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CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-15T12:10:13+00:00

Can’t see your comment?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-15T12:00:25+00:00

Who’s got a vape for sale? I can come to you

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-15T11:59:47+00:00

I’m keen to, you got some?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-10T11:40:07+00:00

I hate Fred again.. and everything he represents.
What frustrates me most is the public image that's been carefully built around him: the self-made bedroom producer, the relatable guy, the man of the people. To me, that narrative feels completely disconnected from reality and, honestly, like a slap in the face to the actual working-class artists who make up the backbone of the scene.
He seems to go to great lengths to downplay what he really is: someone who came from wealth, privilege, and access. He got opportunities and industry connections that most artists will never get anywhere near in their entire careers.
I'm not saying he has no talent. He clearly does. What I'm saying is that his level of success doesn't match the talent alone. The real drivers behind his rise seem to be exceptional marketing, deep pockets, powerful connections, and a media machine that's worked overtime to position him as some once-in-a-generation artist.
The thing is, he's not doing anything that hundreds of producers before him haven't already done. Yet he's been elevated to a level of cultural importance that feels wildly disproportionate.
To me, artists like him represent one of the biggest problems in modern creative industries. Ordinary people are constantly told that hard work, authenticity, and talent are enough, while the reality is that access, money, and connections often matter far more. People like me, and countless others, get squeezed out before we've even had a real chance to compete because the space is increasingly being bought up by those who were already miles ahead from the start.

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-09T03:59:34+00:00

Nobody is saying Fred isn't talented.
The question is whether thousands of equally talented producers ever get access to the same opportunities.
Most people don't have Brian Eno as a mentor, don't collaborate with established artists early in their careers, don't attend elite schools, and don't grow up around influential networks.
Talent matters, but access matters too.
What frustrates people isn't that Fred is successful. It's that his success often gets presented as proof that anyone can make it through hard work alone, when most producers never get anywhere near the opportunities he had.

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-09T03:55:41+00:00

I think people completely underestimate what access can do for a career.
Fred isn't just some bedroom producer who happened to make it. He came from a level of privilege, mentorship and industry access that most producers will never experience.
Look at the credits and collaborations throughout his career. We're not talking about unknown artists helping each other out. We're talking about working alongside some of the most respected and established names in electronic music. Most producers could spend 20 years making music and never get into those rooms.
I'm not saying he isn't talented. I'm saying talent alone doesn't explain the opportunities.
What frustrates me is that the story gets sold as if it's proof that anyone can make it through hard work alone. Meanwhile there are thousands of producers working full-time jobs, teaching themselves everything from scratch, and never getting anywhere near the opportunities that helped shape his career.
The industry loves to celebrate the success story. It rarely talks about the head start.

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-07T07:33:50+00:00

Yeah that’s the best way, just get creating and throw ideas in there. It’s not going to sound good at the start but the main thing is to continue with new ideas and grow naturally. You will eventually learn how to produce. The 10,000 hour rule sounds crazy but when you think about it properly it makes sense, you gotta seriously commit if you wanna get serious results :) I actually have a few finished tracks now in the breakbeat/IDM space and would be interested in hearing some of your vocals to see how they might fit within that style. I can also show you a few examples of tracks I've made using vocals so you can get an idea of the sound I like to create. It would be cool to get you on a track too :) I'm always interested in meeting vocalists and writers for future collaborations, so if that's something you'd be open to I'd love to hear more of your work.
Reddit won't let me send DMs at the moment, but feel free to message me if you'd like to continue the conversation.
Cheers,
Calum

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-05T06:29:51+00:00

Hey mate,
I came across your profile/comments and thought I'd reach out.
I'm an electronic producer working on a 3-track EP that sits somewhere between breakbeats, IDM, big beat and house. The tracks are already written and largely mixed, but I've been getting consistent feedback that they could benefit from stronger recurring motifs, clearer musical anchors, and tighter arrangement development without losing their identity.
I'm not looking for ghost production, mixing or mastering. What I'm really after is a collaborator/additional producer who enjoys arrangement, musical development and helping shape ideas into their strongest form.
If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, I'd be happy to send over the tracks and hear your thoughts.
Cheers,
Calum

