Recording anxiety 🙃

[GodPlayedBass]

I'll share a perspective of mine that I've heard expressed in a variety of ways by "songwriters", some of whom I play with, paraphrased in my words.

Songs have an existence of their own in some sense - they can be out there, waiting to come into the world and be heard. They will choose the person most appropriate to express them.

You have developed as a musician to the point where some songs have chosen you. Respect them, accept them, play them, let everyone hear them.

Wow this is exactly what I needed to hear ! Thank you

 

[bass12]

I'd say what you're feeling is entirely normal. If you're having doubts about what others might think regarding your material, I'd say two things: 1) let that be motivation to make your compositions as strong as you can; 2) the world needs more original art. If you're contributing something truly original then that's a great thing. Not everyone will like it - especially not at first - but that's always the case with new and unique art. Be a trail blazer and be proud.

 

[srosenthal13]

Lots of good advice. Here's my two pennies.....

In my experience, dealing with the anxiety of recording comes down to two things, and how to deal with them:

Performance and Ideas.

First goal: Get yourself to a place where you can honestly and objectively critique your performance. Don't beat yourself up, but don't ignore issues.

A suggestion for working on that is to take Ideas out of the equation. Instead of recording your composition, use a music-minus-one app and record yourself playing some songs you like and are in your technical wheelhouse.

Grab a notepad and make two columns, "What I Did Well" and "What Needs Work." (Always start with the positive.)

You have two goals, honing your objectivity and working on getting stuff from column B into column A.

Once you get to a point where you can listen to yourself comfortably and objectively, it's time to move on to Ideas.

Start recording your compositions. If you're now able to be objective about your performance, you're going to have an easier time hearing your ideas for what they are without the distraction of how you played on any given take.

Use the same type of analysis for your composition: What's good, what needs work?

Lather, rinse, repeat.

This has worked for me, but everyone is different. Hopefully you find something useful in there.

 

[_jojo_bass]

OH man I hear ya. When I started playing sessions, I absolutely hated how I would sound on top of whatever I was working on. Even with peoples kind words, that almost made it worse. It took a while, but the best thing you can do is keep recording yourself. Its a cycle that eventually ends with no barriers. You'll hate it at first, then you'll learn to care a little less, be a little less precious about it, and eventually be able to look at what you critically in a creative way with much less attachment till you start to enjoy the process. Record somethin every day and listen back to it. Its a growth spurt and everyone goes through that

 

[GodPlayedBass]

thanks for all the support guys

 

[retslock]

I've been wanting to do a solo bass album. Just some classical pieces I've written over the years. Problem is when I go to record them I get the biggest fit of imposter syndrome. I don't expect anyone to really like the project because it's just weird bass music, but I still want to put the project out. Maybe it's just all in my head? Any advice?

Acknowledgement and acclaim are nice but are they why we do it? I write music and have for years but I do it for me. I enjoy the process and I’m a creative person. Some of it is good and some, probably most, is not so good. I don’t care. I’ll always do it because it’s part of who I am whether the world hears it or cares about it. Record your music because it’s yours not because the world should hear it. I imagine since the coming of digital recording systems, that all over the world bedrooms and home studios are full of amazing music being made that the world will never hear. It doesn’t matter. People are doing it and that’s what matters.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I've been wanting to do a solo bass album. Just some classical pieces I've written over the years. Problem is when I go to record them I get the biggest fit of imposter syndrome. I don't expect anyone to really like the project because it's just weird bass music, but I still want to put the project out. Maybe it's just all in my head? Any advice?

My strategy to this is to get myself in the zone. Ever play sports like football? Where if you’re flat footed you’ll get knocked on your butt the first play for the game? When I played football we’d stretch and then get hyped. I basically take the same approach to getting in the zone when recording. Anxiety goes away when you get to a place in your head where you feel like you can conquer the world.