Nomadic Music Producers - How To Produce Music & Travel The World

THE FIRST STEP: How I've Been Traveling The World & Producing Music For 2+ Years

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 04:08:26 -0700

April 1, 2020 Update: This article was originally posted on February 6, 2018. As of 2015, I've traveled to over 40 countries around the world. In 2018, I decided to plant down in Berlin, Germany, which is where I'm currently based.

As I re-read this article, I can only say that everything I wrote in the original post still rings true. At any given moment of your life, you can shed the past, imagine the future, and create change all with a single decision that you commit to. There's big magic in writing down your goals, your fears, seeing it all in black and white, then taking effective action.

I wish you the best as you acknowledge a decision that, deep down, you already know the answer to.

IT STARTS WITH A SINGLE DECISION.

In April of 2015, I left my full-time job in broadcast/media and my LA-based music studio behind to embrace a lifestyle of endless travel. Since then, I have produced my biggest projects entirely remotely. Over the course of two years, I have kept a vow to continually find the optimal mobile music production setup – one that allows us to minimize travel gear while retaining top-notch studio sound quality.

I began producing music as a hobby in the mid-90's and started to DJ at clubs and parties in the year 2000. Shortly after, I entered the world of broadcast – first through college and public radio followed by various production roles in commercial radio. After returning to the States from an exchange program in The Netherlands, the travel bug had forever sunk its teeth into my skin. I wanted to see the world. The average two-week vacation wasn't going to be enough to cover the 196 countries of the world in a lifetime.

So how does one combine a mentally-absurd passion for music with an equally ridiculous obsession for travel? Ten years ago, us music producers would have been locked down by all of our hardware gear. Today, we are blessed with the fruits...Read More

5 Challenges of Traveling DJs and Music Producers

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 21:50:13 -0800

As a DJ and music producer, traveling can be both exciting and challenging. While the opportunity to perform in new cities and countries is a thrilling aspect of the job, it also presents a number of logistical challenges that must be overcome.

Here are a few of the main challenges that come with the territory:

Transporting equipment: We rely on a variety of equipment, including laptops, DJ controllers, headphones, and possibly outboard gear to perform our craft. For live acts, this equipment can be especially heavy and bulky, making it difficult to transport, especially when traveling by plane. In addition, there is always the risk of damage or loss during transit.
Finding suitable accommodations: When traveling to a new city, it can be time-consuming and difficult to find accommodations that are both affordable and suitable. Many of us require a quiet, private space to work on music in preparation for gigs, which can be hard to come by in crowded cities or tourist areas, which is often where music venues are located.
Dealing with time zone differences: Traveling to different time zones can take a toll on the body, and it can be difficult to adjust to a new sleep schedule. This can be especially challenging for those of us who have to perform at night and may need to stay up late to work on music or prepare for shows.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: It can be difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling, especially when on a tight schedule. DJs and music producers may have to deal with irregular eating habits, lack of sleep, and the temptation to indulge in unhealthy vices such as...Read More

5 Tips: How To Overcome Creative Road Blocks When You're Feeling Creatively Stuck.

Mon, 24 May 2021 11:55:33 -0700

If you're feeling creatively stuck, don't feel like you're alone. That's a common roadblock that artists face. I have a few suggestions from personal experience that could help you:

Write out the contents of your mind – objectively. Take out a few sheets of paper or open an online document and commit to writing at least 3 pages, or until you have no more left to write. Start by writing the first thing that comes to mind, maybe some problems you're going through, or something that someone said that has bothered you, or something in your life that is on your mind. Keep writing and writing until there's nothing left to write. This essentially takes out the endless circle of thoughts in your head (which you will never really get to solve) and puts them down objectively in concrete form, black and white, on paper. The power behind this is that it's now out in the world and no longer taking up your mental space. Distractions, whether they are in your mind or from the outside world, are the biggest sources of creative block.
Just show up. Half the battle when it comes to doing creative work is just showing up. That means opening up your DAW and staring at the screen. Just opening your DAW is already half the challenge done. Once you have the DAW open, you can start experimenting. Creative block? No problem, try experimenting with new samples, new synths, go in-depth with the presets of synths you don't normally use, or take this as a time to expand your knowledge by watching a few tutorials and learning about a process you're not too familiar with.
Discipline and routine. With a clear mind and the decision to show up regularly, you'll be surprised how often creativity comes when you least expect it. More often than not, inspiration comes because it's part of a routine that makes it easy for it to happen.
Listen to music, simply for the sake of...Read More

Ableton Live 11 is Here!

