The trick to finishing EVERY song
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- Опубліковано 23 лют 2023
- Howdy! Today I want to talk about why it's time to get your ideas out the door and the one thing that always screws me up when releasing music.
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Was this video an elaborate excuse to play Fallout? Maybe.
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you should try "Atomic Heart". it reminds me a lot of Fallout 4
Sounds like something a Synth would say.
No, it was the weirdest review of the Roland SH-4D. And some Fallout 4.
If so it's worth it. 😁👍
It's not the correct Fallout though 😭
“Get the simple things right before the complex things wrong” is a real nugget I’ve learned. thanks Venus 🙏🏽
Yeah, really good principle in general.
I have a really bad habit of instantly going for the nitty gritty details and sound design once I've got something to work on.
I've managed to get so much more done, when instead I just focus on the main idea first. THEN do all the little nitpicky stuff.
I'll be 80 in April. I've shot a lot of dogs along the way. No regrets. Still creating. Keep up the good work, young man.
I'm calling PETA!!!
Dang. I'm sure that's quite the storied path in creating. If you ever see this reply and have the time and feel so inclined, drop us all some knowledge bombs haha.
Rip doggo
@@VenusTheory that’s not right
That’s not right having no regrets means that you don’t care and that’s not right and you can be arrested for that
Makes so much sense, I released a track this year that I last worked on in 2019... I thought it wasn't finished, but just wanted to release something because I haven't released in a while. In less than 3 months it's my most played and most liked track out of all my music...
Man that's awesome and inspirational! I had a thought one day that the most successful artists are not necessarily the best artists but the artists that show up every day and keep making tracks until they have a ton of them and amongst all those tracks eventually your gonna find a hitter. Its like rolling the dice every time you make a track except you don't lose if you roll snake eyes even a thousand times. You do win though when you roll that 7 so you should roll them bad boys as much as possible.
I listened to some of your music sounds pretty nice man 👍 hope I can get my studio set up so I can start making my own music, I got my desk today all I need is an Audio interface and a headset and the rest later.
Lol, I make music on a laptop with audio technica headphones that's all. No need for studio bro as long as you have decent listening space or headphones and you're used to what good music sounds on them then you're good to go, those other things can come afterwards :)@@nocontextmemes2617
I'm currently in this black hole. I've been working on a project for 3 years. And it's not even a free one, I will get paid in the end and my client said it's sounds good everytime I give them the progress. They believe in me yet I felt betrayed by myself. It's killing me
1. it occurs to me that this is a byproduct of the relatively modern idea that some recording of a live of music is “the canonical thing”, as opposed to a century ago where you could make modifications to your song every time you performed it
2. when i think of my favorite songs of all of history, if i listen critically i will find things where i’m like “yeah i’d change that lyric” or “that delay sounds weird” or “you kind of mis-fretted that note” - so it’s crazy to hold yourself to a higher standard than *the best thing by anyone ever*
This is a great point. Many great pieces of music were improvisations that someone happened to write down.
"My goal is to finish 80% of a song, the other 20% is left for the listener's interpretation"
That's the rule I try to follow as a perfectionist with my music. And that 80% may be different for every writer, but the point is if ur tryng to reach 100% that last 20% will be the death of ur time and enjoyment of the art, it's not worth it imo ❤️
The last 20% of the mix for sure for me! Contemplating if I should hire someone to do the last 20%....or hoping I will get better/faster over time.
@YMIR Don't worry, you're doing great, man. I found your original stuff around Carpe Diem, shortly after the Uebok remix. To be completely honest, I haven't saved EVERY single one of your songs, but who cares! That 20% is going to vary between each listener, and I'm just one person. You're still my favorite artist to start publishing in the last few years. Got to see you start from the ground up, and can't wait to see what comes next! Keep on keepin' on!
Oh man, that's a good one. I will have to remember that!
Damn that's a good way to look at it!
