Yes, believe it or not, you COULD. And when you believe you could? That's when you start solving problems!

You don't have to believe in yourself when you believe in growth...

87 songs in, and I'm still not Splurging lyrics? What's going on? And why must I get this sorted pronto?

How might a famous Victorian novelist release an album?

I often get particular feedback about my first album (completed as part of The Album podcast) compared to my second album. While I agree with the feedback about the result, when you take into account the context for me as a developing artist, it makes little sense.

I said I was "in crisis" last time... But that was nothing compared to what's happened this week.

The last few days of attempting to finish my album have been challenging. Time for a crisis meeting...

Many musicians consider obstacles a "reason not to do it"... But this is the wrong way around. Almost any obstacle is a "reason to do it"...

In this "Album Alchemy" mini-course so far, I've shared 4 steps to making more quality music in the next 3 months than you usually do in 1 year.Today, I'll give you the final (crucial) piece of the puzzle.

👇 The first clue...No matter how hard I tried, I could NEVER hit my personal deadlines. I could when someone else was waiting...But not if I was the only one waiting!

"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...

What seems more achievable? “You must complete a quality album in 3 months.” OR “I’m challenging you to do 50 sessions in the next 25 days.” The second is a target you can focus on because...

This weekend, we are already one quarter through 2024...How much music have you made so far? If your answer is less than: "What I'd hoped for at the start of the year, Mike!"...here's a treat for you.

If I had to choose just one single reason I make albums, there's no competition:I make albums to GROW. So finishing my album is the ideal opportunity to turbo charge this growth...

The album I'm finishing right now is the 7th in my career. (It's the 3rd I'm finishing alongside this podcast.) And so far, I do not doubt that my 2nd album (made in 2008) was the worst by far, in almost every way. Even though, on the surface, it might seem that conditions were IDEAL for it to be my best...

Oh dear. I didn't work on my album for 13 days! This is an ideal opportunity to learn something...

"I know I must do this marketing stuff; it's a necessary evil." Everything around releasing your music (marketing, promotion, etc.) is NOT a necessary "evil". It is a necessary step in the creative process. But not one you want to bring into the studio. Or one you want to view as being different from your music. If that sounds contradictory listen to this episode...

"Why would I bother releasing my music if no one's there to hear it?" This is a classic case of "chicken-or-eggitis"...

If you know you can't meet a personal deadline ahead of time, do you force it "because you said you would," or is there a better option?

Even if you're not a singer/songwriter - listen to this one. It explodes one of the most dangerous myths that is rife among musicians.

One of the toughest challenges for any creator is avoiding getting lost in the weeds...at the same time as focusing on the details! So, how do you keep your focus on the big picture while also making sure you're making the highest quality music you can?

So far, my Drafting Challenge has been like wading through MUD. That must mean there's an unmade decision to uncover...

My name is Mike and I'm a perfectionist.But I'm not the only one. Today, I'm talking to another recovering perfectionist about where it comes from, how it destroys the creative process, and how to recover from it.

Today, we will have a conversation about the downside of quantity - which is also an upside.This is the reason why (while it's frustrating at the time) I'm HAPPY to create an avalanche of crap songs...

Now I've completed 34 songs, I can see how this goal of 1000 songs in 1000 days could become relatively simple to complete...