Welcome back to mustache feelings show! Last video I'll be filming for a bit as I'm on the road most of April, so hopefully the algorithm gods shine on it! 🙏 🎸 Bandzoogle ► bandzoogle.com/?pc=venustheory

I've been producing music for about 23yrs. 15yrs in i got depressed, i had no chart/dance hit (which i expected to have had by then) and felt like all those years were for nothing except my own enjoyment. I was contemplating giving up but i loved producing music, so after a long hard think (and realising fame and fortune was not going to happen) i decided to concentrate on a stable income and made music as an evening hobby. 2yrs later by pure chance i was an extra in a movie, ended up having an acting role, whilst working with the Director mentioned i was a music composer/producer, wrote some pieces of music for his movie which he loved. I went on to compose and produce the soundtracks to 4 other movies and had an acting role in 5 movies. Became friends with a Tech house dj, jointly worked on some tracks, he then went to Ibiza and became a resident dj in a club and also does a monthly mix for an online radio station where we get to play our tracks. All of this has happened in the last 5yrs. Ok, i've had some lucky breaks, but none of this would of happened if i had given up. Keep going keep getting better as you never know what is around the corner.

"Use what talents you possess - the woods will be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best" - Henry van Dyke

Feeling like your music is too weird is definitely a better place to be than feeling like your music is too derivative. Lean in to what makes your art unique!

I cried a little when you said you expected us to report back with whatever we’ve created. It felt like the compassion, permission and love we deny ourselves for the very reasons you covered in the video. I smashed out 4 super basic tracks and dumped them on Bandcamp with no concern for who would like them. Despite no one listening to it, it feels good to have done it.

I guess I just gotta applaude this guy for genuinely not giving up on something he's sucked at for 4 years. That's some serious tenacity.

I credit you for my return to music after a nearly decade break. I released my first piano EP and am knee deep in my fourth concept album. Thank you for videos like this.

I am a 62 year old. I have been writing and recording music from when I was about 14. I have worked with bands and worked alone. The first recording equipment I had was a Tascam 144 portastudio . I dreamed of a 24 track with 2” tape. Well it is years later I have felt all the things you spoke about in your insightful video and still do. As I sit here in my studio with a 64 input digital studio. Do I make my living from music full time no do I have 100s of published tracks yes. Do I still think I suck yes. But I do what I want and I make my music for me. To get into a studio and record music because you enjoyed it was not a thing in the 1970s it just cost too much. Fantastic video thanks.

I spent a year writing a song per week. I didn't worry about quality, my mixing skills aren't amazing, and treated it as a learning experience. Whilst some did suck, some were bangers and I learned so much during the whole process. I even went out of my comfort zone, recording vocals and trying writing for different genres. I'm glad I did it, it made me a better artist.

For the guys who wanna make money off music, I wanna warn you what that entails. When I worked as an engineer/producer at a studio in Chicago recording rappers we had a pro tools template that we used for every artist. Everyone had the same compressors, delay, reverb, eq, etc. We spent about 10mins mixing cause people paid by the hour. We didn't get to make art. We were just recording people and mixing as fast as possible with barely any creativity involved. The guy in charge said, "We're not making gourmet burgers. We're McDonald's." I hated it. I don't wanna work with every guy who wants to pay for studio time. I don't wanna make songs I don't like. I don't wanna treat art like a commodity. It sucked.

"Embrace the chaos and turn all that energy into art" is what I always think of when making music Just purely focused/lost in the process and unfolding the beauty you can make through it.

When I was at my absolute lowest, legitimately being monitored for you can probably guess what…that’s when I wrote my first song that I actually liked. Depression is an intensely powerful emotion and the best music is created from the strongest emotions. When I was at my lowest, I had a conversation with my sister and cousin making light of the concept of “live, laugh, love” signs. As I was spiraling downward later that week, I picked up my guitar because it was the only thing that made me truly happy and then started writing about a breakup then used humor to add in the concept of the “live, laugh, love” sign, using the opposite of depression to combat it and using that emotion to write just the right rhymes, the perfect chorus, and the right melody, finally discovering what I was looking for in my own music that I had completely given up searching for. At that moment, I realized that there was no giving up when there was work to be done and from those intense emotions, it brought me back from the brink and now every time I’m feeling at my lowest (after a fight with my parents, after a breakup, after severing ties with a friend) I use those emotions to channel into creativity. I released a demo for that song a few days ago and now I plan on releasing thirteen songs alongside it. It doesn’t matter to me how much other people like it or approve of it (don’t get me wrong, the point of making my music public is for it to inspire/make other people happy) but I see these songs as something to be proud of. They signify the darkest times of my life that I’ve risen above and I think that’s a powerful message to share. This may not work for everyone, but for incredibly emotional people like myself who also suffer from depression and/or anxiety, channeling negative emotions into creativity may help more than you can expect. Sorry for the novel, but if this helps even one person, it was worth it.

