Why you should make music that sucks

[@VenusTheory]

Ayyyyyyyyy happy new year y'all. 🤠 Now, go make something awful and get back to work! EDIT (because I'm terrible at remembering these things): The Viola library I mention is here ► venustheory.gumroad.com/l/volitions

[@synkrotron]

happy new year, Cameron 🙂 yes, I have been "pressed" into doing some Jamuary stuff, one crap piece of music every day of January 😀

[@MatthewSwasta]

yes...new year, same suck!

[@edwinbrown9951]

Happy New Year

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Happy Year to you and your voice. 😎

[@Rustik1722]

Are you feeling ok? Your color looks off. (SRS- no shade)

[@Timber-Wolf]

As Grandma used to say "Practice doesn't make you perfect. It just makes you suck less". A wise woman.

[@VenusTheory]

Similar to the "I didn't invent the lightbulb, I found 1000 ways not to make a lightbulb" haha

[@snedward_owden]

@@VenusTheory When Michelangelo was asked how he was able to sculpt his statue of king David in a way that it looked exactly like king David, he replied: "Easy lol. I just removed all the marble that didn't look like king David"

[@kssthmn]

@@snedward_owden subtractive EQ...... ;)

[@digitalsynthwave]

Never heard that before, very But true

[@BrandonBurch]

I like that.

[@gutterg0d]

Brilliant! Perfection is the enemy of originality. You don't learn anything by systematically avoiding failure, you'll just be stuck with doing things someone elses way. Failure lets you find your own way and prosper.

[@VenusTheory]

Great way of putting it!

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

My early projects kinda sound like DAWLESS jamming I hear today.

[@aaronhedgesmusic]

💯 ❤

[@starkiller6856]

I agree with this reminds me of a quote I read recently “Perfection is procrastination masquerading as quality control!”

[@shanonkiyoshi4784]

This conversation reminds me of a book called "Failing Forward" -- it's BRILLIANT. It points out this mindset is a fantastic way to break boundaries while HAVING FUN in the process ✨️🥰✨️

[@howardyermish]

When I first started learning to compose, I had a teacher that challenged me to write a jazz tune (lead sheet) each day for a year. It felt like torture at the time. Some days I knew I was writing garbage, the rare days I would stumble onto something good. I did it for a year, and created about 200-ish tunes. So the next summer when I returned to work with that teacher again, we looked through what I had done. We picked out about 15 tunes, and he reminded me that if I then sat with my jazz combo and played these, I wrote two albums worth of jazz music. But as I got more skilled in writing, I slowed the output down. 30 years later, I needed this reminder from you. So thank you.

[@shepherd7583]

Where can we listen to your music? I get creator's block, a lot, and I can only break it by listening to other people's music sometimes

[@Catthepunk]

Did it ever become easy to make good music consistently?

[@jdc_2000]

@@shepherd7583 here listen to my song, Ethereal Abstract “Along Comes the Note”

[@shepherd7583]

@@jdc_2000 Great slapping. Good production, didn't hurt my ears!

[@havable]

I went thru a phase where I wrote 100 songs, early on. They were all trash and I don't remember even one of them, or what it was about. But the experience was invaluable. Since then I've written tons more songs and they are all better than that first 100.

[@VirtualRiot]

5:43 youre hitting on an important point here. This feeling can be described with a word, its the lack of self-efficacy. The belief that you CAN achieve what you set your mind to. Even if it will take some time. Self efficacy means a deep understanding of "I will be able to covercome the hardships on the path that I am choosing and have it in me to succeed." Lets say you have that cranked to the max inside of you, if you then start and fail, you'll get right back up and start again, not from scratch but from experience. The true core belief that one can achieve a thing is, as glib as it sounds, a massive piece of the puzzle. Not to be confused with confidence, with, of course, is also important, but while confidence is "I can do this!" self efficacy is the realization that you truly believe you can be that solo violin virtuouso you're watching at the orchestra if you give it all you got, not to prove something to anyone but just because you actually want it and believe you can be that.

[@sandersonstunes]

One practice I have done for years now is to pick a song I’m inspired by and completely reverse engineer it. Every note, sfx, sound. It’s taught me so much about music production. Plus after going through the process I now have the custom sounds and arrangement ideas to bring into my own work.

[@Electrohedron]

Sounds tricky for some of the high-produced songs I listen to, but it could help. (a lot of vocal effects, and backing pads with reverb etc. in pieces by Gary Numan & Front Line assembly)

[@danielplainview2584]

@@Electrohedron it’s tricky at first because there are so many components of production and synthesis but once you get past the learning curve it becomes much easier to hear and replicate

[@rea9lizer]

that's actually a pretty well-known practice strategy called ear-copy (or 'remake' outside Korea and Japan I guess)

[@tuneboyz5634]

i want to squish his soft biceps

[@8BitThoughts]

The thing I struggle with the most is turning off that part of my brain that says "this sucks". I've kind of learned that I can't really ever switch it off, but if I can just be persistant and push through it, sometimes something comes out that doesn't suck, and I end up absolutely loving it!

