I’ve introduced dreaming and acting on a broad scale, where there is a lofty dream and then deliberate and consistent action over a long period of time to reach that dream. However, this way of thinking can also be used for smaller tasks.
Before I started intentionally reflecting and improving the efficiency of my creative process, it usually took me between 30 and 60 hours to compose, record, mix, and master a single track. I would open my project up on my computer in Ableton (the program where I produce) and just dig in. I’d listen, hop around adding parts, delete stuff, move stuff. There was no clear direction. I would open up Ableton and sometimes, if I was feeling creative, I’d make good progress. Other times, if I was in a creative block or a weird mood, I’d actually go backwards. The outcome of a night of production would result in me actually not liking the changes and reverting back. This would go on and on until I finally reached a point in the process where my changes were minimal and I liked the final version.
After my son was born, I would have started coming out with only a track every year or two if I kept this inefficient approach. I started looking for ways to improve the speed of my creation out of pure necessity. I always have so many melodies and ideas floating around in my head. It would take me several lifetimes to write and record every musical idea I have in my head. However, it takes time to get these ideas into a fully formed song. One key development I’ve made in my workflow that I believe cut my writing and production time in half is dividing my actual thinking into dream mode and action mode.
In dream mode I let my mind wander with different melodies and crazy ideas. I then write down those ideas. Then I switch my brain into action mode and go down the list of ideas. For example, if somebody sends me a track to collaborate on, I’ll first listen to the track on repeat with a pen and paper. Before I even pick up an instrument I’ll listen to the track at least 10 times. I put my brain in dream mode and imagine, “what if.” What if there’s a new section to give the listener a break between climax sections? What would that break sound like with accordion? What about piano instead? Should there be soft strings here or big bold synths? Should I throw a sax solo in this section? Should that sax solo be in your face epic or gentle and reverend?
I start compiling a list of my favorite ideas to implement. The list usually takes up about a page of spiral notebook paper. It will have detail such as, “add chill sax solo at the one minute five second mark.” Or, “record accordion at thirty seconds and then a variation of that at two minutes.”. Or, “try piano in the break, if that doesn’t work try acoustic guitar.” Collectively, these comments will transform the track from its current state to what I’m dreaming it could be. It’s essentially a roadmap of how to get the track from inside my head to inside my computer. I relisten to the song and imagine what it would be like with all the parts and changes I have written down. When I’m happy with how the hypothetical future song sounds in my head, I switch into action mode.
Now writing and recording is easy. It’s tangible. I have a list of specific actions I need to perform, then all I need to do is execute. My mind tends to wander, and sometimes it’s hard to get myself motivated. Previously I would sit at my audio work station and try a bunch of different things. Sometimes the track would actually move further away from final after these changes. Because the changes, executed maybe 15 minutes at a time on random days here and there, lacked overall strategy and direction. When there’s a list of actions, my conscious brain can almost even take a back seat. I sit down and want to work on music, then I have a clear list of exactly how I can make progress on a particular song.
There are psychological reasons why this system of writing down small easily doable tasks is beneficial for productivity. One popular method to overcome ADD tendencies is to break a large task down into a single small starting point. For example, let’s say you have a huge pile of laundry that needs to be folded. You get home from work. You’re exhausted. You know the laundry needs to be folded but that pile just seems like it will take forever. It becomes this monster of a task. Then you never even start because the task is just so overwhelmong. However, if you set your sights smaller it can be much easier to get started. In this example, instead of thinking, “I need to fold all this laundry, it’s going to take forever.” You can think, “I just want to fold and put away one shirt.” Folding a shirt takes 5 seconds. That’s easy! That’s doable! Then you fold the shirt. Most of the time, you will be able to keep doing the task once you’ve started. It’s that initial launch that was the biggest challenge for me.
Now let’s circle back and apply this principal to how I write music. It’s been a long day, I’ve worked, I’ve done chores, I’ve taken care of our baby. The day is over and I’m exhausted. I’m in no condition to write a whole song. My mind is mush and I can barely think. But, I can record a shaker part. I can turn the volume down on the synths. These are easy tasks. And even in my tired barely functional mental state I can make real progress on music when otherwise I would have simply laid on the couch and watched TV, an activity that is nice once in awhile but brings me no greater sense of accomplishment or fulfillment.
I hope this structure of working on music is helpful for you! Tracks that uses to take me weeks and months now take days thanks to this, and I’ve been able to continue writing music despite many additional life stresses and obligations.
Musical Motivation 