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GarageBand Hacks: Creating Professional-Sounding Tracks Without Expensive Plugins

October 1, 2024

GarageBand is often seen as an entry-level DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but it has powerful tools that, when used effectively, can create professional-quality tracks. Many indie musicians and...

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Solving the General MIDI Program Change Dilemma in Ableton

October 1, 2024

When working with MIDI in Ableton, one might notice that although MIDI clips can send program changes, most of Ableton's native plugins don’t seem to respond to these changes effectively. This can...

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Escaping 'Tutorial Hell': Stay Motivated and Actually Progress in Music Production

September 21, 2024

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Should You Write Music or Lyrics First? Solutions from Famous Creators

September 20, 2024

One of the most common challenges for songwriters is deciding whether to write the music or lyrics first. This can feel like a "chicken-or-egg" situation, but there's no one-size-fits-all answer...

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How to Plan the Perfect Release Day for Your Single or Album

September 20, 2024

Releasing a new single or album is a huge milestone for any musician. However, without proper planning, your work may not get the attention it deserves. It’s not just about putting the song online...

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Mastering the Low End: Compression Tips for a Tight Mix

September 20, 2024

When it comes to music production, getting the low end right can be tricky. Many producers face a common issue: after the initial mix sounds perfect, a few days later, the low end starts to feel...

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How to Turn a Bedroom into a Professional Home Studio on a Budget

September 19, 2024

For many aspiring musicians, the dream of creating a professional-quality home studio seems out of reach due to costs and space constraints. However, with the right strategies and tools, it's...

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Remote Music Collaboration: Tools and Tips for Seamless Production

September 18, 2024

Collaborating on music remotely has become more common, but as you’ve experienced, it can be a challenge to get it right. Audio latency, control sensitivity, and lack of real-time feedback are...

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How to Build a Loyal Fanbase Using Social Media in 2024

September 18, 2024

In today’s digital age, building a loyal fanbase is essential for musicians to thrive. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for connecting directly with fans, sharing music, and...

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Best Apps and Websites for Creating Instrumentals When You Don’t Play Instruments

September 18, 2024

As a songwriter, it can be frustrating to have melodies or lyrics in your head but no way to bring them to life without instrumental skills. Thankfully, with modern technology, there are apps and...

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How to Match Chords to Your Singing – Overcoming the Struggle

September 18, 2024

Creating music often feels like an intricate puzzle. You might have a melody that you love, but when it comes to pairing it with chords, you feel stuck. If you're in this situation, you're not alone.

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The Top 10 Free Tools Every Indie Musician Needs to Succeed

September 18, 2024

As an indie musician, creating professional music while sticking to a budget can be challenging. You might not have the resources to afford high-end software or pay for expensive marketing...

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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.