[@josegarza7719]

Same

[@morbidmanmusic]

Learn when your mind is receptive to that idea, and use it as study also, set up times that you just listen, enjoy, and pat yourself on the back.

[@ryanperrault8174]

Go away from your music for a. bit...( a few days, weeks..) then listen to it again. It may sound better

[@sleepshouter5017]

Save everything you create too. You never know when you might use something you scrapped for something else. Or perhaps coming back to it later might give you an idea on how to edit it in a way you never thought of before. Of course there’s the possibility you’ll never use it, but it’ll always be there when you’re blocked.

[@danielplainview2584]

Yep, you can polish and refine something and make it not suck. It’s more like sculpting clay than building a house.

[@SpeccyMan]

I make music for my own pleasure and no other reason so there is absolutely zero pressure on me to make it "good" music. If I am enjoying the making then that is all that really matters to me. My health is pretty sh!t, with little chance of it ever improving, so I need distractions to help keep me sane. My hobbies are those distractions.

[@Morphox]

I very much agree and do it the same way

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Me to but I feel I should be finding ways to make money off it, but easier said then done.

[@officialWWM]

I’d like to hear your music :)

[@BillLaBrie]

Best approach. 👍

[@OscarUnderdog]

Another video that should be required viewing for all creators

[@VenusTheory]

Ayyyyyyyyyyyy the man himself.

[@amado7760]

The main man, Oscar !!!!!

[@onurpekdemir]

Heeey Oscar ... Nice to see you here! 🙂🍻

[@AcidCortex1]

Oh dang! Oscar I was just thinking about you when Cam mentioned that he likes making these vids. You 2 are my faves

[@_karla._]

I used to create when I was in my early teens. Music and Videos. I had put them on youtube. Sadly people in my school found the channel. I was always the outsider but after that I was heavily bullied. The whole school knew about it. So I deleted my channel and started spending more and more time online. I tried finding different topics to hyperfocus on. Found an interest in computers and IT-stuff and went pretty deep, but it wasn't completely for me. And I isolated myself and developed a heavy internet addiction in the process. Now I'm an internet-addicted media-engineering student and want to be creative again. It's hard to overcome the trauma. I hate everything I create. It sounds good when I experiment, but as soon as I have recorded it, I hate it. Thank you for the nice words though. They resonate.

[@Electrohedron]

Seems that when we are finally done with high school, we can live our own life, and be with people who respect us and support us with similar goals and interests.

[@illiasukhoraba]

Man. World need your music. It's hard to belive but that's true . Sometimes music that you think horible is perfect for someone and giving for someone excitment, hope, motivation, energy. That's worthy of it

[@BldgsFallStraightDwn]

I think that if bully types from school "found" your stuff on KZbin, and then bullied; that just shows they were actually threatened. I know parents and such talk about that, and it sounds cheesy. BUT... in many cases it's true. And it sucks to be bullied, no matter what age. Regardless, SO many people over time have blazed new trails, whether creatively or technically. In nearly every case the "mainstream" (sheeple) acted as though those people "outrageous" or "crazy" etc. Yet if the thing they did was actually good and new and useful, it stuck, nonetheless. So, let your creativity or technical work speak for itself. You could even say exactly that. Here's one example too. The first song I heard from Billie Eilish, I didn't like... at all. I even told my daughter that I though she was WAY too "out there". But, I didn't understand the overall messages of her work. I didn't realize she lost close friends to death and suicide. I didn't realize that she was SO YOUNG too. Then after hearing more of her stuff and understanding MORE of the overall messages of her work, I find it quite interesting and good.

[@ThaTurdBurglar]

Yo, fuck everyone and their opinions of you. Creation comes from within, outward. It's a one way street my friend, and you own the road

[@ogami1972]

I am exactly the same way, and just as hard on myself. I've been trying to limit myself to one week per "jam", no recording allowed, and unpatching my modular system at the end of the week for a fresh start, It sounds kind of nuts, but it's really fun, once you get over the trauma of letting it go, lol. Go make a joyful noise and remember music is ethereal

[@zachariahpoltergeist4516]

Two sayings I've been telling myself lately - "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good," and "Every failure is a discovery."

[@raysubject]

i learned there is actually no such thing as failure in music - even biggest “failure” always finds at least somebody who likes it .. that’s my life experience .. and if my music makes feel good at least 1 person it can’t be considered as failure btw. great video, again !

[@SaveTheHumans4Later]

Agreed. It's important to have a healthy definition of "success".

