Checking in with all the Trance Producers on here...

[GeorD]

My production journey is in a spot where I actively need to make time for it, but time can be made quite easily. As a hobbyist I only make music therapeutically, so I only spend time producing when I want an outlet these days. It certainly increases the quality, but it means my production mood is sporadic and comes in waves. I make about two tracks in a year. I'm not complaining, I've let go of every drive for commercial success and it's brought a deeper level of satisfaction. I focus on one large project, incorporate my current struggles and experiences, I reflect on the emotions when I finish a track, take a break from production and then when I feel a need to express I start conceptualizing the next one. I've accepted that the joy for me lies in long and complex tracks in stead of a higher quantity. I'm currently working on a release with a few people I highly respect who have much more DJ and studio experience than me, so that is exciting and educational. It's taking its sweet time, but that is fine if our only goal is to be satisfied.

So yea, carving my niche slowly, exploring where I want. The total freedom is intoxicating, but it relies on emotional fuel. I'm progressively getting more sick of the modern soulless scene and I heavily lean towards the Somatic Sense era these days. I know most people here tend to see that era as already a part of the decline of Trance, but to me it's the peak of the genre. And it's nice that a few people here agree.

 

[Altair]

I think it's safe to say I'm experiencing some soft burnout from my job nowadays. I work online customer service, and there has been a LOT of pressure on us to keep our KPIs high - especially on me, as I was previously underperforming in a few areas. Thankfully that's no longer the case, but I have to hit these KPIs consistently for a period of a month or more before management can recommend me to a different role in my company - which is my goal, as I'm trying to break out of 3.5 years of customer service and broaden my resumé.

But even though I haven't been objectively lacking any free time, I guess I feel spiritually exhausted by this. I often don't have the energy to open up Ableton and work on anything, and I haven't done any DJing even in my bedroom since New Years (vs. last year where I had five live gigs!). I feel ashamed of not living up to the type of musician I want to be, much less the type of person I want to be in general, but somedays it's hard just to keep going with my daily cycle of go to work and come home. ADHD and autism also adds more difficulty to this - it's so much easier to just waste time online rather than muster the activation energy required to do things like make music.

At the very least, I can say that I managed to lose almost thirty pounds over the first three months of this year (with my mother's help in meal prep; she offered to do that for me in exchange for raised rent). So I have that to be proud of.

 

[Altair]

We need to see 2026 Aerium remix of 1000 miles by Vanessa Carlton.

@Jetflag can you remix this instead?

 

[erickUO]

Finally bought speaker stands. Now my speakers are on ear level and I can already hear things differently. I hope this will improve my mixing (or maybe struggle). A long homework ahead for all the WIPs, but this small upgrade is such a mood booster.

 

[Progrez]

@Jetflag can you remix this instead?

I have been rick rolled vanessa carlton/ACDC style.

 

[Progrez]

I think it's safe to say I'm experiencing some soft burnout from my job nowadays. I work online customer service, and there has been a LOT of pressure on us to keep our KPIs high - especially on me, as I was previously underperforming in a few areas. Thankfully that's no longer the case, but I have to hit these KPIs consistently for a period of a month or more before management can recommend me to a different role in my company - which is my goal, as I'm trying to break out of 3.5 years of customer service and broaden my resumé.

But even though I haven't been objectively lacking any free time, I guess I feel spiritually exhausted by this. I often don't have the energy to open up Ableton and work on anything, and I haven't done any DJing even in my bedroom since New Years (vs. last year where I had five live gigs!). I feel ashamed of not living up to the type of musician I want to be, much less the type of person I want to be in general, but somedays it's hard just to keep going with my daily cycle of go to work and come home. ADHD and autism also adds more difficulty to this - it's so much easier to just waste time online rather than muster the activation energy required to do things like make music.

At the very least, I can say that I managed to lose almost thirty pounds over the first three months of this year (with my mother's help in meal prep; she offered to do that for me in exchange for raised rent). So I have that to be proud of.

I know how you feel man. I have been in customer service for the past 10 years now. The thing is dude keep in mind management will never be happy especially if you are in a KPI driven role they will leech everything out of you until you are not yourself anymore. Management do not give a rat ass about you and they can replace you with another person tomorrow. Take it from someone who was push through severe stress and trauma by corporate thugs and management I almost nearly got out there. If you autism then you like routine, predictability and structure and you have difficulties with change and executive functioning skills as well. I would see an occupational therapist they will help with your autism.

