FM 30 DAY EP WORKSHOP

Creativity is hard sometimes. For music makers there are no shortage of potential roadblocks on the way to finishing a new project. For some people that might come at the start, as a paralysis of choice sets in when confronted with an empty DAW and a wealth of potential tools and influences. For others, the hardest part comes later, when it’s time to turn those initial ideas into a fully realised arrangement. Whether you can relate to either of these situations or not, it’s a rare thing to find a producer or musician who has never encountered some kind of creative stumbling block – and that’s why our 30 day workshop is here to help.

What we’re not going to do this issue is tell you exactly how to write or produce your tracks. You can find plenty of specific genre, instrument and mixing tutorials in previous issues of FM, or online at our sister site MusicRadar.com. But no two readers’ aims and influences are going to be identical, so there’s no point in us trying to tell you exactly what type of beat to sequence or what key your bassline should be in.

What we are aiming to do is provide a structured workflow, ideas for overcoming common creative roadblocks and a guide to writing, recording and releasing electronic music. Whether you’re starting a new project and want to work on your first release, or an established music maker looking for a way to shake up your process, we hope you’ll find some fresh ideas and approaches over the next few pages.

Why a three-track EP? We wanted to aim for something achievable but still substantial in our 30 day window. We’ve tried to offer a few different approaches at each stage, and working on three tracks at once allows you to try a few different ideas. That said though, there’s nothing here that can’t be scaled up or down. If you’re short on time, aim for a single track. Want to challenge yourself more? Why not try a full album? Whatever feels right for you.