[@elketerbentzadik]

It's true. Earlier today I found out someone shared an album I made around the start of the new millennium that only a handful of people probably own here on KZbin. In the notes they mentioned that it was a request. So, 20-something years after the fact somebody requested to hear something I recorded on a Compaq computer and a $10 microphone in my living room.

[@P-S-T]

That ”somebody” is perhaps yourself. 😊

[@prosaschleuder]

I agree. One man's trash may be another man's treasure.

[@mygeekdom4414]

The most dangerous part of asking a question is receiving the answer. The most dangerous question is “what will I do with the information I receive?”

[@ricktheexplorer]

Alright; I hereby declare this channel my church. The cynicism, irony and incredible humor make this medicine go down. I needed this, and Thank You.

[@edwinbrown9951]

Years ago, when I was living in Portland, I met a musician who was making a good living at music. Bought a nice house and supported his family with a career in music. He'd written pieces for TV and movies, commercial jingles, lead a band that was fairly successful, and on and on. I asked him what the secret was in being successful in music and he replied: "You need to have the courage to write tons of sh#! music. That's the only way to ultimately produce good music."

[@Patrick-gm3fb]

"They're things we don't tend to talk about very openly, which is unfortunate." The same can be said of almost any subject that isn't popular.

[@staticbrown]

As an artist with basically no audience, your videos have been really inspirational and encouraging in reminding myself to keep working on my craft regardless of the outcome. Thank you!

[@doctorscoot]

I had to stop making music to complete my PhD. After completion I’m fine with my music just being ‘all risk’ because there’s no way I am making a living from it any more - I spend all the time experimenting about with it. My relationship to it is that I want to do the process to make the music … it helps me mentally relate to the world and operate in it without going insane.

[@k8923]

Anne Lamott wrote about this in her book "Bird by Bird," which was about writing. She stressed the importance of "shitty first drafts" as something you need to just go ahead and do so you can use what is working, get rid of what isn't working, and make the second draft better. And then, an even better 3rd draft. Obviously applies to creating music as well.

[@prosaschleuder]

The danger with this approach is endless fiddling around and writing an 27th draft. Dean Wesley Smith on the other hand thinks writing only one draft (and revise only for grammar) is the way to go. Instead of writing a second draft you should apply what you learnt to a second book...

[@trentwilliams6601]

Such a good book!

[@havable]

@@prosaschleuder 27th draft? We consider a song "in writing mode" until its been played hundreds of times and performed at least a few and is then finally recorded. Sure, like 90% of it might be written overnight, but then after that there are tone tweaks and new sections added and lyric revisions and so on. I agree with Smith but only for particular things involving the written word (like doing a word association experiment). Instead I'll write a tune and then slather it in manure, deep fry it, and then knock all the loose bits off with a shovel.

[@stevesoucy5932]

Videos like this make me so thankful to have found this channel. I recently broke out of my shell creatively when I had an epiphany. I used to sit and listen to my older works, and wonder "Why were these so good? What happened to me since then?" Suddenly it dawned on me. When I first started out, I had no idea what I was doing most of the time. Every track was one giant experiment of me blending sounds and trying to make a track out of it. As I learned more about what fits great together, I inadvertently pigeon-holed myself into a specific set of sounds and my growth all but ceased. It wasn't until a couple months ago that I started experimenting in genres I've never composed in before, and little by little, I've increased my skills and abilities as I combine more of what I learn into new creations. Spot on video, Cam! Happy New Year, bud! I hope 2023 is awesome for all of us.

[@kutyg8714]

This was entirely my experience as well! Going back to bathe in the warm light of past achievements without actually recognizing the mindset that led to those things we once made. Glad many of us feel this need to change, otherwise we might never hear what we truly feel

[@witherschat]

The challenge is to also be able to learn from previous things, without letting it restrict you.

[@everthealtruist]

I spent part of my early 20's making intentionally harsh and uncomfortable music. It comes in handy to be able to dip into that and flavor it into the music I make now that I actually want people to enjoy.

[@devonskaggs8539]

These comments are another good example of this works. As I was reading the comments with people talking about making music; just about every single one has sub-comments of someone more than willing to listen to their music and they're never heard any said commenter's music yet!! No matter what you make or how good it sounds as long as you are enjoying what you are doing and what you're making there will always always always be somebody out there that will appreciate your work. and if not, then that's how you know you haven't made enough shit yet.

[@BillLaBrie]

You only have to please yourself.

[@dainiusrepsas4852]

The biggest creative win is overcoming these obstacles. Let's create bad music didn't cut it for me. What really worked was a self analysis, in which I realized that I'm a visual person. And if I imagine a musical landscape visually and strive to come to that image as close as possible, the feeling of "music sucks" is not there anymore.

[@agucci]

Perfectionism and mental health. Secrets of creativity. It's important to discuss. The life advice of the Law.

