Bringing your song to life with a producer is an incredibly fun part of the music creation process. This is where you get to combine your creativity with someone who has an outside perspective and experience that will bring life to your vision. Here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of this experience:
1. Start with the positives.
Begin by letting your producer know where they are nailing your vision and what you like about it (Ex: I love the guitars in the chorus, The synth part on the bridge is really cool). This enforces the direction that they should continue in.
2. It’s ok to express your vision in feelings.
Sometimes you may not know exactly how to put into words what you want to hear, but you know how you want it to make you feel. That’s music! Feel free to let them know the feeling or emotion you’re going for (Ex: I want the chorus to feel “hopeful”, I hear the verse being “lonely”, the outro should be “chaotic”). But keep in mind this may take a few tries for you and your producer to get on the same page, just be patient and kind!
3. Trust your producer.
Remember that you hired this person for a reason. They have years of experience and knowledge on how to get your song to the finish line. Trusting them will show that you value their expertise and will make for a much smoother collaborative process. You likely hired this person because you love the music they’ve made, trust that!
4. Keep your mind and hands open.
I know as the artist there is a tendency to think of your song as your “baby”, and therefore are often closed off to new ideas. Your producer only wants the best for your baby too! By not holding on to your idea too tightly you open up countless possibilities for your song to thrive in ways you may not have thought about. It’s always ok to say “No, I don’t think I like that idea”, but make sure you give it a try first!
5. Be specific with feedback.
It’s very helpful when you can pinpoint something you like or don’t like (Ex: The pad that comes in at 1:15 is great, the drums that start at 0:15 are a little too aggressive). If you’re able to let your producer know the kind of instruments/sounds you want then do so! Don’t feel bad if you’re not able to articulate what you want, just do your best.
