I think you might be overthinking this whole music production thing. Sure, there’s a lot to learn if you want to become an expert. But do you really need to know all of it for the “gatekeepers” to let you in? Not at all.
Most bands start with little technical knowledge, yet somehow, their first couple of albums are often their best work. Those technical chops they pick up later are cool, but they don’t matter nearly as much as the raw vibe of the work itself.
Technology and electronic instruments have given artists unlimited choices, but that’s also led to exploration that’s often wide and shallow. Back when rock bands were the thing, you had a couple of guitars, an amp, maybe a few pedals, and an attitude. That’s it. So you were able to dive deeper into developing your unique sound.
You might be thinking, “Okay, but that’s not music production, is it?”
Fair enough, but that’s the point. Music production used to be an afterthought—something someone else took care of. It could have been in a high-end studio or a friend’s garage with a 4-track recorder. Doesn’t really matter as long as you are creating.
Production can enhance an artist’s sound, but it means nothing if you’re only bringing production chops to the table. For my money, it’s more inspiring to hear great songs that are poorly produced than something technically flawless but artistically empty. Ironically, many of those poorly made albums have a sound that professionals spend ages trying to recreate now. That vibe represents an aesthetic that’s raw, exciting, and alive—unlike something tuned, perfected, and lifeless.
Yes, this post might sound counter-intuitive coming from someone who spends a lot of time on the technical details of music production. But let’s not forget why we got into this in the first place: to express something new, raw, and imperfectly glorious.
Are you stopping yourself from exploring ideas because you think the music production needs to come first? Stop hiding behind technology so much that your voice gets lost.
You don’t need to recreate the sounds of other artists to be accepted, and you don’t need to know what you’re doing all the time. Experiment with a few tools until you create something that sounds good to you. Don’t worry so much about the technical side. If it becomes an issue later, you can always find someone to help until you develop your own skills.
Many of the biggest artists are good at just a few things, and that’s all they need to be. Don’t feel irrelevant because you don’t know everything. The best of the best in almost any field are those who excel at a couple of things and surround themselves with people who can fill in the gaps. Very few artists are truly solo geniuses; almost everyone successful has help.
The best use of your time is to create art that comes from an inspired place, using your unique ideas. Put them together however you need to express yourself. The more you do this, the better you’ll become at being your own artist, and the less time you’ll spend looking over your shoulder at what others are doing.
Eventually, you’ll notice technical issues in your work. It’s only important to learn how to solve these when you realize there’s a problem. Otherwise, what’s the point of all these effects and tools? They’re problem solvers, and if you don’t hear a problem, it’s pointless to slap an effect on your mix “just because.”
That’s not to say you can’t experiment with effects to see if they inspire your work. But remember, your ideas are what matter most. If you spend all your time watching production videos instead of making your own music, you’re missing the point.
It’s a good idea to stop taking your art so seriously and just have some fun once in a while. Often, the best things you’ll ever create come from this place—not the latest plugin you bought.
Happy music making!
If you are benefiting from these posts, you will absolutely love my 2 bestselling books:
The Mental Game of Music Production
The Process for Electronic Music Producers
To level up your Ableton Production Skills: Ableton Courses & Instruments
Take the Free Music Production Mastery Assessment Test. Discover your current strengths, weaknesses with your music making journey. You will get a personalized response directly from me as well as your next best steps to help you reach your goals faster. https://musicsoftwaretraining.com/evaluation
Happy music making!
Jason