A song makers natural instinct

Of course I love the ethos of wikiloops "Global Collaboration" but I have a natural instinct to want to be the 'finisher'.
It's hard for me to leave something alone :(

I am greedy and impatient I know, but if I see a space I want to fill it and make the thing complete.
Most contributors here are generous and sharing thank goodness.

It must be the OCD in me, but seeing 'unbalanced' songs irks me!

I have a feeling other folk here may have similar instincts ???

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My 'finishing' which definitely is impulsive at times doesn't take away from the beauty of the existing template. It's just a different interpretation.

Do you and have fun.

For me, the best stuff seems to come when thoughts are left out of the process. My thoughts can't make a sound, just bitchy criticism after I record, lol.

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That's a healthy way to see it, if you worry about other musician's 'thoughts' you'd never add anything. :)

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I consider all remixes a compliment. When we inspire others to creatively act and share an honest piece of themselves, it's a very high level human interaction.

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We've gone away from my original question somehow. Do you want to be the LAST person to remix because you like to have a completed song ?

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Nah. There are other collab sites that focus more on that end game that I eventually left. I’m really driven to complete projects in my day job so perhaps I leave it there. Is it OCD or muse? I definitely have OCD but it comes more into play when mixing. Please don’t be offended the day that I hack up one of your finished songs because I hear a cool (to me) remix...

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Thanks for your input Bradford, maybe my muses have second thoughts :) If I don't like something I've done, no amount of nice compliments will convince me otherwise.

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Now I'm thinking that I've had a series of duh moments...
I was thinking that you felt like you had to 'finish' other people's tracks...

Yes, I'm sure everyone has their own standard that they consider post-worthy or not. Depending on how long I've been working on something, that standard will vary. Plenty of times I'll refuse to post something late in the evening because it doesn't seem good enough but when I re-listen to it in the morning I really like it and upload it. Trusting in your own process is a habit to encourage me thinks. I tend to listen to my tracks while driving to work and I make mental notes which seems to help me improve.

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Nah, nothing duh Bradford, I'm always interested in how people think and feel and how it affects what they do and the decisions they make.

My coping mechanism is deleting and moving away, others persevere and stick with it, whatever works best for your personality type and your innate instincts.

Nice chatting, Shamika :)

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Ive had phases.
In the beginning ,around 2015, I was just happy ressurecting tracks I thought were gems. I had a compulsion to bring others out as far as "I found this really great song and you all should hear it". It was really pure and innocent.I was also absorbed in online chemistry with other musicians here. I noticed , just like in real life, there were individuals I gravitated to more then others, and there were individuals I felt their work spoke to me or touched me while I didnt see myself collaborating with very much.

I then entered a hibernation phase, absorbing influences.

Then I morphed into a finisher for the longest time. This phase produced some epic things I feel Ive done musically.

I then entered a hibernation phase, absorbing more musical influences.

Then I morphed into a starter. I had two major songwriting stages here where I feel are some of the best , musicianship phases Ive ever went thru.

I then enetered another hibernation phase , after a massive creativity phase, of which I have disappeared off the Loops the last few month.

Now unfortunatley I find myself just wanting to fun jam with all my friends but have been guilty of failing that.
I see some new faces and voices around here that really inspire me but Ive been negligient supporting my friends. This is due to non musical distractions offline. I.E. Normal everyday life.
I do feel a third major creative phase is on the horizon but I cant force that, But when it happens...its usually pretty ferocious.

As far as OCD, At one time I was the worst at compulsive perfection as everything I do is planned, rehearsed and strategically added to the point I have ,on occasion, rehearsed a lick or line three days that I heard in my head ,that I was convinced the world needed to hear. So I would make my fingers do it on guitar or keys playing 100-1000 times until the brain accepted I could perform it.

Thats the ex studio musician discipline in me.

But at the end of the day this is my main hobby. I do it for fun. Not money anymore.
I do it because I LOVE music. At this stage I now just look to inspire others so my next "phase" is a return to just fun jamming with my friends rather then big projects here or offline which have occupied my last three years. Whether it be keyboard, guitar or drum support to their tracks.

My entire personality in real life is an enigma. I do not fit people preconceptions ever. Im aware I am and also pride myself on that,That is also my case musically I think its safe to say. So in my case...I change like a chameleon and always have. I would even go on the limb to say others notice I pull surprises quite often. Thats just me . Its not done with any effort but I dont restrict it or hold back.