the past couple of years when things got really tough for us musicians, I came to the realization that “music is its own reward”, quoting Bernard Shaw and Sting. Just being able to make music is enough of a reason to keep going.

#1: "I'm not very good" -> I think this an essential step on the journey to becoming good at art. It means you see the gap between your current work, and where you want to be. It means you're on the cusp of understanding how to improve. It's not just a step; it's a cycle. With the next improvement, you see other opportunities, and so the cycle continues with each piece of work, and over time, your work evolves. If you then look back at early work, you should see how far you've come.

I started composing just after my father died, 12 years ago, and I am now 73 years old. I came across your channel about 4 years ago and you have helped me quickly learn my way around Pigments and other synths and DAWs. I have enjoyed your recent addition of video rants and this one is, in my opinion, one of your best. As one who has gone through the pangs of self-doubt and both writer's and composer's block. I thank you for this.

This video feels like a warm hug of a dear friend telling you the world ain't that bad. And even as a fully grown male I need this sometimes. We're all the same in the end, we all want to feel like we spend our precious lifetime in a way that makes ourselves and other people happy, bringing a little joy into this overwhelming world where music is the only anchor sometimes. Don't let your brittle hope and your passion get buried in the harsh noise of your intrusive thoughts. You're worth a whole lifetime of love, joy and forgiveness. I hope everyone reading this understands that all of us artists feel exactly the same struggle everyday. As long as there is music, there's people struggling to make it, just as you are. As long as there's music, you're not alone, never.

Once when I was being down on myself for not being better at guitar, my girlfriend at the time said, “it’s ok. It’s not about being the best. It’s about loving what you’re doing. That’s all that matters right now… keep loving the process and the skill will naturally increase in time”

I kind of teared up half way through this. When; in human history has a music producer been given 12 songs from an artist set in front of him to produce an album with? That happened to me last Halloween. I just finished our band's 5th album and paid for the distribution last Saturday. It comes out 4/20/23. I took 4 and a half months of waking up every day, and my work was set in front of me; working every day on music production for 4 and a half months! I learned a lot of things, meaning I made a lot of mistakes. I am now very much wiser on technique, and a much better musician. Thank you for the wise video.

I’m always surprised after showing people my tunes, how much they actually like them and how my mind is usually over critical.

A LOT of people only delve into sound, loops, patterns and synthesis these days..... BUT it is only the arrangement and the composition! that makes a song or film music great and really exciting and can even make it timeless....

Thank you for this!!! I've been a functional musician by trade for decades now and at various points along the way I've tried and tried to transition to a more creative career. Things go wrong every single time so I've been in an endless cycle of starting over. I started pursuing electronic production/performance and increasing my skill set about 4 years ago and so far this new phase has been in a foundational state. It's been brutal and arduous and lonely and frustrating, but also very rewarding because I continue to improve at everything. And just now, as of this writing, I'm about to release my first song with this new project! Not a big thing, just a performance video. But as soon as that's completed I'll be diving head first into the real meat of what I've been working toward and it's equally exciting and daunting. Daunting because I've been in this start-over scenario before. Exciting because the whole situation is different this time, and much more intentional. Long story short, the kind of encouragement I'm getting from seeing videos like this is priceless. The whole time I'm listening to the words I'm thinking about what I'm going to be doing tonight, and tomorrow night, and all the other nights to come, in my creative space, and this really helps with the motivation!

Dude.. I really needed this today. In my musical life, & my regular life. I really appreciate this channel, & your perspective…

That. Was. PERFECT! Thank you Cameron. As a life long musician, I've felt all of these at one time or another. The single best thing I've learned is to keep showing up, no expectations. Just show up, do the work and let that be enough.