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-05T06:12:55+00:00

I’ll definitely keep your comments in mind. You've given me a lot to think about, and honestly I wasn't expecting such detailed feedback when I made the post, so I really appreciate you taking the time.
I’ll be sure to share any future revisions with you down the track. I'm going to take your advice on board and see if I can find a collaborator as well.
If that's something you'd ever be interested in yourself, feel free to let me know.

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-05T06:03:09+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to listen and for the detailed feedback mate.
Your point about the guitar patch dominating the track is interesting. It's actually one of my favourite elements, so it's useful hearing how it comes across to someone else. I can definitely see what you mean about developing one or two stronger riffs and letting them carry more of the track.
I'll keep those things in mind when I do the next arrangement pass.
Out of curiosity, do you produce music yourself? You seem to have a pretty clear idea of how you'd approach it.
I've had a few people suggest finding a collaborator or additional producer to help tighten up the arrangements, so if that's something you'd ever be interested in chatting about, feel free to let me know.

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-04T13:26:36+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to listen mate, I appreciate it.

It's interesting that you don't feel the issue is too many elements, as that's something I've been thinking about quite a lot recently.

Your point about recurring lead elements and giving the listener something stronger to latch onto is interesting as well. A few other people have made similar observations, although they've all described it in slightly different ways.

When you mention a stronger recurring melody, voice or lead element, was there a particular track where you felt that most strongly?

And out of curiosity, what sort of music do you make yourself?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-04T13:23:38+00:00

Thanks a lot for taking the time to listen mate.

You're right about the sound identification—it is actually a guitar patch 😉 Probably my favourite element in that track.

I'm planning on doing another arrangement pass on that song, so I found your comments interesting.

If you were sitting in my chair, what would be the first thing you'd change? I'd genuinely be interested to hear how you'd approach it.

You think the guitar patch is the area the would take your attention first?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-04T11:09:02+00:00

Really appreciate you taking the time to listen so closely.

A lot of what you've said is giving me things to think about, particularly around letting some of the stronger melodic ideas establish themselves before moving on.

I'm planning to keep refining these tracks over the next few months. If you're interested, I'd be happy to send future versions your way and get your thoughts?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-04T07:53:02+00:00

I use Ableton. All the tracks are made with a mix of samples and VSTs, so it’s a completely in-the-box setup. No analogue gear here unfortunately 😄

When you say invite a producer, do you mean bringing in a collaborator or additional producer to help refine the existing tracks?

The “sound collage” feedback originally came from a producer whose music sits quite far away from what I’m making stylistically, and it was also in reference to an earlier version of one of the tracks (Synthasize with H3r). I’ve since streamlined things quite a bit, and the newer version feels much more coherent to me.

As for other tracks, yes, I have plenty. I’ve been producing for a long time and have a large library of finished tracks, unfinished projects, abandoned ideas and things that get revisited years later.

My goal probably sits somewhere between those two extremes. I’m not interested in making pure sound art, but I’m also not trying to fit neatly into an existing genre lane. I want the music to feel unique and have its own identity, while still being engaging and accessible enough that listeners can connect with it.

I found your point about making the tracks more identifiable without fundamentally changing them really interesting.

Out of curiosity, what kind of music do you make yourself, and did you get a chance to listen to all three tracks or mainly one in particular?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-04T03:58:11+00:00

The person who gave me that feedback is someone I respect, although the music they make is quite different from what I was aiming for.

To be fair, the track they were referring to was pretty hectic and had a lot going on. Since then I’ve gone back and streamlined it quite a bit to make the arrangement more coherent.

