Why do you make music?

Hi- thought it would be fun to kick off a thread to talk about why we make music! Sometimes it’s all too easy to get lost in the tech or trying to learn new stuff and you can forget why you do it in the first place. So it doesn’t hurt to remind ourselves from time to time how lucky we are to be able to do what we do.

For me, it all started with DJing, the buzz I got from watching a dance floor react to tracks I was choosing and playing was literally life changing. It then just seemed like a natural progression to make music for people to dance to, whether it’s simply a bootleg mash-up or original material. And I have to admit that I really like getting into the geeky/techy side of things as well, probably a bit too much as I can get a bit distracted and play around without actually being that productive.

And after years of off and on noodling around collecting loads of nearly or half finished tracks and with everything else that’s happened (and not happened!) in the last year and half I’m more motivated than ever to start actually finishing and releasing my music.


updated by @simon-unsigned: 12/28/21 03:45:29PM

Nice thread idea! Going from DJing to producing is quite a common one. It's a natural next step from playing other people's music to wanting to play your own, whether it's mashups or original production. And you're right, there literally is nothing quite like people dancing to tracks you're playing, and when they're your own tracks it's out of this world! I once played a set at Burning Man that wasn't quite going off until I played one of my own tracks, which suddenly got the dance floor going. Immensely rewarding!! And also quite reassuring. We often spend a lot of time doubting our own tracks, through the naturally critical process of producing it, but when it smashes a dancefloor, those doubts melt away!

Self Expression

'Where words fail, Music speaks".

(And hopefully others will enjoy it too. Am very sure in two hundred years time people will still be singing 'Help' by the Beatles and 'No Woman, No Cry' by Bob Marley).


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'For the love of music...'

[quote="simon unsigned"]
For me, it all started with DJing, the buzz I got from watching a dance floor react to tracks I was choosing and playing was literally life changing. It then just seemed like a natural progression to make music for people to dance to, whether it’s simply a bootleg mash-up or original material. And I have to admit that I really like getting into the geeky/techy side of things as well, probably a bit too much as I can get a bit distracted and play around without actually being that productive.
[/quote]

This. I started DJing at 15 and got into making music a few years later. It all got a bit serious for a while and I lost a bit of the love when I was in my late 20's, life caught up with me! However, in my 30's I rediscovered making music for fun. That has been so important to me, a vehicle for experession without pressure!

That's a great quote David, 'Where words fail, Music speaks' who said that? I stumbled on a YouTube channel called Majestic Casual a few years ago. Then I wound up listening through all their uploads and just wanting to know how I could make a similar type of music! Downloaded Logic and i've been obsessed ever since.

I was part of a team to create a video game and we needed a "sound guy" as nobody wanted to do it I did it and was quickly addicted... ^^

I started producing to deal with the effects of PTSD, (i was a soldier), and it helped so much that ive stuck with it now for going on 4 years. i was fortunate enough to come across producertech, and ive improved alot, ( my tracks dont suck as much as they did when i first started, lol, and i have them to thank)

For me, a big part of it was that music was the only way I could effectively express my emotions and channel my inner energies.


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🎛️ MIXING 🔊 MASTERING 🎙️MENTORING
http://www.mixingmasteringmentoring.com

irresistible beauty of creating something, I always feel like I am here on earth to create.

some days, it's the only thing that gets me going!!

I started making music as a way of switching off from the day-to-day stuff and stresses. It's a great achievement to finish a track and upload it for others to enjoy.
The Novation Launchpad App is a great quick way to get into music before I think about anything more complex.

1. Out of need. 2. To get it out of my head 3. To understand and write music like I understand language. 4. To sell for commercial production, soundtrack, and imaging. 5. To make something I like to bounce to... or that tells/supports a story well. 6. Update my production skills to current gen... (long broadcast/production career)

Hi there ..I write because i love too it full fills me i suppose .I need too otherwise i go a little stir crazy .Its simply a love and passion.


