How do some of you get thru a rut??

[Walter Stallworth]

What do you do when you feel uninspired and don't feel like creating? I may be open for some jabs but it is a very serious question.

[Chicago Skyway Music]

Yeah, that's a tough one bro.

I usually try to look for new sounds to inspire me. If worse come to worse, I try to focus my creativity on something other then music. Like going to an art museum, checking out a play...you know, stuff like that.

Good luck man, I know how that feeling is and it SUCKS!

[Joeflame]

belive it or not I listen to country and western music
very inspireing
great song writting

[Lady_of_da_House]

Pick up my grandkids and take them to the park or zoo or the botanical garden..stop by the boys club and play some pool or what ever game they're into at the time..(I volunteer there from time to time) or just take a nice long walk in central park..breath in the smell of the trees..and admire the beuty of nature...

[blackwax]

I usually just leave it well alone for a week or two

You cant force it.
After a break I find moments of inspiration just hit me when im not expecting it.
The trick is making a note of those times when they happen.
try carrying a notepad and pen wherever you go or even a small dictaphone.

[dancewordz]

laugh. dance and laugh and laugh and laugh again. you could watch shows or movies that really humor you, or hang out with a friend that has no sense lol. just be goofy and silly and live outside of your head for awhile. remove yourself from the feeling of ~i have to create something.

another option is use your creative energy differently from what you usually do. if you usually make music, then create a new recipe instead. if you create on canvas, create space by reorganizing a room or desk draw, etc. spend some time away from your "create area".

hope it works. peace

[Twilight Being]

1. I start searching the web for scenic wallpapers of different or favorite places. A picture to take me away from my current location. I then wallpaper one on my second Apple screen and open Logic in my first screen. Example: I keep pictures of Club Route in Colchester England as this was my favorite spot while living in the UK. New photos from this place always brings back pleasant memories and usually gets me going.

2. Explore my library of sounds. A subtle rouse through Absynth, FM8, and/or the Blofeld usually does the trick when #1 isn't doing much.

3. Just leave well enough alone. People may be on you like they are sometimes on me about new music but if it's not in you at the time, it just isn't.

4. Take a trip. I have pains with my current location and it shows in my energy and creativity level. I get a boost when I go back to New Jersey and even feel a bit of a Hip Hop bug :D.

[Disco2go]

just turn the machines off and come back the next day.

I made some stuff one day when I was in a real foul mood, and thought it was terrible. I came back in a day or two with a clear mind, and it wasn't half bad.


It wasn't House anymore by the time I finished with it, but I like the end result...

[Ashwell]

For me ruts seem to go hand in hand with working too much and not getting enough sleep. So, I usually just try to catch up on sleep and come back to the music with better energy.

If that's not the problem I can sometimes stop using the same process to make music. So, if I'm working mainly in reason, I might switch to cubase or ableton or vice versa. If I'm just sick of looking at the computer I might turn it off and rewire the gear to work with one synth and a drum machine. If I'm just fried on electronics I might just hang out with a djembe, piano or guitar.

...or, sometimes I'm just sick of a certain type of music and don't realize it. So, I'll work on jazz or dub or something besides house. I'll also listen to music that I haven't heard in a long time or seek out something that's conceptually new to me.

[Nege]

For me ruts seem to go hand in hand with working too much and not getting enough sleep. So, I usually just try to catch up on sleep and come back to the music with better energy.


same here
i usually walk away and do something else,the best ideas seem to come when i don't think about the music at all.....but thats my method.......

[the crackhouse]

I would never turn on my CPU if I wasn't already in the mood of doing something.

So I don't see what it's worth to try and create anything if you're not into it.

Idance

[DEEPDOWNINSIDE]

dunno hard one there ive been in a funk for a long time. i have heard going to clubs and hearing whats new. i guess taking it back to the roots of why and where you got into this music or the music you're creating started. For instance I was super motivated and highly inspired after i went to WMC on year. I was ready to take on the world with my sampler. I made about 20 tracks in a few weeks time when it takes me months to do 20. So, maybe grab some friends and go out to a club. Or go see a show or your favorite djay. If you are hear in the states go to the Movement 2009 in Detroit or All Points West get inspired some good bands playing live this summer at festivals all over the country. Good luck.

[dj joey joe]

What do you do when you feel uninspired and don't feel like creating? I may be open for some jabs but it is a very serious question.

For me I wear many hats so I just go into my DJ mode but some producers don't mix so that wouldn't work for them, so maybe listening to some music or watching some television to get your mind off of beat making.

Also if you're not really in a rut but tired of doing one genre of music, try another style, like for me I mainly do hip-hop beats but I've tried my hand at doing some house and it really had me thinking in a different way that I got out of my rut after a while.

[Walter Stallworth]

I'm kool now, just a funk. Thanks everyone for your input.

[DaveMarcus]

I usually dont do nothing...

just go to work come home and whatever

If I wanna force something maybe i'll go through some sample librarys and listen to some chords and tones and stuff. little like 2 bar samples of chord progressions

[SMOOTH87]

For me the best way to get inspired is to go out and listen to music. See what moves people. Listen to different people you may have never heard of or a dfferent vibe than you are use to.. If u can't go out find some new mixes to listen to on the internet.

[DJ_Eugene_K]

If I'm in a rut, I sleep it off, or do anything but listen to music. I found out the hard way if you try to force the music, it'll sound like crap.