I know taking breaks is important, but sometimes I get in these points (around once or twice a month) where I do not know what is going out.
Usually music brings me motivation but I know it is an issue when my FAVOURITE songs of all time or recently make me angry or I just think it sucks.
I have more than enough time to finish this project for a TV show I am working on but it feels like I am slowed down anytime I am forced to take a break.
It is a really strange feeling, like I do not love anything or feel the magic anymore. I know it will come back in about a week but it makes EVERYTHING I like in my projects sound the same.
I am a person who usually is very content anytime I reach a new sound or vibe, but recently its awful.
Still like my favourite productions and my lyrics make me want to punch myself in the face.
I find it so hard to make party music but I do not like sad music either. My lyrical content is nonsense.
I deleted everything, uninstalled all music software and packed the hardware away and took a nice long break. Been chilling out and listening to loads of different music (or reconnecting with favourites from 20+ years ago) for the past year instead of trying to force my own.
Prolly not helpful for people with music jobs and deadlines…
find some jazz you like and listen to that for a while until you forget about other things. then challenge yourself with something arbitrary… like limitations.
but do go out and discover something new… be it art, music, food, etc… get out of your comfort zone. try to just enjoy being a human being for a bit and forget about having a purpose… or even an identity.
Music is emotion told in a language without words and it’s perceived with much empathy.
I would say feeling music is not magical or interesting anymore, may tell us that we are not in the mood for this particular kind of music.
Just a simplified example: If I am angry, I never would make ambient music, I would pick my Strat, plug it in a distortion pedal, put a hot hard rocky groove on some of my media-players, hook everything to my audio system … and beware of the phonic pressure generated until my mood has changed.
Maybe you can change your mood to fit to the music you are making, or maybe you can change the music to your mood?
Habe you thought about teaming up with someone? Maybe we should do a collab thread … where people from different backgrounds start to work together - make a plan to explore new territories? What do you think?
In all seriousness, consider seeing a therapist if you aren’t. Music is a way to hack our bodies to generate an emotional response without the physical context normally needed for that reaction. If you’re not “feeling it”, it could mean your body’s in a mode where it’s blocked from generating those emotions; that you’re literally depressed. I’ve found there’s no way to talk or reason myself out of this state any more than I can see my own face without a mirror. I’ve also found experienced professionals have a good eye for seeing these things and showing them to me. Something to consider.
It’s also possible you’re just bored with your old stand-bys and need a break or something fresh. But in me, that usually feels more like a malaise. That you feel anger about it seems like there’s more there that someone with enough skill could help you unravel.
And, I mean, humans are emotional creatures, just generally. And musicians, in particular, swim around in vats of random raw emotion more than most. So at the end of the day it’s smart to have an experienced emotion expert on-call to spot you.
and can tell u…u’r not alone…
in fact, what ur describing here, happens to pretty much every truu artist once in a while…
but u always gotto work with what is there…
if u don’t trust ur trust, no worries…it’s all passing by again…it’s all coming back…
it’s all in natural…cycles…trust will find u again…just stop searchin’ for a moment…
If you are not on lockdown, try going for long walks; it’s refreshing for both mind and body. As for music, aside from taking breaks, try listening to something totally different from what you usually do. Classical, jazz, death metal, dream pop, afrobeat… Something to cleanse your palet and maybe help you rediscover your love of music.
universal recipe (for me): taking breaks.
i always leave my drafts alone for a month or two.
after that i „unequate“ with them and percieve them rather as someone else’s tracks that i’m allowed & encouraged to improve.
If it sucks then it’s probably good enough for TV
Maybe a side project like an agressive track or learning kickboxing or meditation would be accurate: the feeling of wanting punching yourself needs to be adressed on a global aspect i think.
I have a kind of opposite reaction. I’m usually pretty disappointed in my tracks when I decide to finish them. I’ve more times than not, gone back and been like, “wait, that was actually pretty good”
These last few years there has been a heck of alot to get depressed about. The Digital Media/News onslaught has not helped anyone for the most part. With all the Dystopian shows/movies/news etc. its a wonder anyone feels the magic. Best to turn off all the NOISE and enjoy nature if you can. Eventually your spirit will come back.
I think taking a break is mandatory for people who hate/frustration/boredom from creative pursuits. Thats a break from ALL social media and computers. And nothing works better than this.
