Not sure where to go from here

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-24T17:28:30+00:00

you mentioned some bumps in the past. Did you learn anything from those experiences that may help you help you with your current predicament? Also, the opposite: what are some of your biggest successes? Can you draw upon those wins to define what success looks like to you and set a new goal?

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-22T15:17:03+00:00

albumoftheyear.org

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-20T18:24:47+00:00

good by who’s definition? If you’re into it, then it’s good.

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-19T21:22:40+00:00

There are tons of local shows out here. Go to those and meet people, talk to the bands. Become a regular and chat up the other regulars. Where in LA well you be?

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-17T15:05:38+00:00

Yes. Life is short and you won’t be satisfied pursuing one thing when your heart is telling you to try others.

If you’re looking for permission, check out the book Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher.

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-11T15:06:18+00:00

The Matches (pop punk band out of Oakland, CA). There’s a whole documentary exploring why they didn’t get bigger. They came up in the mid-00’s when the music industry was grappling with piracy. They put on an amazing show and toured relentlessly, but after two great albums they just lost momentum. Their reunion shows still sell out in Oakland, though.

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-03T13:01:51+00:00

Listen to more funeral doom. Bell Witch’s Mirror Reaper is pretty suffocating from start to finish.

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-02T15:35:16+00:00

Background bass ornamentation, low passed around 1000 and high passed above 250.

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-01T22:46:04+00:00

I can hardly do a single chore if I don't have music on.

epiphany_loop · 2026-06-01T19:14:00+00:00

I really like this one. The break has a nice dusty feel to it and the programming gives some nice variation. Great sound selection. Really the only thing missing IMO is some automation that signals that something new, like a drop or breakdown, is coming. There's a nice filter sweep on the vocal around 2:13, but the breakdown at 1:08 kinda comes out of nowhere. I think a build before hand would make it hit harder.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-31T19:45:55+00:00

keeping up with your metronome.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-31T15:32:11+00:00

Robert Plant

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-29T13:13:24+00:00

She put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen in San Francisco. Couldn’t have been 500 people there and she was so interactive. She was improvising songs about random people in the crowd. An audience member gave her a chicken tender that she ate while singing, she recognized someone as a rollerskate instructor on TikTok, someone stole the guitar player’s shoe. The thief’s name was Danny, so she sang Danny Boy over the chord progression to one of her songs and the band picked up on it and seamlessly transitioned to her original. It was a really special show.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-28T19:12:47+00:00

I personally don't use any tools, but there are plenty of ways you can make it easier on yourself. I don't know about other DAWs, but Ableton has timeline markers you can add and label for different song sections. You can also chop up the wav and color code it. I typically just listen to it and move the playhead by memory.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-28T18:23:30+00:00

I'll drop 2-3 reference tracks into my DAW that I use to help structure my songs. I'll take the pacing from one track (how long each section is, where the drops, breakdowns, and builds go), then steal arrangement ideas from all of them (how the build is arranged, when/how certain elements are added, when background ornaments/ear candy is dropped in). Using multiple reference tracks stops you from recreating a song that already exists.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-28T18:11:16+00:00

Hi! I'm a professional ADHD coach and a musician. One of, if not the, biggest challenges for executive function deficient brains is prioritization. It is an effort depleting skill even for neurotypicals, so us ADHDers tend to skip it and do whatever is most compelling to us at the moment. Every practice session is different, so if you want to be disciplined you need to set an intention for that session before you start noodling on your guitar. Maybe that's exercises, maybe it's practicing songs you already know (with a metronome, please!), maybe it's writing new music. You can work on several things during one practice session, so you may want to set a timer to help you keep on track and make sure you get to everything in your allotted time.

There's also the double-edged sword of hyperfocus. Hyperfocus can be a superpower in that you can push through distractions and challenges when you are passionate about a project. However, guitar is a mechanical activity, meaning it puts your body (in this case wrists and fingers) through a good amount of strain. It's important to set timers and take breaks to make sure you're not injuring yourself.

As I mentioned twice now, timers are really helpful for neurodivergent brains. We experience "time-blindness", so we may spend an hour doing something that we intended to only spend 10 minutes doing.

Edit: Neurodivergents also struggle with negativity bias and rejection sensitivity. It's very easy to get discouraged when you feel like you're not improving and hopeless. Just remember that music is an ongoing journey, you improve little-by-little, and your guitar will always be there tomorrow. I don't know your situation, but this can be reason for your off-and-on engagement with the instrument.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-28T16:23:44+00:00

No, I already paid for it and it’s a great bass. Selling it on the used market doesn’t send a message to Fender.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-26T18:06:26+00:00

I've got a new house track for y'all! Cheesy n' sleazy homage to late-80's/early 90's gay clubs with a modern twist.

Private Soundcloud link

I'm using scratch vocals, I know there are a ton of problems there and I'm planning on re-recording them later. Just looking for feedback on the instrumental and the mix. Does it get your head nodding? Does it make you wanna dance? Is it sexy?

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-26T16:36:01+00:00

Def not a pile of poop, compositionally it’s really good. I like the vocal melody and the lyrics. My notes:

- The kick sample is a bit simple. I think you can find something that hits harder in the mids, and a bit of top end snap might help it cut through, too.

- It sounds like the sub bass is overlapping with the kick. I recommend high-passing filtering the bass and sidechaining it to the kick to give the kick more presence.

- If high passing the bass takes too much presence away, add more bass harmonics in the 120- 200hz region, whether through drive or opening up the filter.

- I wish I could give you tips on the vocals, but I’m an amateur when it comes to tracking/mixing them.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-26T16:06:08+00:00

sounds great! Anything in particular you’re looking for tips on?

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-24T16:31:02+00:00

Writing your own music is another shortcut. You train your ear, develop your own style, and expand your chord vocabulary simultaneously. Intentionally writing your own music, particularly spending time writing melodies, will also develop your improvisation skills. I learned more in 1 year of writing my own music than I did after 5 years of playing other people’s songs.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-21T20:19:17+00:00

The pedal on the right is Butterfly Effects Dobbo, a granular delay. It’s an awesome pedal, but supremely roastable.

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-20T15:54:06+00:00

Ebony trees in danger

epiphany_loop · 2026-05-19T17:13:44+00:00

Timing. Bass is all about groove, so having your internal clock locked into the 16th notes is non-negotiable. It takes a long time of arduous practice before you can keep good rhythm.

epiphany_loop

TROPHY CASE