You Are Wired to Be Irrational—Here’s How to Use That to Create Better Music
As a music producer, it’s easy to attribute your success to your hard work, late nights in the studio, and dedication to perfecting your sound. But here’s the thing—we often look at others' success and assume it’s just luck. This is what psychologists call the self-serving bias. We praise our own grind, while downplaying the efforts of others as chance or circumstance.
But the truth is, everyone is irrational. We’re all wired to think this way. The real key to success, whether in life or music production, is understanding that many factors play a role—and none of them can be ignored. One of the most important ones often overlooked is your belief. Do you truly believe you can be successful? If not, you’re rejecting the possibility in your mind right from the start. This makes it much harder for you to manifest success in the world! So first and foremost, believe that you can do it. If you can go one step further and believe that you have already achieved exactly what you desire, that may make your journey easier and more fulfilling.
Hard Work Alone Isn’t Enough
If success was all about working harder, every person grinding day and night would be successful. But in reality, the music industry, like any other creative field, requires more than just effort—it requires working smart. That means educating yourself on how music trends evolve, understanding human behavior, and most importantly, knowing how to streamline your production process.
Music production isn’t just about being the hardest worker—it’s about being strategic. It’s about knowing when to step back, observe your process, and make adjustments to maximize your output without burning out.
The Disconnect That Slows You Down
Many producers find themselves stuck because they focus on the wrong things. They might spend hours trying to perfect a sound, get bogged down in the details, or waste time on tasks that don’t really move the needle.
Here’s what often happens:
- Some producers choose the wrong tools or workflows, making the process slow and frustrating.
- Some producers work in oversaturated genres, trying to stand out but lacking the edge to stand out.
- Some producers have amazing talent but use inefficient methods or stay distracted most of the time, which keeps them from reaching their full potential.
A huge part of improving as a producer is knowing how to leverage the right tools and work smarter, not harder.
How Smart Producers Create Better Music Faster
To speed up your process and make better music, you need to optimize your workflow. This involves using tools and strategies that help you produce high-quality music without getting bogged down by endless revisions.
Here are a few ways to start working smarter:
- Use samples: High-quality samples aren’t cheating—they’re tools that let you build faster, get inspired, and focus on adding your own creative touch. Imagine having a bank of pre-designed MIDI loops and audio samples ready to go. You could spend less time on the basics and more time refining your own unique sound.
- Streamline sound design with presets: Instead of creating every sound from scratch, start with synth presets that give you a head start. You can always tweak and shape them to match your vision, but this saves valuable time in the early stages of production.
- Automate repetitive tasks: Whether it’s setting up templates in your DAW or using plugins that automate certain processes, cutting down on the repetitive work helps you stay in the creative zone longer.
By using these tools, you’re creating room for creativity to flow. The more streamlined your process, the faster you can experiment, iterate, and produce music that truly stands out.
Work Like a Producer on a Mission
Think of it this way: successful producers are like a hunter planning their next move. They don’t rush into a track without preparation. They move deliberately, focusing on the bigger picture. When the right idea or opportunity comes, they know how to act swiftly and execute it with precision.
Imagine a producer who spends hours every day tinkering with sounds, scrolling on social media, sitting in front of the DAW day dreaming. Such producers rarely finish tracks. Now, compare that to a producer who knows the art of sampling & layering, knows how to tweak presets, has built a set of templates and avoids distractions, i.e maintains focus.
Which one do you think will be more productive—and more successful? It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?
Remind yourself to be productive and spend your time in a way that you won’t regret later.
How to Be a Smarter Producer
Here are a few practical steps to help you level up your production game:
- Identify Your Weak Spots: Take an honest look at your workflow. Are you spending too much time on sound design? Are you getting stuck at certain points in your process? Knowing where you slow down will help you figure out where to improve.
- Use Tools to Your Advantage: Invest in tools like sample packs, and synth presets that are designed to help you create faster. This can tremendously speed up your workflow by giving you a range of sounds that fit your style and speed up the creation process.
- Optimize Your Workflow: Create templates in your DAW so you’re ready to go as soon as inspiration strikes. Organize your samples and presets so you can easily find what you need when you’re in the zone.
- Set Small, Achievable Goals: Instead of trying to complete an entire track in one sitting, break it down into smaller tasks. Focus on finishing a melody, layering a beat, or adding effects. These smaller wins will help you build momentum and keep moving forward.
Smart Work, Not Just Hard Work
The most successful producers don’t just rely on hours in the studio—they use strategic methods to work efficiently and creatively.
Don’t be afraid to use tools like samples and presets. They’re there to help you create your best work without getting stuck in the details. The faster you can create, the more music you’ll finish—and the more likely you are to reach your goals as a producer.
You’ve got this.
Cheers and have a great day!