LOMOTOR'S CREATIVE TIPS TO LIVE BY
1. Be Consistent. Make music every day, even if that means only a few minutes. Sometimes it helps me to plan my day the night before. That way I wake up with a goal and am less likely to waste time aimlessly tweaking tracks.
2. Be Creative for Yourself. Make music you enjoy listening to yourself. Learn from others, but don’t chase a style if it’s not your own. My 9-year old daughter has started making her own songs. Her friend made fun of one of them and she came to me, almost in tears, asking if people make fun of my songs. I told her yes, absolutely. But you can’t be hurt by others’ opinions or you'll go through life always afraid to create. The most popular musicians in the world are still disliked by millions of people. Make music you are happy with, and that will feed your soul.
3. Ride the social media wave with caution. It’s hard to get listeners without being on social media nowadays. If you choose to promote your music on social media, create posts that are still “you”, that align with your values. Authenticity beats trend-chasing. Maybe:) Try it and your soul will feel whole.
4. Convenience. Make everything in your music space quick and easy. If it takes longer than 20 seconds to set up gear, you lose creative momentum. Set up “stations” of gear that can turn on with the flip of one switch. Use templates. Make the path to making as efficient as possible.
5. Make it Yours. In every track you make, use something that is uniquely “you”. It’s ok to use samples or a stock instrument, but add a little flavor, maybe just a background sound or a specific use of effect, that is singular and no one else's.
6. Perfect is the enemy of good. Make decisions. Keep going. The important thing is to continue towards that goal of a finished track. Don’t waste hours polishing a perfect kick drum sound when a track idea is just beginning. Rough out the main musical components first. It’s much easier to understand your work when you can see the whole thing. You can always go back and adjust once the main elements are in place.
7. One song at a time. Work on 1 or 2 songs at a time. Try to finish something before moving on to the next. Otherwise you end up drowning under hundreds of unfinished ideas. I break this rule all the time:)
8. Get Outside!
Seriously. Your brain is tricking you. Scrolling your phone will not help you.
Going outside will. Your brain and body will thank you.