Sounds good, but when do you know when the 80% are "finished"?
I love mustache man book club time 🤓
Don't we alll
The best time. Or, at least on the level of 420 and the Witching Hour
Amen to all of this. Especially spending too much of our time thinking "someone's going to find fault with this." Of course they will. Even the all-time greats get mixed reviews on pretty much everything they do. Someone out there hated ************* no matter how awesome it's proved to be. (Don't fall for the trap, fill in your own thing here, and whatever you choose, you'll be right to some folks, and dead wrong to others.) Thanks for being a voice of reason Cameron!
Listen to A-Ha's Take On Me. There is literally nothing happening under ~150 Hz in that mix.... sounds insanely thin next to a modern mix......
@@zaptronic You fell for the trap. Which doesn't necessarily mean you're wrong.
@@stickster Not sure what you mean by "the trap", my point was, Take On Me is a beloved superhit, yet the mix is kinda lame.... Yet nobody cared.
Bro fell for the trap, you even warned him tsk tsk
@@ZachTheHuman trap sprung. We gottem boys.
I just finished my first song in ~7 years. It was honestly the last song I would have ever decided to finish -- it's a remix of something very not my style that I don't intend to be my style. But I'm definitely glad I finished it and had more fun with it than I would have if I started over because "this isn't even my vibe and I'm tired of hearing it."
The biggest realization that is helping me right now is that the deeper parts of the process are actually where most of the fun is, especially as someone who has so little experience with it. We all know that feeling when you make your first element, let's say it's your beat. You're groovin', you feel the potential. Now you added your first melody or whatever, and now you're really groovin'. Now it's starting to feel like a song. It's bigger, it's more, it's simply more exciting than it was before. Well... that just keeps adding up. It's like you're now eating the main course, instead of just snacking on a bunch of uncooked pieces of food.
That second drop or chorus is now even more exciting because it's built upon the meaning of the first. And it actually generally takes far less raw creativity to create that later part. You've already built the foundations; now it's more about rearranging the pieces and doing something new... now it's appropriate to do a little copy-pasting and enjoy the characters you've already placed on the stage in various ways. So you're actually further along in your overall process than you may realize.
Also, don't underestimate many nights of sleep and fresh ears again and again. Sometimes you simply have no idea where to go next, nor do you the next day. Now you think it may be old news but this is just when you may start to be ready for the next part, after you've had some space from it. You probably feel disconnected from it and want something fresh and new, and you're right! Just... put that newness into the next part. It's okay if you feel totally different creatively, go wild and make something new just use those building blocks you've already built.
Thanks for posting this, I totally agree. A few years back I stopped worrying about how good or not good something was and just started putting stuff out. Ten albums later, two books of poetry, one novel, and a bunch of articles, videos, and other artistic creations and I'm still going strong. I operate on three general principles:
(1) If I want to make "good" art, then I need to make a lot of "bad" art;
(2) Finishing my work is the most important thing I need to start; and
(3) Perfect is the enemy of good but the friend of failure
So, my goal has changed from starting projects to finishing them. And I consider something "finished" when it is posted to my UA-cam or Flickr or Medium or website. It doesn't have to be perfect, nor even particularly good. It just has to be done.
Thank you for sharing your story! I have finished a bunch of tracks but I have 10 unfinished for every 1 finished which is not the ratio I want to keep. I nearly stopped producing for a time while taking care of my mom who passed from lung cancer a few years back followed by her husband who passed 3 years later from cancer as well. I was too stressed and depressed and had real trouble finding enjoyment in production for a few years. Now that I'm writing again I'm really making an effort to become a track finisher and not a track starter and your words really resonate with me. I think 10 albums, two poetry books and a novel is a pretty impressive amount of work and I salute you!
