Can producing music become an unhealthy obsession?
6 Signs That You’re Addicted to Producing Music
From the moment you wake up until the moment you go to bed, music is constantly on your mind. You can’t imagine life without your DAW (Digital Audio Workshop), and you find yourself always yearning to craft the next big hit. You’re not just passionate, you’re in deep—Should we say it? You’re addicted to music production.
Music production can be an exhilarating and rewarding journey that blends creativity, tech-savviness, and pure talent. But like everything, it’s possible to overdo it. While ’addiction’ may be a heavy word, we simply mean that your attachment to producing music starts to override other necessary areas of your life.
So, are you harmlessly enthusiastic, or are you a full-blown music production junkie? Here are 6 signs that you’re addicted to producing music:
1. You’re Always in ‘The Studio’
Mark Twain famously said that if you love your work, you’ll never work a day in your life. This seems great until you realize that ‘the studio’ might as well be your living room, your dining room, and even your bedroom. If you’re spending every free moment you have in your improvisational home music studio, you may be a little obsessed.
2. You Hear Music in Everything
From the rhythmic click-clack of a keyboard to the hum of a refrigerator, everyday sounds become potential hooks or bass lines in your mind. You’re constantly ‘sampling’ the world around you, either literally or just in your head. If everyday noise has turned into a symphony, you might be addicted to producing music.
3. You Think in BPM
BPM (Beats Per Minute) is a way to quantify the pace of music — it’s essentially how you determine a song’s tempo. If you’re going around tapping surfaces, counting beats, and mentally converting every rhythmic soundtrack in your life into the corresponding BPM, chances are you’re a music production enthusiast.
4. You Can’t Enjoy Music Casually Anymore
This can be a tell-tale sign of a music production enthusiast. If you find that every time a song comes on, instead of just letting the music carry you away, you’re analyzing each section, each transition, each element — picking apart the instrumentation and the mix — you’re probably in deep.
5. You’re Always Learning New Techniques and Plugins
You’re continuously on the lookout for the next big plugin or DAW update. You constantly devour online tutorials, attend webinars and seminars, anything to refine your producing skills and know-how. If so, you’re an addict, but perhaps the good kind!
6. You Prioritize Music Over Basic Needs
Last but not least, if music creation has overshadowed basic needs like eating, sleeping, socializing, or even taking a shower, it’s an undeniable sign of addiction. Remember, as essential as your music may seem, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle to ensure the long-term sustainability of your passion.
In conclusion, while these signs can indicate an addiction to music production, they can equally be signs of passion and dedication. As long as your obsession isn’t detrimental to your health, relationships, or overall quality of life, why not keep tapping, creating, and producing?