You are so right. I put my album out in 2002 and then I..paused. For 20 years. And everyday not making anything ,was just eating me up little by little. So one day last year, I decided to grab my ass off the couch and turn on my synth. And purchasedthe latest version of my daw.Then I realised that I had to match up with 20 years of evolution and digital development! But there was help, like your channel. Somehow piece by piece ,it's all getting back to me. Guys, just put your hands on the keyboard. Every day. Thank you for you videos. Just keep making them, with that...enviable bass voice of yours!

One of my favourite quotes (I can’t remember who said it) went something kinda like this: “Artists sit around and wait for inspiration. Professionals show up and do the work.” I think about that everyday.

Cameron, as usual you caught it. Even at 75, having taught art, I get discouraged (like now) with my sound design projects and tell myself useless stuff. Thanks for the necessary reminders!

I been producing for 3 years now and I never thought about the monetary gain behind it. I just love music so much and I kick myself for not taking that route earlier in my life. Who knows what could’ve happened if I started when I was 12 but I am glad in partaking this journey that is and always will be my calling

Always great content. Thanks for the video!

those kind of video are always so inspiring, thank you!

I love your channel just because you talk about topics, not a lot talk about in the music industry, like you arent talking about "10 ways to write a chord progression". You talk about the serious buissnes and the struggles that come with music production and stuff a lot of people (like me) can relate to I hope you will keep doing this!

Cameron, thank you for all that you do and sharing these words of wisdom. It helps a lot with my own internal struggles and I'm sure it does the same for many, many others. 👊

what a nice video !!! this is truly something that happened to me 2 years ago .. i'm glad i worked my way through it

Needed this today 🙏🏾 thank you Sir!

I feel this very much so at times. There is only the thought of one day i might get better that keeps me creating

Dude... I think I've felt every one of those feelings you listed at some point in the last 20+ years. I started making music (seriously) in 1998 but stopped around 2010 because of a variety of reasons, getting burned out, not getting paid at all, depression, just real life stuff taking priority. I had spent the next 13 years not making music at all and only just this year, I decided to finally get back into it... and all those feelings were lined up at the door waiting for me. Thanks so much for sharing this. It was really uplifting. 👍

i really needed this right now, thank you. i will be coming back to this

I really am so glad to have found your channel. I appreciate your candid nature and find your content to be motivational in many facets of life. Thanks for your creativity and for your attempts to inspire us to likewise create something awesome

I make music for 15 years and i too had big aspirations and dreams. Needless to say i am just another producer in an ocean of countless producers. Surely wanted to quit at some point too because i got nowhere. I am still nowhere. I am not special. My music is generic. But i've accepted that not everyone is destined to "make it" - and i need to make music regardless if i am successful or not. If i don't express myself with music i am miserable. And so i jam on my guitar and write little tunes for my friends, family and myself. It's okay the way it is (but i still dream a little here and there).

Just at the perfect time - I love this series and how the explore the reasoning and logic behind creating music and how to get past challenges. I’ve got the next two weeks off, I work a college and I find myself daydreaming constant of finishing music, tying in a motion comic/visual element, local show. It’s crazy because I struggle with music but last year I started writing screenplays - never wrote a screenplay before but I sat and I got a 5000 word draft done in a week because I found this spot at a beach I really liked that felt like it could make a good setting for a short film. I had the attitude of fuck it, I write it and get it out, nothing to lose. Music I dwell on finishing songs so I can feel fulfilled and move on but it’s always a challenge finalising a mix down.

Thank you man… I needed this video today ❤

Thank you for making this video. Helped me a lot.

As someone who has a huge passion for music and is trying to get into creating music, this was very inspiring and helpful. I’ve been lacking the confidence to create things because I’m worried it won’t turn out the way I want or that nobody will even like it. I’m glad I came across this video though, really makes me wanna just go into my studio and start recording something.

I really enjoyed the production on this video and the thoughtfulness of your message. Thank you for sharing.

You make my day. Thank you very much! ❤

I honestly do not know how to thank you for this video. It resonated on so many levels with me as a sound artist who's trying to find her career as an audio producer to finance her artistic ideas. I'm very grateful of finding you on one of my random searches on how to do stuff on cubase.