Wow. We share an identical observation and experience! I just turned in the music for my 9th album, to my record label. I spent two months trying to make everything perfect. I've done this on every album and, after turning in the music, I desperately want to reel it back in and fix stuff. However, I always force myself to let go and "abandon" the project, after which I then have to deal with the soul-crushing oscillations between "This is my Magnum Opus" and "WTF was I thinking? This is utter garbage!"
As you said, the fans decide and, while my music never leaves my studio unless I am pleased with it, I do not get to decide the degree of success it generates. Nerve-wracking, yes, but I try to focus on the joy of the journey and not dwell on what other people think. I won't lie, though; receiving any praise for my efforts is utterly intoxicating and is absolutely creative fuel.
Excellent video. Stay creative!
Also, remember, people like to want to put their mark on it. So no matter how perfect your thing is, someone will want to add SOME note to it, like "those 200 hz on that snare sure needs some shaving!". If you want, you can steal the "pink bicycle" trick from the visual effects industry; When you work on a shot, add something that totally doesn't fit at all (the "pink bicycle") and the director will say "the shot is great, but get rid of that damned bicycle", so you go back and uncheck the layer with the bicycle and re-export your effectively "pre-approved" shot with a smile :)
👀 who is you tho? is you famous? 🙃
I make music for fun. I do what I like. If someone doesn’t like it; that’s fine. I am not trying to be the next big pop artist. I am just someone having fun in a spare bedroom with mostly second hand synths and drum machines from eBay and Reverb.
This brought up all the feels, man. Yeah, I have a huge problem finishing projects, especially feeling like they're ever at that "just perfect" stage.. its SO F****** frustrating. I'm also a visual artist and do the same thing there, too. You're actually one of the only music-related folks I watch on UA-cam anymore in an attempt to get back more time to do actual production - your content is actually super valuable, so yeah thank you for existing, keep it up. 🤘
Also, yeah Fallout. Great game.
I’ve been a professional musician for nearly two decades, and I only recently learned this lesson. It’s not about liking or loving what you do, it’s about doing your best and trying to enjoy the process. Whether or not the end result is good, is up to the world at large.
Thanks for another great and insightful video.
This is awesome and true of so much work I do, musical or otherwise. Thanks for making these!
As someone new-ish to the music production field, these videos really help give me a perspective about what I'm doing in a way that I truly never woulda thought of otherwise. Thanks Cameron!
You always make these kind of videos when I need them. 🙏🏾 Thank you Cameron!
Great advice as usual, I always listen to your tutorials and you say something, then a few seconds later it hits me what you said!!, love your clever wit and honesty and therapeutic music in the back ground,
Keep up the good work man, because you bring something to the table that no other tutorials do.
dude i literally spent all day yesterday thinking about this and today you released a video that answers all the questions! Thank you!
I swear, you make some of the best thought provoking content when it comes to creativity. I’ve been in a similar mindset lately, getting back to the joy of the art and what really matters. It’s wild that there are others like us out there going through the same thing. I like to think of it as a sort of redefining outdated definitions, while honoring my perspectives from all chapters of my life. Makes things spicier.
Thank you mustache man
Thank you for bringing us through these introspective processes and concepts. Very helpful to reframe my thoughts on where I’m at with my work.
I always got stuck in trying to perfect a 4 bar loop for a long time, but then I changed my approach and started focusing on arrangement, creating a rough template of the entire song I want, and it radically changed my production rate. When creating, it's always best to develop a framework first and then add the details.
That was much needed! Thank You!
Excellent reflection! Thank you for this.
Your content, imbued with a profound sense of raw emotion, has an incredible ability to draw me back time and time again to your channel. It's a wellspring of inspiration and unwavering honesty, touching the depths of my soul. 🎉
Great video as always. Keep ´’em coming!
Thanks
I discovered this channel just a few days ago and since then I'm watching as much contents as I can from here. Your approach in explaining different aspects of the creative process in music making is simply so appealing and spontaneous that really inspire me to write more music and experimenting with it. Thank you
I love your videos and all the advise you give. Extemely helpful and encouraging. Thank you
Amazing video. Thank you for this!