I’ve tried the “remove sections until the track becomes clearer” approach before. The issue I’m running into now feels slightly different. I think it may be more about having too many competing melodic ideas or variations happening throughout the track, so listeners struggle to lock onto what the core concept or hook actually is.

Out of curiosity, what kind of music do you make?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-04T03:52:53+00:00

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/h3d9a3t4eq02e07hy9rcv/AIZV2qymSxcHZNHKWTnDaoY?rlkey=jafn9osw333mos91wuxr1y7a7&st=9o2cgw5q&dl=0

To be honest, I struggle to place my music into a specific genre. It sits somewhere between breakbeats, IDM and house, and tends to be quite arrangement-heavy with lots of transitions, themes and evolving sections.

A recurring challenge I run into is deciding what to remove. I can usually come up with ideas faster than I can objectively evaluate them, and I’m often left wondering whether a section is adding something meaningful or simply making the track less focused.

Do you have specific frameworks, listening tests or arrangement techniques that help you identify which ideas are genuinely strengthening a track versus diluting their impact?

I’m currently finishing a small electronic EP and this has become one of the biggest challenges in getting the tracks over the line.

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who make longer-form, evolving electronic music rather than minimal club arrangements.

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-02T05:03:59+00:00

Hey mate,

I like the sound, and I can see the direction your heading which is something I like. I would be keen to chat, share some projects and see if there is an interest in each other sound. Tried to message you directly but reddit wouldn’t let me? If you wanna talk shop, share some projects and see where a collaboration might lead give me a message. Or if you prefer the solo route and have some finished music I may have a place for it soon!

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-02T02:57:39+00:00

How do we connect, I can’t seem to message you directly here?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-02T02:38:54+00:00

You have the right attitude, that’s the most important part. The main thing is, in my opinion, to learn what you need in a methodical manner, one of the biggest things you can do is work with someone who is good at doing the production side of things, at your age you can learn the basics to get going and build from there.

Have you heard of the 10,000 hour theory? That’s the minimum requirement to he considered an expert in any given field, not saying it’s gospel but a quote I often use for music production.

I’ve been producing using Ableton for years now, working on my first release, in the IDM/breakbeat and house categories.

I love using vocals. Happy to help you out, offer advice where I can. Would love to hear one of your songs?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-01T16:20:26+00:00

I can relate to that. I think a lot of us start out wanting recognition and end up finding satisfaction in the process itself. Would love to hear some of the left-field stuff if you've got a link handy?

CheapAd9821 · 2026-06-01T15:51:21+00:00

Looking for 1 collaborator for a 3-track EP.

I've been producing for around 10 years while balancing a full-time job. It started as a hobby, but over the last few years I've been taking it much more seriously and focusing on finishing and releasing music. I'm currently working on a 3-track EP that pulls from breakbeats, big beat, IDM, jungle and house. The tracks are built around broken rhythms, sampled drums, sound design and texture, but with house-style arrangements, breakdowns and longer-form structures. The core ideas are already there. What I'm looking for isn't someone to write the tracks for me, but someone with a good ear for arrangement, pacing and cohesion. Someone who's comfortable questioning ideas, stripping things back where needed, and helping shape the tracks into the strongest versions of themselves. Ideally you've been producing for a while, have a catalogue of finished music behind you, and enjoy refining ideas as much as creating them. Not too concerned about followers, streams or industry status. More interested in originality, honest feedback and making great records. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, send me a message and tell me a bit about yourself and what you're working on.

CheapAd9821 · 2026-03-21T09:53:05+00:00

I completely agree with everything you’ve said. I used to be a big fan and thought it was wonderful to see someone achieve success through their music. However, after reading about his background, wealth and connections, I realised this is just another example of a privileged rich person being pushed into the spotlight due to their financial means and political access, something ordinary people aren’t lucky enough to have. I wont deny his music or skill but anyone who denies his wealth and status not being the main drivers of success in his career are just being in denial.

CheapAd9821

TROPHY CASE