Hello and welcome to Fall 2022 (Or Spring for our Southern Hemisphere Friends)!

As time flies by, I've been thinking a lot about the direction I am going with my work. I've spent some time asking myself what my core values are and what types of beliefs I have in my music.

One key idea that keeps coming up is: COMMIT!

I often get stuck trying to decide what I want to do.

Before I choose a direction, every possibility is open. And they are all exciting, and they all exist as perfect fantasies.

But once I decide, I end up with an imperfect reality. That often comes with a little remorse over what could have been.

Of course, the only way things get done is by making decisions about where we want to go.

I had two great conversations on the Music Production Podcast that have helped me see the joy in making those decisions and leaving the endless possibilities behind.

Songwriting, Creative Process, and Ear Health with Doug Hoyer #286

Doug Hoyer is a songwriter whose work I've really come to enjoy. We spoke in-depth about how important it is to decide on a process and rules within our work. It makes moving forward much easier when there's a set of guidelines to follow.

Doug Hoyer on the Music Production Podcast

Telling Your Artist Story with Laura Ferreiro #285

Laura Ferreiro specializes in helping artists communicate their story to their fans. She really taught me how it's often the artist's story and beliefs that turn us into true fans. Laura has interviewed artists like Dave Grohl, Francis Black, and Blondie for magazines like Rolling Stone and the LA Times, so she kind of knows what she's talking about!

Laura Ferreiro on the Music Production Podcast

With all of this in mind, I've felt rejuvenated in my mission to bring you "Unique Sounds for Your Unique Sound."

I had a lot of fun making a new video for my 100-Year-Old Tape Piano Ableton Live Pack.

There's a lot in this video about why I put so much effort into creating new sounds for us all to use in our music.

A lot of it has to do with an identity that many of us share: we like to bring our own personal touch to our music.

It's easy and tempting to use all of the same tools as everyone else. But if we do, we will never find our own voice.

Our music will get lost in the crowd.

I hope you'll check out the video and that it will inspire you to make bringing your own personal style to your music a priority in your next project.

Video link: I Sampled My 100-Year-Old Piano to Tape - How's it Sound?!: https://youtu.be/dQ5iJEmv9fg

Use the Music Production Club to Stay Inspired

The Tape Piano Ableton Live Pack is currently included with a Music Production Club membership.

If you share some of these values and want to join a community of like-minded and inspired producers, it would be great to have you as a member!

We've started a new Music Production Club challenge to "Clear the Slate" and finish some music before we start Jamuary 2023 in a couple of months.

We're also starting a new seasonal compilation of music by Club members. Add one of your tracks to the compilation and at the end of the fall (or spring for the Southerners!) we will share it with the world.

Join the Music Production Club: https://brianfunk.com/mpc

Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Reply to this email, I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks a lot for reading and for your continued support!

Have a great weekend!

Brian Funk

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