fmmblog, Author at Finish More Music

FMM119 – The Enemy of Your Creativity

Unless you’ve spent years with your head in the clouds, you’ll know life is full of ups and downs…

And as a music producer, you’ll understand this more than most.

Whilst being creative has the tremendous power to light us up, the harsh truth is that it can also bring about negative thoughts and feelings, negative environments, and negative people.

And if not dealt with properly, it can have a detrimental impact on your life, your music, and can even ruin your chances of ever achieving your goals.

So in this week’s podcast I’m tackling the big question… how much impact is this often hidden negativity having on your life and what can you do about it?

Because if you fail to turn it around, dial it down or distance yourself from it, you’ll scupper the best chance you have of living a happy and successful life as a music producer.

These are big questions that require big answers, so let’s get focused and dive in.

Key takeaways

Don’t attach your goals to your happiness – it is inevitable for us to fail at times.

You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.

Ask yourself: if you could never tell a single person about your achievements, would you still pursue them?

“I don’t have any right to control what other people think about my music.” Nick Muir

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

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31 May, 2021
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FMM118 – Harry Romero

Today I’m talking to certified house legend, Harry Romero.

Having helped define the sound of the legendary Subliminal Records before launching his own Bambossa imprint, Harry Romero is an undisputed heavyweight of house music.

But even with a string of classic records to his name, Harry’s success lies not in his past achievements, but in his constant reinvention…

His ability to understand and adapt to changing trends in dance music, without blindly following them, is what has put him at the very top of his game and release tracks on labels like Crosstown Rebels, Hot Creations, Suara, Toolroom and Defected.

In this interview we put the microscope on his creative process, the importance of being selective about the gear you use, how to stay relevant without compromising your sound, plus his take on some of the current issues facing producers in 2021.

If you’re a producer who wants to learn from the very best on how to stay true to yourself, whilst adapting to fit current tastes, then this episode is a gold mine.

It’s absolutely stacked with valuable insights and experience from start to finish – let’s dive in!

Key takeaways:

Trust the process.
Return to what’s fun to escape creative ruts.
“You don’t need a lot to write good music.”
Know what the trends are, but don’t follow them.
Understand the history of your genre so you know how to push it forward.

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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24 May, 2021
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FMM117 – SUAT

When you think of your dream DJ set, where do you imagine it would take place?

Huge festival stage? Sunrise in Ibiza? The deli counter at your local supermarket?

Maybe not that last one, for most people…

In this special episode of the Finish More Music podcast I’m talking to SUAT, a British DJ who took the internet by storm during the pandemic by spreading humour and positive vibes through viral livestreams and videos.

Whilst many DJs streamed from their homes or from lavish locations, SUAT took to the streets to inject some well-needed fun to unsuspecting passers-by and the thousands of people watching him online.

We sat down to discuss exactly what it takes to make a massive impact online, the seriousness behind sharing great music, and how DJing in your local Tesco is actually much more powerful than you’d think…

This is an invaluable session for anybody wanting to do something with their music and their creativity, packed full of laughs and lessons in equal measure.

Tune into this special bonus episode now!

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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20 May, 2021
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FMM116 – How to Get Your Demos Heard Every Single Time

If you’re serious about wanting to get your tracks played by your favourite DJs and raising your profile as a producer, there’s one thing that you need to be doing…

Releasing.

But if you’ve had any experience with submitting tracks to labels in the past, you’ll know the process is often fruitless and unforgiving…

Dealing with rejection, the anxiety of not hearing back, the self-doubt that creeps in – it’s something that can easily cause a wave of negative emotions if not handled properly.

So in this week’s podcast I’m lifting the lid on how to put together the perfect demo submission, so that you can be primed and ready to have tracks signed by labels you love.

From choosing the right time to release your tracks, to optimising your submission for success, I’m covering everything you need to know about getting your music in the hands of the right people.

Wherever you are on your creative journey, sending your tracks to labels is an essential and rewarding part of your growth…

Make sure you nail it everytime by watching this week’s episode of the Finish More Music podcast!

Key takeaways

Research the labels you want to release on and consider how your music fits in.
Most labels don’t expect your demos to be mastered (they should do this for you once they’ve signed your track), so don’t waste your money.

Make it easy for the person listening to your demo.

Keep it simple: focus on making a good first impression, highlighting yourself as a serious artist and presenting your tracks as best you can.
Be part of a network that can provide ‘ins’ for you.

