Balancing Creativity and Technical Skills in Music Production

Hey y’all!

The more projects I take on, the more I’ve become aware of the balance between my technical brain and my creative brain when I’m producing. It’s been a dance figuring out how to find that balance, when to pull back, and when to lean in- all in service of the art in the best way possible.

That said, I’ve found that my creative side definitely drives me more in the record making process. Just like some people naturally gravitate toward the more “brainy” or technical side, I tend to go the other way, and letting my creative instincts lead usually brings out my best work. 

The more I deep dive into this, the easier it has been to stay focused on serving the art rather than spiraling down rabbit holes or getting stuck in random ruts (it still happens- but we’re working on it hehehe!).

Finding the Flow: Where Creativity and Technique Meet

On that note, I had a blast chatting with artist and producer Scoobert Doobert to hear his take on this balance.

I asked him: "How do you approach balancing the creative and technical aspects of music production/record making? Is there one that drives your work more?"

He said: “I am a flow-state junkie. In flow, creative and technical meld. Out of it, logical focus takes over. Both are needed to make a record, but one is a whole lot more fun…

I believe that practice in all respects (from running scales to learning Pro Tools keyboard shortcuts) are a means to clear the path for the creative self. Technical, by which I mean the craft, is the place for polish. But it’s easy to get lost in the goop of the polish. Or to polish too early. It’s rare to polish too late.

I think it’s best to find your passion. To let that animism lead you. And to surprise yourself. Surprise is the greatest motivator. However, this state typically requires a dose of technical skill alongside the right level of mindlessness. The flow is where you see 12 steps ahead. Where your leg taps. Where you’re scared when someone walks into the room, piercing your fragile bubble. To enter that space (and protect it) is the most important skill in the creative arts.

This heightened state is where you transcend your worldly ability. But in this contraction, your vocabulary remains key. So you gotta shed. But you also can’t second-guess yourself. Otherwise, your flow vanishes like a lucid dream. Spiraling, draining back into a mundane reality. The modern state of constant distraction and notifications and perverted false states of flow, where the infinite scroll replaces your infinite void, where consumption replaces creativity. I live there too, probably too often. It feels good, yet unsatisfying. Flow is the opposite. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes your throat grows dry. But you leave it satisfied.I think music and speech are analogous; when you truly know a language you cease thinking about grammar. And you play. You speak a sentence never said before. But first, you must learn to speak! And then after you need to edit! That’s where the logical craft can re-enter. It’s worth it! But I prefer to minimize it. To make it the right size for the right project. The flow is where the real magic lives. 

Creativity isn’t about restacking lego blocks. Or inhabiting conflicting influences. Creativity is bigger than that. Like the universe itself, creativity is truly transcendent, so I think it takes a transcendental mental state to access fully. So, let’s go dance in the clouds together. And then come out of a weird warg state like Bran Stark, and apply some craft, some Melodyne, some EQ to make sense of the beautiful mess we made. But don’t pretty it up too much. Sometimes a mouth click or a breath or a hum or a hiss is the magic in the middle.”

The Transcendent Side of Music Creation

Scoobert’s insightful and inspiring answer was one of those moments where you get a message you didn’t even know you needed- this was that for me. I love how, even with the higher creative self and flow state in mind, there’s still a natural fluidity and a marriage with the technical aspects of record making.

This line especially stuck with me:

“Creativity isn’t about restacking Lego blocks, or inhabiting conflicting influences. Creativity is bigger than that. Like the universe itself, creativity is truly transcendent, so I think it takes a transcendental mental state to access fully.”

It’s so easy to slip into that “restacking Lego blocks” mode and forget that creativity and our human drive to create is something greater than us- a mysteriously awesome gift from the universe. This really put a lot into perspective for me, and I can’t wait to get back in the studio with a clearer and more intentional mindset.

Thanks Scoobert for your awesome answer!
Catch y'all next blog!