Thank you for an excellent video. You manage to put into words so well what goes through my mind as we try to finish and finally let go of our works. Brilliant thank you.
Great advice as usual. Thanks for the reassurance and guidance
Found you channel recently, and you speak musical truths and the most clear, informative, and eloquent way I’ve found on this app
What an amazing video. I've learned this a few years ago and it turned everything into pure joy, even if I don't finish every project I like to. Hats off!
Good point man! I think I've been working up against this raising the bar for a while now, and lately I've been trying to let it loose a bit. This video kinda seems to be precisely where I'm at in my creative process right now.
An example that made me realise how senseless it is to strive for perfection at every stage is the EP I recently recorded with my best friend. I tried to prepare the hell out of that thing, and make sure all the parts and sounds were just the way they should be before we entered the studio, but then we did enter the studio with the two of us and just started working together on music we love. We changed nearly everything, a lot of what ended up in the final versions was created spontaneously in the moment, and now I'm sitting here with material that's very different from what I expected, but that's just a lot of fun to work with and listen to.
I think it's just that letting go of the way you feel it has to be and instead going with what feels right at a certain moment and not looking back or forward that can really bring the spark back when you need it the most. Now I'm really looking forward to mixing this EP, and I'll be sure not to keep mixing anytime after it's done. Thanks for the inspiration!
Always an inspiration. Thank you for being you.
Amazing vid! Put things in a wonderful perspective. You have an awesome way with words
Thank you. I needed this :)
Thanks mate !!
Loved your rawness and the relativity behind the thoughts ;)
Helped me, bring me back to the essentials in the creative process :)
Great video Cameron! And yes, in the last 3 days I've released 27 unfinished songs/demos just to stop thinking about them and it feels great now! And it looks like some are resonating well with people, even though they're not finished. 🙂
They are finished 😏
I've really been enjoying this deep thought video essays recently! Thanks for these!
Masterpiece of a video, thank you so much.
Thank you, sir. This video comes just in time 🙏
Thank you! That was healing for my soul.🙏
I’m sorry, can we talk about how nice your lighting and color grading is in this video, I had to pause several times and just admire.
Amazing perspective! I appreciate this message bro ✊🏿
Love this kind of observation because it applies to pretty much any creative process in life. Keep up these great videos!
Lovely. Very well timed. Thank you
And once again you came up with your topic at the right time. I really do love and appreciate your videos and the the time and work you put in 🙂🤘
It inspired me to stay in here and continue working on something that might not be perfect, but maybe still somewhat awesome once it's finished 😂
Every video I watch speaks to me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
This one was especially enjoyable. Thanks!
Great message, love it, thanks dude
Your videos are always so well produced, though provoking and genuinely inspiring. This is what I come to UA-cam for. Thank you man, thank you.
really happy to have that valuable content by you, fenks!
Your videos really help with bringing things into perspective. Most of the time its things I've heard before but have just drifted away from seeing clearly.
great perspective. POINT TAKEN! THANKS!!
Love your work 💕
Very insightful and honest. Thanks!
Dude, your voice is so calming.
Best SH-4d review so far.
Right, liked that subtle inclusion
Luv this! Thank you🙂
Love your video's man thanks for this perspective 🔥
thank you, i really needed this !!
Thank you very much for that thought. Something I understand, but it’s hard to accept and be calm about it. Just released my first music album today. It was a long way. Trying to comprehend the moment instead of anxiously thinking about what could’ve been done better. Once again, thank you very much
Great video, Stash Man. An inspired execution to an important message. Bravo!
This was one of the best videos I’ve ever seen on the philosophy of making & finishing music
I think I really needed this. I've been in the process of writing an album and theres a track that unquestionably samples another tune. I've been so hell bent on whether people would notice and think I'll of the tune that I actually didn't think it of whether I liked it or not. This hits man
I needed someone to remind me of that today, thank you.
