On making music

Making music is reasonably one of the greatest things you can do. I don’t say that because making music is cool. It sure is, but that doesn’t really matter. Nor do I believe that we start making music for the sake of being famous or being signed on a record label. Of course, being signed changes everything. We feel super happy, proud, grateful if someone ever recognizes our talent, our sound, ourselves.

Ourselves… That is what truly matters when making music. The first reason why we start making music is for ourselves. In my case, this started around 2001-2002. I really got into rap and the whole Hip-Hop culture at that time. Little did I know how taking that deep dive would impact the rest of my life.

As I was listening to my newly beloved musical genre, I started to feel the urge to do something myself. I wanted to rap. I needed to rap. I couldn’t just listen to it. I had to be a part of it. I remember spending hours at my desk listening to Nas, Wu-Tang and Jay-Z while writing. The beats they had were so inspiring to me. I wrote my own version of Girls, Girls, Girls and of Nas Is Like.

Hip-Hop E Jay interface

My main issue was that I didn’t have any instrumentals or beats to rap and record my raps over after writing my songs. One day, while making my Christmas list gift, I discovered what I was missing. Hip-Hop EJay! Hip-Hop EJay was a software filled with loops that you could put together to make beats. Thanks to that Christmas gift, I was able to make beats. Fast forward 20 years later, even though I do not rap anymore, I still make music. Electronic music that I infuse with a lot of… Blackness. More about that another time.

If you are wondering if you should start making music, the answer is yes. Plus, a lot of software developers offer free trials to help you get started. For that reason alone, I feel like everyone should try making music. See how it goes. We have all learned to draw as kids. Whether it is something that we wish to pursue as adults or not is entirely up to us. Unfortunately, we do not teach making music the same way, which is a shame. This is why I urge you to give it a try. You may love it. You may hate it. In either case, you would’ve tried it. This is important. Trying out new things. This can shape you into becoming your full self.

I also realise that what I love most about making music is the actual process of making music. Being in the zone and vibing to a track I am making is a great feeling. When that happens, I feel empowered. Because making music is a great way to explore your inner self without needing to put words on it. You can but don’t have too. This is why I really want you to try making music. Not playing music, but making music. Creating your own. If not music, draw, paint, take pictures, write stories. Do something creative or artistic. As long as you remain true to your self. And if you do not know who you are, it’s ok, because, sooner or later, you will find out.

✌🏾

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