I’ve gotta say, you made this video at the perfect time for me. Lately music production has started to feel less fun, and I feel like I haven’t been able to creatively express myself in a way I liked, along With a lot of the other issues mentioned in the video. This video has given me a bit of hope in a time that feels hopeless, and depressing to me. Recently I’ve been considering quitting for good, but after seeing this, I’ve reconsidered. Thank you very much, I really needed this.

Thank you man! Thank you for making me remember these things! Love your videos!

Excellent video. Thanks! Will share it with students.

Wise words as ever! I'm finding it incredibly difficult to just get started on anything at the mo. I always end up doing something else- even housework. I have a painting half finished that's been sat on the easel for over 2 months and switching the DAW to actually lay something down eludes me. I'm guessing it's just a slump- the productivity will return.

Personally after few months shy of three years I have noticed that no matter how much I sometimes suck at making tracks and creating beats, I still feel better doing them than trying to live without it. Even then when I suck, I have nothing else in my mind than the music and it feels like a holiday compared to how shit I occasionally feel when my head is swarming with other things.

Wow this gave me chills. Thank you!

It 's always touching to see a video devoted to me ! thank you 🙂

This channel is so important to me. I work alone. I make music alone. I rely on Cameron’s thought provoking subjects and commentary to keep my creative mind stimulated. Thanks for the effort you put into this Venus Theory. You make a different in people’s lives.

You are a extremely effective content creator. That career didn’t even exist a few years back. You are damn good at it. Like Beato or Neely.

Thank you for this. It hit me at just the right time. Had one of those days yesterday going through things I’ve created and they all sounded like sh*t to my ears. And so started to have that created-existential moment of what am I really doing. This vid helped me get past that feeling and I’m ready to go back and start creating

thank you so much, really. ive been drawing more and more rarely these days and i really needed this

This is a really great video, there is not enough people talking about these kind of topics! thanks a lot for this and the hundreds of people you'll inspire thanks to this video. 🖤

I can only speak of music creativity for myself. But as far as inspiration goes, just keep listening to more and more music. New and old. Different genres that you wouldn’t normally listen to. You’re going to eventually come across that one song that does it for you, and there’s your new inspiration. It’s literally worked every time for me, and I think it should work for every creative musician out there who just loves listening to a great song.

Thanks for once again putting your time into something so encouraging to so many of us. That is understandably its own hurdle, and I for one really appreciate it.

This video comes at the right time. Thank you for these wise words and for sharing your experience !

When I needed this it came. I am just starting to teach myself music theory and the piano. I’ve made my first album on solely samples and it made me feel good but unfulfilled. I aspire to make my own music but it feels like a huge up hill climb. I am 28 and i have to constantly fight the thoughts of that it’s too late. This video gives hope but the feeling of not being “good” or “relevant” is over whelming. So thank you for sharing your thoughts

Alright, I'm just here to report back, like you said! Firstly, thank you for the video! Great stuff! I didn't release music for 8 years. I had so many songs on their way back in 2015, and at the time I thought I'd keep releasing a lot more songs, but I guess I was too scared of taking that step... I wasn't sure who I was or what kind of music I wanted to make, so I started a new alias called 'Oceans on Fire' where I made Pop-influenced Future Bass and Chillstep. So... now I'm back, and I'm releasing music every 3-4 weeks! I'll still release music as 'Oceans on Fire' as well, plus I started making Synthwave in a group called 'Solid Kids'.

What a fantastic vid. Thanks a lot for putting it together and sharing it with everyone.

Thank you kindly for this candid delivery. Well received.

The most recent thing I made had only one criteria: I was going to do the best I could at it. The best mix, vocal performance, etc. The thing is I started thinking about that with everything. The best marketing I could manage, the best effort at a live performance and so on. The most noticeable effect was that I liked the music so much more. I’m really proud of what I made because I did my best at it and I don’t have any regrets.

Love how you push people not to get discouraged, and just create. You're dope brother! 💯

Such a cool, well constructed video! Life is hectic at the moment and creative productivity low, but you are helping inspire me to get my ass back into it! Thank you !

i so much needed to hear these words! wow i am speechless and happy to hear this!

I’d recommend to any creative The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Probably the best book on being a creative and the blocks and hurdles we come across. Thank you to this! You hit it spot on Cameron! I appreciate all you do for Thai community of misfits and lovers of the arts.

