Revive your Creativity as Musician
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- Опубліковано 20 чер 2024
- Please check out my Dark Ambient Channel "Achim van Oyten": / @achimvanoyten
Nine problems that slow down your creativity. And nine solutions that might help you too. Soundtrack for this video: • Video on my second channel.
Content:
00:00 - The thing about self sabotage
00:14 - Problem 1: Trying to please other people
00:36 - Problem 2: Not calling yourself an artist?
00:53 - Problem 3: Testing to much new equipment
01:27 - Problem 4: Watching to many reviews and tutorials
02:11 - Problem 5: Not making nonsense
02:37 - Problem 6: Putting too much pressure on yourself
03:06 - Problem 7: Not taking any breaks
03:29 - Problem 8: Being stuck to a genre
04:01 - Problem 9: Questioning every little decision
Ok some other solutions (not all fun):
- closedown your studio for a week and take strolls in the garden or forest
- Take 1 synth, small midi keyboard, headphone and fumble around in the living room (or even better at the public library)
- Buy a pomodore timer and do sessions of max 50 minutes.
- Other Genre: Berlin School, up tempo, sing (vocoder allowed), 80'ies. (or try Peter Frampton's talk-box with a synth)
- Start playing, forget your DAW
- Use a dedicated sequencer and make irritating music (bleeps etc)
- Make music with others IRL of via internet (syncing is an issue)
I love your honesty and self critique and improvement.
You will overcome this as you did with G.A.S.
My G.A.S. stopped when I ran out of spare money and am happy with my Blofeld and Roland D110 among things. :-)
Adri, those are great suggestions. Thank you. Pinned :)
Oh yes, the Roland D110 🤣, nö joke, but who needs hightech? I Love this synth.
Your channel is definitely going to blow up soon if you keep up the good work. I've enjoyed every video of yours that I've watched.
Thank you so much :) Hope you are right ;-)
Yeah. Pretty soon you will be thinking ‘is this video good enough’ and ‘i dont make music because i need to edit video and wash my red hoodie’ - but i did enjoy this video
@@klinkske being videoproducer and editor in the day job this is already true. And I also have a green hoodie. And an orange one. And there is the grey one... Ohhh, so many decisions 😉
This is a great series. Love how you aren’t pretending to emulate a full-time professional career musician. It’s a very different mindset to say “this is something I do for myself”. It’s not necessary to pretend to be a pro musician in order for the music to have value. In fact the weird thing is the mistaken idea that music should be “professional”. It’s a method of simple human expression that we can all participate in - the way that kids just sing without asking anyone if it’s good and done correctly.
I also think talking about gear in terms of how it enables quick intuitive spontaneous creativity (as opposed to offering endless complexity).
Thank you Andrew. When I started with music a few years ago I realized that this was the first creative thing for a long time that I only did for myself. Changed a bit since then and I have to remind myself every now and then that this is for me :)
Die Kunst ist die Natur des Menschen. Man is an artist.
Time is so scarce.. the electronic Music hobby can quickly get to where making music comes second to gear and watching others .
exactly, thank you for your thoughts :)
Best. Advice. Ever.
As someone who also struggles with the 'artist' label, (I have gone through this with both poetry and photography as well...) as well as someone who is coming to these creative outlets later in life, I found this video deeply pertinent. Thank you putting the struggle--and some Very Valid Solutions--into words.
Thank you for watching :) Glad you like the video.
I love the direction this channel has. Its a perfect mix of electronic music equipment and the psychology of being a creative person. Very helpful and well done
Thank you Steve - that is a great motivation!
Great message. Keep making these.
will do :)
I suffer from addiction to watching videos by fellow artists (I mean you just allowed me to call myself one).
There are so many neat ideas hidden inside other's content, yet I fail to apply even one a day in my own 'studio'.
Also I try to make complete songs as that is what others 'demand'.
My mindset needs to change, and your talks are like the therapist that I never found in real life.
Same here - I watch too many videos. They all are inspiring - but I also need to use all that knowledge. :)
Literally the most refreshing channel on UA-cam in a long time
Thank you, Steve. Much appreciated. (Never heard, I was refreshing - thanks :) )
"and I'm slow to finish but I'm quick to start" - Grüße von den Chilli Peppers
:)
Hi Martin. I struggle with many of these issues, too. Like all of us. Some days it helps me to tell myself to just do ‘whatever’ and that’s when a spark usually happens that sets me off on a new idea. Your videos are helpful and hilarious. Cheers.
Henry, thank you for your nice comment. I'm still waiting for a new idea and some motivation... But I don't push myself. :)
Allow yourself to create nonsense with your instruments 👍 I'm on it buddy 🙂
reminds me of "stop making sense" :)
Great video Martin. I ruin my creativity when I have to much gear. Sold lots of it. Now I own a few pieces and feel much more creative. I tend to get lost in new gear, trying everything out for weeks and after that I usually would buy new gear and the cycle would repeat.
