Inspiration and Emotion

LateNightSwagg · 10-26-2012, 01:35 AM

Lately I've been making a lot of music and am enjoying what I make more. My problem though is that I feel like my music lacks that essential emotion that makes music better to listen to, by trying to experience what the artist is conveying through sound. I view music especially in the chill wave / glo-fi / ambient genres to be aural poetry. But my music when I listen to it (keywords) lacks emotion. During the production process I feel like I'm just going with the flow to make what sounds nice, but get discouraged when I talk to other friends who make music and they go into anecdotes how they felt something and channeled emotion through X synths or through Y percussion sections. Is this normal to feel this way? I've always wanted to try and score to piece of art or photography or even a story but I feel like I would lose the emotion. How should I change this. Any suggestions?

TLDR;; I find my music lacks emotion. Is this normal? What should I do?

stray medicine · 10-26-2012, 01:40 AM

I always find myself writing music when I feel extremely emotional about anything. The times I write the best other than under the influence, is when I'm experiencing an extreme emotional high or emotional low. The majority of the time I use writing music as a mental and emotional medicine for myself, so it turns out very emotional to me at least.

If you're writing music when you're feeling an extreme high or low, it might help. That's what works for me best.

ThomasEdger · 10-26-2012, 01:46 AM

When I make my music, it usually reflects my mood. If I'm happy, the piece will generally be pretty upbeat, and if I'm sad, it will be slower, and usually in a minor key.

Basically, I reckon it might be a good idea to make music that reflects your mood when you're inspired.

LateNightSwagg · 10-26-2012, 01:48 AM

Thanks you two but Thomas the problem is usually finding inspiration, when I make music I usually just start with a chord I like at the moment and go from there. Not much inspiration there lol.

stray medicine · 10-26-2012, 01:55 AM

If whatever you like at the moment reflects what you feel and are going through, that sounds a lot like inspiration to me. That's usually how it works, playing how you feel.

LateNightSwagg · 10-26-2012, 01:59 AM

I suppose that makes a lot of sense. It takes a lot of work to interpret your own feelings so I guess what you like reflects emotion

relic · 10-26-2012, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateNightSwagg

Thanks you two but Thomas the problem is usually finding inspiration, when I make music I usually just start with a chord I like at the moment and go from there. Not much inspiration there lol.

Many of my favorite tunes I make start with a single sample I "like at the moment" to use your words and go from there. Sometimes the sample becomes almost insignificant as far as the track goes...good example...I sampled a woodblock/rimshot from a terrible mid 60's lounge lizard type tune...started a percussion line with that sample and went from there. Now the sample sights way back in the mix...but...the next sample I choose was based on well it went with that reverby woodblock, then the third sample based on how well it went with those two...then designed a synth patch around those...etc.

Did the same thing with three notes from a solo piano piece I sampled as well.

I think sometimes the creative process can suck the "inspiration" or emotion out of the piece of art for the artist because we are too close to it.

LateNightSwagg · 10-26-2012, 02:14 AM

You lost me...what do u mean "too close to it"?

relic · 10-26-2012, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateNightSwagg

You lost me...what do u mean "too close to it"?

We aren't an 'outside listener' ...we know all the technical details about the track...we don't have fresh ears....we've heard the track a thousand times processed in a thousand subtly different ways.

LateNightSwagg · 10-26-2012, 02:24 AM

And therefore we can't interpret it properly or see the emotion?

Dugg Funnie · 10-26-2012, 02:30 AM

IF you truly believe in the music and why you're doing it; the emotion will be there. Experiences like that are transient at best, and trying to force your music to just conform to your will and be what you command is like trying to force a lotus to grow into a redwood. you will only destroy it in the process.

I think you should let go of trying to make your music, and let music make itself through you. It will blend with your experiences a life and with time it will come faster and you'll get a workflow down and enjoy what comes of it.

But you gotta stick to the process and stay with it for the long-haul.

LateNightSwagg · 10-26-2012, 02:32 AM

Preach sir! Thanks for that! Really I thank you

relic · 10-26-2012, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateNightSwagg

And therefore we can't interpret it properly or see the emotion?

Exactly.

PeterBeckhart · 10-27-2012, 03:38 AM

It will probably help if you had more of a motive in your songs. All of my best and favorite tracks have been with a concept, story, or feeling in mind that I try to represent through the track. Maybe it's inspiration from a poem, a movie, a book, an experience, a girlfriend, boyfriend, favorite place to be in life, etc. the list goes on. Find something you passionately love, or hate, and try to make a song that will bring out that emotion!

plus3 · 10-27-2012, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterBeckhart

All of my best and favorite tracks have been with a concept, story, or feeling in mind that I try to represent through the track.

This.