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1. Embrace Chaos

Creativity often arises from chaos and disorder. Instead of resisting the chaos of the creative process, embrace it and allow it to guide you. Experiment with new techniques, and approaches, and be open to the unexpected.

2. Sound Design

One way to stay creative in music production is to experiment with sound design. This involves manipulating various parameters of synthesizers, effects, and other audio processors to create unique sounds that can be used in a track. For example, try experimenting with different waveforms, filters, LFOs, and modulation sources to create something that sounds fresh and new.

3. Follow the Flow

Creativity is a flow that moves through us, follow this flow rather than try to control it. Let go of preconceived notions of how a track should sound and instead allow the music to unfold organically.

4. Limitations

Setting limitations can help to inspire creativity by forcing you to work within certain constraints. For example, challenge yourself to create a track using only a limited set of instruments, or by restricting the number of tracks you can use in your DAW. By doing so, you may be able to come up with unique solutions that you might not have considered otherwise.

5. Trust Your Intuition

Creativity often arises from a deep, intuitive sense of what feels right. Trust your intuition and follow your instincts when creating music. Don't be afraid to take risks or try something new.

6. Collaboration

Collaborating with other musicians, producers, or songwriters can help to spark new ideas and approaches to music production. By working with someone who has a different musical background or approach, you can challenge yourself to think outside of your usual creative process and explore new possibilities.

7. Embody Your Inspiration

Inspiration can come from anywhere, embody and express this inspiration through your music. Whether it's a feeling, an image, or a story, find ways to convey it through your music and allow it to guide your creative process.

8. Sampling and Resampling

Sampling and resampling can be a great way to generate new ideas and sounds. By taking samples from different sources, chopping them up, and rearranging them in novel ways, you can create unique rhythms, melodies, and textures. Additionally, resampling involves recording the output of a track and then processing it in various ways, such as adding effects or manipulating the pitch and tempo. This can create unexpected results that can be used as a starting point for new tracks.

9. Field Recordings

Field recordings are sounds recorded from the environment, such as natural sounds, urban noise, or human voices. By incorporating these sounds into your tracks, you can add an organic, authentic element to your music. Moreover, field recordings can be manipulated in various ways, such as pitch-shifting, time-stretching, and processing with effects, to create entirely new sounds. This can help to keep your music production fresh and original.

10. Find Unity in Diversity

Creativity thrives on diversity, try to embrace and celebrate the diversity of sounds, genres, and cultures in music production. By blending different styles and techniques, you can create something truly unique and authentic. To again quote the great Alan Watts, "The most important characteristic of the Eastern worldview is the awareness of the unity and mutual interrelation of all things and events." Embrace this unity in diversity and let it guide your creative process.

To stay creative in art and music production, one must embrace the fluid and ever-changing nature of creativity itself. As philosopher Alan Watts once said, "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." Here are ten music production techniques to help stay creative while making art:

HERE'S 10 TIPS FOR STAYING CREATIVE

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2021 | Archive

2022 | Archive

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