Author Topic: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?  (Read 35706 times)

wolv

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 36
  • Honor: 3
    • https://soundcloud.com/wolv
    • https://twitter.com/wolvAUS
    • View Profile
Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« on: January 22, 2016, 12:40:06 pm »
One day I feel like i'm on top of the world writing hooks left right and centre and the next I can't even sustain a simple chord progression without giving up.


I'm not even interested in LISTENING to music as well, I just feel so burned. Is it best to just ignore it and not produce for a while all together?

It's a shitty form of writers block, how do you deal with it?
Stop overdoing shit. Stop downloading new plugins for the sake of it. Your fancy stereo enhancer won't make you any better musically, your hard work will.


ZAU

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 135
  • Honor: 44
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2016, 12:54:41 pm »
One day I feel like i'm on top of the world writing hooks left right and centre and the next I can't even sustain a simple chord progression without giving up.


I'm not even interested in LISTENING to music as well, I just feel so burned. Is it best to just ignore it and not produce for a while all together?

It's a shitty form of writers block, how do you deal with it?

It happens. To everybody. It's not a shitty form of writers block.. it IS writers block.

How do you deal with it? You move on and do something else... read a book, take a walk, watch a movie, etc..

Don't worry... this feeling is temporary. It's not the end of the world... it's just a part of the process.

Steven Gold

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 39
  • Honor: 4
  • Hi. Let's be friends & talk production & stuff.
    • iamstevengold
    • iamstevengold
    • View Profile
    • Tumblr
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2016, 01:04:39 pm »
I second what Zau said. I used to criticize myself for not wanting to work on music every single day.

Don't beat yourself up (mentally), it can make you resent music.

Take some time off, even if it's for a week or two. Then get back to it with someone inspiration from other things
~And so he took his pain & turned it into something beautiful. Something that people could connect to.

Social Media
twitter.com/iamstevengold
soundcloud.com/iamtevengold


ZAU

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 135
  • Honor: 44
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2016, 01:49:12 pm »
It's just like a relationship.. sometimes you need some time and space away from your partner. But you always come back.

Lunatic Expert

  • Guest
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2016, 02:12:48 pm »
Oh no :( It's just a writer's block. Don't worry, your usual inspiration will come back in a few weeks, I promise.
I recommend focusing on the "technical side" of music, and if you don't feel like that, that's okay. Just take a rest, and distract yourself from stressful things!

Good luck!  :D

wolv

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 36
  • Honor: 3
    • https://soundcloud.com/wolv
    • https://twitter.com/wolvAUS
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2016, 02:37:52 pm »
thanks guys, it's a really depressing feeling as if you're completely useless. Borderline depression
Stop overdoing shit. Stop downloading new plugins for the sake of it. Your fancy stereo enhancer won't make you any better musically, your hard work will.


Snow

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 49
  • Honor: 10
    • mindlessnl
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2016, 06:39:57 pm »
It happens to us all... I think the more experienced you get, the more rarely you get this. Also when you produce consistently it will happen less.

Second to that, I also think that other things that are happening to you in life are causing it as well.

IKIS

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 70
  • Honor: 10
  • #YOLO
    • ikis
    • ikismax
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2016, 10:45:17 pm »
Yes it comes and goes. Can't deal with it really, I've seen all the advice but when to rollercoaster starts ascending theres nothing I can do really. Evertyhing just sounds like shit and I feel worthless.

Sometimes I feel super motivated and I try to make the best of those times.

All this goes hand in hand with my real life (not related to music). If things are going well then music is more enjoyable but when the depressive times hits, well, havent found a solution.

It happens to us all... I think the more experienced you get, the more rarely you get this. Also when you produce consistently it will happen less.

Second to that, I also think that other things that are happening to you in life are causing it as well.

For me, its quite the other way around. When I was starting out I rarely got too overwhelmed about music related stuff and everything was pretty fun. Now as I get better the frustration and angst increase. It's getting worse every year as I get better.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2016, 10:47:52 pm by IKIS »

Gabe D

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 100
  • Honor: 19
    • https://soundcloud.com/gabe_d
    • https://twitter.com/Gabe_D_Music
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2016, 11:33:32 pm »
For me, its quite the other way around. When I was starting out I rarely got too overwhelmed about music related stuff and everything was pretty fun. Now as I get better the frustration and angst increase. It's getting worse every year as I get better.

