Tune into your musical intuition [aka the inner compass of decision making]

When you're sitting in front of your laptop working on a piece of music, how do you decide what the next step is? How do you know when you're going in the wrong direction? Or how do you spot and build on that magical spark that some tracks have?

For the first few years of making music I was completely ignorant about my musical intuition. It wasn't something I've ever heard anyone talk about. I didn't even know it existed, so there was no way I could tune into it. Little did I know, this idea is now at the centre of my creative philosophy when making electronic music. There are times where we sit down to make music and everything is just flowing like we're professionals. Decision after decision we're effortlessly creating a piece of music that feels unique, compelling and captivating. Without thinking or any friction, a mystical force allows us to smoothly translate our energy and soul into a piece of music. Other times, we're sitting in front of the same screen with the same tools and the same goal, and it feels like we've forgotten everything we know. Nothing is sounding exciting or interesting. We're few hours deep into a producing session and it feels like we've made no progress. We might even start questioning our selves if this whole music thing is for us... (how silly!). The problem that we're facing here is made up of two challenges. And whether we're working against these ideas or aligned with them, decides whether we're flowing or crawling creatively:

1. Creating music that's authentic and true to you

2. Being tuned into your musical intuition (aka inner compass of decision making)

Both of these ideas are at the centre of your creative ability, and work in synergy. You can think of 'making authentic music' as your map and 'tuning into musical intuition' as knowing how to follow that map.

I've explained the first idea in my article: How to make truly authentic music [and why it matters].

So here I'll focus on the second part. How do we tune into our musical intuition?

This ability is not something you can switch on and off. This is a skill that you get better at the more you practice it. It's like a muscle in your mind that you can train to become more flexible and stronger. It's your ability to follow the map of making authentic music more accurately.

This is not an easy concept to grasp at first. The musical intuition is something every one of us has and, without knowing, uses all the time. But the key is in becoming aware of it and learning to intentionally tune into it. Once you become aware of it and start noticing it, it will completely transform your idea of making music. It will feel like finally taking off your blind fold and finally being in control of where you're going. For me, it completely changed my approach to making music and hugely improved my sound. I'm now able to make music that is more unique and more aligned with my own taste and inspirations. It's made the process of making music way faster as I'm able to consistently make better decisions. I'm not afraid to delete sounds that don't fit because I know it's the right move. In result my music's quality and consistency has improved more than any other technique ever had. And most importantly, I'm having way more fun making music now than I've ever had before! And I hope you take the time and consider this idea for yourself.

I believe that tuning into your musical intuition is this:

"When you're creating music, you need to attune yourself to the subtle, instinctive signals that guide your decisions. Become present and engaged with what you're doing. Listen closely to that inner voice that, with every decision, gently whispers 'this sounds better' or 'this sounds worse'. By trusting and honing this musical intuition, you can intentionally and deliberately navigate the creative process of making music that's authentic to you."

Now here are few things that will help you put this into practice and help you tune into your musical intuition and make more authentic music:

Mindful listening and presence: Practice being fully present and engaged while making music. Set aside distractions and focus solely on the sounds you are creating. Listen deeply and attentively to every decision you make. Tune into the feeling, energy and rhythms of the music. Pay attention to how each element makes you feel and follow the subtle cues that your intuition provides. This approach helps you stay connected with your inner creative compass.

Reflect and analyse: After each music-making session, take a few moments to reflect on the decisions you made and the feelings you experienced. Identify the moments where you felt in sync with your intuition and the moments where you felt disconnected. Notice when you felt a burst of excitement and when you felt frustration. Analyse what worked and what didn't, and use these insights to refine your process. Journaling these reflections (simply writing down your thoughts) can help track your progress and deepen your understanding of your musical intuition.

Experiment and trust your instincts: Allow yourself to experiment with different sounds, styles, and techniques without fear of making mistakes. Trust your instincts when something feels right or wrong. Embrace the trial-and-error process as a way to strengthen your intuitive sense. Over time, as you become more attuned to your inner voice, you will find it easier to make decisions that align with your authentic musical vision.

I genuinely believe in the journey of an artist, tuning into your musical intuition is a game-changer. By becoming aware of and trusting those subtle, instinctive signals, you take the driver-seat in the creative process.

Mindful listening, reflective analysis, and fearless experimentation are crucial practices to hone this skill. Embrace your unique voice and let your inner compass guide you to create music that deeply resonates with you... which in result will resonate with others (like you).

Remember, this will take time and mindful effort but every bit of improvement brings you closer to making incredible music.

Keep pushing boundaries and enjoy the creative exploration and learning! Big love

Eryk

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PS I help artists make more creative, captivating and authentic music through mixing, mastering and teaching.