3 Reasons You’re Stuck Staring at a Blank DAW (And How to Fix Them)

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Having trouble starting making music? Beat block? Writer's block? This video shares some tips on overcoming perfectionism and ways to boost your creative motivation. Learn how to start and get work done with these easy productivity tips and finally stop the procrastination. #subphotic #musicproduction #overcomingperfectionism 

Here's the transcript: 

After watching this video, your creative juices will start flowing. No doubt about it. Let's go.

If there's any hack in the world that can unblock the creativity, that's beating perfectionism.

And you've probably heard it a lot of times, but just bear with me and listen to my take on this because I've never looked at myself as a perfectionist.

But when it comes down to it, I really am.

And it's in all those cases when I feel that someone is watching me.

So when it comes to mixing, when I'm mixing a song, I do a lot of iterations and versions and I never feel confident enough.

I think so. It's it comes down to confidence actually.

So perfectionism is sort of like a lack of confidence in disguise.

You want your thing to be as good as it can, but it's also a slippery slope into not making anything at all.

You're just holding yourself back.

And you can't be at a skill level that is beyond what you're currently at.

And you can't improve or level up your skills without doing the thing.

So it's sort of like a spiral. It's either positive or negative.

If you lean into perfectionism, your spiral will become negative and it will be a downfall and you will eventually fall flat to the ground, pick up another niche, and start doing something completely different.

You know the bright shining light syndrome. Like you see something new and fresh and you think that's better and usually it isn't.

So how to beat perfectionism?

I picked this up from an author, I think, and it was when writing short stories.

Because the challenge back then that I had for myself was to write 2,000 words per day.

And I've always been a full-time employee. I'm a teacher. I woke up at 5 in the morning and I spent two hours jotting down words.

And it was kind of meaningless starting out because it's like I didn't get any writing done.

No actual writing.

It was just random thoughts that I just jotted down to the paper or my iPad back then.

And then I read an author and he said that what I do to unblock myself is to try to write the worst text possible.

Meaning that you break all the rules in the book — as many of them as possible at least.

So if you're telling a story, for example, you refrain from showing. You're just telling.

You don't use any vivid language or metaphors.

Or you misspell words as much as you can.

You write with incomplete sentences and long sentences so it's hard to read, and so on and so forth.

You just go all in on making the worst story ever.

And that actually helps lower your shoulders and breathe a bit because you know that your mission is to make something completely ridiculously awful and crappy.

And I've applied this to music. I've applied it to mixing.

I've tried to break all the rules, all the best practices.

And it sticks also with me because when I mix a song, I like to widen up the bass a bit and do all sorts of naughty boy things.

And I think that sort of sets my stamp on the mixes and on the music as well.

So go for it. Break the rules. Just make the worst possible product.

And if you get some aha moments in the process, that's like a bonus.

So you can actually also find your creative voice doing the opposite of what you should.

So that's one solution to this perfectionism trap.

Now, another solution is to try to piss someone off.

Like really go all in on figuring out how can I rub someone the wrong way with this music.

That's your mission.

So, for example, adding a massive 808 bass on a classic boom bap track for example.

Or... let me have a sip of my coffee.

I'm thinking now.

Another solution to beating perfectionism is to do something that's quite controversial.

And I know you probably don't want to do this, but recreate another song.

Take another song that you like or not like — something that inspires you.

Find the audio file for it and just import it into your DAW.

Have it laying there.

Imitate the structure. Imitate the sounds. Imitate the drums, the patterns of the drums.

Recreate the song.

That's a good starting point.

And then you can feel that okay, it's not about finding something original.

Because when it all comes down to it, nothing is original.

You always get inspired by something or someone.

So you hear something, you digest it, and then you pull it up knowingly or unknowingly.

But you can do it as an exercise. Just try to recreate something and boom.

All of a sudden you have something that's completely original and your own.

And I've done that a couple of times and it's a really good exercise and it really gets your juices flowing.

So that's it.

If you do these three things, I guess your perfectionism is obliterated.

I think the next thing that typically slows down your creative process is decision fatigue.

So you have all the choices, you have all the samples, you have all the synths, and even though your budget is low, you have all these free tools out on the internet.

I've made a couple of videos about free tools you can use for mixing and mastering, but you also have free samples all over the place.

And you also have low-priced sample subscriptions from Splice and Landr.

And you can check the description below. I have some links that are affiliate links, but you can check them out at least.

When reaching out for a tool, you might feel that why didn't I use the other tool?

And this tool cost 200 bucks and this was 400 bucks, and then you start regretting.

Maybe you feel that oh, was it a bad purchase?