Think about what you said here. "As you've gotten better, its getting worse."
I think the reason for this is that you are more seasoned, and now you are probably hearing things that you didn't before. When you first start, everything is new and fresh. Everything sounds "great". When in reality what you thought was great, may have not been. So basically your standards for making music have gone up, as they should. I think this is normal. Don't let it get ya down and especially don't let it keep you down.

Maybe this is the case for you, maybe not. Its just what I picked up on from what you said and compared it to my process. Best of luck!
Ableton Live 9, Tascam US4x4 Audio Interface, Akai APC Key 25, JBL LSR305s, & Pioneer HRM-07s

Kinetiik

  • Low Mid
  • **
  • Posts: 217
  • Honor: 24
    • klangofficial
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2016, 06:35:57 pm »
I went through A TON of this earlier on in my music making endeavors. It is the worst feeling in the world. Especially when, as you mentioned, not only do you not want to produce, but the thought of listening to music doesn't inspire you at all either.

The best piece of advice I wish I could give to every new producer in the world like me is read The Artists Way. Reading that book may have been the best thing I ever did for myself. It puts the joys and struggles of creative endeavors into perspective. It helps you understand why these periods of frustration happen and how to get past them.

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453573847&sr=8-1&keywords=the+artist%27s+way

The important thing is to fill your life with other things! Music is undoubtedly my biggest source of happiness but it can also be my biggest source of frustration. Having plenty of other things to focus my time on really helps.
Reason 7.1.2 [] Mackie MR-8 Studio Monitors [] Rokit 10s Sub Woofer [] Audio-Technia M50x Headphones

Snow

  • Sub Bass
  • *
  • Posts: 49
  • Honor: 10
    • mindlessnl
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2016, 09:05:32 pm »
When making music, think about what CAN be done instead of what SHOULD be done.

FarleyCZ

  • Low Mid
  • **
  • Posts: 493
  • Honor: 93
    • farleycz
    • farleycz
    • View Profile
    • I tried to code a page, look!
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2016, 09:23:36 pm »
Snow's advice is a good one.

I deal with this really a lot. Especially when having sort of demanding job, this happens every other day. Not feeling to even listen to music. ...so I can't give a real advice as I haven't found one yet but ... there was this movie I postponed watching for a long time. I used is as a "devider" between job and also kinda demanding hobby. Just to empty that brain a bit before filling it with music. ...and it work great yesterday. ...so try this too and we'll see. :D
"Earth is round right? Look at it from right angle and you'll be always on top of the world."
...but don't overdo it, because that's called being a d***k.

Mat_Zo

  • Founder
  • Administrator
  • Sub Bass
  • *****
  • Posts: 128
  • Honor: 116
    • matzo
    • mat_zo
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #12 on: January 24, 2016, 12:18:42 am »
Everyone has times when they feel like this, no matter how inspired their music sounds. I'm going through this right now in fact.

I usually feed off of extreme emotions to write powerful music, and I'm too centered and content right now. I'm trying to find a place in my mind where I can conjure up those extreme emotions without actually being immersed in them.

Kyle King

  • Guest
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #13 on: January 24, 2016, 07:10:35 am »
The strangest thing is that dealing with the recent fit of depression has actually increased my productivity in the studio. But I still run into times where it's hard for me to get out of bed, let alone get in the studio, so I can relate to this feeling.

In time, it will pass. Keep your chin up.

Joseph

  • Low Mid
  • **
  • Posts: 177
  • Honor: 33
  • just a guy trying to make some music
    • View Profile
Re: Anyone feeling like shit (musically)?
« Reply #14 on: January 24, 2016, 09:04:17 am »
Everyone has times when they feel like this, no matter how inspired their music sounds. I'm going through this right now in fact.

I usually feed off of extreme emotions to write powerful music, and I'm too centered and content right now. I'm trying to find a place in my mind where I can conjure up those extreme emotions without actually being immersed in them.

Have you ever tried doing what Crywolf did? He went to the middle of nowhere in Iceland and came back with an amazing album.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiZ-zpVSxKI1YiMxRGCrTgYjcgt0BL4Og (The making of Cataclasm)
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal."
-Picasso

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel."
-Steve Furtick