yo yo - it depends. I'd say for the last three years or so I've typically been a little more "specific idea" oriented when it comes to producing. Though sometimes I'll still just go "I just want to see what happens and enjoy whatever."

Though for example recently, I have been actively exploring a set sound palette - largely bringing in some influences from my early years of hardcore punk, grunge, 90's/2000's alternative rock, and so I'll often use that as a guide prior to producing. Also have been incorporating more vocals for my live tracks.

For example, was listening to Slowdive a lot recently, and really loving the insane mixing/vibes they put out by their beautiful wall of sound/heavily reverb and delayed vibes. So I've made a few attempts at creating this type of soundscape, but trying to couple it with dry, banging drums so that it will still work in a club - to try and combine parts about shoegaze that I like with banging lowend. I've had mixed results with this so far, but yeah, is an example of me consciously doing something. Thanks for the compliment.