Stop making excuses and start making music
Problem: procrastination or lack of motivation
Ethan emphasizes the importance of taking action and not letting excuses prevent progress. This mindset is crucial for any producer, especially beginners who may feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start. Taking the…
Embrace diversity and challenge industry norms
Problem: industry bias or lack of representation
Rose Hall discusses the challenges of being a Black woman in the electronic music scene and how she is creating music that defies stereotypes. This highlights the importance of embracing diversity and challenging…
Be persistent and proactive in building your career in music
Problem: lack of motivation or fear of failure
Rose Hall mentions that success in the music industry requires persistence, hard work, and networking. She believes that if you keep knocking on doors and making great music, you will eventually achieve your goals. This…
Use the FL Key MK2's improved screen for better visibility and control
Problem: difficulty reading information on the controller screen
The FL Key MK2 features an improved screen with better resolution and contrast, making it easier to read and interact with. This is especially useful for producers who need to see detailed information, such as chord…
Use the FL Key MK2's USB-C port for faster and more reliable connectivity
Problem: slow or unreliable controller connectivity
The FL Key MK2 uses a USB-C port for connectivity, which is faster and more reliable than older USB-A ports. This is especially beneficial for producers who use USB-C cables in their studio setup, as it reduces the need…
Improve your hearing through consistent practice
Problem: stagnation in production skills
The speaker argues that hearing is a skill that improves with deliberate practice. By repeatedly comparing your work to references and applying changes, you train your brain to recognize professional sound quality. This…
Develop a habit of analyzing music for production details
Problem: inability to identify production techniques in reference tracks
Regularly listening to tracks and dissecting elements like vocal distortion, background instruments, and effects helps producers internalize professional techniques. This practice sharpens ear-training and improves the…
Make critical listening a regular practice
Problem: burnout from overanalyzing music
Setting aside time to analyze music casually (even if just occasionally) builds long-term improvements in production skills. This approach avoids burnout while still fostering growth. It's a balance between enjoyment and…
Branding is your identity — create a consistent visual and story
Problem: lack of artist identity or visibility
A strong brand helps you stand out in a crowded market. Consistency in visuals, music style, and messaging builds recognition. This is crucial for festival bookings and fan loyalty. Without a clear brand, your music may…
Promote through ads, curators, and DJ promotion services
Problem: limited track exposure
Paid ads and playlist pitching on platforms like SubmitUp increase exposure. Curators and DJ promotion services can help your track reach new audiences. This is a workflow step that complements production quality,…
Attend events and network — opportunities come from meeting people
Problem: limited industry connections
Networking at events, festivals, and industry meetups creates opportunities for collaborations, bookings, and mentorship. Many professionals got their start through in-person connections. This is a mindset shift from…
Treat music production as a business, not just a hobby
Problem: lack of professional approach
Success requires discipline, time management, and strategic planning. This mindset helps you balance creativity with commercial viability. Without business acumen, even great music may fail to reach its potential.