[@-KingOfKhaos]

From my own experience: You must DO to progress. Like you said, it’s the only way to learn. My music goals in the last few years was to learn how to do proper recording. Every track I laid down and mixed initially sucked horribly. Overwhelming sense of frustration ensued but not to the point of giving up. So I kept recording, and tweaking, and learning more, and reading, and watching, and tweaking settings, and recording, and reading, and watching, and learning… etc etc.. to the point where now, the end result is at least “mediocre” or “acceptable” to some who listen to the mixes… so now I’m back to the create/record/process/tweak/learn phase again… because yeah, you do need to create a ton of garbage before you get to that Diamond. 100%.

For every failure we learn how to not do. I have so many started pieces that never went anywhere. Sometimes I can use snippets of them in other pieces.

[@kevindeane1]

The timing of this video could not have been any better, Venus Theory.......thank you so much for this, I needed it!

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

I kept all My projects from back 20 years to now, still some absolute trash coming out every now and then.

[@kevindeane1]

@@HOLLASOUNDS ....and there ain't nothing wrong with that!

[@mika7601]

I realy needed to see this! I try and get better every day at producing. I am getting better, but I am not even close to where I want to be. Which is okay, but sometimes I forget to enjoy making music and the road to making a track which I like, because it is hard to accept the fact that it will take more time and patience and a lot of bad music to get there. ✌️

[@Netm8kr]

You’ve definitely touched on a mindset I need to adopt. This practice may be the golden cure I need to solve the block I’m experiencing. Granted, I’m suffering from serious option fatigue, implementing this concept would provide inspiration for creations. As I could try various combinations of gear for unexpected results. Giving myself a pseudo untapped sample source. Which would recycle the entire concept all over again. YES, these video topics help for sure. As we all deal with some form of creative weirdness inside. 👍🏾✌🏾✊🏾

[@ZUTHINA]

I wrote my first song when I was 14, didn't share it with many but kept writing here and there for 10+ years, didn't know it could be my dream to make songs and been wasting so much time, so I felt like I have to "go big or go home".

[@mass-1128]

When you start out making music or doing anything creative, you are not that great in the beginning, but by putting in the time, keeping the love, the passion and reminding yourself "WHY" you are doing it in the first place, will not just close the gap, but open doors to new opportunities. Most importantly, never be scared to fail, fail, & fail.

[@TheColdHarshTruth]

Whilst I totally agree with all of this I think you should make a video about the reality of how difficult it is to get to pro level in music. This is also something that is often overlooked. There are no shortcuts, it is hard, it’s not for everyone, and not everyone can do it.

[@yhuan4386]

I feel this a lot. I started making big projects for myself as a beginner and continue pushing myself to improve and make something good everytime in terms of sound design, songwriting, mixing, etc. I end up having bunch of unfinished projects because it eventually sucked for my taste. As the pile gets larger, even if I have finished some projects, I still feel I haven't grown as an artist. I saw someone chat this somewhere in a discord server and I thought this might be what I'm lacking. I'm too scared to fail so why not just set myself up for failure until i get used to it. At least I will know what exactly sucks rather than having a vague idea on what makes something sound good. I vowed to finish more projects, good or bad, to increase my speed and learn better.

[@Splines]

Can totally relate to this. The pile of unfinished stuff just gets taller and taller. For me, often some personal deadlines help to counter this. But accepting the truth that oftentimes tracks don't come out the way you intended is indeed hard, but part of the game I guess. And it's fun to try totally new stuff out: a different style, different genre, limiting yourself to some arbitrary decision, e.g. only using at max 5 instruments etc.

[@2winty4our7even]

Thank you! I needed this!

[@upstairstudio371]

This is actually perfectly timed for me. I was let go from my job 4 months ago and have only been able to land a single interview yesterday. In the meantime I have been frustrated with my music and of course the job market. It's been tough and has been a bleak time in life. There is so much to this video and the advice here is incredibly freeing. Thank you!

[@akalui007]

I use to make music all day every day because I loved it, I couldn't think of much I would rather do. In recent years, I have found being in the studio increasingly challenging, stressful even. Spending a day on something and hating it, overthinking ideas, losing attention, losing enthusiasm. I am looking for ways to get back to that fun place, that flow state. I used to love making stuff alone, and would feel kinda intruded on if i I made things with other people. These days I am open to trying new avenues and opening to collaboration to see how other people make music and to bounce of each others energy. I still haven't found that approach that feels new and liberating, but I am at least aware and enthusiastic about seeking that flow.

[@The_Catalyzt]

These are my favorite videos of yours. I've found these more helpful than your other videos because they speak to the monster in my head that beats me down every day. They give my brain something else to chew on, another weapon to wage in the never ending battle against my dark and gloomy self. I can tell that you fight these same battles, and I find it comforting that you find a way to win and be successful DESPITE that. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability.

