The power of reflection: how to shape your musical identity
- Nov 18, 2024
- 3 min read
Reflection as a guide for future creativity. Find clarity in the chaos of music-making.
Do you have a strategy to guide your creative direction? For the first five years of making music, I didn’t even consider this question. But now, it’s one I return to regularly.
One of the simplest yet most overlooked ideas that helped me direct my creativity is reflecting on my past work to understand what truly works.
This isn’t about checking streaming numbers to see which track got the most plays. It’s about internal reflection—asking myself what resonates with me.
After getting lost in the creative madness of making music for months at a time, I make sure to occasionally pause, lift my head, and take a look around.
I’ll ask myself: What are my favourite pieces of music I’ve made recently? Which tracks were the most fun and interesting to create? Then, I’ll pick a few of those and gently use them as creative references moving forward.
What I often find is that there’s a subtle, consistent theme underlying the tracks I enjoy most. This theme is the essence of my music-making process—the part I want to tap into more frequently.
Over time I've learned that a powerful, commanding and rhythmically fluid low-end is something I really like. I've also learned that abstract textures often intrigue my brain. Similarly, I slowly learned that synthesizers frustrate me and the only way for me to find them interesting is by using them in a completely unconventional way.
Occasionally, something entirely new emerges from this reflection. When that happens, it’s a clear sign to explore those fresh ideas or techniques more deeply. At one point it was a deeper exploration of re-sampling and textures, then granular processing and layering and now I'm curious about exploring the idea of emotion and urgency.
It’s important, though, not to fall into the trap of exploiting a past success. The goal isn’t to replicate what’s worked before. Instead, this process gives you a light-hearted sense of direction—a way to align your creativity without stifling it.
At its core, creativity thrives on exploration and experimentation. The best music happens when you follow your curiosity the moment it sparks, whether you’re sitting in front of your computer or jamming with your instruments.
Reflecting on your favourite and most fun pieces of music is a way to identify the patterns in your most impactful and engaging creative processes.
When you take the time to consider these patterns and intentionally use them as inspiration, it can bring clarity and focus to your creativity.
It can also reveal parts of yourself—your instincts, preferences, and unique artistic voice—that you may have been too busy to notice.
As artists, the more we learn about ourselves, the more we can learn about our music.
Reflect on your favourite creations, not to replicate them, but to uncover the patterns of joy and curiosity that guide your best work—then let those patterns inspire your next creative leap.
The idea is simple: take time to reflect on your favourite musical creations to understand what fuels your creativity.
Here’s how you can make this work:
Set time to reflect: every now and then, pause to look back on your recent work. It doesn’t need to be a big event—just carve out a quiet moment to listen to your tracks with fresh ears.
Spot your favourites: choose the pieces that stand out to you. Focus on the ones that felt the most fun to create or still resonate deeply, even if they’re rough drafts or less polished ideas.
Find the common thread: look for patterns in what you enjoyed. Was there a specific technique you leaned into? A vibe or emotion you captured? A workflow that felt particularly smooth?
Set a loose direction: use those insights as a creative compass. You’re not trying to replicate anything—you’re just giving yourself a direction to lean into.
Stay open to new ideas: while reflecting is helpful, don’t let it restrict you. Leave room for experimentation and let curiosity lead the way when something exciting pops up.
By reflecting on what excites you and allowing those discoveries to guide your process, you can strike the perfect balance between direction and exploration. It’s a simple practice, but it can help you uncover the essence of what makes your music yours.
I hope you consider this next time you're making music.
Big love
Eryk
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