Expand Your Bag of Production Tricks

It can be easy to get into a rut when producing in your home studio, so it's always a good idea to try and seek inspiration from listening to the music of others. I suggest keeping a notebook (or a notebook app on your phone, if you prefer) on hand to write down the bits and pieces you find catching your ear when you're checking out other artists. Starting a new track? Pull out your iPod, throw it into shuffle and listen to the first three songs that come up. See if there is something in each one that you can apply to the new track. Maybe it's a drum fill you want to emulate, or the way the track uses reverb, or an unusual type of vocal, etc., etc. Whatever it is, see if it's something you can work into your new track. Sometimes we get too focused in working on our own music, we forget to take the time to listen to the work of others. Start every time you go into the studio doing this, and you may find yourself being a lot more productive and inspired.