Mike Monday

Inspiration on Demand

  • Coaching Programs
  • About
  • Contact

What’s Next?

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email

This site has been my main focus for a little under a year. Since writing and releasing my third album (my first without a traditional record label) I’ve had a couple of months to decide what to do next:

Writing

I’ve come to enjoy the writing almost as much as I do the music. It gives me a break from my music composition and production “day job” and it helps me process and clarify my thinking about my work.

But while it’s been a useful personal exercise what’s more interesting to me is focussing on the value I can give you.

Over 16 years of making a living from writing electronic music has given me a wealth of experience in the areas of creativity, motivation and productivity. Thomas Edison famously said that “genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration” and after bucket loads of sweat, tears and a sprinkling of inspiration, I look back on over 250 releases and remixes and realise how much I’ve achieved. But it’s been anything but easy.

The process of creating anything – whether it be music, a web site, a painting or company is a tortuous affair. I’ve used many techniques to fight the good fight over the years and some have worked better than others. By sharing my experiences and insights I’ll help you win your daily battle.

It’s my sincere belief that in tough times the world needs us to realise our dreams. It’s natural to hunker down and play it safe when finances are tight and prospects uncertain, but the more savvy of you will turn your dreams into goals and set about achieving them. If I can help just one person do that I’ll have achieved one of mine.

Music

I’m practising what I preach with my music. 

You might assume that as a self-employed music producer I’ve followed my dreams. You’d be mistaken. I’ve felt a disconnect for some time now. 10 tracks 10 weeks was an attempt to address that, as I thought the problem was external. Releasing the album myself and writing it in public inspired me in some ways, but in hindsight I was tinkering with the process of distribution rather than addressing the source of the problem within me.

If I look back to what I loved about music when I was a kid, it was performance. I started piano at the age of 7, quickly moved onto bassoon then saxophone and played in numerous bands, choirs and orchestras. This fed my soul. I even dabbled in free improvisation at one point and (even though much of the resulting music was a racket) I loved the unexpected things that could happen in an environment of pure performance.

But I ended up producing music in a studio and over the last decade I’ve only performed as a DJ. It’s been good to me, and had amazing opportunities to travel the world DJing everywhere from Kazakhstan to Australia, but I’ve increasingly felt that something is missing.

So I’m learning a new instrument. And when I say a new instrument, I mean new not only to me, but probably) to you as well. It’s an Eigenharp Pico. It’s more than an instrument because (when I get good enough) it will allow me to both perform and compose music on the fly. I’m extremely excited about the endless possibilities that this wonderful little machine opens up.

But it’ll be some time before I can inflict any music on you because it has such a horribly steep learning curve. It’s partly the challenge that attracts me to it though, and I’ll check in occasionally with my progress.

Money

I intend to make a living from the site at some point, but at the moment my focus is on providing as much free and useful content as possible. 

As for the music, I wish I could continue to offer it for free as I did for the 10 weeks of my 10 tracks, but unfortunately Bandcamp have started charging for free downloads. 

So until I make enough money to fund free downloads my latest album will stay at the very reasonable price of £5. And if you’re curious to know what my music sounds like you can download my favourite track off the album for free.

Manifesto

The idea of creating a manifesto appeals to me. It’s been on my mind since I saw Mathew Herbert’s personal manifesto a few years ago. I’m now working on a blueprint which I’ll live (and work) by, but which will be applicable to anyone who wants to realise their creative ambitions.

Aims

  • One post every other day on the subjects of creativity, productivity and motivation. My mantra is “less is more” and I’ll say as much as I can in as few words as possible. Although I will write longer pieces (like this) when the subject matter requires it.
  • At least one studio tip a week for those interested in electronic music production.
  • Occasional updates about how I’m getting on with my little Pico project.
  • A monthly newsletter with content you won’t find anywhere else.
  • I want to be fluent enough on the Pico to start releasing new music by January 2011. And then my tentative plan is to release a new track every week when my schedule allows.
  • A creative manifesto or blueprint to be finished early next year. It’ll be of value to anyone who wants to discover what they were born to do and how to do it.
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Featured Post Tagged With: Eigenharp, Eigenharp Pico, mike monday

How can I help you?

Claude VonStroke (Dirty Bird, USA)

Mike Monday’s process has helped me enormously. I have two record labels, a heavy touring schedule, a wife and two children, and a music production career all running in tandem. There are times when it seems unmanageable and i get lost in a downward spiral that limits my effectiveness as a leader and my ability to be creative in the studio.

Whenever i have a session with Mike we talk it all out and a sense of calm comes over me. i get back to basics and work out all the things in my head that need to get worked out. His process is both calming and therapeutic.

I would also like to add that the additional fact that Mike is a music producer himself and a veteran DJ lends itself to an extra level of trust. I don’t think i would take advice or listen to someone in the same way who was from outside the music industry. In an nutshell I find Mike Monday’s process to be an extremely valuable way to organize and free my chaotic brain to do what it is supposed to be doing.

Johnson Peterson (Yolanda Be Cool)

“I found the time with Mike to be extremely beneficial. His process opened me up to ideas that, even where obvious, I had overlooked or forgotten and I am looking forward to taking them with me to the studio. It was definitely worth it.”

Janelle Palmer (Tutukaka Coast, New Zealand)

“What your course has done for me has been remarkable and I really feel so grateful to you…

Radical is a good word for it! The most unexpected thing I’ve found about the course is the impact it has had on other areas of my life – I was quite surprised about that…

These are definitely transferable skills we are learning here!”

– Janelle Palmer (Tutukaka Coast, New Zealand)

Brett Adams (Los Angeles, California)

“I already think this is one of the greatest decisions I’ve made, and we haven’t even started the curriculum yet.”

Vernon McCarthy (Wellington, New Zealand)

“I just felt inspired to send you a really quick message to say hello and let you know that I am going great guns at the moment.

Managing to get a average of two hours every day producing. This is a huge turn around for me and am loving it. It hasn’t been easy though but I have kept at it.

And much of it has been due to the help and inspiration from yourself, the group and me now actually putting in the work. The online community is such a good thing. Everytime I have gone to have a look I have found something relevant to my thoughts and that has helped me.”

Joe Roberts (London, UK)

“Mike has helped me to start living the truism that it’s not what you use to make music, it’s your ideas.

Those ideas only mean anything when you start putting them down though and that’s what this course has already helped me to start do regularly.

I’ve made more headway in two weeks than I’d managed in a couple of years on my own starting projects, then giving up and starting something new but never seeing them through till completion.”

Read more
  • Coaching Programs
  • One To One Coaching
  • Free Cheat Sheet
  • What People Are Saying

Terms of Service · Refund Policy

Copyright © 2022 Mike Monday · Log in ·

Privacy Policy