I have been producing music professionally for over 10 years. Even now, when I hear an incredibly polished piece of music, my imposter syndrome, insecurity and anxiety kick in and I think, “How on earth did they do that?

I then worry about my own abilities and look back at my work as if it were the accomplishments of a small child with a xylophone.

That is the effect of only sharing professionally polished pieces of music. It makes you think that the polish, the final mix, the master, are all that matter.

That is not the case.

The writing is all that matters. The constant chasing of great mixes/masters can often blind us to what really matters to us as music makers - writing great music.

A great song is a great song whether the recording is clipping or not. A little bit of phasing is not going to put me off a great hook. And conversely, a great mix is not going to convince me that poor writing is any better.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and a place for these finished products but for most of us, myself included, it always comes back down to the quality of the writing.

So, to practice what I preach I have been releasing music 2-3 times per week as a way to improve my flow and to untrain years of chasing better mixes.

I want to capture a vibe, a feeling, something raw and special - the demo. That’s what this week’s episode is all about.

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