[@Tamajyn69]

I started 2024 with the philosophy that finished is better than perfect, and i've put out more music this year than almost the last 10 years combined, and it's probably my best work too

[@computrhead]

Good discussion. It’s really hard to change my mindset from “always perfecting” to “always improving.” But, I’m getting there and it’s allowing me to think outside the box.

[@kssthmn]

i usually never share my "sage wisdom", because i figure, who's gonna care, everyone thinks i'm nuts anyway, and i'm just a random dude typing on a computer. but this vid was definitely down my alley of music and it's relation to philosophy, psychology, and all the deep stuff. it's definitely important, if not key to making truly meaningful music. and you're right, people don't care nor do they talk enough about it. people get caught up in trends and trying to attain some kind of fulfillment from others liking their music. but often i've found that if i just focus on making what is meaningful and inspiring to me, and following my own authentic process of what inspires me... it ends up blowing all of that out of the water anyway for me, music is an ongoing process of personal catharsis and a kind of excretion of my sub-conscious, or inner feelings. i paint soundscapes that communicate to you what my perspective of beauty is, but also when you put enough soul and life into the music, it can develop a sort of life of it's own, and become it's own entity of unspeakable or ineffable beauty, expression... and that is something i dont think we can easily achieve by simply talking, at least in english. i've seen and heard things about languages that have the capacity to express deeper aspects of reality, in more richness, etc. music has definitely become that for me. i'm still on the path, so it's all still murky water. but i definitely want to inspire people, and anyone reading this to just keep making stuff, follow your heart, your soul, and let that out to the world and watch the magic. it's worth it cheers

[@SUNKINGME]

I "know" every thing you just said. I could have written this, BUT it hit me on an visceral level this time. This video came to me at the perfect time. I forgot that when I began playing (xx) years ago I didn't CARE how bad I sounded because I knew that I was a BEGINNER. I was reminded to come at the Artform like I did back then. Thank You!

[@amogus5539]

0:14 "It's hard to not want to be awsome" You should sell that as a slogan.

[@formlessuk]

I like your perspective of not making failure an end point. Also, some of my most original productions have been born out of happy accidents.

[@lofreeq]

I really enjoy this kind of video where you open a relevant subject and present us a solid philosophycal approach. TY

[@oldguywhodoesnt]

I knew what you were going to say when I read the title. Even so, your choice of words is always entertaining. I’ve heard many versions of this message even written one or two myself. The point that I’m getting to is that it’s a message worth hearing repeatedly in different forms and contexts. Expanding out from that, I believe that discussion about the psychology of creativity is only in its early days and that there’s a lot more to be said, explored and re-evaluated. Thanks for all your work. I’m really enjoying it.

[@oldguywhodoesnt]

Other topics may include: nuts; what does creative originality actually mean, like literally; is everyone creative, well yeah; then what is creativity, huh? Tell me that, wise guy. Got a bit carried away there. Sorry.

[@GeoTactics]

Needed to hear this today. Amazing stuff.

[@philparker7851]

I'm a great fan of these videos of yours. Embracing the suck is hard but, I agree, so, so necessary. Referring back to something you said earlier in the video, I think the expression, "Don't compare everyone else's showreel to your cutting room floor", goes well here. As you say, we only see what people choose to show, and that tends to be their best stuff. And a Happy New Year to you too!

[@theman964]

thank you for the wise words. you said it best "we tend not to talk about it", the amount of things we tend not to talk about it, i think this is a major symptom for the human condition. love and respect man.

[@VIRALBEATS360]

Love these "Feelings go ouchie" videos. Definitely something that I am trying to incorporate into my own channel. While the videos generally don't do as well, the few people who join in on the conversation appreciate it, more than anything. That said, I think the expectation of failure is the only reasonable expectation to have, when creating. It is easier to let go of ideas that don't work, and replace them with things that do, with more gratitude for the process. Sorry you had to purge your DM's...on the day I was going to send you a message, too. 🤔

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

I sometimes make trash but, I don't really care, I just keep making new stuff and jems start happening one after the other, with sometimes nice 10 ideas in an hour plenty of tracks to work on. I made one track in 2008 and I felt there was something missing and only in 2022 did I finally add a strings melody to it and now it sounds like it was always ment to be, 14 years later.

[@havable]

I like the title of the Feelings Go Ouchie theme too.

[@ellamiss4613]

Excellent topic. Thanks for the reminder! The process is my favorite part of creating but I do often get paralyzed by fear of failure.

[@parristaylor]

You're my hero. You just put a shot of you programming a 303 underneath you saying, "the joy of creation". Either you're hilariously clever or just a masochist, or both? Love your work and am so glad you exist ❤️❤️❤️

[@D1SC0NT3NT]

Love this video. Way too many producers feel like everything they make has to be the best thing ever and they never end up finishing anything. I used to be like this but I’ve learned that it’s okay to finish something without spending a year on it and mixing every single sample individually to make sure it’s perfect. If I’m being honest, even as a producer I don’t really notice mixing errors in songs unless they are really prominent. I just appreciate music for what it is. Not what it’s supposed to be.