Same here - cleaned up my desk and put a few synths on the shelf. Feels better now :)
So true... all of it. Sometimes it takes decades to realize...
you are so right :)
"Not me not even Minecraft" that was a laugh. Cool video, thanks!
Thank you, Marcos :)
Thank you for this video. Found myself in most of the problems and it is good to hear that others struggle with those also.
Thanks André - you are not alone ;-)
Martin, .. way to go.
You covered quite a bit of ground. "Other people's opinions .. do I have the skills, to be an artist?" .. I do think that we need other's approval .. and yet, we cannot expect that to happen, can we. Someone else here, online, mentioned that what makes people different, especially when it comes to the arts .. is their tastes, in their art. People can improve their technique, and their ability to produce their art .. but, their tastes in their arts is what steers the ship, whether they've become completely skilled, or if they are still on the way, to being a better artist. Their tastes, in their art, .. is what gives their art, value.
My comment doesn't do your video justice.
Ken, thank you so much. Yeah, we need the approval (and I get plenty of that here - hrhr). I think it all comes back to the "in the eye of the beholder" thing. Have a wonderful day (or night, wherever you are :) )
@@martingoldmannmusic I should have added something about your "taking breaks" too. That is very good advice for me. If I stay at something long enough, that instrument, or device that I'm using, starts sounding like banging pots & pans together, in a tuned way. I've gone mostly deaf to anything artistic, or appealing about the project.
I have a bluegrass musician friend .. supposedly (I don't follow bluegrass) .. songs have been recorded in G#. Why? They would rehearse, rehearse .. rehearse! .. playing in the key of G. When it came to the point that they were going to record .. they would all tune up a half step, so that it was more fresh, to their ears.
@@kenswanson1093 that G -> G# trick sounds very interesting. :)
I love this video! Thank you for creating this! Much needed. I enjoy not only your information and edifying content, but also your sense of humor!
Thank you, Jason. Jep, that humor thing is quite fun to make. Happy, you enjoy it :)
Refreshing to hear! Good tips and pleasing to hear an ‘honest’ approach. So many ‘producers’ on YT are part of this paralysis problem.
Thank you :)
I have all the problems you named in the video. It feels good to have your mental support!
welcome to the club and all the best to you :)
Great article.
Years ago I used to just make songs. When I listen to them there are not as bad as I thought they were. There were some surprises. Did I really do that?
Nowadays I have found myself caught up in mountains of software and gear and I wasn't making tracks.
Well I decided to stop the rot. I just sold ALL of my hardware and have decided to concentrate solely on Ableton and one midi controller.
Let's hope I can get back to the old me, just having fun by making music.
That sounds like a plane - hope, you'll succeed. (I experience this "did I really do that" quite often :) )
Glad I found your channel Martin. I enjoy your video and talking style
And in this video I am even talking to myself :) Thank you so much for watching!
Awesome Martin. I think that we all can relate to most if not all of what you say. Great delivery as always and great advise.
Thank you, Anthony :)
Sir, you listed all the problems I can relate to and also gave some good advice. Thanks for sharing some wisdom.
Thank you for watching and your nice words :)
As always your wit and brevity shine through! Thanks for this list: the points that apply have been taken to heart for sure.
Thank you very much. :)
Great insights. There's always a balance to be struck I think. I've learned it's really helpful to set yourself tough challenges. But be kind to yourself when you review your results.
This way you set yourself up for success but you don't punish yourself if things don't work out as planned.
Keep creating!
Thats is an interesting approach. Maybe some moderate challenges could also help me. Thank you!
Ja, so manches davon erlebe ich selbst ähnlich. Danke für die Gedankengänge in diesem Video!
Grüße von einem Lehrer und Feierabend-Musikkeller-Liebhaber aus dem Donnersbergkreis!
Danke für den netten Kommentar und Grüße aus dem Fränggischen :)
Your advice is also very useful for how to approach many things in life. Great video!
Thank you very much :)
Thanks Martin, your video was highly relevant for me. I appreciate your honest philosophy and practical guidance (I've definitely fallen into and struggled with the non-creativity traps you explained).
Thank you Robin - hope you'll find your way out :)
Excellent advice as always, Martin. 👍👍👍
Thanks a lot :)
Thanks for making these videos! I feel quite the same and it's really encouraging to hear that you found more or less the same solutions. The really tough part is actually doing the things you mentioned :D
:) Danke Dir!
It really feels like you took a look inside my head and made these tips specifically for me! I've been really enjoying your content and this is yet again Another home run in my book. Love your approach, ideas, and humor. All the best!
Thank you - much appreciated. I guess I will make more videos then :)
Once again, so spot on 😁👍 I really enjoy your videos!
Thank you very much, Johan. :)
Wonderful wisdom as always, thank you!
Thanks for watching. Much appreciated :)
Good advice, Martin -- I really enjoy your channel!
Thank you, Trey :)
Pure gold!
Thank you :)
Thanks Martin. Great insight.
Thank you, Peter :)
Excellent and spot on!
Thank you :) Much appreciated!