Love this series. The real truth is that I can only control my thinking. I can’t control my circumstances. My brain feeds me toxic bullshit all day long, and I just have to carry that along with me and tell myself better things. And just do something.

I needed to hear this; thank you for showing up in my algorithm and doing what you do.

You make me think. This is just what I needed to hear. Thank you.

This is fantastic. Even though after 25 years having a 1000 fans is still a laughably impossible goal, the focus on the idea that artists should do what they believe in is an important thing to keep in mind. Plus the thing about dying. Always good to keep the thing about dying in mind.

I really felt that one. I also started producing my own music about 5 years ago and I can relate to all these points. But the funny part is that I somehow made my peace with it. I know my music is far from what I want it to be, or far from all my musical heroes I love listening to. I´m okay with having a normal day job and working on my music in my spare time, I try to release at least one song per month and honestly... if there´s only a single person enjoying it somehow I´m already happy. That´s all I want. I started to appreciate the process of creating without the expectation of a certain outcome. And that somehow... rewards me with an incredible freedom. I don´t need to justify anything, I´m not dependent on the income, if it sucks I´ll let it suck. As much as I sometimes struggle as well because I feel like it´s just not working and everything I do is just a bunch of c**p, as much as I sometimes wish I was someone like Mick Gordon or Klayton Albert... at the end of the day I´m actually happy to be myself and living through my own life, creating things the way I want to and to my best abilities. The first thing you create will probably be rather underwhelming, the tenth probably too.... but the 100th thing might be something really cool. Sometimes you just gotta stick with something because you feel that it´s the right course of action. With time and dedication results will follow, one way or the other. I wholeheartedly wish all of you aspiring artists that you´ll never lose trust in your own abilities and never lose the simple joy of just creating anything. Keep on rocking my fellows! 🤘

I love this channel: brilliant take on all of this as always.

Totally what I needed to hear today. A lot of confirmation, thanks VT!

Whenever you're feeling down about your music remember all of the terrible or overly cheesy songs that have become popular through the years. Just keep going. Embrace your cheesiness and weirdness it's what makes you unique. Even if you make something you don't like, it's possible someone out there will like it anyway, so just keep going. And don't be afraid to expand your skills with lessons, classes and practice.

This is good stuff. I used to feel these things, but the older I've gotten, the more I just want to create for myself. I couldn't care less if anyone else likes what I'm making. If they do, that's fun I guess, but mostly I just like the act of making music, of designing sounds. And also, Bjork is a freaking genius.

This was very helpful. And it did inspire me. Thanks for putting things in perspective I look forward to seeing other video’s

Thank you! Your videos are always hearttouching and thoughtful❤

Damn ! For me it's just a hobby and I mostly make music for meself not others so can't relate with the depression part. But I get how it could be difficult for someone who is much passionate and want to break into the industry.

Excellent video thank you for sharing this wisdom. Everyone needs to hear this 💯

Thanks for making this man. Really needed to hear this today.

I just cope by procrastinating and not releasing anything.

have my comment good sir

Thanks for doing this. It came at the right time. The last couple days have been a little rough, so I appreciate you making the video.

Another great video. You've inspired me to keep making music. Thank you 🙏

🙌 Well said! So many people need to hear all of this, and many need to hear it again and again and again.

THANK YOU! I needed this ❤

These videos are really awesome, they put so much in perspective

Thanks for inspiration. A nice kick in the ass. I think we all heard it before but it's nice to have reassurance once again. Love it!

Your approach to creativity and its base is really special. Great video!

I just got recommended your channel, thank you for this video man.

This is brilliant content! This hits so hard right now, I appreciate this on so many levels..now back to work.

This is the best real motivational video so far and it answers all the questions that I had for two years that I thought were impossible to answer. Thank you very much for providing this invaluable video.

I am..... incredibly happy I found your channel. Your videos are so therapeutic for me. Thanks for being my online musical therapist.

Thank you for this, Cameron. It's what I needed.

I really enjoy your videos. I only just stumbled across your channel, but the things you say resonate and I hope you know that. They're things I and so many of us have to tell ourselves every day, but it's easier to hear it from someone else.

One of your better videos I've seen, good job!

you will always be my idol !! the good ideas you just giving me thank u i always doubt my work even though I know that it’s not as good as so many artists but I think I could deliver messages