[@CreepyT]

I've been doing the JAMuary challenge (one song per day all month) and your commentary here is 100% what it's is about for me. I'm doing my best not to be critical, to use and learn barely touched new and old gear, to try to write in styles of music I listen to but don't produce, and more. 99% of it will be generic crap most likely but to make a song in one evening and be done with it (no endless edits! lol) is quite the challenge for the internal critic. I've been in a creative rut for years and I don't care if I make anything good... just that I make. And that is the best thing I can do for myself!

[@elketerbentzadik]

More of these types of videos, please. These are the kinds of discussions musicians and producers need to be having rather than another "808 glide" tutorial or whatever the fuck.

[@RafikiMusicc]

This was exactly what I needed thank u so much

[@freddobee]

My bestest all-rounder; producer, musician, therapist, philosopher, entertainer, all held together with the most amazing voice! Happy New Year, sir!

[@thebreathalyzer]

Really appreciate all the recent videos talking about productivity, creativity and just surviving it all.

[@CodyCleggMusic]

It's taken me years to slowly get closer to believing this point of "viewing failures as experimentation" or a source of growth. For years, I would sometimes put off writing for weeks (or let's be real, months) out of some weird fear of writing something that was bad. As if writing something bad were an irreparable mistake. Right now I'm writing my 3rd EP, which has some of my best material ever, but also a song I can't seem to finish. Over the last few weeks, I've written 10 different parts, fully fleshed out, to bridge the intro to the rest of the song, and none of them are what I want. But I see all 10 of those sections as just more practice under my belt, and I've learned something from writing those things even if I threw them all away. Soon, I'll get there. I think this is a really REALLY important topic, one that I'm still working on myself, and one that I think could really positively impact a lot of creators. Thanks so much for this great video.

[@temereesonitus]

And yet again . . . great words of wisdom. Even for me, as a part timer / hobbyist, I find your "rants" inspiring and helpful, and most of all, applicable in more ways than just with music. Thank you.

[@Rhekluse]

I have failed so many times in the 20+ years making music I don't ever dwell on the failures, I just embrace them as inevitable to the overall growth process. Now I feel I am approaching my potentially best to the point where I feel confident with my productions, mixing & mastering. It just took a really really long time to grasp the entirety of these skillsets. We all grow at different rates and I love learning something new everyday.

[@feralfoods]

experiments, yes! i have a directory with hundreds of 60-second experiments -sounds, beats, melodies, etc... none of them are "tracks" or finished songs, but i do like to go through them once in awhile for inspiration. i often find something i can use later, even though it wasn't what i needed at the time when i made it.

[@robertescher3082]

A very good commentary. I'm a teacher, and one of the things that I find difficult to get through to my students is that it is OK to not get 100% all the time... Each wrong answer is an opportunity to see what went wrong and to do things differently in the future.

[@CIRCADES]

🎶 just leaving a comment to support this amazing video!

[@plutooliver686]

Can we agree that his voice is fantastic 😁 Yes, failure is a part of any creative process. I just started my journey this past year, learning to produce music at 42. I desired for over 20 years to do so, but life had other plans for me first. As a matter of fact, i pursued visual art professionally and did quite well,yet something felt missing, so i took a break the past few years. I "failed" many times with visual art, yet i feel it was successful because i learned so much, especially how to trust myself intuitively with my creativity, not just hyper focus on technical skill which was challenging since i felt i had and extra layer of something to prove being a female artist( disrupting the myth women aren't technical), which now in my early 40s i don't have to proove shit, it's not worth the energy 😁 So, 20 years of visual art experience definitely prepared me to face failures with music production. To be honest, I am so grateful i finally get to express myself with music it eases my logical mind when i am not perfect. trust me, I do love nailing it technically in anything I do. The emense joy of the act of learning, playing, and experimenting in conjunction with trial and error, as well as determination, I will arrive at technical and creative satisfaction. Thank you, sir, for all of your help and encouragement.

[@BldgsFallStraightDwn]

Yeah, this guy could TOTALLY do TV voicing for commercials and more. I've thought that from the first video I saw from him. Also, he could have made an incredible disc jockey from days gone by. There really aren't any disc jockeys anymore. But, he could have blown away the 1970s or 80s!

[@brucemillar]

Fantastic! This is my attitude and thoughts exactly put into words. Most of my stuff sucks with the occasional gem but I press on because I can and for the pure joy of it. Great video, a definite hallmark!

[@antroxity]

I'm currently at a creative slump. This video of yours is a wake-up call for me. Thank you so much, Hairy Therapist!

