I just don’t like the idea of running a professional studio off a mini TRS jack.
This was a throwaway statement from media composer Christian Henson in a video I was recently watching. It caught my attention as it seemed a little limiting and not particularly accurate. Not wanting to be petty but most sets of studio headphones (even high end ones) generally have 3.5mm jacks and you use an adapter to make it a 6.5mm. Audio professionals rely upon these connections to make critical decisions in most of their work.
I’m not trying to have a swipe at Christian, he’s an exceptional composer with amazing credentials (ever heard the Top Gear Theme?). I also understand where he was coming from. BUT as someone who has gotten hung up on not having a piece of kit in lieu of just getting in and doing the work, my ears pricked up.
Limiting Beliefs Are Toxic To Creativity
The immediate thing that struck me about the statement was that this thought could set you up to fall into a pattern of limiting beliefs. For those not familiar with the idea of limiting beliefs, they are thoughts, ways of understanding and patterns of thinking which we assume are true and which stop us from doing good things. It’s a healthy thing to have beliefs which stop us from doing the wrong things.
The most obvious limiting beliefs are “generalisations” about life and certain situations. Other limiting beliefs are personal and come from personal experiences. The main thing is that they stop us from taking action in a positive way. You can catch your limiting beliefs by you internal monologue. Thoughts like “I don’t have X so I can’t do that” or “If only I was X, I could do Y” etc.
The Music I Might Not Have Written
So back to the 3.5mm plug … if I believed that 3.5mm connections weren’t at home in a professional recording studio I’d need to get rid of 3 of the desktop synths I write and produce professional music with.
This would mean I wouldn’t have written a bunch of music. This would mean that I can’t release that music for people to enjoy. Maybe some of those songs might inspire others or encourage them in tough places. I mention those points not because I have a grandiose idea about the impact of my music but because people have expressed those things to me about music I’ve released.
This touches upon ideas I mentioned in my post about who you want to bless with your music. Music is a wonderful thing to create for yourself but it’s even better when it’s shared and it can have a profound impact on people. The funny thing with that is that we don’t often know how profound it is until it’s out there and people engage with it.
Limited on Resources, Limitless in Creativity
Things that limit us aren’t always negative. If I reflect on my process, the most creative I get is when my choices are limited in some way.
When I have 4 or 8 tracks to work with, I’m much more focussed on writing a great part. If I’m going to let it take up one of those precious pieces of sonic real estate, it needs to be great.
When I have 1 vocal lead line to work with. I have to get creative if I want to turn that lead line into a harmony or thicken it up in the chorus.
When I have 2 hours to work on some personal projects in the midst of mixing and mastering other people’s music, I want to make sure I do something meaningful with the time.
Some Ancient Wisdom
In all toil there is profit,
Proverbs 14:23
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Having limitations (toiling) when you’re writing, recording or mixing music makes you push outside of where you’re comfortable. It makes you get creative. Your challenges produce something of profit.
Limiting beliefs, on the other hand, are unproductive and rooted in fear. Fear of people thinking you’re an imposter. Fear that someone won’t say something nice about your work. Sometimes they can even be a cover for procrastination and laziness.
Is It True?
When the inner critic says things like “Just wait until I get [insert something expensive just beyond your reach], then I’ll be able to write some great music”. Maybe he/she is more personal, “I don’t think people will like my voice on these songs” or “Am I too old to be recording and releasing music”.
Are any of those statements remotely true? Are they mere talk maybe.
Make music with what you have, sing with the voice you have and whilst you still have something to express, make music.
Remove & Get Better
One addendum I will add, as I think it brings balance, whilst you remove those limiting beliefs also strive to get better at your craft each day. THIS is what actually makes the difference. Showing up every day to improve that little bit.
In a healthy way, challenge yourself to step one foot outside of where you’re comfortable. This one step each day takes you further along your journey of growth as a creative.
0 Comments