I've been getting pretty damn good with music production.
I suppose it's about time, after a total of 20 years or so. Though with so much dabbling and putting it on the backburner, it's probably really only about 6 if I were to add up all the time being consistent.
There's the frustration, though: what next?
Perhaps it's better not to worry too much about that. I spent so many years 'putting the cart before the horse' by trying to make connections and planning all these big goals, without actually having made any music. So perhaps this is the time of counterbalance, focusing on the music without concern of what comes after.
Regardless, it's sometimes challenging to be producing great stuff... only to have it heard by like five people here. Yet, to be honest with myself, I don't feel it's ready to amp up any larger marketing agenda. Alot of what I've been making is still incomplete and may take years more to fully complete. Then again, maybe that's just excuse & procrastination.
Either way, my relationship with production has been undergoing a healthy transformation this year as I've taken it slow and steady, attuning to the creative waves as they roll in, and making the most of each surf session no matter how short it may be. And the results have been great. Better quality material done in less time, with greater satisfaction.
This beat is one of those that I can really go back to and feel quite content with.
Bringing the best of my hip hop influences with the hard-driving guitar & bass, dirty as fuck... I fucking love it.
It's been awesome getting better and mixing and mastering too. The production is one side. Improving the engineering quality is another that's been immensely rewarding.
As I was mixing this - which I first put together in March - last night and refining the sonics, it was so gratifying. Then I went and listened to some pop tracks mixed by Jaycen Joshua, one of the all time masters.
Felt like doing a long walk of shame. HA!
Though to be fair, that and this are two completely different styles that really can't be compared at all. And when I put this side by side with reference tracks in the same league, it's fucking dope. Pro level. No doubt.
What comes next...? I dunno. My youthful ambition to be a huge star dissipated over the years, and there's not much drive left to go out and push myself in the industry right now. So maybe it's still just the season to put in the blood, sweat, and tears into honing my craft - and sharing the in-progress work with the handful of you.
Without further ado, grab the highest-quality set of headphones you got or throw this on a good stereo for maximum impact, and ENJOY... ššš»
āŗ Listen on DSound
āŗ Listen from source (IPFS)