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 01:04:01 -0800

Ableton Live 11 is finally here! If you're not already using Live, the Berlin-based music software company is now offering a full 90-day free trial of their flagship Live 11 Suite without any limitations. You can try the digital audio workstation out for the duration of trial then decide if you'd like to commit fully or not.
There's never been a better time to delve into the world of music production or hone in on your existing chops as a music producer.
Check out their 90-day free trial here.
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Ableton Live 11 Arrives on February 23, 2021

Sat, 13 Feb 2021 00:25:41 -0800

Ableton Live has announced a release date of February 23, 2021.
It's been two years since Live 10 was released, so this is a major upgrade from the last version. The biggest changes coming include a simplified process for comping vocals, brand new devices, better implementation for live performances, and lots of new and updated sounds.
We're huge Spitefire Audio fans here at Nomadic Producers. We're happy to see that Spitfire Audio and Ableton have collaborated to introduce brand new instrument packs!
For a full review, check out MusicTech or visit Ableton's website.
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How Does Minimalism on the Road Translate to Minimalism at Home?

Tue, 26 May 2020 09:35:15 -0700

Minimalism: How The Travel Mindset Can Help You At Home
In 2015, I picked up this exact travel backpack and booked a one-way ticket to Thailand. My goal was simple: to travel as many places around the world that I could, while listening to my intuition as to where I should go next. If I felt like a particular destination warranted only a short visit, I would honor that. If I loved a particular destination so much that I felt the need to stay, I would honor that, as well.
What did this mindset do? It set the foundation for openness – to be aware of the widest array of possibilities and take the best course of action. I not only wanted to satisfy my curiosities and sense of adventure, I also wanted to learn as much as I could about different cultures and lifestyles. I wanted to understand how we could be so outwardly different, yet fundamentally all the absolute same.
Thailand ended up being an excellent base for me. I already had a friend who had "moved" there as a digital nomad. It was in the heart of Asia with one of the most accessible airports in the area and the costs of living were significantly lower than back home in California. Thailand served as a springboard to explore other parts of Asia with great ease.
When I arrived in Bali, I knew I wanted to stay for a few months. In Japan, I knew I wanted to live there for at least half a year. Other destinations like Cambodia and Laos were great, but not countries that I saw myself planting down and setting as a base.
In order to maintain this flexibility of travel, I had to scale back on my load significantly. I had to carry everything I needed on my back. Minimalism was the most efficient way to make these trips enjoyable. At first, it was only meant to be a temporary measure to alleviate the inconveniences of having so much to carry – not to mention the airline baggage fees that could ensue.
After a while, I...Read More

Pyramind's Online Music Producer Program

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 10:03:00 -0700

Now is the best time to invest in online music education.
Pyramind is a music production school based out of San Francisco, California. I've been working with them for years as an online mentor, helping students all over the world.
With the recent onset of the global pandemic, aspiring music producers everywhere are finding themselves at home with additional time to dedicate to mastering their craft. All that's needed is to master the discipline that goes with making your dreams come true.
When I decided to make giving to music education a priority, I did so knowing full well what else is out there. At Pyramind, you're getting knowledge and experience from well-respected electronic music artists such as Jaytech and Luttrell, both artists on the Anjunabeats and Anjunadeep labels.
With artists so congruent to my own sound as an artist, I feel at home with Pyramind. They stand as a vehicle to help address my own need for contribution. The team is great to work with and they attract some of the most dedicated students from all over the world.
Mentoring by yours truly
Music education runs in our family. My father is a piano instructor who instilled a commitment to excellence within us since childhood. As part of my own commitment to music education, aligning with Pyramind has been a great way to teach you core music production skills, coupled with one-on-one online mentoring sessions.
Get up to $400 off now by joining Pyramind's online music production program. See you on the other side!
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Ableton: Ideas and Offers for Making Music at Home

