what should I do to become a better musician/artist?

Damn this is a tough one... But I think you nailed it with your points. I would add be open, listen to different genre and be honest with what you try to do. Play with other musicians that have different influences helps a lot too.

The thing that does help me a lot to improve is to record myself and listen back. It is always a big reality check that most of the time hurts, and sometimes it is not as bad as what I did think when playing.

I personally do not care about being great at what I do when I play music, but I try to do as good as I can with the time and investment I can put into it (which is not that much.) Good news is that I think I am better now than 10 years ago.

Cool track by the way.

what should I do to become a better musician/artist? Damn this is a tough one... But I think you nailed it with your points. I would add be open, listen to different genre and be honest with what you try to do. Play with other musicians that have different influences helps a lot too. The thing that does help me a lot to improve is to record myself and listen back. It is always a big reality check that most of the time hurts, and sometimes it is not as bad as what I did think when playing. I personally do not care about being great at what I do when I play music, but I try to do as good as I can with the time and investment I can put into it (which is not that much.) Good news is that I think I am better now than 10 years ago. Cool track by the way.

Something that helps me is to just stop making music for a bit and try to enjoy other things, actively listen to music with a notepad and see what you learn...Think about stand-up comedians, they'd have nothing to joke about if they never left the stage and didn't live life!

But your tunes are so good, maybe my advice should be don't stop making music for even a second!

Something that helps me is to just stop making music for a bit and try to enjoy other things, actively listen to music with a notepad and see what you learn...Think about stand-up comedians, they'd have nothing to joke about if they never left the stage and didn't live life! But your tunes are so good, maybe my advice should be don't stop making music for even a second!

I think the "terrible" mastering adds a raw dirty feel to this that works.  It will be cool to integrate that Kaoss pad though.  As far as improving as a musician I'd say keep doing what you're doing, but for sure listen to lots of stuff and take note about what you like.  Even genres or songs that you don't care for can have something interesting to teach you.  I also agree about going back and listening to your old stuff.  I find with enough time/distance I can listen to my own tracks with a more objective ear and see what does and doesn't work.  I'd also say try to keep in mind what made you want to make music in the first place.  Try to keep that feeling of enthusiasm and also try to make songs that would blow the mind of your younger music fan self.  I sort of have a mental image of myself around when I was in college, which was probably my peak as a music fan.  I keep that guy in mind and try to impress him.

I think the "terrible" mastering adds a raw dirty feel to this that works. It will be cool to integrate that Kaoss pad though. As far as improving as a musician I'd say keep doing what you're doing, but for sure listen to lots of stuff and take note about what you like. Even genres or songs that you don't care for can have something interesting to teach you. I also agree about going back and listening to your old stuff. I find with enough time/distance I can listen to my own tracks with a more objective ear and see what does and doesn't work. I'd also say try to keep in mind what made you want to make music in the first place. Try to keep that feeling of enthusiasm and also try to make songs that would blow the mind of your younger music fan self. I sort of have a mental image of myself around when I was in college, which was probably my peak as a music fan. I keep that guy in mind and try to impress him.

Sounds pretty damn good to me! This sounds more like hip hop than French house to me, honestly. You nailed the clap, though.

I have zero advice on becoming a better musician. I don't even consider myself a musician so I am the wrong person to dish it out anyway. If you get any good ideas, though, let me know because I should probably heed them

Sounds pretty damn good to me! This sounds more like hip hop than French house to me, honestly. You nailed the clap, though. I have zero advice on becoming a better musician. I don't even consider myself a musician so I am the wrong person to dish it out anyway. If you get any good ideas, though, let me know because I should probably heed them :)

I love the beat, especially the kick sound starting from 0:30.

I read recently a book that has been extremely interesting, written by a Jazz pianist and this book is at the crossroad of transcendental meditation and performing music in an ego-less fashion. It's called Effortless Mastery, by Kenny Werner. It is very inspiring both in instrument practice and in composition. and i think it applies even more broadly.

And in another style, here is another quote by Tom Waits that I have found to be helpful "Your hands are like dogs, going to the same places they've been. You have to be careful when playing is no longer in the mind but in the fingers, going to happy places. You have to break them of their habits or you don't explore; you only play what is confident and pleasing. I'm learning to break those habits by playing instruments I know absolutely nothing about, like a bassoon or a waterphone."

The interesting thing is that quote actually contradicts very much the book i recommended just a paragraph above.

I love the beat, especially the kick sound starting from 0:30. I read recently a book that has been extremely interesting, written by a Jazz pianist and this book is at the crossroad of transcendental meditation and performing music in an ego-less fashion. It's called Effortless Mastery, by Kenny Werner. It is very inspiring both in instrument practice and in composition. and i think it applies even more broadly. And in another style, here is another quote by Tom Waits that I have found to be helpful "Your hands are like dogs, going to the same places they've been. You have to be careful when playing is no longer in the mind but in the fingers, going to happy places. You have to break them of their habits or you don't explore; you only play what is confident and pleasing. I'm learning to break those habits by playing instruments I know absolutely nothing about, like a bassoon or a waterphone." The interesting thing is that quote actually contradicts very much the book i recommended just a paragraph above. :)

I could get down in a club, french or otherwise to this. Yeah keep doing what you doing, creating! Consistently. Being open to what comes out. If there's an inner critic that inhibits or shuts down ideas, get it out, don't listen! I love the book the Artists Way, inspired me. I have recently found some inspiration from Austin Kleon's books and newsletter. And I got some good ideas from that ableton book, which they made free during covid times ... "Making Music ..." by Desantis.

