come back if it was meant to be

i'm working on a concept album right now and it's fun as hell. I can't really work at it in crazy 8 hour sessions like I used to, i don't have a lot of time or energy for it since i just got a job, but i just do a little bit of stuff each day and don't force myself to finish tracks before they're done. i spend alot of time thinking about the music and that helps me know what i need to make when i get to work.

good music takes time, it cannot be rushed

I've felt like this. just getting to work anyway, making crap, and taking a break helps a lot sometimes.

also trying totally different/unexpected gear could help... I got a drum machine for $50 and it's inspired me a lot even though I don't like the sounds that much.

  On 10/2/2009 at 10:36 PM, Brian Tregaskin said:

jobless? done with the butchery?? already?

yes, i just stopped going because I hated it so much. That's how bad a loser I am.

  On 10/2/2009 at 10:48 PM, chimera slot mom said:

dude you just made consequences, how many great tracks do you need to blurt out in such a short time frame..

 

well thanks, but I did consequences in January I think (FOREVER AGO). And my track "Blotto" (MARCH?) that I posted in EKT was one of if not THE highest praised and commented on song of 2009 so far (look it up). Now I feel like I've set the bar too high. Especially after I finished my Antarctica track. That cunt is a beast.

Jesus, in January? it's still relevant anyway. and harris house is fucking great. I had no idea you made it when you put it in your mix until I checked out your album.

i'm still confused why you're using reason, i can't use it for anything except making sketch tracks. I remember when you posted your first reason 303 jams, and you've sure come a long way since then.

setting the bar high is great, i've been majorly disappointed with most of my music so i've decided to spend alot more time with my current projects.

what is it that you're afraid will happen if you stop for a while? the mojo always comes back, many times when you least expect it.

absence only kills small passions.

  On 10/3/2009 at 12:34 AM, chimera slot mom said:

i'm still confused why you're using reason, i can't use it for anything except making sketch tracks. I remember when you posted your first reason 303 jams, and you've sure come a long way since then.

Because that's how I learned, and have been too chicken-shit to try other stuff. Just obtained FL though, and it seems like there's a few kewl katz here that are willing to help me learn it, so hopefully in the next few dayz I'll be able to at LEAST STAND on my feet with FL.

I said fuck composition for THE MOMENT though, and I'm making a sequel to my DMX Krew mix. Lord knows there's enough solid material eh?

you can't force this shit. i suspect i know what you're going through -- i'll feel like i should be writing music and i try to pressure myself through it, but then it goes nowhere and i just wind up forgetting about that track. i suppose it has a little benefit in that it keeps me music muscles in shape, keeps my mind on tunes, but largely... it's time i would have been better off using to write or do laundry or something.

the tunes that're good don't feel forced. i know it's good when i get this mad focus. i'll finish my glass of water and get thirsty again, and think -- right, after i fix this bit i'll go get another glass. then i spot another thing i need to fix... and another... an hour later, i still haven't gotten another glass of water.

i can't call that up on demand. it just kind of happens. in fact, trying to dredge it up deliberately seems to send it running. it's like meditation (which you should try, or get more into than you are already!) in that the more you pressure it, the further away you get.

i suppose what you should do is try and forget about the whole thing. not forever, just until you can unclench and stop freaking out on yourself about it. do whatever the fuck you want -- play video games stay up late order a pizza, just fuck it, chill out and do something fun

  On 10/6/2009 at 12:36 AM, hahathhat said:

you can't force this shit. i suspect i know what you're going through -- i'll feel like i should be writing music and i try to pressure myself through it, but then it goes nowhere and i just wind up forgetting about that track. i suppose it has a little benefit in that it keeps me music muscles in shape, keeps my mind on tunes, but largely... it's time i would have been better off using to write or do laundry or something.

 

the tunes that're good don't feel forced. i know it's good when i get this mad focus. i'll finish my glass of water and get thirsty again, and think -- right, after i fix this bit i'll go get another glass. then i spot another thing i need to fix... and another... an hour later, i still haven't gotten another glass of water.

 

i can't call that up on demand. it just kind of happens. in fact, trying to dredge it up deliberately seems to send it running. it's like meditation (which you should try, or get more into than you are already!) in that the more you pressure it, the further away you get.

you're preaching to the choir here buddy, believe me. i know.

  On 10/6/2009 at 12:36 AM, hahathhat said:

i suppose what you should do is try and forget about the whole thing. not forever, just until you can unclench and stop freaking out on yourself about it. do whatever the fuck you want -- play video games stay up late order a pizza, just fuck it, chill out and do something fun

i shall try. effective now.