I send weekly letters about composing, creative fulfillment, and making art that truly feels like you. If youâre tired of tips and ready for something deeper, I'd love for you to join us.
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Make music from the heartânot your head.
How to get your imagination back
When's the last time you thought about that word: "imagination"?
For me, it had been years.
Ironic, I know - a composer forgetting how to tap into his imagination. But I think there's something deeper happening here, because many artists I talk to these days are experiencing the same thing:
Artis...
by Zach Heyde â
Oct 15, 2024
creativity
motivation
How to make your music cohesive
A few weeks back, I ran a poll on YouTube asking subscribers if they've ever wanted to write an album of their own.
The results were interesting...
... but even more interesting were the reasons why they hadn't started yet.
One answer in particular stood out to me:
"I have no idea how to go abo...
Oct 08, 2024
creativity
"Making music feels like a waste of time"
Why is it so hard to make art for ourselves these days?
This is a question I've been asking myself ever since working on my new dark fantasy album.
Last week, I shared a little bit about the recent struggles I faced and how I worked through them in order to start writing music fo...
Oct 01, 2024
creativity
motivation
I'm making music for myself again... đ¶
It's official - I'm working on a new album.
On my YouTube channel, I started a new series where I'll be sharing the process of writing this album in real-time, week by week.
But I began the series by touching on a creative block that's stopped me from making composing vidoes for ...
Sep 24, 2024
creativity
health
motivation
The power of physical art-making đš
I've fallen in love with a typewriter.
(Let me explain.)
It all started last week when, during a craving for creative inspiration, my wife and I popped into a local thrift shop in Pasadena looking for some vintage decor.
We found an old pipe, an antique piano roll, some aged candle tapers, and - ...
by Zach Heyde â
Sep 17, 2024
creativity
When's the last time you REALLY listened? đ§
How long since you've done nothing but sit and listen to music for longer than five minutes?
đČ No phone or book in hand.
đ No car ride or public transport to keep you busy.
đ§č No cleaning the house, taking a walk, or getting work done.
Just simply sitting and listening.
Believe it or not, until ...
by Zach Heyde â
Sep 10, 2024
creativity
Stop looking for your niche (do this instead) đ
At some point in your composing career, someone will tell you:
"Get really good at just one thing, and you'll be able to stick out above the crowd."
But that usually leaves with us with more questions - not less.
How do we know what to specialize in?
What if specializing too early is limiting ...
by Zach Heyde â
Sep 03, 2024
finding work
marketing
Three tips for staying creatively motivated đȘ
â€ïžâđ„ Protect Your Passion for Composing
Â
Lots of composers are afraid to make music full-time.
Not because they donât love it enough - because theyâre afraid that doing it for a living would mean that theyâd fall OUT of love it it.
And I get it.
Iâve met many working composers wh...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 27, 2024
health
motivation
How to promote your music organically đŁ
Last month, I heard from a reader asking about the best way to get his new album heard.
He wrote:
âI donât think my problem is the music itself but rather the marketing. I really feel that I have something pretty unique⊠whatâs the best way to promote a soundtrack album?â
I get questions like t...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 20, 2024
marketing
Perfection is paralyzing you đ„¶
Letâs face it - most of us have a ton of cool ideas that weâre not acting on.
Sometimes, weâre overwhelmed at the sheer amount of energy itâll take to bring those ideas to life.
But as it turns out, whether theyâre sitting in your head or being brought to life, those ideas are using up energy eit...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
creativity
Don't be afraid to change paths đŁïž
The YouTube algorithm has been throwing some pretty awesome stuff my way recently.
Last week, I got recommended an uncut, 40+ minute video from an ex-neurosurgeon sharing why he left a high-paying, stable job to be completely unemployed, living with his wife and dog in the mountains.
...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
finding work
health
Shame isn't serving you đ
Iâve been listening to Tony Robbinâs acclaimed âPersonal Powerâ tapes during my weekly jogs.
Around 30:28, Tony asks a question thatâd stump most parents:
âHow long would you give your average baby to learn how to walk before youâd give up on them?â
Confused?
Exactly - most parents would never ...
by Zach Heyde â
Aug 13, 2024
health
motivation