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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17 May, 2021
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FMM115 – Techno: The Best of the Best

To celebrate the release of my brand new ebook 50 Tips for Killer Techno Tracks, I’m sharing with you some of the very BEST advice my guests on this show have given for aspiring producers.

Featuring tips from techno legends Dubfire and Alan Oldham, and rising stars Mha Iri, Habischman, and Roberto, this episode is packed full of knowledge bombs to help accelerate your progress as a producer.

If you’re a techno producer aiming to release their tracks on their favourite underground labels, then this episode is for you!

And make sure to download the new ebook which covers everything you need to know from drums, groove, basslines, lead sounds, FX, workflow and mindset, plus it features exclusive tips from those featured in today’s podcast.

Plus it features exclusive tips from producers like Dubfire, Habischman, Mha Iri and many more!

Download your free copy now at: techno.finishmoremusic.com

Key takeaways

Whatever it is you do, you have to try to be as honest with yourself and with your art as possible.

Focus on the work, and the work will take care of itself.

Have an open mindset when it comes to success, the road to it is not always straightforward.

Write music every day, and when you do, do nothing else.
Don’t worry too much about the bad patches – accept that they happen and that they will go away.

Create your idea, and let it play its course.

Listen to each episode in full:

Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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14 May, 2021
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FMM114 – Define Your Sound with the Connections Phenomena

For most producers, the quest to create original music is near impossible…

Even trying to have your own sound is a whole other battle which many fight, and lose, every single day.

But what if I told you there was a special method, in fact a whole new way of thinking, that could set off an avalanche of unique ideas?

Well in this week’s podcast I’m going to be doing exactly that, by sharing an insane technique that’s guaranteed to get you producing imaginative and original ideas for your music…

Ideas that can’t possibly be the same as anybody else’s, unless they copy you that is.

I’m not going to give too much away here before you listen, but let me ask you this:

Do you want to be an innovator, or a plagiariser?

If it’s the latter, you better not listen to this.

But if it’s the former, get ready to learn how you can tap into yourself and create music that’s truly yours.

Listen to the Finish More Music podcast now!

Key takeaways

Feed your muse with new experiences and actively go out of your way to find them.

Creativity is just connecting things. The more connections you look for, the more original ideas you can create.

There’s two types of copying: copying yourself, and copying other people. Neither is original.

If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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10 May, 2021
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FMM113 – How to Guarantee Your Disappointment in the Studio

As electronic music producers, the very art that we pursue brings with it a never ending abundance of options…

Just think of all the steps it takes to write a piece of music… from conceiving the idea to composing it, producing it, engineering the track, and then finally shipping it out into the world.

Then add all the plugins, hardware, samples, presets, and learning the hundreds of different ways to achieve a specific result
It’s fair to say that it’s a lot. And it leads to a phenomenon called overchoice.

You know that feeling of having so many options presented to you that you end up picking none at all, or regret what you chose later on…

And there’s some serious ramifications to bringing it into your creative process.

So serious in fact that there’s every chance it will stop you from ever reaching your goals and aspirations in music.

So in this week’s episode I’m uncovering exactly what this phenomenon is, why we actively sabotage ourselves with it, and how to eradicate it so that you can finish more and better music, and love the process of doing it.

There’s a lot to unpack in this one so get locked in and join me for another episode of the Finish More Music podcast!

Key takeaways

Creativity thrives in limitations
Set time limits to work on each stage of the production process and move on when the time is up.
Make decisions to work with a very limited amount of plugins and equipment and force yourself to finalize something with those options.
Make a promise to yourself that you’ll stick to the limits you set, and have the integrity to follow through with it.

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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3 May, 2021
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FMM112 – Alan Oldham

As artists our mission is to try to take the music we love, and the culture we find ourselves in, further than it was before.

But it’s very rare that an artist comes along and influences an entire genre, and even rarer to do that over multiple creative disciplines…

Well this week I’m joined by someone who has done exactly that, Alan Oldham AKA DJ T-1000!

As one of the first DJs to premiere tracks by the likes of Jeff Mills, Juan Atkins, Robert Hood, Richie Hawtin and many more as the host of Detroit’s Fast Forward radio programme, Alan Oldham is considered to be “Detroit Techno’s Renaissance Man”.

