Studio Notes #002
I love music, love listening, love talking about it. And I love producing. In today's consumer culture, us producers are fortunate to be able to create.
I've been thinking about this when I saw this tweet:
Creating allows you to put your energy into something. It's been the best thing for me. I love making beats. I love building and creating this business.
Recently I've been evolving MIDI Mighty into software by creating plugins. And I love it.
And I truly do mean I love it. I think because it bring me so much joy. I've been thinking a lot on how I feel, how certain things make me feel, what can I do to be in a better situation, etc.
And there's a few things that make me feel great.
Going to the gym is one. Every time I leave my kickboxing gym I feel great. I have to remind myself of this all the time when i don't feel like going to the gym ("bro, I know you don't want to go, but you ALWAYS feel so much better after and you know you'll feel like a loser if you don't go.")
Creating plugins is another. I can't explain it but it's so awesome just to create tools that other creators use to make music. Maybe because it combines so many of my lifelong interests into one. And maybe part of it is because I'm creating. I'm using that energy in a meaningful way so that it doesn't turn weird.
Sometimes we forget about the music when we talk about music.
I'm writing this the day Drake dropped 3 new albums. Earlier this week Kendrick's music was pulled from Youtube and major DSPs. Immediately, the reaction was about Drake, and "are we getting another diss track" and yada yada yada about the beef. It's annoying.
I woke up today and saw tweets about how the albums are mid. These tweets were timestamped around the time the albums came out. Maybe an hour later. There were several small accounts but a few prominent hip hip journalists.
There's no physical way they listened to the albums. Timing wise it's impossible.
I guess they want to stir up beef, get clicks, views, etc. It's negative, it's weird, and it's not about the music.
It's definitely not how I want to be.
But I guess when you're not creating, that "unused energy gets weird".
Make and Create
I say all this to say, go make. Go create. Put something out there. Or don't put it out there. But make and create.
Balance out all that consuming with creating. Use that energy for good and don't let it get weird.
Back To Analog
Vinyl Sales Surpassed 1 Billion in 2025
Pretty cool to see physical media making a strong comeback.
Wired headphones are making a comeback
I noticed I'm reaching more and more for my wired earpods. I either lose my airpods for a few weeks, the battery is dead, or the connection gets wonky. Something nice about reliability. But also looks like this part fashion statement, and part "opting out".