You never finish a Song! Change it now, release Music regularly [033]
Move from endless tweaking to consistent finishing and releasing.
Breaking the Perfectionist Loop: From Endless Tweaking to Releasing Music
We've all been there. You start a killer track. Then months go by, and you're still tweaking the Kick.
I call this getting stuck in "perfectionist mode." It's a killer of momentum for almost every music producer.
Perfectionist mode is a form of fear that keeps you safe from failure and success. It keeps you stuck in the studio, going nowhere.
Many music producers struggle with the familiar paralysis of analyzing a song instead of finishing it.
So today I will break down the common symptoms of perfectionist mode and offer some action steps to get you out of it.
I want you to go from endless tweaking to releasing right now.
Because nobody made their first hit by endlessly refining the snare.
Finishing is required.
So let's get started.
The 5 Symptoms of Perfectionist Mode (And How to Overcome Them)
Symptom 1: Tutorial Overload
I know countless producers with a growing playlist of production tutorials. But they've never released a track. If this hits a little too close to home, don't feel bad. It's common.
Spending countless hours exploring new plugins, gear reviews, and production techniques without actually making music.
Action Step: Before making music, choose one tutorial and watch only the part most relevant to your current project to answer your question.
No more excuses about needing to "finish the course first" or "I just found this other tutorial." You have enough skills for now, so take the plunge.
When you're producing music, don't let yourself be distracted. No YouTube, no Netflix, no TikTok. If you can't concentrate on your project, it won't work.
Symptom 2: The Endless Sound Design Rabbit Hole
"How to make the perfect bass" is your #1 YouTube search. You've asked ChatGPT to come up with 100+ ways to process your snare. And maybe you own 6 different synth plugins, just in case. But you haven't actually finished a track yet.
Action Step: Set your mobile phone timer to 30 minutes. During this time, brainstorm and write down your best idea for a new song. Try to decide in advance the song's genre, tempo, and instrument selection. Additionally, write down three concrete steps to finalize the song
Make sure your action steps can be achieved in a short period of time. You need to accomplish bite-sized tasks to build momentum.
When your 30-minute timer goes off, start producing your song idea immediately. Not "later," but right now.
Symptom 3: The Never-Ending Mix
You've changed your kick and bass mix four times already, and you're still unsure if the low-end sounds right. Just because it sounds good on your studio monitors doesn't mean it will translate well and be balanced on all devices.
You've probably experimented with A.I. mastering, but realistically, it doesn't necessarily enhance your mixing process.
There's a reason why I work as a mixing and mastering engineer. A fresh perspective and an unbiased opinion can really help uncover weaknesses and refine the song. I can provide mix feedback for your track and offer a second opinion on whether it's ready for mastering.
Or take this Action Step:
1. Bounce your song.
2. Close the DAW project.
3. Send it to five producer friends and ask for feedback. Real-world feedback is more important than anything you're doing right now.
4. Also, I recommend testing your mix on various playback devices such as headphones, hi-fi systems, car sound systems, and mobile phones to evaluate your mix better.
Symptom 4: Gear and Plugin Obsession
You've downloaded four different compressor plugins, but you've never applied compression properly. Or you're stuck comparing Ableton to F.L. Studio for your workflow, but you haven't finished a song yet.
Or maybe you spend more time comparing sample packs than making music. This is the most common procrastination-disguised-as-action I see.
Action Step: Grab a notebook, the original idea capture tool. Write down your top three priorities for moving your track forward.
Develop ideas for the song's melody, harmony, and rhythm.
Do Sound design. Draw inspiration from various sources, such as music, movies, or personal experiences.
Organize the musical elements into a coherent structure for Arrangement.
Mix for adjusting levels, panning, equalization, compression, reverb, and delay.
Make Automation: Create automation curves to control the levels, panning, and effects of different tracks over time for more variety and excitement.
Finally, create a Master.
Work on the first one for 25 minutes without any distractions. No plugin or DAW will magically make you productive. Action is the only thing that creates finished tracks.
Symptom 5: The Myth of Perfect Inspiration
You've convinced yourself you'll finish when [insert magic event] happens. But unfortunately, the perfect inspiration never seems to arrive.
Action Step: Identify one small aspect of your track you can finish today, regardless of circumstances. It could be as simple as bouncing your rough mix, getting feedback from one partner producer, or sending your track to a mastering engineer.
The old adage remains true: The best time to finish was yesterday. The second best time is now.
The Balance of Perfection and Production
Every successful producer started with a bunch of imperfect releases.
Of course, your goal shouldn't be to eliminate refining entirely—you need to find the right balance between perfecting and releasing.
Here's a simple rule of thumb: For every hour you spend tweaking, spend at least two hours moving your track toward completion.
Because you'll never be rewarded for staying busy. Rewards come with real releases.
Your Perfectionist Mode Escape Plan
Your checklist to break out of Perfectionist Mode:
Watching too many tutorials?→ Choose ONE relevant tutorial today and implement its technique this week.
Doing endless sound design?→ Set a 30-minute timer to write down your best track idea and three concrete, achievable steps to finish it.
Start Small: Break down your project into smaller, manageable tasks. Focus on one element at a time, whether it's the melody, the drums, or the mix.
Waiting for the "perfect inspiration?"→ Identify and finish one small aspect of your track today, regardless of circumstances.
Perfecting your mix?→ Share your work with trusted producer friends or online communities. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and gain new perspectives.
Set a Deadline: Give yourself a concrete deadline for completing your track. This creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused.
Embrace Imperfection: Understand that no track is ever truly perfect. Aim for good enough, and don't let the pursuit of perfection hold you back.
Release Regularly: Don't wait for the "perfect" track before releasing. Put your music out there consistently to build a following and gain experience.
Remember, the key is to move from endless tweaking to consistent finishing. Try to finish one Song Per Month or One Song per Week. Start small, but start now. An imperfect release is better than a perfect work-in-progress when building a music career.
Final Thoughts
Once you've done that, reply to this email and let me know what action you took to finish your song.
I'd love to hear about your progress.
And that's all for this week.
Now close this email, and go do something to move your track forward.
P.S. If you want me to help you turning your ideas into finished tracks, check my Website.