Here’s 10 personal principles that have helped me over time. Hope it helps!
1. Let go a bit.
Think of music as “Randomness that works”. Ideas for whole songs have originated from simply pressing a wrong button. You can squeeze the good out of every mistake that you make. 10 mistakes, at 10% good per mistake, is a pretty good outcome.
2. Subtract rather than add.
We all know that there’s a fine line between something that works, and something that doesn’t. Usually we look for what’s missing, and we compensate by adding. Perceive the space between the notes as notes themselves.
3. Start with your weaknesses and head towards your strengths.
Define to yourself what you are poorest at technically and start with that first.
4. Try remixing.
Remixing is all about gaining confidence and learning new tricks. Sometimes was intended as a remix can turn into something original and fresh!
5. Conquer your enemies.
Write about something on your mind. Often it’s what our minds to begin with which limits us.
6. Redefine your expectations.
Was everybody totally impressed by your last track? Feeling a bit under pressure? Find ways to deal with that. Perhaps produce under a pseudo-name. Announce an experimental stage.
7. Set time Goals.
As you spend time on your track, the rift in perception between you and your audience will escalate. Setting time goals can sometimes stop you from adding unnecessary complication which alienate rather than enhance. Following your instincts and hoping that it’s original can often work.
8. Modify or improve your environment.
Change your Renoise Colours. Colours will motivate certain areas of the brain. Change the temperature, clean your desk, open all the windows, drink water. Often us computer geeks aren’t aware when we’re even hungry, thirsty or tired.
9. Allow your ideas to evolve.
In a tracker environment, we’re always evaluating. We’re placing down notes, listening to tons of instruments and mixing - we’re always being critical and filtering ideas while we track. It pays to cull the constant evaluation and go with the flow. Don’t just exclude an idea because you feel there are so many other choices.
10. Think Human.
You are not writing music for computers, you are writing music for imperfect beings who in large are bored by perfection. I would rather look at a brick wall layed by a clueless idiot than a master tradesman. People appreciate precision, but what can they relate to more?