A key figure in the techno history books, Alan joined the seminal Underground Resistance before releasing his own music on labels such as Tresor, BPitch, and his own imprints Generator and Pure Sonik.

Not only is he a prolific producer an veteran techno DJ, Alan is also a lifelong graphic illustrator famed for his artwork for some electronic music’s most iconic labels – his drawings and large-scale paintings have also been on display in art galleries in Chicago, Berlin, Paris, Los Angeles and Amsterdam.

Now decades on from his initial entrance into the sonic and visual worlds of electronic music, Alan remains at the top of his game and is now enjoying a new wave of popularity in Berlin where he now lives.

In this episode we dive into the comparisons between writing music and creating artwork, how to defeat creative anxiety and beat procrastination, plus his view on what it takes to stay relevant in electronic music even after 30 years in the game.
As someone who is as highly experienced in the field of creativity as Alan is, there is SO much for you to dissect in this episode – so get ready, and get locked in!

Key takeaways

Focus on the work, and the work will take care of itself.
There’s no perfect way of working, there’s just showing up and working in the optimal way for you.
Stick with your plan, and don’t let anybody else push you off your square.
Don’t rest on your laurels – you’re only as good as your last track.

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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26 April, 2021
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FMM111 – Rodriguez Jr.

Learn synth, arrangement & mixdown techniques with Rodriguez Jr. in his Aulart Masterclass here.

If there’s one giant misconception about music production, it’s that you’ll reach a point in your journey where it suddenly gets easy…

Some point where there’s no more anxiety, no more lack of inspiration, no more creative blocks.

But in reality, you couldn’t get any further from the truth.

That’s why this week on the podcast I’m pumped to be joined by one of electronic music’s finest talents, Rodriguez Jr., to lift the lid on what it takes to spend 20+ years at the top of his game in the music industry, and overcome the creative challenges all producers face.

As one half of French electro act The Youngsters (best known for their work on Laurent Garnier’s F-Communications) Olivier Mateu’s award-winning productions catapulted him into the international arena, taking him to some of the biggest clubs and festivals around the world.

Now operating under the Rodriguez Jr. moniker, Olivier is a prolific solo artist who’s released 3 critically acclaimed albums on Mobilee Records, and is safely one of electronic music’s most unique and in-demand live performers.
He joins me this week to uncover how he gets into the right mental state to create his best work, how he turns his ideas into finished pieces of music, where his inspiration comes from, and his tips for overcoming the creative blocks holding you back.

With an infectious passion for what he does and a WEALTH of knowledge to share, there’s so much for you to take away from in this episode.

Get the notepad out and get locked in, this one is special.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Finish More Music podcast now!

Key takeaways

There is always a ‘spark’ in the creative process, and your job as a producer is to build a story from it.
Creative blocks are inevitable so avoid putting pressure on yourself to succeed every time.
When you show up in front of a crowd or camera for a performance, you shouldn’t be thinking about what you’re doing – practice enough to make it second nature.
Work with limitations to unlock your creativity
Don’t be afraid to be different.

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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19 April, 2021
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FMM110 – Make Collaborations a Success

We’ve all heard the phrase “two heads are better than one”.

This rings especially true when it comes to your music, as collaborating with another producer can create extraordinary results…

From stepping out of your comfort zone to enhancing your workflow, to learning new skills and building bonds with likeminded people, collaboration is a source of almost endless reward.

But as anyone who has worked with other people before, it’s not always plain sailing…

Miscommunication, frustration and creative differences can cause conflict between collaborators, turning those two heads….into bumping heads.

And when a collaboration does turn sour it leads to wasted time, ill feelings, and at worst, a very real dent to your confidence.

So in this week’s episode I’m diving into how to make your collaborations a SUCCESS, offering my essential tips that will help you to reap all the rewards of collaboration, without any of the downsides.

If you want to collaborate with confidence and see huge leaps forward in your production journey as a result, then this one’s for you.

Find out how in this week’s episode of he Finish More Music Podcast!

Key takeaways

Be selective with who you work with.
Clearly define your roles and stick to them
Always prioritize respect and trust.
Work face to face where possible, either in person or via video call.
Be aware of the value of the collaboration to you as it’s progressing.
“If you want to be a professional, act like one.”

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Thank you for listening!

I really appreciate you joining me and I hope you’re enjoying the topics and taking some real value into your music sessions.

If this episode resonated with you and you feel it will have a positive impact on the people you know, please share it  by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this page.

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