Listening to different types of music
To keep your tracks fresh and intriguing as a music producer, you must continually seek out new sources of inspiration. One of the greatest methods to accomplish this is to listen to a wide range of musical genres. It’s easy to become bored with listening to the same sorts of music over and over. However, by listening to other genres and approaches, you may learn new methods, sounds, and ideas to apply to your own music. Listening to funk or jazz music, for example, could give you fresh ideas for drums, melodies, or grooves in general. And if you come across something that truly appeals to you, you can easily sample it with today’s technology (like ripping it from Spotify lol) and include it in your songs. But remember to alter the sampled material to create something new with it. This way you avoid copyright issues. Of course, you don’t have to make such drastic genre shifts. Even listening to techno tunes may provide fresh ideas, such as attempting to replicate particular sounds or incorporating certain arrangements into your own creations. Nonetheless, it never hurts to broaden your musical horizons.
Listening to diverse types of music may also help you establish your own musical personality as well as broaden your musical vocabulary. By experimenting with numerous styles, you might discover what makes your music distinctive and what distinguishes you from other producers. When you move outside of your comfort zone and experiment with different sounds, you never know what you could discover.
So, the next time you’re caught in a creative rut, consider listening to music you don’t normally listen to. It may amaze you how much it may motivate and excite your music creation. To give an example from my own experience: Hans Zimmer. This dude’s film scores are so carefully thought through and brilliant in so many ways that they inspire me every time.
Finding inspiration in unexpected places
Exploring various art forms and creative avenues outside of the music scene is one of the finest methods to gain inspiration. Visual art, literature, cinema, and even nature could all be considered. You may uncover fresh ideas and ways to include them in your music by exposing yourself to diverse sorts of creativity. For example, if you’re an electronic music producer, you can find inspiration in the realm of abstract art. The vivid colors and brushstrokes of an abstract painting may be a terrific source of inspiration for making bold and experimental electronic music. It is surely no accident that many techno artists and labels utilize abstract art as artworks… The two art genres have a similar mood, which may be exploited to inspire creativity in both directions.
Another way to find inspiration outside of the music and art world is by exploring nature. Whether you’re hiking in the woods or walking through a city park, nature can be a great source of inspiration for music. I believe this is an important aspect that is often overlooked, especially if you live in a huge city as I do. Every time I return from a beach vacation or a trip to the mountains, I’m in an entirely different frame of mind. I’m sure many others feel the same way, but nature provides a lot of creative inspiration and drive for me. The rhythms and patterns found in nature can help you create music that is organic and flowing. You may also take it a step further by using a field recorder (or simply your smartphone) to acoustically capture these inspiring moments in nature. These unique field recordings may then be used in your productions, giving another dimension of originality compared to the typical approach using standard sample packs.
Collaborating with other producers
Collaborating with other producers is another fantastic method to obtain fresh ideas. Everyone develops their own technique over time, so collaborating with others to see their approaches is quite refreshing. Even the slightest change in your working method might spark fresh ideas. If you are always alone with yourself and your creative craft, you may eventually find yourself in a tunnel that you may not even be aware of. The sharing of knowledge is crucial in this case. Everyone has a technical or creative area in which they excel (sound design, arranging, mixdown, mastering, etc. ); sharing information in these areas may be a huge source of inspiration.
Experimenting with different genres
If you got a 4/4 kick drum pounding your ears all day, inspiration might rapidly dwindle. If this is the case, it doesn’t harm to branch out into different genres for a change of pace. Breaking out of your comfort zone and starting a breakbeat track or trying an ambient soundscape without drums might help you generate fresh ideas and combat the tiredness of four four rhythms. Of course, you may do this with any other genres that interest you.
Your creative boundaries can be expanded by simply trying something different and staying in unchartered waters.
Use different tools (hardware, vsts, effects etc.)
This advice is apparent, and I believe it’s the first small adjustment you make when you’re having problems advancing. However, the tools we use to produce techno are crucial. To find fresh inspiration, the tools provide limitless options, but sometimes it’s just as simple as trying out a new effect in Ableton (or your preferred DAW) and learning it by heart. For me for instance, the Ableton Shifter and Grain delay are a constant source of new ideas; what is it for you?
However, it does not have to be an effect; it might be a new synth, a new sample pack, a new Max for Live sequencer, etc… Simply getting your hands on a new tool might unleash a flood of inspiration. Nonetheless buying a new synth every time you’re not inspired is not what I’m saying. Even though experimenting with new plugins or hardware might be beneficial, it is not the most (financially) sustainable way (I speak from experience). Because there are so many tools accessible, sometimes restricting oneself to a certain tool might provide new originality. Setting a goal of making a full track using just one Synth or one selected sample, for example, can help you become more creative.
Take a break
Even if this recommendation appears simple at first sight, many people overlook or forget it. I believe you are aware of this as well; you are working tirelessly on a project and before you realize it, half of the day has passed without you having risen from your chair. It’s as if you’re in a tunnel and time is flying by. When this happens, most of the time, you are not very productive since you are stuck in the same cycle or working on irrelevant tasks without making much progress (at least I do). As a result, taking a break is a vital and effective tool for increasing creativity and productivity. Science has long recognized the need for pauses from mental work in a manner akin to breaks from physical exertion. Similar to a muscle, the brain needs rest periods after stimulation in order to recover 1. In addition, producing causes the ears to eventually become weary, which impairs the ability to make rational judgments. So, take frequent pauses, get up, get some fresh air, walk around, and restore your creativity!
Change your workflow routine
The last suggestion is basic yet effective. It’s as simple as altering your current workflow. For example, instead of starting every track with kick and bass, start a track with a synth line or an ambiance. Try something different, for example, when it comes to track arrangement. Performing an arrangement live rather than drawing it in may make a significant impact. Alternately, if you’re working with MIDI tracks, just bounce them to audio and stick to the audio tracks. This way you are forced to make creative choices and establish a completely new dynamic in this manner.
Even though these are simple little approaches, they might infuse fresh creativity into the same daily routines. Simply try a couple of them or come up with your own. Don’t be hesitant to move outside of your comfort zone and explore new creative possibilities; you never know what you could find!
