Producing music from the soul?

inDistinkt · Post by **inDistinkt** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:15 am

I've been producing for a good few months and finally feel like I've gotten over that initial learning curve, where I completely understand my DAW (Logic) and how it works and what all the effects and whatnot do.

So of course, I really want to make music thats truly coming from my heart with more feeling in it. I'm just not exactly sure how to go about doing that. I mean I usually open Logic, go thru my samples finding good drums/perc ,then make my beat and get everything sounding how I want it.

But after that all I can really do is think of what would sound good over it, use a synth and mess around till I get something good. This has been working great so far, but I just don't feel like I'm necessarily putting any "soul" or feeling into it. I feel like it may be because while I understand the synths in Logic and how they work, I'm still in a stage where a lot of what I'm doing is experimentation.

Anyways just wondering what some of the more experienced producers think on this subject, or if anyone has any thoughts to share.

brettheaslewood · Post by **brettheaslewood** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:18 am

try making romantic music and sounds.

Basic A · Post by **Basic A** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:39 am

pick a subject matter, and write about it... Some of my most popular tunes are ones I write to portray a certain vibe...

Like, think of your favorite natural scenic landscape, everyone has those spots they sort of feel an emotional connection to, ask yourself what vibe it puts off, and try to write a tune that puts you in a similar feeling...

IDK you gender or sexual preference, but some of my best tunes/most popular are written when im thinking about my girl. Think about the vibe you get hanging out with someone you admire, love, ect. And try to write a chord progression that portrays it.

The only way your going to be able to write from the heart is if you start writing ABOUT stuff instead of just plain writing for the hell of writing. Im not you, so I cant really throw topic suggestions at you like I just tried too, but you should know what pulls your heartstrings and sets a vibe. Everytime you listen to a song it should take you somewhere, set a mood, ect. The key to writing from your heart, is making the mood your tunes set a mood thats close to you.

One last tip... Fuck technical production rights and wrongs... noones arguing the beatles dont have soul, and noones arguing that the stuff they did was technically CORRECT all the time either.

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:40 am

I don't see that you're necessarily doing anything wrong. Seems like you're having fun, learning. Maybe that is your soul? Would that be so bad?

But I know what you're saying. It really isn't chemistry, one part sub, one part shuffly hats, one part midrange wub. It's alchemy. You've got to find a way to let the magic in. Let the music be more than you thought it was, more than you can understand, even as its author. To do that, I think you need to develop a process, a way of working. Seems like you are doing that, but also seems like it is leaving you a little unsatisfied. Keep pushing your process. Keep looking for ways to make beats, make music, ways that capture you, ways to which you can become beholden, rather than you being in charge and dictating to your music.

In a certain way, you have to become specific. You have to find what you are really interested in. Once you start to find that thing, you'll start hearing it from people that hear your toons. If they're quality people, and hopefully producers, they'll be able to tell that you're on to something. You'll see it for yourself. You won't be wondering wtf you're doing, you'll just be doing what you like to do.

Anyway bro, it is a journey and an adventure. Good luck.

brettheaslewood · Post by **brettheaslewood** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:44 am

nowaysj wrote:Anyway bro, it is a journey and an adventure. Good luck.

3 years into my Journey, and only in the last 6 months am i becoming more and more happier with the music i make.
Time is beauty.

inDistinkt · Post by **inDistinkt** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:21 pm

Thanks for all the responses. I like the idea of just thinking about the vibes I get from certain things I like, and trying to re create that feeling. Most of what I've been making has been a bit fast paced too. Maybe Ill try a halftime song, so far I've been focusing more on garage and house, which of course can both be really deep, but I guess with the faster pace I cant help but thinking about what will keep the song flowing along rather than what will induce certain feelings.

Anyways off to experiment. Thanks again, don't know where Id be in the realm of production without this forum.

3rdeye · Post by **3rdeye** » Mon May 23, 2011 1:51 pm

EDIT:

brettheaslewood wrote:
nowaysj wrote:Anyway bro, it is a journey and an adventure. Good luck.
3 years into my Journey, and only in the last 6 months am i becoming more and more happier with the music i make.
Time is beauty.

This!

Give it time and experience, keep making tunes and it will come! I didn't get a proper connection with my tunes for some time, but after a while it just happened I guess

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Mon May 23, 2011 2:39 pm

I'll simply second what's been said and just add. I too have a tendency to go right to my drum samples because I'm comfortable with drum sound design and pattern programming (though I have tons to learn). Just a thought, that maybe, if as musicians we always go to what is easiest, what is familiar that our music will go there to--to that formulaic and cliche place.

