Author Topic: Writer's block? / Lack of motivation?  (Read 6400 times)

AlvaroBele_

  • Subsonic
  • Posts: 3
  • Honor: 0
    • deltabele
    • AlvaroBele_
    • View Profile
Writer's block? / Lack of motivation?
« on: January 14, 2016, 05:29:39 pm »
Hi guys,

I don't know if this happens or has happened to anybody here, but I have no inspiration/motivation at all. I used to come up with anything: A chord, a melody... But now nothing. I feel like I am stuck and I can't do anything about it. I've tried moving to a different DAW, trying to make a track in a genre I am not familiar with, but nothing seems to work for me.
Have you ever had this feeling? I really enjoy producing and I know I can make good music, so this is very annoying for me.

auvic

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Honor: 8
  • im a dragon
    • auvicmusic
    • auvicmusic
    • View Profile
Re: Writer's block? / Lack of motivation?
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2016, 05:46:32 pm »
I understand that using a different DAW can switch to a different frame of mind, but to use it as a source of inspiration tells me that your sources weren't stable or strong to begin with.

Music is art, and art is expression. If you've got nothing to express, whether the idea is complex or simple, then there's no point in writing. Go out and find some inspiration, and it will find you. Live your life, go on adventures, think about things you care about--art can be about anything: people, places, events, experiences, feelings, politics, history, comedy, stories, etc. The only thing it shouldn't be about is nothing, and even then it's always something.

cryophonik

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 57
  • Honor: 18
    • cryophonik
    • cryophonik
    • View Profile
    • www.cryophonik.com
Re: Writer's block? / Lack of motivation?
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2016, 06:32:03 pm »
Every single artist goes through this throughout his/her life.  As auvic mentioned, use it as an opportunity to get out and live life and find inspiration away from your studio.  In your spare time, find other productive ways to spend your music time - clean your studio, organize your sample libraries, learn some new methods, or best of all, spend your time practicing or learning an instrument.  I have no idea if you actually play an instrument, but I've been a musician for a long time (degree in theory/composition, former pro player), so trust me when I tell you that people who are proficient on one or more instruments struggle with inspiration/creative ruts far less than the mouse-clickers do.
Sonar Platinum | Pro Tools 11 | Bitwig Studio | Logic Pro X
Access Virus TI2 | Kurzweil PC3X | Nord Lead 4 | NI Maschine 2

Final Kindgom

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 69
  • Honor: 15
    • final-kindgom
    • Final_Kindgom
    • View Profile
Re: Writer's block? / Lack of motivation?
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2016, 07:19:07 pm »
I mostly agree with what's already said, but sometimes forcing yourself to make something is better than nothing. Don't rely on motivation to help you make music; you need discipline. You may not come out with the best song you've ever written without the inspiration, but at least you'll have something. Learn and apply a technique you've never used before, practice something you're bad at, restrict yourself to only 5 different sounds, or learn/practice sound design. Cool things can happen when you challenge yourself.

There have been a few sessions where I had no inspiration but I noodled around with my DAW anyway. Some of those sessions were shit, but a few have gone on to be full tracks. Inspiration may not come to you all the time, but sometimes you have to actively seek it out.

This isn't to say that you have to be in your DAW all the time. Take a breather and experience new things to revive your inspiration. However, I do think that in order to keep improving, you need to make the effort even when you don't feel like it or if you're not inspired.

AlvaroBele_

  • Subsonic
  • Posts: 3
  • Honor: 0
    • deltabele
    • AlvaroBele_
    • View Profile
Re: Writer's block? / Lack of motivation?
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2016, 08:18:04 pm »
Thank you all for your advice! I feel different about it now, will definitely do what you told me to :]