Such great points. 👍
Thank you, Yves.
Thanks!
You are very welcome, Ellen. Thank you for watching.
I love your channel. Thank you
Thank you, William :)
I think that it's not only about restricting the number of synths you play with. In general creativity benefits from restrictions: regarding harmony, rhythm, motivic material, form, pitch material,.. And indeed, I really try to leave my comfort zone and do something completely different.
definitely - it is the new stuff that always makes me curious and distracts me :)
Very confirming!
thankyou! I needed that. ;]
you are very welcome - thank you for watching :)
great video btw :)
Dear Martin, thank you very much for you videos! They are very inspiring! And little off topic request: please make the video about Schermann Filterbank? Not review, but your opinion, your feeling about this device. Thank you!
Denis, thank you so much for yout comment. Unfortunately I do not own the Filterbank :(
Good info!
Thank you :)
cozy channel, thanks ;)
Thank you for that cozy comment :)
I laughed so much. Such a great message that you share. :)
Glay you like it, buddy. :)
Very very useful
Thank you, Chris :)
Really appreciate this. So much of what you’ve said explains the sense of getting in my own way and restricting enjoyment and probably output. Thank you for expressing this so well.
Thank you, Matt :)
Sure...you aren't alone!
:) Thank you
1500 views and 115 comments? Wow, looks like you hit a nerve there. Play "Chicory - A Colorful Tale" instead of Minecraft - it's about an artist that's never satisfied with her work and how being kind to oneself (and a few other things) helps.
Also what I do: I start with some drum pattern that might force me into something utterly out of my comfort zone, I create 16 sounds with a couple of synths (that's what I love most), try to make some loop out of each, sample them into my 1010 Blackbox, and then try to turn them into a "song" (on the next day). That way, I get a lot of unexpected results, finish a lot of new "songs" and learn to let good be good enough. Well, not all of the songs are great, but I gain a lot of experience which will get me better results in the long run while having something finished short term.
Thank you for the tip - playing Animal Crossing at the time - it has such a nice ambient vibe and it is quite easy going ;-)
Your drum sampling sound making process sounds quite interesting. I just happened to make a soundtrack for a customers video this morning which went into a completely wrong direction for the video but might be a nice start into something else ;-)
True and honest stuff, relevant to all of us! Some advice that helps me immensely with many of these issues you listed (because they never really go away!) is, "The goal is not to achieve results at first, the goal is to become the type of person who can achieve those things". At the beginning of a project we so often look at the end result we want, take some first action, and then of course the output will not match the desired goal, so... self doubt and editing and imposter syndrome kick in. I've found (finally, after all these years!) that not only do I assess the work during the iterative cycle (do, assess, adjust approach, repeat) but I also assess my own internal state each cycle, and adjust that as well.
Thank you, Christopher. Just finished a track that went a completely different way than intended. That was so much fun :)
point 3 and 4 is my main problem i guess :D
That reminds me: I wanted to add a table of contents to the video ;-) Thank you.
making music is telling your brain to "shut the fuck up". it´s partly meditiation. also, making art is not about gear or software it´s about making decisions. the decisions you make IS the art
I had exactly these thoughts about decisions. Thank you! (Guess this might be a great topic for a video).
but I DO want to hear your music. post something, with all the internal critiques bouncing around in your brain if you prefer. either way I'm enjoying your channel, it's nice to see stuff that feels honest
edit - I see your music channel - never mind, I will enjoy it over there! 😊
Thank you Brian, appreciate it a lot. And welcome to the music channel. You are my 50th subscriber! :)
If you had the knowledge you have now when you started making music, would you still get into modular?
This question hits me like a hammer. That is a good question. First answer would be: No. But there is so much I learned with modular. Would I have learned that without the hardware. Maybe this is topic for another video. Thank you, Paul!
Yeah, I have a couple of semi-modular synths and I really like them, but I’m deciding if I want to go deeper. I’m kinda leaning towards no because of the price, and also other hardware/software solutions seem to meet my needs. Modular is very aesthetically pleasing though and very tempting to get into :).
@@paulmakl6282 I love those flashing LEDs :) So far my Eurorack is the last piece of hardware permanently installed - everything else sits on the shelf. I like the Eurorack for the versatility. Maybe I should have stood with Eurorack only... :)
Artist or Gearhead?
Geartist - Arthead, you name it :)
@@martingoldmannmusic hehehe!
Are you SonWu?
Nope :)
are you me?
That depends if you are you? ;-)
Try metal music 😂just play and figure out what you really want!
Just working on my powerchords :)
Maybe your problem is that you ask yourself too many questions ?
Am I? ;-)
@@martingoldmannmusic 😅 Yes I think so
@@Totozme Maybe I should ask myself why I am asking myself so many questions? :)
@@martingoldmannmusic Ahah yes I think It is THE question
@@martingoldmannmusic I'm not a musician in my opinion but I just play with my instruments to feel good, and when I feel it i record my "creations".
For me playing is a key word even if you do not control your instruments