I could get down in a club, french or otherwise to this. Yeah keep doing what you doing, creating! Consistently. Being open to what comes out. If there's an inner critic that inhibits or shuts down ideas, get it out, don't listen! I love the book the Artists Way, inspired me. I have recently found some inspiration from Austin Kleon's books and newsletter. And I got some good ideas from that ableton book, which they made free during covid times ... "Making Music ..." by Desantis.

Great sounds and tempo drift effects. The drum break in the middle is really catchy and a nice interlude into the different sounding second half. The percussion effects towards the end are really awesome.  Get's really big!

Not sure what advice to give to make a better Orange Drink because I enjoy Orange Drink Classic. Most of what comes to mind, you are already doing. IMO: If you want to be a virtuoso musician, narrow down your attention to a single instrument and practice like crazy (I do not do this). If you want to write good songs, then being a virtuoso is not important. Of course you can combine both approaches to a degree but ultimately, most of us must choose one.  I love that Tom Waits quote from Kedbreak, btw. Break those dogs of some bad habits!

Great sounds and tempo drift effects. The drum break in the middle is really catchy and a nice interlude into the different sounding second half. The percussion effects towards the end are really awesome. Get's really big! Not sure what advice to give to make a better Orange Drink because I enjoy Orange Drink Classic. Most of what comes to mind, you are already doing. IMO: If you want to be a virtuoso musician, narrow down your attention to a single instrument and practice like crazy (I do not do this). If you want to write good songs, then being a virtuoso is not important. Of course you can combine both approaches to a degree but ultimately, most of us must choose one. I love that Tom Waits quote from Kedbreak, btw. Break those dogs of some bad habits!

I'm late to the pahtay but I'd say to improve.... just more Orange drank please!  But seriously I enjoyed this track a lot.  The fast pace of the track is awesome especially with that kick leading the way.  Sweet outro too.  I'm super jealous of that digitakt.  That and the Sub37 are on my dream wishlist.  But I dunno if I could justify owning the digitakt cuz I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to program such sweet beats on it.   As far as music learning... That Desantis book is an inspiring read.  Also as of late I've found Rick Beato's YT channel to be informative and inspiring.  He goes over all kinds of music from film scores to his favorite rock albums and what makes them sound good (in musical terms).  He goes over chord structures and all that.  There's a shit ton of videos by him too.  Hope the studio is coming along nicely!

I'm late to the pahtay but I'd say to improve.... just more Orange drank please! But seriously I enjoyed this track a lot. The fast pace of the track is awesome especially with that kick leading the way. Sweet outro too. I'm super jealous of that digitakt. That and the Sub37 are on my dream wishlist. But I dunno if I could justify owning the digitakt cuz I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to program such sweet beats on it. As far as music learning... That Desantis book is an inspiring read. Also as of late I've found Rick Beato's YT channel to be informative and inspiring. He goes over all kinds of music from film scores to his favorite rock albums and what makes them sound good (in musical terms). He goes over chord structures and all that. There's a shit ton of videos by him too. Hope the studio is coming along nicely!

Funny how you asked this 3 weeks ago and today I just saw Ableton's twitter account post the same question about fav music book.  https://twitter.com/Ableton/status/1285213689981919235  lots of people throwing in their favs

Funny how you asked this 3 weeks ago and today I just saw Ableton's twitter account post the same question about fav music book. https://twitter.com/Ableton/status/1285213689981919235 lots of people throwing in their favs

i love this track. this has like a wavey and warble dream vibe i really like, and a selection of sounds & synths I haven't heard from ya. super high energy yet also chill.

i think something small that helps (your list is already pretty comprehensive) is to just listen to lots and lots of music, old music but also new releases. it's always exciting to hear a new artist/album that opens up a new avenue of thought, i.e.  "oh i didn't know you could do that." but also listening to music that you don't necessarily like can be cool too, to try and understand the how & why of their creative process. it seems like for a lot of artists making music is pretty exploratory & ephemeral...

i love this track. this has like a wavey and warble dream vibe i really like, and a selection of sounds & synths I haven't heard from ya. super high energy yet also chill. i think something small that helps (your list is already pretty comprehensive) is to just listen to lots and lots of music, old music but also new releases. it's always exciting to hear a new artist/album that opens up a new avenue of thought, i.e. "oh i didn't know you could do that." but also listening to music that you don't necessarily like can be cool too, to try and understand the how & why of their creative process. it seems like for a lot of artists making music is pretty exploratory & ephemeral...