Dance music production is a niche community — find your tribe
Problem: isolation, lack of feedback
The speaker emphasizes that electronic music production is a specialized field with its own culture. Producers should seek out like-minded collaborators, attend events, and engage with online forums to build a support…
In-person collaboration is more energizing than online work
Problem: lack of creative energy in remote work
The speaker highlights that working with others in a physical space (e.g., studios, retreats) creates a more dynamic and creative environment. Online collaboration lacks the spontaneity and energy of face-to-face…
Organize retreats to focus on production without distractions
Problem: distractions hindering productivity
The speaker recommends dedicating time to immersive, distraction-free production sessions (e.g., retreats). This allows for deep focus on creative work, experimentation, and collaboration. The environment should be…
Create music that connects to a higher self or purpose
Problem: creative stagnation, lack of purpose
The speaker emphasizes that the best music comes from a place of authenticity and intention. Producers should focus on expressing personal truths or universal themes rather than chasing trends. This philosophy drives…
Mistake: Assuming a label does more than distribute your music
Problem: artists giving up royalties without proper support
Many artists assume that a label will do more than just distribute their music, but in reality, labels often don't provide much beyond that unless they are paying for studio time, marketing, or promotional support.…
Avoid working with labels that don't provide real value
Problem: artists giving up royalties without proper support
If a label is not providing tangible support such as marketing, promotion, or financial backing, it's better to avoid them. Many artists fall into the trap of giving up a large percentage of their royalties without…
Mistake: Using generative AI for music without considering the human element
Problem: loss of human connection in music
Using generative AI tools like Suno to create music may result in output that is replaceable, as it caters to audiences who don't care about the human element behind the music. This can devalue the creative process and…
Consider the human element when creating music with AI
Problem: loss of human connection in music
If you value the human perspective and connection in your music, using generative AI may not be the best approach. While AI can produce technically impressive results, it may not resonate with audiences who appreciate…
Use copy-paste techniques to streamline production
Problem: inefficient production, inconsistent structure
Using copy-paste techniques for repetitive sections — such as the first third of a track — can help streamline the production process and maintain consistency. This is a common practice in electronic music production,…
Focus on the first third of the track to map out the journey
Problem: unclear track direction, lack of emotional arc
Mapping out the journey of the first third of the track is crucial for setting up the emotional and structural arc of the entire piece. This is a key concept in electronic music production, where the first third often…
There are no losers in community challenges — everyone benefits
Problem: negative perception of competition
The speaker emphasizes that even those who don't win still gain value from participating, such as feedback, encouragement, and networking. This mindset helps reduce the pressure of competition and encourages a more…
Community challenges help producers grow as artists and collaborators
Problem: lack of growth through competition
The speaker notes that these challenges not only provide a platform for showcasing talent but also help producers build connections, gain followers, and collaborate with others. This mindset shift encourages…
Submissions are ranked by order of submission when narrowing down the list
Problem: difficulty in ranking large number of entries
The speaker explains that after selecting the top 15, the remaining entries are ranked based on the order in which they were submitted. This is a practical approach to handling a large number of entries and ensures that…
Stop making excuses and start making music
Problem: procrastination due to self-doubt or gear limitations
The creator emphasizes that excuses like 'not having the right gear' or 'not knowing enough' are barriers to progress. The mindset shift here is about taking action despite imperfections. This applies to bedroom…
Choose a DAW by checking tutorials in your target genre and seeing which artists use it
Problem: DAW choice paralysis, inefficient learning curve
Selecting a DAW that aligns with your genre's workflow and tools makes learning faster. Testing a free trial for 2-3 weeks helps determine if the interface and features suit your production style. This avoids wasting…
Focus on one genre for 12 months to master its nuances and build an audience
Problem: Scattered skills, unclear artistic direction
Producing 10 tracks in a single genre helps internalize its rhythmic patterns, chord progressions, and arrangement structures. This focused approach creates a cohesive discography that resonates with fans and makes your…
Organize sample packs by genre-specific folders for faster workflow
Problem: Time wasted searching for samples
Categorizing samples into folders like 'Trance Leads', 'House Bass', or 'Psytrance FX' saves time during production. This system ensures you can quickly access the right sounds for your genre without sifting through…
Study your favorite artists' tracks to reverse-engineer their techniques
Problem: Lack of originality, poor technical skills
Analyzing commercial tracks helps understand how professionals use compression, EQ, and arrangement. This practice builds muscle memory for common production patterns and improves your ability to create competitive…
