afriquedeluxe
ILLIEN
These things have resulted in me not ever having a block. They have worked for me, and am sure if anyone here follows them it will be of some help:
1. Don't follow formulas.
This hinders a lot of people. Forget that same ol boom bap pattern. Try something
new and weird for instance. Don't be afraid if getting out the box.
2. Don't try to outdo the last beat.
Again this gets a lot of people out. You make a beat that is fire, then on the next
one you try to do something similar or put a lot of effort in trying to make
something superior. Am all for improvement, but don't over pressure yourself.
Make a wack beat and move on. Delete it if it is really that bad, or give it away to a wack artist.
3. If an idea is not going well, delete the whole thing! Start from scratch.
This does not work for some people. Works for me.
4. Have something in life other than beats.
A hobby such as basketball, skateboarding, break dancing hell even a girlfriend.
5. Do not confine yourself to listening to one genre of music.
Check out other stuff. I listen to a whole load of genres, from indie to electro to
Japanese pop/rnb/hipop (they have very good producers). This will keep your idea
inflow to a healthy level.
6. Listen other producers' material.
Not only radio stuff, but dudes on the internet too and around the
neighbourhood. Don't hate, appreciate and share tips with these producers!
7. Educate yourself about the music industry.
"Ignorance is bliss" but most certainly
not in the music industry! You will get played if you are not up to speed.
8. Don't be a gear whore!
I have been one myself before. Fortunately I could not afford any of that
expensive stuff, which It turns out, I never really needed. Spend time finding out
what works for you, stick to it, concentrate on the music and stop lusting over
that new synth. Too much gear takes attention away from the music.
9. Play your beats to people who are not musicians for feedback.
I value the casual listener's feedback more than a producer's when I want
feedback that concerns just vibes and feeling. For technical feedback, yes,
consult someone with more experience, however it is better to get as much
feedback as you can from people who are outside the music making loop.
Sometimes they will tell you things no producer could ever have picked up on. Be
ware of the language barrier though. Sometimes these people will call a snare a
kick, or a piano a guitar, or a cymbal will be called "that fizzy thing"
10. Have fun!
I can't tell you how many times I have made a weird ass funky beat just to act a
fool. Do some out of time shit with a weird tempo and have 100 instruments or
layers for the sake of just doing it. Throw a rap or sing on it. Have fun for Gods
sake!
------
Original post from my blog http://rmxplay.com/blog/?p=92
1. Don't follow formulas.
This hinders a lot of people. Forget that same ol boom bap pattern. Try something
new and weird for instance. Don't be afraid if getting out the box.
2. Don't try to outdo the last beat.
Again this gets a lot of people out. You make a beat that is fire, then on the next
one you try to do something similar or put a lot of effort in trying to make
something superior. Am all for improvement, but don't over pressure yourself.
Make a wack beat and move on. Delete it if it is really that bad, or give it away to a wack artist.
3. If an idea is not going well, delete the whole thing! Start from scratch.
This does not work for some people. Works for me.
4. Have something in life other than beats.
A hobby such as basketball, skateboarding, break dancing hell even a girlfriend.
5. Do not confine yourself to listening to one genre of music.
Check out other stuff. I listen to a whole load of genres, from indie to electro to
Japanese pop/rnb/hipop (they have very good producers). This will keep your idea
inflow to a healthy level.
6. Listen other producers' material.
Not only radio stuff, but dudes on the internet too and around the
neighbourhood. Don't hate, appreciate and share tips with these producers!
7. Educate yourself about the music industry.
"Ignorance is bliss" but most certainly
not in the music industry! You will get played if you are not up to speed.
8. Don't be a gear whore!
I have been one myself before. Fortunately I could not afford any of that
expensive stuff, which It turns out, I never really needed. Spend time finding out
what works for you, stick to it, concentrate on the music and stop lusting over
that new synth. Too much gear takes attention away from the music.
9. Play your beats to people who are not musicians for feedback.
I value the casual listener's feedback more than a producer's when I want
feedback that concerns just vibes and feeling. For technical feedback, yes,
consult someone with more experience, however it is better to get as much
feedback as you can from people who are outside the music making loop.
Sometimes they will tell you things no producer could ever have picked up on. Be
ware of the language barrier though. Sometimes these people will call a snare a
kick, or a piano a guitar, or a cymbal will be called "that fizzy thing"
10. Have fun!
I can't tell you how many times I have made a weird ass funky beat just to act a
fool. Do some out of time shit with a weird tempo and have 100 instruments or
layers for the sake of just doing it. Throw a rap or sing on it. Have fun for Gods
sake!
------
Original post from my blog http://rmxplay.com/blog/?p=92
