Tech Sessions #8
The Wall
Everybody hits the infamous wall. Sometimes, that hit can feel like a head on collision with a semi. Now for those who don’t create, the wall is what is commonly known as writer’s block. And it is the worst thing that can happen to any creative person with the exception of losing their tools in a theft, act of God, or fit of rage by a soon-to-be ex spouse.
On the real, nothing is worse than sitting in front of your gear wanting to work, even needing to work, and not being able to. Now everyone is different but there usually tends to be a few things that come into play when this happens.
The main one, based on my experiences and those of other cats I’ve talked to, is stress. Even when we don’t realize it, the general day-to-day grind of life can suck the soul and, most importantly, the fun out of everything we do.
Regardless of your situation, if stress seems to be the deal, do something that requires you to clear your mind for a second. Because just about anything you do even if it’s good will probably sound like garbage to you and that is the most discouraging thing that can happen to anybody.
For some people, it’s as simple as hooking up a sack of dro and getting busy. Others need to take a walk. Hells, don’t even rule out calling it a day/night and investing the rest of your time into doing nothing.
Now if it’s not a matter of hitting the reset button, then it can simply be a matter of running out of ideas. Now all of the above can help you clear that hurdle too. Life inspires the best shit.
True story for you. I was all kinds of pissed off at a track not too long ago and a thunderstorm knocked my electricity offline for like an hour one night. I had candles to see by and since it’s summer, I had to open the windows for natural a/c.
So I’m sitting there waiting for the lights to come on and all of a sudden I notice the candlelight is moving a certain way. Like the shit has a rhythm. So when the power came back, that rhythm became a high-hat pattern that jumped off that same track I was hating on earlier. Sometimes getting ideas really can be just about living.
Now, you can always pull out old records and start to sample and hope something jumps off that way or hell, you can take a loop and work off of that and then come back and rebuild later.
Those are both very good technical ways to get over the hump. But the thing about the wall is that it’s a very mental thing. Side-stepping a few things here and there, odds are won’t get you past that.
But once you do get past that, more times than not, your shit will head to the next level because you just turned a page and started a brand new chapter.
Glover is one half of the Atlanta, GA based production squad The Audio Assassins which are founding members of The Elements. You can find them both at Audioassassins.com and theelementsinc.com
Message Glover and tell him how you resolve a case of writer's block!
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The 2-Way
Replies: 5
posted by: ohsokool @ 07/08/04: 10:10 AM EST
re: a sac of dro.
Man im lauging about that because that 'used' to be instant alternative for my former partner to spark up (pun intended) the ideas once again. BUT it can be a hit-or-miss situation depending on the 'quality; of the greenery.(insert laughter here)
After a while, we just decided it was better we shut the equipment down, head to a club or party, listen and watch to what made people move. Even if we didnt like the songs that made people react, we just 'listened' (key word).
If we werent on a deadline to hand in a remix, we simply called it a wrap, took a few days away from 'lab' and came back at a futre date...fresh and armed with ideas.
I feel you on watching the flicker and movements of a candle flame. I once had a washing machine that made the illest beats and sounds.
Too bad A&R's dont accept tracks from household appliances, cuz we'd be riiiich beeyatch!
:D
posted by: fastlance @ 07/08/04: 12:12 PM EST
haha, good shit once again, for me I work best under deadline pressure, its a very dangerous thing to do but it sure can bring out the best in you knowing you goto hand something within 17 hours! haha.. forcing your self to do the best underpressure brings great results for me
posted by: sharris @ 07/08/04: 01:01 PM EST
Once again, you hit it on the head -- I have faced the "blank paper" more times than I want to count. For me it's throwing on the sneakers and walking the streets of New York, talking to the people, eavesdropping to conversations on the train ... I always come back with something good.
posted by: Mepho Brown @ 07/08/04: 03:03 PM EST
...word the 'dro' used to be thing when it comes to inspiration. Since I've layed off a bit..I've found that it's a bit more challenging to be creative..but the best things are the ones that are true to my soul...even at the time..may be a mood etc..
posted by: Audio Assassin @ 07/08/04: 03:03 PM EST
Everybody loves the dro! Nah for real thanks ya'll...
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