Hey y’all!

A few days ago, I found myself working on a production for a client, and I hit this serious creative block. It felt like mentally I was getting stuck in a loop- same ideas, same sounds, same vibe. 

This was my face:

Everything started to feel a little too familiar, and I knew I had to shake things up to bring some freshness back into the mix. FAST. The fix at that moment? A deep dive for new samples. But it got me thinking about the bigger issue, which is what inspired me to dedicate this blog to the topic.

How to Keep Your Productions Sounding Fresh

On that fabulous note, I had a blast chatting with Juno Award Winning Producer, Composer, and Engineer Hill Kourkoutis.

I asked her: "How do you keep your productions sounding fresh and avoid repetition?"

She said:

”The most important thing to me when producing anything is curating every aspect of the production process to meet the artist’s needs and vision. I can’t say I’ve ever made a record the same way twice, and that’s because every individual is unique. I’m never interested in chasing or replicating sounds; I have no desire to make the same record twice. The goal is to capture the sounds that reflect who the artist is and the stories they’re telling in that specific moment in time. I approach each production as if it’s a puzzle to be discovered, uncovered, and pieced together.

Here are a few things I do in the production process to keep the flow and ideas fresh:

1. Laying a Solid Foundation The first thing I do is get to know the artist before we even step into the studio. It’s a bit like a dating period, where we can get to know each other and build trust. During this time, I dive into their artistic and personal motivations. What stifles them creatively? What helps them thrive in vulnerability? What inspires them sonically? Where do they envision the project going aesthetically? Sometimes I’ll do a playlist exercise, where I ask the artist to describe elements of their favourite music. This helps me understand their musical language, as music is so subjective. Breaking down what they like sonically helps me quickly understand what they gravitate toward, or just as importantly, what they dislike. I also like to have a writing session to see how we collaborate creatively and ensure I’m the right person for the project. This step is crucial because if I can’t build trust with the artist, or if they feel they can’t be vulnerable with me, I am not the right person for this journey. Laying that foundation is invaluable for the production process. It allows me to tailor everything to the artist’s unique style.

2. Switch It Up! Based on what I learn about the artist, I can capture their performances in the most authentic way—whether that’s recording drums last to better match the dynamics of the other instruments or starting with a guitar and vocal track if the artist tends to play solo. The idea behind the latter is that, if we strip everything away at the end, the core intimacy of the performance should stand strong on its own. The lesson here is to stay adaptable to the process, allowing space for new ideas to emerge. Sometimes, changing the order of the process itself can inspire other ways to hear or create the music.

3. Working with Other Musicians I love is working with other musicians. If the project allows, I enjoy the process of selecting a band to help create a new sound. No two players are alike, and I’m very mindful of this. I don’t just hire any person that can play an instrument.  I pay attention to the stylistic nuances and unique characteristics each musician brings. It’s this merging of individual talents that often sparks the creation of a new style or sound. Curating musicianship has been a key factor in creating fresh sounds in my experience.

4. Genre-Bending On many projects, I play everything in the production. To avoid getting stuck in a cycle of recycling my own ideas, I work in multiple genres and never repeat the same genre back-to-back. This keeps me from falling into creative ruts. I also love to explore the spaces between genres. When you trust the process and allow yourself to intuitively navigate these gaps, you can stumble upon magic. The most exciting musical discoveries often happen in those voids between genres, where the obvious paths are left behind.

5. Recognizing Windows of Opportunity Perhaps the most valuable thing to be aware of in the production process is recognizing when an opportunity presents itself. We often come into a project with ideas of how it should unfold, but sometimes the most magical moments happen unexpectedly. If we’re too focused on the “to-do” list or our initial vision, we may miss those synchronous moments that could be the sonic game-changers of the record. I strive to balance execution with exploration, allowing the record to find its life through spontaneity. Some of the greatest moments I’ve had in the studio were the result of happy accidents or mistakes that led to something new. Some things can’t be planned, and embracing that unpredictability is often the key to keeping things fresh. As the late and great David Lynch said, the best creativity comes from “catching ideas”.  He likened ideas to fish.  Some of them are small, some of them are big.  Sometimes they come to you as a big fish or a school of fish instantly.  Sometimes you have to sit there patiently and wait for the fish to bite.  Either way, recognising when the fish are there and being prepared to catch them is key to any creative process.

At the end of the day, we are in the business of creation, emotions, and human relationships. That’s why a cookie-cutter approach doesn’t always lead to the great performances we want to hear on repeat. If we stay present in the moment and follow the flow, we can create truly unique music. If we’re fully immersed in the process of creation, we’re capturing something that can never be recreated. As long as we stay in that moment, we’ll always have the ability to create something new.”

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved reading Hill’s insightful answer. The line that stuck out to me most was “If we’re fully immersed in the process of creating, we’re capturing something that can never be recreated. As long as we stay in that moment, we’ll always have the ability to create something new.” It’s easy to get lost in the chaos of life and forget to stay present, but Hill’s words were a much-needed reminder for me: SLOW DOWN THE HECK DOWN ABI! Be conscious and present during the creative process, and embrace whatever comes.

Another huge one for me was her mention of “the magic between genres.” It really made me think about how I can better tap into that space more and trust my creative north star. I also loved how she pointed out the importance of avoiding back-to-back projects in the same genre to steer clear of ruts. That’s definitely something I’ll keep in mind going forward.

I learned so much from Hill’s answer and will definitely be referring back to it in the future!

Thank you so much Hill for your amazing answer!

Catch y’all next blog!