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 10:06:28 -0700

Ableton makes making music at home easier
While we're all making the best of our time at home, Ableton has stepped in and tried to make it even easier on music producers who are staying home.
The most important news is that Ableton Live 10 is now running a 90-day free trial (for those who are on the fence about starting their music production journey) and all editions of Live have a price reduction of 30%.
This post on Ableton's website is continuously updated, so be sure to keep your eye on it:
Update: April 8, 2020
We’ve reduced the price on all editions of Live by 30%. This offer includes new licenses as well as upgrades. Log in to see your available upgrades.
In collaboration with Max for Cats and Sonic Bloom, we’ve made the Stray Cats Collection, a free Pack of Max for Live devices. (Note: this Pack requires Max for Live, which is included in Live Suite or available for purchase for Live Standard.)
Our book, Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers, is temporarily free to download in .pdf, .mobi, and .epub format.
With Loop delayed until 2021, we’ll bring a bit of that community to you at home. We’re planning three days of curated...Read More

Producing music at home during the coronavirus quarantine

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 13:05:31 -0700

How do you stay focused and productive while working at home?
I'm in Berlin now, and the streets have been super quiet. I go out about once a week for groceries. The rest of the time, I'm home.
This is a strange change for someone whose two biggest cornerstones in life are the gym and the studio. Now that those two buildings are inaccessible, I've had to bring it all home. At first, this was daunting. But I recalled all of my years on the road and how I managed to get so much done while traveling. I essentially had to bring the traveling producer's mindset back to present day.
How did I have so much discipline to stay creative, finish work, stay fit, eat healthy, all while constantly being on the road? Remembering those experiences got me working on a routine quickly. And now that the routine is established, I'm loving it. I love the morning routine I've created, and it gets me into "the zone" very quickly from the minute I start working until I'm exhausted. The only difference now is that I'm not constantly traveling, my "various locations" are the same location every single day. I'm back to the same mobile studio setup though!
Dopamine fasting [aka dopamine detoxing]
I also have started doing "dopamine detoxes" once a week, which has been tremendously helpful in staying focused without caving in to distraction. Constantly on our phones and laptops, we're so used to an easy button to push for the next surge in dopamine. A study on rats confirms that an easily accessible source of stimulation can quickly turn into an addiction, making all other pursuits less rewarding.
From a dopamine perspective, what's going to give you a larger and more immediate rush? Reaching for your phone to see if...Read More

Berlin: Rooted after 4 years of semi-nomadism

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 15:59:32 -0700

It's been quite a while since I've last made an update on this site, and the reason for that is simply due to some personal lifestyle changes.
Since 2015, I was largely nomadic, only planting down from time-to-time in places that grabbed me and really pulled me in. To date, I've lived in The United States, Canada, The Netherlands, Thailand, Bali and Japan – and traveled to nearly 40 countries. The amount of inspiration I've received from my travels couldn't be put into words, but it can be heard in some of my music (join me on SoundCloud and Spotify).
When I arrived in Berlin after the Amsterdam Dance Event in 2018, I had only planned on visiting some friends and checking out the city's world-famous underground electronic music scene. Little did I know that after a month of being here, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else in the world. The creative energy here was astounding!
It's for this reason that I decided to call Berlin my home and went through the procedures to be granted an artist visa. It was a long process, but one that was well worth it. I've yet to find a city that attracts as many artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs who have taken risks to give everything they've got to their dreams. It's also a comforting feeling to have a European base in the current electronic music capital of the world, especially after feeling "flighty" for so many years.
How has this changed the way that I make music? In same ways, not much has changed. I still maintain a mindset of minimalism in all aspects of my life, I still produce everything "in the box" with Ableton Live, and I still use my travel experiences as fuel for inspiration. What has changed most is how I rely on monitoring. I have a studio that I work out of now, but I still see it as a luxury and not a...Read More