Reflecting on "10 years" of making an album
The album in question: "Spaghetti Western Fever Dream"
To be honest, it didn't actually take 10 years. Let me explain.
I started making music around 2015-2016. I was making simple beats, nothing special. But I enjoyed doing it. It was around 2016 I had an idea for an album, and I took pictures for the album art. I started to actually make it sometime during 2018.
But even then, I wasn't making the album every day. In fact, most days I wasn't. If you listen to it, you can tell. It sounds like, at most, a year's worth of work. I thought WAY more about the album then I did actually making it. But I was dead set on making it, regardless of what anyone thought of it.
I think it took me this long partially because I am diagnosed both ADHD and OCD. A lot of days I didn't feel like working on it, or even improving my skills. I really liked the idea of making the album though. I really wanted to contribute to music I liked listening to in some way. I liked listening to Flying Lotus, Boards of Canada, Earl Sweatshirt, Death Grips...lots of bands and artists that my friends didn't really care all that much about. But anyway, I was in my head most of the time just thinking about it. Oh, and another reason is because I don't actually play an instrument. I wanted to make something before I even learned an instrument. I learned a little bit of music theory to move around the keyboard, but that's it.
So that's all to say there was a lot against me when making the album.
But was it worth it? I think so. I think if most people listened to my album, they would think it's simple in it's writing and music. It's not the most incredible piece of art. The production doesn't sound like Skrillex or any of these guys who show how to make music on Youtube. It doesn't come off as professional in my eyes. But I think it has the sound I was going for, and I truly like my album. I listen to it still. I made it for me. And I think that matters a lot.
The initial pay off didn't exactly feel the best. It wasn't celebrated or anything after all that time. I also think my friends at the time weren't completely honest about what they thought about the music. I had a wildly different taste in music then they did and I always thought there was more to their opinion. So even after 10 years, I was alone in liking my album the way I did.
Would I do it different? I don't think so. I'm mainly an ideas guy. I'm not very dexterous with my hands and taking time to learn an instrument before making the album didn't exactly appeal to me. I will say though that because I didn't invest in an instrument, I'm not exactly as invested in continuing to make music then I probably would have if I learned an instrument, which I will say is a downside. I feel like if I did learn something like guitar or piano, I could play out riffs more easily, and songs would come more easily from that. So if you want a reason to learn an instrument before doing something like I did, that's the biggest one.
But regardless, I like my album. Like I said, it will probably come across simple to most people, especially as an experimental electronic album. But over the course of those 10 years the album was in the making, I went through a lot, and it shows in my album to me. I also had a whole story for it that I spent a LONG time on. I was going to make skits and put them on the album. I wrote out a rough draft of these 5 skits and even started recording some of it, but after I quit my job, I moved back in with the parents, and now I have nowhere to put a mic or the time to myself to yell my head off when I need to, so I kinda just called the album.
So I just wanted to make a list of things I think you should know:
Learning an instrument does help in the long run. Song ideas and playing come easier and you are able to get out a lot more I think. You also would probably feel more invested and you will more than likely want to continue making music more so than you would without learning one.
Not every idea is going to show up at the end like you think. So think of that when investing in your ideas. Your circumstances change and that affects how you go about making parts for your album.
I personally wouldn't take 10 years to make an album again. I followed through because I wanted to see an idea of mine get done, and wanted to see if I could do it regardless of how shitty it came out. But also, think of this: in 10 years, the ideas you have won't be as relevant as when you first had them, so you aren't going to want to stick with them constantly. You might grow away from what you were trying to express when you had the idea at first. And I felt that a little bit. If I needed to make an album again, I would make it a song at a time. If you aren't on a record label like most people, this is easy. You can even put out a song at a time, and then compile it into an album when you feel like it later.
But it is rewarding if you are true to yourself. I stuck with the sound I wanted to make, regardless of the execution, and I still listen to my album for myself every day. Like I said I made it for me. If you are going to stick with something for 10 years, make sure it's for yourself as well.
I learned a LOT about music making when making this album. I learned a lot more about mixing than I wanted to, that's for sure. I learned to, in a simple way, master my own music, and I figured out how hard it is to actually write music that is complex and keeps your attention for long durations at a time. Oh, and I learned I LOVE synthesizers, both software and hardware.
I don't know what I will do now. Part of me wants to make music...but part of me doesn't actually. I think this might be what they call "burnout"? I just don't want to put the effort into making songs right now. Maybe that will change. But right now I might go into web design and programming, and kinda try to use my computer science degree a bit. Maybe something else.
But I will never stop loving music. I hope you got something out of this like I got something out of my album. Now excuse me, I'm going to listen to more Autechre.