You are helping! Thank you.
Love your base voice!
Okay one minute into the video and I love the new color grading. More warm tones look great!
I love the idea of "meaning move". Really puts things into perspective. Thank you.
So good, so true… doing is all that matters, this video came to me at a moment of my usual overthinking, thank you 🙏
really needed this video right now, thank you :)
Your videos always seems to be just the thing I'm looking for at the time i run across them
Your video Concepts get better and better!
Needed the video mustache man....thank you!
Thanks for sharing the message.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, a message that we all would need to hear more often!
Thanks - that was excellent. ❤
Thanks, the right advice at just about the right time as usual!
love this guy, calls it like it is and with intelligent passion !
Good video. I know that I have told you this already, but I really appreciate all of your work and transparency. I see that you managed to sneak in that Roland, too. Nice!
The example you gave about the drawing was so perfect. When my friends come over and want to make music and especially when they want me to perform on the project, i usually get it so easily and i know its nothing insane but i still usually like that song. But when im by myself in my room trying to make a song, i always seem to struggle or get frustrated or upset with the music im making and how im singing and such and such. I criticize myself so badly when im on my own
Thanks a lot ! I relate a lot to it recently !
Bro your videos serve as a mark in the right direction. Thanks
Probably the hardest thing as a creator I've ever had to do was let go of my band's album that I'd been trying to record and mix my self for years. Songs we had played live since 2017. Even an original song I wrote and released before having my band play it. Sending it to another engineer for their input and experience made me feel as if my last decade of learning and practice just wasn't good enough. My sound wasn't "industry standard." It wasn't until getting the songs back I understood most of my production was left as is. Letting go of your idea is part of the process. I still struggle with releasing my own personal work. Even the songs I'm proud of.
This was incredibly helpful for me and I think it might have just kicked me in the ass on finishing my EP. Thanks dude!
I think it's helpful to just do whatever you do for the sake of it. No stakes, a certain lightness/playfulness and just enjoying the process is they key it seems. But as soon as it becomes 'your living' then the pressure is on. That can be a motivator as well, but it can also be a stranglehold, resulting in one going through the motions to get to a result.
I stumbled over your video today and let me say, that I finally got an answer to a few of my question that I have. Please do more of that kind of topic. I find my self very often in that burnout and "in fear" to finish my project, because I don't want to mess them up with the next chord/guitar melody/pad or whatsoever...yep, and then comes an artist who did it "only" with fun, no perfect snare or guitar sound but for my ears perfect and it hits me on an emotional level. What I have learned is, that we should keep up the fun in what we're doing. Thanks again for your video, man.
Thank you Cam! Appreciate this and your other work...and you.
Cheers
~Merlin
Very helpful, thank you 🙏🏾
What you said about the Magnus Opus not being decided by the artist was EXACTLY what I needed to hear at the moment. I've had a plan for a very ambitious musical project for several years now, and I can't seem to get started. I think the reason has been that I've got this idea in my head that it must be the most awesome thing I've ever made or there's no point starting it. Maybe if I stop caring so much, I'll finally begin. Thank you.
Thank you Cameron. I've drawn great comfort and no small amount of encouragement from your morning coffee videos about life as a creator. 😉
thanks for sharing your wisdom man :)
I really needed this video.
You have no idea how much I needed this video today. I sent a tweet out earlier about dealing with depression because I started feeling like a failure. The reason? My latest track wasn't better than my previous ones (according to my own standards). It seemed to be a step backwards. Perfect timing with this, Cam. Thank you.
I needed to hear this right now.
As a friend of mine once said, most people are perfectly happy with 50-60% of what you think is your 100% best.
Thanks I needed this right now lol
my man, you are on fire lately
What a great video, period. Been there, done that. Nothing much to add!
Loving these new insight vids more than the reviews and tutorials. Feels human in algorithm land