Like I have the SSL Fusion. I don't use it on all mixes. I use it occasionally but not every time.

It's pros and cons. I love it, but it's pros and cons.

And you feel that you should use all the tools so you end up using nothing.

I don't know if that speaks to you, but it really speaks to me.

I've had a lot of fatigue when it comes to deciding what tool should I use.

And then I start using something and then I think maybe that compressor might be better.

Or maybe I should replace this sample.

And I start browsing through a sample library with like a thousand snares and it just drains you.

So the most obvious quick fix for this is to just choose one tool and then go for it.

I've, for example, mixed a whole song using only the 3kHz bundle, like the essentials bundle.

I've also mixed a whole track using mainly the ProQ3 — both for compression and EQing and for everything almost except reverb, delay, and limiting at the end.

But I just restricted my arsenal heavily and told myself that okay, it's just for this track.

One time I used the Native Instrument Monarch to make a complete track with drums, bass, everything.

I designed snares and kicks out of the synth.

I've used my Moog to make complete tracks.

So it's absolutely possible.

One time I made a track — and that was a sample challenge actually — using only kitchen appliances.

Only things that I could find in the kitchen.

I used a field recorder and I just smashed on stuff inside the kitchen.

I used my microwave oven to create the bass sound.

I even had a rapper jump on it.

It's not world class, but it's raw. It's rugged and it's got a feeling. It's got a vibe.

So everything's possible. Just limit the tools.

Now another good tip for beating decision fatigue is to set a timer.

And I remember I was in a challenge once where there was like a 10-minute challenge.

You had 10 minutes to write a rap verse.

You had 10 minutes to record it.

And you only had three takes.

And then you had 10 minutes to make a music video out of it.

So half an hour in total.

And we did it.

The link is right there.

I think you can check it out.

I've put it there as a card.

And if you're listening to the audio version, I have it in the description below as well.

So in the show notes, you can check it out there if you want to.

It is what it is.

But at least it removed all decision fatigue because you don't have time to decide on what to use, what words to write, or how to perform it.

You just have to trust your gut and just go for it.

And if you do this often enough, your creative muscle will start pumping blood and it will get stronger and stronger.

All right, here comes the final thing that's holding you back and lets the DAW screen stare back at you like it's a murderous psycho or something.

And that is a lack of workflow.

So I have done this a lot of times.

I have waited for inspiration, motivation — that inner drive that you always seek, that muse.

I certainly don't think it's a real thing.

I think it's fake.

And I don't care about it anymore.

So I've been doing this since at least 2019, and that's just showing up, following a system, and crunching out some creativity.

That comes from the world of writing, and I've applied it here in the music space.

So what it essentially comprises of is three things.

Number one, sketching.

Number two, refinement.

And number three, just get out of your own way and publish the thing.

So here's the thing. Sketching is the most fun part because that's where you start something new.

And we all know that new is shiny and bright and enjoyable.

So I like that phase. It's a necessary phase. Without it, nothing else applies.

Use some of the techniques from the previous two pointers and do this.

Set a timer for, for example, 60 minutes. That will keep you focused.

Just start working and get into the creative flow as soon as possible.

This is sort of like a muscle. The more you do this, the better you will become and the faster you will reach the state of flow.

Where time and place just disappear and it's only you and the craft.

And when the timer stops, you have to stop.

Then you leave it and then you come back after a short break or the day after.

Then there's step two — the refinement stage.

This is where you get critical.

You're not allowed to start fresh or start new.

You have to do this.

This is sort of like rules just to keep you creative in the creative flow.

But you make it as good as it can be.

You might replace some sounds, you might take away certain parts of the song or the beat.

Or if it's a mixing session and you're an engineer mixing or mastering, you double check that you've made the right decisions in the initial stage.

That's the refinement stage and you make it as good as you can.

And also here it helps to have a timer so that you're working inside the confinements of some frameworks.

And finally, it's the publishing stage.

If you haven't published a lot of your own work, this is going to be painful.

And it's even more painful when you have something published out there and other people tear it down with a nasty comment.

But the publishing thing is important because that sets you up for responsibility.

It's not just that you leave it on the hard drive and continue on with your life.

You have to share it with someone.

And if you don't publish it on the internet or on Spotify or Soundcloud, at least share it with your friends.

If you have a group chat or something, just post a private link and let people know what they think.

So that you can get some outside information about it, or outside tips and tricks on how to further improve maybe.

Or maybe also get some energy boosts from people thinking it's wonderful.

That's also motivating.

And yeah, that's pretty much it.

I hope you enjoyed this.

Thanks so much for watching.

Digital high five and all that good stuff.

Hope I see you in the next video.

Peace out.