You should not feel ashamed either some of these guys are lucky to be at the place at the right time. It sucks that you are not able to live up to it and neither have I and I wanted to host music with Armin as well. I know how the world works in a service industry that's how it works and they charge a fee whether you go to music or IT or legal etc it's like this everywhere or so I am told.

Autism Calgary » Occupational Therapists (OT)

autismcalgary.com

https://www.adhdspace.ca/

 

[Julian Del Agranda]

customer service

To be honest, my advice would be: quit and leave.

what do you think the company asks from the other roles? For example a quality analyst (the one who listens to colleagues do their calls) also has kpis, like: the level of that collegue must improve x amount, the collegue must sell more after your coaching, basically his kpis are yours too. What about team leaders? They are responsible for the kpis of everyone. So that’s why they push everyone so much. They likely get small bonuses if the overall stats on the team are X or higher. Those jobs aren’t relaxed either. Salary is generally not much higher for these too.

If you have the possibility: leave.

I switched from your position to customer service for a government department, which was already a lot less kpi driven. So that could be interesting for you as well.

You seem to be able to write English well, maybe something in communication. Maintain web content and write new content. Before you say: I’m Canadian, obviously my English is good… No. Many people can’t write properly. It’s a skill.

Perhaps with government departments switching / growing to next steps is easier as well and supported more (that’s my experience in NL). I switched to communication myself and after a few years became one of the coordinators of the team. Nothing special, but it’s not silly customer service, and somewhat meaningful too (as working for government, means you do it for the citizens).

Whatever you do, believe in yourself, Progrez says it bit in a harsh way, but yeah, these places are often a bit toxic for your mind…

 

[Progrez]

To be honest, my advice would be: quit and leave.

what do you think the company asks from the other roles? For example a quality analyst (the one who listens to colleagues do their calls) also has kpis, like: the level of that collegue must improve x amount, the collegue must sell more after your coaching, basically his kpis are yours too. What about team leaders? They are responsible for the kpis of everyone. So that’s why they push everyone so much. They likely get small bonuses if the overall stats on the team are X or higher. Those jobs aren’t relaxed either. Salary is generally not much higher for these too.

If you have the possibility: leave.

I switched from your position to customer service for a government department, which was already a lot less kpi driven. So that could be interesting for you as well.

You seem to be able to write English well, maybe something in communication. Maintain web content and write new content. Before you say: I’m Canadian, obviously my English is good… No. Many people can’t write properly. It’s a skill.

Perhaps with government departments switching / growing to next steps is easier as well and supported more (that’s my experience in NL). I switched to communication myself and after a few years became one of the coordinators of the team. Nothing special, but it’s not silly customer service, and somewhat meaningful too (as working for government, means you do it for the citizens).

Whatever you do, believe in yourself, Progrez says it bit in a harsh way, but yeah, these places are often a bit toxic for your mind…

The only issue is where though? In the US a lot of people are struggling to find work in their prospective fields despite a degree. I only have a google cybersecurity and from a Recognized training provider within in Australia cybersecurity certificate and even that's not good enough. I work in a government department and here it's high stress and pressure maybe I am not choosing the right jobs here. For me I am the only one who has a job within my family so I can't just quit.

 

[william byrne]

I recently picked up the digital versions of the Korg M1 and Roland Juno 106, dusted off all the vintage early 90’s era sample CD’s I have and started working on an early 90’s uplifting piano house tune.
Lately Bass, M1 Piano riffs, arps and pads from the 106, 909 drums with old breakbeats layered on top.
Geeking out with tape emulators on the master and 90’s era effects on the sends.

Absolute silliness, will be of absolutely no use to any trance DJ’s out there, but honestly the most fun I’ve had producing and writing music in years.

Nice man id like to hear some I made a piano house track also recently haha great fun

 

[william byrne]

Yeah that's the one. When he arrived at our place after being quarantined he had a tumour on one of his paws, they opened him up and his kidneys were covered in cysts aswell so we just made him as comfortable as possible until September when he finally gave up. Miss him a lot and could have really used his company the last few months. Also I will say he was a sassy ass little diva so making us pay an egregious amount of money to move him, only for him to die within a year was a very on brand thing for hagrid to do. Miss you, fat boy

Sorry to hear that man that's shit you still making tunes

 

[Altair]

I have been rick rolled vanessa carlton/ACDC style.