Learn basic music theory (chord progressions, melody construction) even if you're not a theorist
Problem: Weak melodic ideas, unmemorable hooks
Understanding fundamentals like chord scales and melodic phrasing gives you more control over your compositions. This knowledge helps create stronger hooks and more emotionally resonant tracks, even if you don't write…
Start with an internship or hands-on experience in a studio to learn the fundamentals
Problem: lack of practical experience in music production
Sean Bevin's career path included an internship at a studio during college, which provided him with hands-on experience and exposure to the inner workings of music production. This is a common and effective way for…
Be a supportive member of a musical community to find opportunities and collaborators
Problem: lack of networking or collaboration opportunities
Sean Bevin credits his success to being part of a supportive musical community in Cleveland during the 80s. This environment allowed him to meet like-minded individuals and eventually connect with Trent Reznor. This…
Engage with the world to build connections in the music industry
Problem: lack of industry connections, isolation in music production
The speaker emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and actively engaging with others in the industry. This includes attending events, networking with people in related fields like film, and being…
Attend conferences and events to build long-term relationships
Problem: difficulty in building long-term industry relationships
The speaker shares that attending music production events and conferences has always been a net positive, even if the benefits are not immediate. These events provide opportunities to meet people who can help in the…
Be authentic and show people who you are to build trust and collaboration
Problem: difficulty in forming meaningful collaborations
The speaker highlights the importance of being genuine and showing one's true self when networking. People are more likely to work with someone they like and respect, and authenticity helps build trust. This advice is…
Collaborate with others, even if they are not traditional collaborators
Problem: difficulty in finding collaborators or vocalists
The speaker shares a personal story about how his wife, Juliette, became a collaborator on a project when no other female vocalists were available. This example shows that collaboration can come from unexpected places…
Save your session before working to avoid losing progress
Problem: losing unsaved project data
Saving the project file ensures that all changes are stored securely. This is critical for collaboration, sharing, and preventing accidental data loss. The speaker demonstrates using 'File > Collect All and Save' to…
Mindset: Stop making excuses and start making music
Problem: procrastination, lack of motivation
The speaker emphasizes overcoming procrastination and self-doubt by taking action. This addresses a common psychological barrier for producers who delay starting projects due to perfectionism or fear of failure. The…
Start with the computer you have — don't wait for perfect gear
Problem: waiting for perfect gear delays progress
Beginners often delay production until they have ideal hardware. The speaker emphasizes that any computer can work, even budget models. This mindset prevents procrastination and encourages immediate practice. Using…
Save your project with version numbers — avoid losing work
Problem: overwriting project files
This prevents overwriting previous versions and allows easy rollback if needed. It's especially important in collaborative projects or when experimenting with radical changes. This practice is universal across all genres…
Save project regularly to avoid losing work
Problem: losing unsaved work
Saving your project frequently is essential to prevent data loss. Ethan demonstrates saving the session into a Dropbox folder to ensure it's backed up in the cloud. This is a simple but crucial workflow tip that helps…
Schedule tasks on your calendar to stay on track with your goals
Problem: procrastination, lack of structure
Ethan Davis emphasizes the importance of scheduling tasks on a calendar to ensure that projects are completed on time. By setting deadlines and breaking down the work into manageable steps, producers can maintain…
Remake songs to improve your production skills
Problem: lack of learning, stagnation in skills
Ethan Davis recommends remaking songs as a powerful way to learn and improve as a producer. By downloading a track, breaking it down into its components, and rebuilding it in a DAW like Ableton, producers can study the…
Work at lower volumes to protect your hearing
Problem: hearing damage, inaccurate mixing
Ethan Davis advises producers to work at lower volumes to preserve their hearing and maintain accurate listening. Prolonged exposure to loud volumes can lead to permanent hearing loss, which is critical for music…
Take breaks to avoid burnout and maintain creativity
Problem: burnout, creative block
Ethan Davis highlights the importance of taking both short and long breaks to avoid burnout. Short breaks allow for rest and recovery, while long breaks can reignite creativity and motivation. Taking time away from music…
Always save your project frequently to avoid data loss
Problem: losing unsaved project data
Forgetting to save your project can lead to significant data loss. It's crucial to save regularly, especially after making major changes or recording new material. In Ableton, using 'Command+S' and 'File > Collect All…
Use MIDI tracks for creating and arranging new instrument parts
Problem: difficulty creating new instrument parts
Creating a new MIDI track with 'Command+Shift+T' in Ableton allows for the creation of new instrument parts, such as synth lines or drum patterns. This is a fundamental step in the arrangement process, especially when…