Overcoming technical hurdles in music production: A guide on nurturing and valuing your creative process
In the world of music, the creative process behind a hit song is often shrouded in mystery. Two legendary musicians, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, have shared their insights on the intricate art of songwriting, offering a glimpse into their creative minds.
Neil Young, currently working on a new album, believes that the primary focus in songwriting should be on material fuelled by emotion. He emphasises that the 'craft' element comes later, but it's the raw, emotional content that truly resonates with listeners. Young also advocates for stepping away from a problem song, allowing it to internally grow within his subconscious.
Similarly, Bob Dylan warns against hurriedly slotting a new idea into a format that might cheapen and weaken a more alluring starting point. He urges songwriters to respect creativity and not think too much about technical aspects. Dylan believes that the best songs are written quickly and that prolonging the process can make it difficult to pin down and focus on their original intention.
Both musicians are cautious of overly shaping ideas into a palatable song-form, fearing it could nullify more abstract ideas. They believe in the power of the subconscious, acknowledging that it's often busy at work, coming up with solutions, even when one is not consciously aware of it.
Solutions to thorny issues in a song, arrangement, melody, or mix often manifest when doing different activities, such as walking, reading, taking a shower, or working on other tracks. A piece of music, riff, or motif that could slot perfectly into a problem song can be found while working on other tracks.
Neil Young's approach to songwriting is to avoid rational, problem-solving thinking when ideas originate from a subconscious part of his mind. He is cautious of overly shaping ideas into a palatable song-form, fearing it could nullify more abstract ideas.
When faced with barriers to completion, it's best to keep writing songs and re-approach problem tracks later. Losing sight of this belief and scrabbling to get things finished when they're not ready can result in withered tracks that could have been majestic with more time.
The success of the music-making process, according to both Young and Dylan, hinges on the belief of the artist in the track they're making. They urge songwriters to trust their intuition and let their emotions guide them, rather than relying solely on technical prowess or the desire to build something for its own sake.
While the musician mentioned who writes his songs often trying to keep his rational mindset away because he fears that this rational thinking could destroy his more abstract ideas is not explicitly named in the provided search results, it's clear that both Neil Young and Bob Dylan share a similar attitude to the songwriting process, urging songwriters to respect creativity and embrace the mysterious, intuitive dimension of music-making.
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