Dude, that's just the tip of the fucking iceberg. Neil Cicierega is one of the pioneers of internet culture, and also one of the greatest mashup artists to ever live.

 

[LostLegend]

Nice man id like to hear some I made a piano house track also recently haha great fun

It's about 90% finished, just needs some final tweaking. I'll definitely put it out on my Bandcamp page in the near future!

 

[Altair]

To be honest, my advice would be: quit and leave.

what do you think the company asks from the other roles? For example a quality analyst (the one who listens to colleagues do their calls) also has kpis, like: the level of that collegue must improve x amount, the collegue must sell more after your coaching, basically his kpis are yours too. What about team leaders? They are responsible for the kpis of everyone. So that’s why they push everyone so much. They likely get small bonuses if the overall stats on the team are X or higher. Those jobs aren’t relaxed either. Salary is generally not much higher for these too.

If you have the possibility: leave.

I switched from your position to customer service for a government department, which was already a lot less kpi driven. So that could be interesting for you as well.

You seem to be able to write English well, maybe something in communication. Maintain web content and write new content. Before you say: I’m Canadian, obviously my English is good… No. Many people can’t write properly. It’s a skill.

Perhaps with government departments switching / growing to next steps is easier as well and supported more (that’s my experience in NL). I switched to communication myself and after a few years became one of the coordinators of the team. Nothing special, but it’s not silly customer service, and somewhat meaningful too (as working for government, means you do it for the citizens).

Whatever you do, believe in yourself, Progrez says it bit in a harsh way, but yeah, these places are often a bit toxic for your mind…

I mean, I see where you're coming from, but it's really not a bad place to work - management has been pushing me hard, but they know I'm on the spectrum and understand that I'll sometimes have bad days and the occasional anxiety attack. They've been nothing but accommodating of that. And this career is nowhere near as triggering of my anxiety as the six years of warehousing I did before getting this job. Looking for a new job is the very last thing I want to do right now tbh - even the thought of it feels burdensome and stress-inducing. So better the devil I know, so to speak - I still have opportunity for growth here and a great rapport with all my colleagues.

In other news, I managed to get a bit of work done on a new remix today

 

[facade1984]

Sorry to hear that man that's shit you still making tunes

For 26 years non stop and I'll still be doing this shit when I'm 90 bruh. Hope you're all good too mate

 

[Julian Del Agranda]

great rapport with all my colleagues

Alright. It sounded a bit unhealthy in your first reply, so that triggered me a little. I was thinking you deserve better

A nice group of colleagues can make a big difference. Happy to read your employer does understand you and tries to help.

 

[Magdelayna]

Ive just seen that Juno Download has shut down...

Weve seen the death of Vinyl,then the death of CD,and now we are seeing the death of the MP3 download - something ive felt for a while. I know i cant judge everything from my SC page,but the downloads on that have fallen drastically EVERY year since around 2019 - people just dont download tracks anymore.

Which is really sad for me to see in the industry,and as a Trance producer - its all gone totally to streaming music for the majority of listeners. Which i guess was expected anyway?!

 

[Jetflag]

death of Vinyl

Imma do some frankensteining on that front this year

 

[facade1984]

Haven't vinyl sales been up again this last few years?

 

[Magdelayna]

Haven't vinyl sales been up again this last few years?

Yeah theres been a mini revival of vinyl,but when i say it died i mean when all the labels stopped releasing on them...same with CD. And now MP3 downloads are dying..

 

[Jetflag]

Yeah theres been a mini revival of vinyl,but when i say it died i mean when all the labels stopped releasing on them...same with CD. And now MP3 downloads are dying..

bit dramatic dude....Juno download was one of those shops, much like Audiojelly. that eventually just ran out of business because Beatport we're doing a better job at it.

its not the "Death. Dun dun duuuun" of mp3 or downloadable formats or shops by a long shot.

out of the 24 sale platforms my distritributor is attached to. 3 are streaming... rest all download.