Here's where I'm at in my musical endeavors:
- I have world-class equipment (a Nord Stage 3 among other things) that has radically changed my perception of sound, which is both a good and a bad thing. The positive is I'm becoming much more precise and subtle, and the negative is I'm often distracted by the new depth of sound and technology
- I'm aware of when I feel inclined to practice, when I feel inclined to compose, and when I feel inclined to improv and have fun
- I crave novelty and variety more than consistency
As a result, my current strategy is to build a library of simple patterns, like a chord progression, a melody, a beat, a specific sound.
When I feel inclined to practice, I'll choose a key and find a pattern to repeat and explore. Maybe I'll change the sound or the tempo, and explore that pattern. Maybe I add a layer, which branches into its own pattern. I also do this with lyrics.
Over time, I expect that many of these patterns will converge into actual tracks. It's happening already - I'll combine some lyrics with a melody and a beat and suddenly I'm inspired to create more layers.
I'm in no rush to produce or publish anything; I have only a handful of hours a week set aside for music. But I know those hours are well spent, and in the future, I know I will continue to grow and develop as a musician and a writer. At that point I'll certainly experience the inevitable loop of "is this good enough to publish?"
And once I reach that point I suppose I'll release a Christmas song and probably call it "my antithesis."