Lately I've been trying to force myself to start some place different. I got the suggestion from a thread I was lurking to start by just writing an ambient track, and having that pretty well laid begin on drums, bass, additional melodies etc. Gotta say I was shocked when something wonderful started to fall together. This process was unfamiliar and uncomfortable, but became wonderful. I think that track reflects my emotional reaction to that process.

Basically I'm saying if the act of creation has no soul (no emotion happening within it's confines) how can we expect the finished product to have any?

hutyluty · Post by **hutyluty** » Mon May 23, 2011 2:56 pm

write a song for a girl

-[2]DAY_- · Post by **-[2]DAY_-** » Mon May 23, 2011 2:59 pm

conquer the clunge, the dancefloor doest followeth

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Mon May 23, 2011 5:53 pm

fragments wrote:Basically I'm saying if the act of creation has no soul, how can we expect the finished product to have any?

Amen and halleluiah!

inDistinkt wrote:don't know where Id be in the realm of production without this forum.

Amen and halleluiah 2x

hutyluty · Post by **hutyluty** » Mon May 23, 2011 5:57 pm

inDistinkt wrote:don't know where Id be in the realm of production without this forum.

Amen and halleluiah 2x[/quote]

This also- write a song about how much you love all the people in this forum

mcpable · Post by **mcpable** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:49 pm

brettheaslewood wrote: Time is beauty.

yup

I definitely write better music on guitar than anything else since I suppose it more naturally comes out of me that way than any other (compared to a piano or drum pad etc).

antman · Post by **antman** » Mon May 23, 2011 9:56 pm

Whats a soul and where do I get one?

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:05 pm

Generally, the idea is to steal it from black people.

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Mon May 23, 2011 10:10 pm

Venetian Snares has that album "Songs About My Cats"...get some cats and write about them.

amphibian · Post by **amphibian** » Tue May 24, 2011 12:55 am

inDistinkt wrote:I've been producing for a good few months and finally feel like I've gotten over that initial learning curve, where I completely understand my DAW (Logic) and how it works and what all the effects and whatnot do.

No, no you don't

No way you could possibly understand it all in 3 months. But yes, you can probably put a beat together. WOOOO!

So of course, I really want to make music thats truly coming from my heart with more feeling in it. I'm just not exactly sure how to go about doing that. I mean I usually open Logic, go thru my samples finding good drums/perc ,then make my beat and get everything sounding how I want it.

But after that all I can really do is think of what would sound good over it, use a synth and mess around till I get something good. This has been working great so far, but I just don't feel like I'm necessarily putting any "soul" or feeling into it. I feel like it may be because while I understand the synths in Logic and how they work, I'm still in a stage where a lot of what I'm doing is experimentation.

And it'll be like this probably for the rest of your production life. Melody plays a huge part of creating soulful music - so study a little on musical theory (you don't need much), and you'll be leagues ahead. Seriously, an hour or two of reading about scales.etc. and you won't believe how much better your writing becomes.

kaiori breathe · Post by **kaiori breathe** » Tue May 24, 2011 1:39 am

How to write music from the soul:

Think big, make something of your life, get a girlfriend - shop in ikea together for throw rugs, own a car, get a great job, flirt innocently with the receptionist, get a dog - call him Moonbeam and walk him every day, enjoy a drink every now and then, work out regularly.

Then...

Destroy it all, use your new physique to seduce the receptionist, have sex with her on the throw rug you bought in ikea, video it and send it to your girlfriend, quit your job and drive your car into a wall, drink ALL the time, get involved in dog fights to earn money to subsidize your new lifestyle - watch as Moonbeam the cuddly Yorkshire Terrier fights a badger... and die a little inside.

When your life is subsequently ruined, and Moonbeam - you're only friend left - has been taken away from you by an animal rights organization, you'll have plenty of time to sit alone and think back over the all mistakes you made and indeed all the mistakes you regret not making, while pensively strumming your guitar like a burned out country singer. Maybe, just maybe, one day when you've come to terms with it all you'll write something great about it... something from the soul...

Note, don't do any of this.

amphibian · Post by **amphibian** » Tue May 24, 2011 1:42 am

lmfao Kaiori

Basic A · Post by **Basic A** » Tue May 24, 2011 2:01 am

Massive amounts of drugs... worked for Lennon... and Hendrix.

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