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Be different it,s all good

Nice thread idea ... ye like mentioned above everyone mentioned something that relates .. started dj'n at 13/14 set of technics gemini mixer (still have them) ~ progressed to cdj's (felt like i was cheating on my vinyl) ~ then also using tractor usbs etc (felt like i was cheating on my cd's and vinyl) ~ was always interested in producing but never did till last 2-3 years im 44 now ... was always a clubber i love live music so from that i think my love of the connection music brings across colour/race/continents/oceans/religious beliefs/gender none of it matters it only leaves a divide for some of genre ... music has also helped me through some of the hardest times in my life and been with me for the happiest and prob the only form of expression for me and escape .. "music on world off"

[quote="Robbie O Beirne"]
started dj'n at 13/14 set of technics gemini mixer (still have them)
[/quote]

Me too, although I've split them up and don't actually use them for mixing any more. Have one in the living room hooked up to the AV amp to play my vinyl just for listening to and the amp creates a pseudo surround mix which makes some tracks sound great. The other one is in the studio just for sampling from.

I must reunite them one day for a mixing party

[quote="simon unsigned"]
I must reunite them one day for a mixing party
[/quote]

like when people come home for christmas at the airport only for turntables .. ye i miss the sound of vinyl .. feel an smell of the records esp new ones in the shop flicking through till you find a gem

Totally agree, and for me these days it's not just about the sound - even playing CDs, I love the ritual of flicking through the shelf, getting the CD case and looking through the booklet. I can't believe it seems so old fashioned when I remember when these little shiny discs of digital 1s and 0s were going to be the future... but then they only lasted a little bit longer than minidiscs

[quote="simon unsigned"]
Totally agree, and for me these days it's not just about the sound - even playing CDs, I love the ritual of flicking through the shelf, getting the CD case and looking through the booklet. I can't believe it seems so old fashioned when I remember when these little shiny discs of digital 1s and 0s were going to be the future... but then they only lasted a little bit longer than minidiscs
[/quote]

soon enough it will be a mostly virtual world (well maybe not all .. ) But music will always have the same impact no matter the format its presented in .. one of the beautiful things about it

Growing up my memories of constant top-40 playing in the house is a good one. My mother would play Beethoven on the record player for me after school. There was a terribly out of tune antique upright piano in the den that I would bang on. Music was all around me and I would pay attention to how it was arranged. I took piano lessons for a few years when I was 6 or so, I hated them because I had to play other people’s music and I only wanted to play my music. In my mind anyone dedicated enough could learn to read music and play what other people wrote, I needed to play what was inside me. Got my first real keyboard when I was 16 and have been hypnotized by electronic music ever since. I make many styles of music, electronic dance stuff, contemporary classical stuff and cinematic music. All of my music has a small piece of me somewhere.

I don’t watch t.v instead I listen to music,then decided to have a go started in reason first version then logic 6 (?)when it was emagic and am now using ableton still on a Mac. It helps me with my mental health and gives me something creative in my life this group it fantastic at Conection with other producers share idea’s and music 🤪😜😍😎🤩🥳

I remember hearing certain songs when I was younger and thinking how the hell did they make that!? And being that person that couldn't remember the lyrics to any songs but would have random melodies popping into my head. I got a copy of Sony Acid Pro first I think and have been messing around with music software ever since. I absolutely love hearing new music, so every time I hear a track I like it inspires me to get back on my computer and start working on new tunes!

[quote="Michael lawlor"]
I don’t watch t.v instead I listen to music,then decided to have a go started in reason first version then logic 6 (?)when it was emagic and am now using ableton still on a Mac. It helps me with my mental health and gives me something creative in my life this group it fantastic at Conection with other producers share idea’s and music 🤪😜😍😎🤩🥳
[/quote]

I thought I was strange for years. I never watched TV either I would just put the Beatles on instead, good to see someone else on the same wavelength!