[@bunnybreaker]

The two best pieces of advice I ever heard were: 1) From a boring AF business conference/talk type situation. Dealing with perfectionism "Aim for 7 out of 10". 2) A GDC talk by Tanya Short, talking about game jams "Don't try to make something good, try to make something interesting." These honestly changed my life as an artist/game dev. Thanks for this video 👍🏽

[@LagrangePointD]

Thank you Cameron! This is an important and at the end a very concrete advice. I'm activ in IT for a long time now and I assumed nearly all roles in this context. IT is complex, as music is, and one of the most important lessons I learned : it's very important to be able to throw away and restart. The next version will be better. Everytime. This means, it's not only ok to make mistakes, but it's necessary and the base for progress. So, bravo for these videos about the human being in the creativ process. I appreciate them a lot.

[@SoleSpiritMusic]

🙏🏻 thanks a lot Cameron! these kinds of videos are helping me a lot to get through “those days” you know... thanks for being here and...just staying who you are and keeping us inspired 🎹🍕‼️🎶🎵🙏🏻

[@joefiorini]

Okay, I haven't even listened yet and I already relate. Your thumbnail was me last night trying to make a track out of Synthmaster presets and failing miserably. Looking forward to watching this one!

[@VenusTheory]

Hope it's helpful!

[@mikes-stuff]

Thank you! The content of your video contains a lot of thoughts I have had about "just doing it", not to care if things are imperfect, just having fun and sharing, keeping the mind alive with experimenting. Your tips show me: I am on the right path 🙂

[@JeremiahTrue]

I go through periods where I don’t create much because I get so frustrated that it’s not great when I should be just creating and exploring. I do let perfection become the enemy of good and it stifles me.

[@kutyg8714]

don't let perfection be the enemy of good, a very wise man once said

[@Sam_Utah]

Been making crap music for 30 yrs and enjoyed every minute of it. One odd side effect of being even worse at producing multi-track recordings is that I ended up be able to improvise with a bunch of synths and that is big fun for me. I am 78 and working on learning new chord progressions and modulation. Took up music when the babies were young and I took the night shift and learned some keys and never stopped learning, self taught as an adult. I know I suck at music but I love making sounds and had a new age internet radio station for 10 year. A great hobby and keeps the mind fresh. Thanks for the validation, I love failing at music.

[@melissarainchild]

Personally, I use my music as an ventilation system. I make a tune, mix it down and toss it on youtube to lead its own life. It's a process of birth-and-release. And with every "release" I learn something new. So...I prefer never to "arrive" as I enjoy the journey too much...

[@christopherbartlett4285]

I really appreciate your willingness to talk about these parts of the creative process. I am a middle-aged man, just now embarking on some creative endeavors I've been qualified to do for years, but never believed I could pursue. You've talked about a lot of the stumbling blocks that I've encountered, and this video is another good one. As someone who in the last year has two short stories under contract for publication and is now running the audio production for a publishing house, both endeavors that were nowhere in sight a year ago, I'm encountering many faces of impostor symdrome every day. I'm fortunate enough to have a really good professional and personal support network to keep me going on those days when I'm sure I'll never write another word, and that my audio book projects are doomed by my utter lack of competence. You asked for suggestions. The topic of support networks, and how to get benefit from them without turning into a complete dickhead might be worth your time. I like the way you talk about these issues, and would be happy to hear what you ahve to say about it. Thanks for all you do.

[@felipenadeau1346]

Being a latinamerican electronic musician living in Europe (and lived in Canada too) I feel this is one of the biggest differences I found between these cultures. In western cultures I've always percieved a big fear to suck and be bad (biggest and most notorious example is the dance 😂 ). Instead in Latinamerica I feel musicians (and people in general) are super free to create, change, remix, commit mistakes, DANCE!, plus being musically experimental is a bit more taken for granted, instead in western world if the artist is not a master he'll be really shy to show his stuff and the traditional academy theories also play an overrated role in many music artists under my opinion. Anyway, awesome video! Cheers!

[@oulivier]

Very inspiring comment. Thank you ☺️

[@reyne8424]

Not only is your content very interesting, but your voice is incredibly pleasing to listen to.

[@toddwmac]

When you've decided you've made enough music, I'm betting your CBT therapist career will be bright and your thesis on Music Production Therapy will be the talk of the interweb...until it's not. Always appreciate your vids.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

I wonder how much music He has made.

[@timepaintertunebird8160]

If you're into CBT that's none of my business but why would you want that from your THERAPIST!?

[@dirtysploof5890]

@@timepaintertunebird8160 dude in rehab my therapist said "Here at (name of facility) we specialize in CBT. We love CBT here and hopefully youll find it to be just as effective". I got sober so fast bro

[@_karla._]

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I had to google it because I thought you meant something...different. I'm a non-native speaker, but quite fluent in online degeneracy.

