Lesson 3: The 4 Whys

"I'm making this album to get loads of record sales, press and gigs."

☝️ that was why I made my second album in 2008.

This goal led to the worst album I ever made.

Why?

Apart from the fact that it ignores the most important reasons for making an album...

(...more on that later...)

Look at it again and notice how much direct CONTROL I had over each outcome.

Record sales
Press
Gigs

None of these are directly in my control.

Of course, if I made a killer album, I may have got sales, press and gigs.

But what's the point of a goal like that?

OF COURSE, I want to make a great album!
No one sets out to make a bad one.
Deciding to make an album at all equals wanting to make a good one.

In other words, it's a pointless goal.

DOH.

When you decide to work on a big project like an album (or 10-12 tracks), identify the "REASONS WHY" you're doing it.

And make sure that most of these reasons are within your control.

These "whys" will help you make decisions, stay focused, and sustain motivation, increasing your chances of making a much better album.

Here are the 4 different "why?" s to get clear on:

1. GROWTH

This is the most compelling reason for me to make albums.

That's why my goal is to make four this year.

I've noticed that I make 10 times the progress when I finish albums.

So ask yourself:

"What kind of musician, songwriter, composer or producer do I want to become?"

Then:

"What album can I make in the next 3 months that would help me get there?'

Because the process of making an album is a golden opportunity to become the musician you want to be.

2. PURPOSE

Define the Purpose to help you make decisions and stay more objective.

For example, if I'm expressing "the first time I met my wife", would I choose a distorted screaming acid line playing augmented 4ths?

No. That's what I'd choose if I was expressing our marriage today after 20 long years together...

(LOL - kidding. 🥰)

Purpose cuts down the options you can choose between.
Plus - it makes it simpler to choose between options.

Think about this now:

How do you know X is better than Y when making a song?

It's usually simple to choose which option better expresses a Purpose.

But without Purpose, here's what you're left with:

Feelings: "Which option do I LIKE more?"
As you know, your feelings change. This is a recipe for going around in circles.

Genre: "Which option fits the genre I'm making?"
Do you want to make generic music?

Technical: "Which option is technically correct?"
If this was the best way of making music, then your music teachers, lecturers and professors would be top artists.

Function: "Which option is likely to make people...[e.g. dance]?"
While Function is essential (see below), do you want to make purely functional music?

If you want to be an artist, defining the Purpose of your project and the songs within it is a must.

3. FUNCTION

If the Purpose is the "internal" reason the music exists...
Then, the Function is the "external" reason outside of the music.

Who is listening to your music, where, and for what reason?

For example, a Function of my albums is to illustrate the concepts, methods and principles to help the musicians in my Make an Album With Mike program.

If you make club music, the primary Function of your music is "to make people dance in a club."

The Function of your music is another way to make decisions.

4. GOAL

The aim I shared at the top of this email is an example of a Goal:

"I'm making this album to get loads of record sales, press and gigs."

They are the external results you want from the release of the project.

IMPORTANT:

This kind of goal might motivate you to get started...
But once you have started, you must ignore it while making music.

What people will think...
Whether it will get plays...
Is it a hit...

Are ALL results you cannot know before it's released.

(If you think you can - are you a mind reader or oracle?)

These concerns distort the creative process.
They send you into an endless spin of second-guessing and self-doubt.

(Watch the Lewis Capaldi Netflix documentary for a particularly excruciating example.)

So, by all means, think about what you'd like to happen before you start.

But then?

Forget about it - and simply make the music.
Focusing on the 3 other "Why?"s I've shared.

Because when you focus on the "WHYs" you can control?
You’ll make much better music.

Onwards & upwards,

Mike

"WHY gives you what to do when."

P.S. This is lesson 3 of a mini-course called:

Album Alchemy:

How to finish more quality music in 3 months than you usually do in 1 year. Here's all the lessons:

Lesson 1...
Lesson 2...
Lesson 3...‍
Lesson 4...‍
Lesson 5...