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What Is the Point of Mastering If the Mix Is Good? A Guide to Understanding Mastering's Role

August 26, 2024

For many newer producers, it can be confusing to understand the importance of mastering, especially when your mix feels polished and balanced. However, mastering is an essential step in the...

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Write a Vocal Melody That Stands Out: Tips for Phrasing and Dynamics

August 25, 2024

If you’ve been writing music for a decade but are just starting to dive into vocal melodies, you’re not alone in facing challenges with phrasing and creating vocal dynamics that don’t feel repetitive.

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Add FX and Ear Candy to Your Tracks: Tips for Taking Your Sketch to the Next Level

August 23, 2024

Adding FX and ear candy can feel like a daunting task, especially when you start to overthink the process. However, these little details are often what bring a track to life, adding depth, excitement.

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Recreate a Vocal Stutter Effect Like Skrillex: A Step-by-Step Guide

August 21, 2024

If you’ve just stepped into the world of music production, vocal stutters can be a fun and impactful technique to add excitement and energy to your tracks. You’ve heard that fast vocal stutter at...

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Get a Great Sounding Synth: The Deadmau5 Approach

August 21, 2024

If you’ve been experimenting with synthesizers, you know the quest for a perfect synth sound can be a challenging but rewarding process. Whether you’re looking for something clean yet huge, or...

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Make Music Again: Overcoming Creative Burnout Like Pharrell Williams

August 21, 2024

Hey there, fellow music creators! Whether you’re balancing a day job, DJ gigs, and music production, or just feeling creatively stuck, you’re not alone. Many of us hit a wall at some point, where...

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Master Your Craft as a Beatmaker: The J Dilla Way

August 21, 2024

In this article, we’ll explore the most efficient ways to master your creative process as a beatmaker, and how you can learn from one of the most respected producers in the game: J Dilla.

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Bumbershoot Festival 2024: A Creative Celebration in Seattle

August 8, 2024

This Labor Day weekend, Bumbershoot Arts and Music Festival returns to Seattle Center from August 31 to September 1, 2024. With a rich history spanning over 50 years, Bumbershoot continues to be a...

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Ohana Festival 2024: A Must-Attend Event for Music Creators

August 8, 2024

As the summer winds down and the crisp autumn air begins to roll in, music enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating one of California’s premier music festivals. The Ohana Festival, set to take place...

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Desert Daze 2024: A Creative Oasis for Music Enthusiasts

August 8, 2024

As the vibrant hues of summer give way to the golden tones of fall, the anticipation for one of California’s most eclectic music festivals begins to build. This October, the 2024 Desert Daze music...

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How to Create a Joyful Song Like "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

July 24, 2024

Creating a song that radiates joy and energy, much like Pharrell Williams' hit "Happy," is an exciting challenge for any music creator. Whether you're a seasoned producer or just starting out...

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Why Nas' Illmatic Deserves the Top Spot: Rap Lyricism at its Finest

July 17, 2024

Nas’ debut album, Illmatic, has been crowned the greatest rap album of all time by Billboard, and for good reason. Celebrated for its lyrical brilliance and profound storytelling, Illmatic set...

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Writer's Block is Real, Even for J.Cole: Here are 8 Tips to Overcome

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NME

Rapper J. Cole has recently announced that he had been struggling with writer's block, but found a way to break free from it by using a type beat from Youtube music producer BVTMAN's YouTube channel.  As a result, the song ‘Procrastination’ was made and released exclusively on BVTMAN’s Youtube channel.

A type beat is an instrumental track that has a specific sound or style associated with a particular artist.  Usually the type beats are tagged with a famous artists name ie. Drake Type Beat, Kendrick Lamar Type Beat, or J.Cole Type Beat etc.  

Producers often make type beats, because it allows listeners to imagine what it would sound like if the artist they are referencing rapped or sang on that track.  It is very rare that the actual artist they are referencing would search for their own type beat and use it.  But this is exactly what happened when J.Cole was searching for inspiration and out of curiosity typed ‘J.Cole Type Beats’ on Youtube.  The first beat that came up was BVTMAN’s, and J.Cole focussed in and wrote a song.

Linchpinmusic

J.Cole was so thankful for this, he allowed BVTMAN to post the completed song entitled ‘Procrastination’ on his Youtube channel, and wrote a  heartfelt message on his Instagram:

"This song should live on your channel and serve as a thank you to you and every producer out there cooking up and sharing their work with the world," the message from Cole reads. "It’s a million artists out there right now just like me, hungry and searching every day for something to spark a word, a melody, a hook, a verse, a punchline, a way to vent, or a way to cut through...On a day when I couldn’t find much motivation, I was looking for anything to inspire me. Out of curiosity, I typed in J. Cole type beat into YouTube. Yours was the first I saw. I pressed play, focused, and wrote this."

Link: J. Cole type beat

8 Tips to Help Overcome Writer's Block

Writing Music can be a challenging task, and writer's block can make it even more difficult. Writer's block is a common experience for many writers, and it can be caused by a variety of factors such as lack of inspiration, fear of failure, or even physical and emotional exhaustion. However, there are several strategies that you can use to overcome writer's block and get back to writing.

  1. Take a break: Sometimes, the best way to overcome writer's block is to simply step away from your writing for a little while. Go for a walk, read a book, or do something else that you enjoy. This can help to refresh your mind and recharge your batteries, making it easier to return to your writing with renewed energy and inspiration.
  2. Change your environment: Sometimes, a change of scenery can help to break the monotony and stimulate your creativity. Try working in a different room or location, or even a coffee shop or library. The change of environment can help to stimulate your senses and get your creative juices flowing.
  3. Free-write: Free-writing is a technique where you write whatever comes to mind, without worrying about grammar, spelling, or structure. This can help to get your thoughts flowing and release any pent-up ideas or emotions that may be contributing to your writer's block.
  4. Try brainstorming: Sometimes, writer's block is caused by a lack of ideas. Try brainstorming as a way to generate new ideas for your writing. Write down any thoughts, ideas, or phrases that come to mind, no matter how seemingly insignificant. This can help to spark new ideas and jump-start your writing.
  5. Read: reading can help to expand your vocabulary and expose you to different writing styles. It can also help to stimulate your imagination and give you new ideas for your own writing.
  6. Get feedback: Sometimes, writer's block is caused by a lack of confidence in your writing. Getting feedback from others can help to boost your confidence and give you a fresh perspective on your work.
  7. Set yourself a goal: Having a goal to reach or a deadline to meet can help to motivate you and keep you on track. Set yourself a goal or a deadline to meet, and make a plan to achieve it.
  8. Reward yourself: Finally, remember to reward yourself for your progress. Give yourself a treat or a reward for meeting your goals or for making progress on your writing. This can help to keep you motivated and make the process of overcoming writer's block more enjoyable.