That’s been (and still is to some extent) similar to the reasons why I buy things I’ve ended up not needing.
Being relatively new to making electronic music, I don’t have specific needs for things, or an expectation that X will let me make better music or solve all my problems.
It’s mostly been about buying something to learn something and fill in gaps in my knowledge. There are so many ways to achieve the same thing, and different workflows and approaches to try, for me it’s mostly been a case of wanting to try out a bunch of things to find out what clicks. what I enjoy/hate, etc.
E.g. how would I know if I like the Elektron workflow without getting a box and trying it out for a while? Same goes for modular, ITB with different DAWs, different types of sequencers, etc.
I always learn something from every bit of gear I get, and even if I sell it afterwards, I treat the (hopefully small) monetary loss as the price of learning.
Simply diving deeper into gear your already have can remedy some of it. Or create something you don’t often make on a certain instrument. Or try to push instruments to their limits by setting goals like creating a complete ep with 1 instrument or a combination of instruments that you have. The pitfall is in thinking that that next piece of gear is going to get the creative juices flowing. Which it can do but it’s not necessary obviously. Just setting some challenges for yourself in stead of buying that new piece is often a better idea.
Actually made a track to fight GAS during Superbooth 2023
When you have GAS, gear is a surrogate for something you’re missing. Figure out what that is. People with too much money and not enough time fall into the trap of buying things all the time because it’s easy. That’s not living.
To keep you from impulse purchases, remember that musicians don’t actually need “features”.
I had this problem. But with less money. Your likely hurting from something that you buried. And now it is subconsciously effecting you and the pleasures you get like a crack addict to getting new things is your very unhealthy coping mechanism. So if this resonates with you. Ask yourself what happened, was it an incident, is it how you think of yourself b/c of something someone said to you when you were younger.
I’m still working mine out, but music, not just gear, hasn’t really been much fun for me anymore.
Depends on the person and how they choose to use their time. If they had the discipline and vision I don’t think they’d spend all their time chasing after the latest shiny.
I enjoy staying in these days. I used to be a photographer and travelled a lot. Its a bit of a sabbatical. The distraction thing is Social Media. I know what to do but im not brave enough to pull the plug yet
There was a great reel I saw on IG from this female visual artist (who by looking at her totally would say this) that your art should not be for everyone and that your art depends on your being selfish and devoted to exploration of ideas. She’s a niche, gallery scene artist. It’s what bolstered me to have no more doubts.
Maybe it’s a great time to organize your body of work and zero in on inspiring material!