I feel this place is a musical laboratory or musical sketchpad for each musician. If you are taking advantage of it, you should not be the same musician you were the previous year. Nothing should be forced, there will be mistakes and fails but overall if you are doing it with the right intentions, you should be growing and finding your own voice. A little pain goes into making that happen. Thats okay here.

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Hello LittleWing, nice to meet you. I can identify with so many things you say there. I had a long hiatus from wikiloops (not sure why) I never wanted money so much as to find a few people who were affected or moved by what I produced - but I realised on most indie sites the listeners were musicians with their own agendas.... I don't think it's like that here, maybe because the demographic is different with more mature, experienced music makers having sympathetic ears and a laid back, genuine attitude to caring and sharing :)

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i like being a starter, a contributor, a passenger on the vessel.

back when i played in a band, i was probably more into "finishing" my parts. here on the loops, i feel like it's a big jamfest, with opportunities to grow and learn. lots of great people here are willing to share their knowledge as well. my songs, if i would even call them that, are more like ideas and jams, for fun, usually inspired by others here on the loops.

Bradford said something interesting "I tend to listen to my tracks while driving to work and I make mental notes which seems to help me improve." I do the same, listening and making note of what i did wrong, or what i feel like i should of done, or could of added, once you hear a more complete song with adds from others. it's just another way to improve and learn.

the data and analytical side of me has me curious now. of all the templates (1st posts) on the loops, what's the percentage break down for the "instrument"? is the majority of starters guitar players? drummers? i would doubt vocalists start tracks with just singing and no music, hoping for the music to surround the words. although, that's always a great challenge, to build a song around some singing :) maybe, in general, vocalists are aligned more with "finishing" tracks?? who knows, my mind just wants to see the data now :):D

and for the record, i believe Joe (LittleWing) has also morphed into a teacher, as he's shared lots of great recording info and details with me <3

cheers and have fun!

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Good points Nick! You're right, it is likely that a singer (like me) would want to put the final stamp on a mix.
I've tried singing a couple of verses and leaving gaps but I always want to come back an stick in a chorus or some voice-overs :)

About Bradford and yourself getting inspiration, with me it always seems to be just one phrase I hear... on wikiloops it's usually the title that gets me running to my poetry files - however lately I've been writing the lyrics there and then like the one I just uploaded Fistral Bay 1959 after reading what Bluvation had written

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I'm unsure what defines a "finisher". I've been known to add a melody/lead into a jam or an accompaniment or backing vox and I guess all could be called a type of "finishing". But then again another player adds something after me and that's "finishing". For me, it's adding to the greater whole that provides the satisfaction and not my position in the overall musical workflow.

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totally awesome Shamika and i get the 'finishing' aspect. that final stamp, to mark it complete and be proud of the product, totally understandable. vocals usually are that finishing piece, giving the song meaning and setting a mood/tone/etc. i think it's cool you have that instinct and desire to do that <3:W

sounds like you are enjoying the loops and that's always cool to hear as well! keep on jamming! :):W:Y

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Yes my feeling is the main factor to choose track and collaborate. But trying always to have room for others. This is an naturally driven process i beleave. ;)

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I think I went through all phases of contributing on the Loops, from just adding a bit of rhythm, to adding solos, starting templates, finishing templates, completely re-mixing and modifying a track and finally organising a complete concept album including composing adding arranging mixing finishing arguing crying giving up restarting and any other possible thing in between :D And it was only possible because of the unique conditions here at Wikiloops.

At the end of the day, whatever you want to get from your music you can get it here on Wikiloops, other than money and fame.

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Oh TeeGee, sounds like you suffered for your art.... but it all paid off in the end. A large portfolio of great songs and an even larger community of great friends, include me :)

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I'm not an accomplished musician and I'm lazy so I like to start things and see what happens, it's always good, always interesting and most often surprising.

I like mixing things too sometimes. Occasionally I try and add but it's hard because I never practice and hardly ever play my instrument so I'm clumsy. For example I haven't played my one instrument, a guitar, for at least two months.

Still, I love it here, I LOVE it. There's space for everyone and in my opinion there can not be bad music, it's impossible. <3

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I've spent years on 4 different online music sites since 2013. This is by far the most comfortable place to hang out and do my thing. Feeling safe to experiment and share is super important if not mandatory.

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