[@havable]

@@_karla._ "I'm a non-native speaker, but quite fluent in online degeneracy." The first words we learn are the cuss words. At least they are the first ones we remember.

[@misterpepesalsa]

I’ve seen 4 of your videos in the last 24 hours and they resonate so much with me. I’m cuban pianist and a latin producer, most of what I do is salsa, but your words really match my reality in many ways. You never know who is listening or watching, with a similar path and goals, thank you for all of this. I’ll be learning with your views on music and philosophy, I will also will listen to your original music, I’m sure it will be an amazing listening journey 👏👏👏👏

[@johnhazlett3711]

My father gave up on music composition just for this reason. All the works he created disappeared.

[@irongriffin871]

We do need this kind of conversation and content. I find these advises much more valuable than how to build a hit chorus. Thanks.

[@Re_ii]

Usually I do not comment any videos, but here I have to: Thank you sooo soo much for these type of videos regarding mental health and similar stuff in making music, I absolutely love them and they really me to keep the ground and not get overwhelmed with all the stuff that may come up. I am certain you help a lot of musicians and it's not measurable how much positive effect you have with those videos! Than you soooo soooo much!

[@smokenojoke8182]

Getting comfortable making garbage is a skill all on its own. I’m trying to embrace it because I know eventually you’ll hit your stride. It’s just a matter of working through the garbage

[@powerowl2120]

Well dang, my music must be the most important work of the century then :,)

[@bronsonjohnson9019]

I hear that buddy, I think I should have a Grammy by now

[@VenusTheory]

Your contributions don't go unappreciated, friend. Doing the lords work.

[@justinwolz4932]

I've been saying this for years. Embrace the mistakes. Engage that "suck" button. Loved the story about the viola sample pack. ATHF reference for the win!

[@arthurmee]

One of the perrenial problems that human beings encounter and largely self-inflicted. Your short video is concise and succint and undoubtedly a fine piece for those times when we feel discouraged, or defeated when engaged with a creative pursuit. Do more for sure. I think you succeeded.

[@IKARIking67]

@VenusTheory I would like to personally thank you for making this video. I am one of those creatives who have a harsh (but fair) inner critic, and it was preventing me from creating anything under an arbitrary quality threshold I set for myself. I would love to see more content around these topics because not many ARE talking about this without a course pitch down the line. Liked and playlisted for later.

[@LouisBurgessComedy]

I saw the title and instantly thought YES FINALLY someone validating the kind of music I make

[@karim0302]

I've struggled almost all of my life with accepting failure, and through my own internet dives into the subject I've become a bit better at understanding how I can learn to accept failure more, but doing it in theory is of course still different than doing it in practice. And although this video hits a lot of those same points I've found online, hearing it from you (someone else making music) really feels valuable. So thanks a lot for making this video. I really connected with it. :)

[@inkfingers]

Thanks for this helpful and liberating reminder. I try to be crappy a little better every day!

[@eamfos]

You are so right !!! Have a wonderful year my friend.

[@crbkqw]

You earned my sub. As a struggling musician with a hectic day job schedule, I do tend to just overthink about music being a lost cause on my end. This brought comfort which will help me rekindle my drive towards creating music.

[@MegaCraptacular]

I think this is why I'm attracted to outsider music. Thank you for this sage advise. I'm now going to embrace the suck!

[@rayscoins580]

Excellent presentation about our mental approach and attitude towards ceating our own originals. Hope that you will continue to present more material on "mental conditioning" for music creators.

[@shaneteal1667]

Great advice, getting stuck in the "every track/song has to be perfect" is a sticky trap. The reward is in the progress. Learn to love the journey, not the destination

[@mario9775]

Incredible format and content. Please keep up doing it 🙏🏻 Thank you ♥️

[@doktagc01]

I totally agree...I always think of what my dad often said when sth. unpredictable happened at his work: "only the one who is working is able to make mistakes". Thx for sharing your thoughts!

[@DaveCaseyin3D]

This is what I needed to hear today. Thanks! What I need to hear next is that “Cultivating a growth mindset” video. No pressure.

[@mikedipasquale2456]

Spectacular discussion. One I love to have with my students and colleagues. Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. -- Pablo Picasso

[@azursnake4345]

Hey ! Thank you for this video. I think I needed this. Recently I've been experimenting some new things in photography because I couldn't found interesting subjects to capture. I ended up with hundreds of pictures but nothing really interesting for one picture. Then I thought "okay, why not make a collage of it ?". Just embrassing experimentation. Best idea ever.

[@lucemiserlohn]

Some perspective after watching and re-watching this particular video again and again: Sometimes it is a fun exercise to write something intentionally bad and tacky. Sometimes it is really fun to write something you hate. And quite often the result of that exercise is something that's worth expanding on, to translate into a different context, and make something truly awesome out of it.