Do you have a “perfectionism” complex like I do? It can be a common problem amongst us creatives…

Hey Everyone,

So there I was at 11:30 PM the night before I left for Redding, CA - hunched over my new Chroma Console pedal in the studio after finally getting the boys to sleep, trying not to make too much noise but still chasing down this melody that wouldn't leave me alone. You know that feeling, right?

Life's been a beautiful chaos lately. My wife's been in England for two weeks (miss you, babe!), I've been solo-dadding it up, and tomorrow I'm packing up to leave my studio behind for a couple months. The eternal songwriter's struggle: when do we actually get to make music?

But here's what I've been learning the hard way – those tiny pockets of creative time might actually be our secret weapon.

The "No Time" Breakthrough

I used to think I needed endless hours to make anything worthwhile. Now I'm sneaking into the studio after bedtime stories, and somehow the constraints are making everything... better? More focused? There's something about knowing you only have 90 minutes that cuts through all the second-guessing and overthinking.

I've accidentally stumbled into some of my favorite melodies while playing with my kids or cooking dinner. You start humming something, and suddenly you're frantically searching for your phone to record it before it disappears forever. (Tell me I'm not alone in this!)

Vulnerability Alert: My Half-Baked Work-tape "Easy"

I'm trying something I wouldn’t do under “normal circumstances” – I’m sharing music before it's even remotely resembling "ready." This track I'm calling "Easy" is literally just a beat, some bass, guitar, and me singing gibberish melodies into a $20 microphone trying to ‘find the song.’ No real lyrics yet, just that phrase "try so hard" that popped out unexpectedly?! (*check out the Youtube video here to see what I mean).

“Easy” (working title) has got this lo-fi, early Lenny Kravitz vibe I'm digging, but man, pressing "share" on something this raw feels like walking outside without pants on.

But isn't that exactly what we need to do more of as songwriters?

Share earlier, get feedback sooner, stop hiding behind perfectionism?

My Accidental Songwriting Hack

Here's my current process born entirely from necessity:

1. Steal an hour after the kids crash to lay down a simple groove – just enough drums, bass and guitar to capture the vibe.

2. Record myself mumbling nonsense over it (sounds ridiculous, feels amazing).

3. Export to my phone and listen obsessively during 6-hour drive to Redding while the boys nap in the back.

4. Voice-record any lyric ideas that pop up while my brain processes the track on repeat.

Something about motion and driving unlocks my creativity like nothing else. The highway becomes my co-writer.

But what about you???

I'm Curious About Your Process?!

• Do you also make "bed tracks" you can carry around? Or am I the only weirdo listening to my own half-finished demos in the grocery store?

• What's your strategy for fitting songwriting into a packed life? I'll take any tips I can get - and gladly share my own as we journey together!

• Honest opinion: should I keep developing "Easy" or let it marinate longer?

Drop a comment or hit reply. Seriously, I read every response, and your insights fuel this whole journey.

And if you know someone else who's trying to balance parenthood, work, and songwriting without completely losing their mind, forward this their way. We're building something special here – a community where we can talk about the messy, beautiful process of making music in the midst of real life.

Can't wait to share how this one evolves (or maybe crashes and burns spectacularly – that's part of the process too, right?).

P.S. If you dig this kind of behind-the-scenes peek, subscribe to my YouTube channel. I'm trying to document this whole journey – from late-night mumble tracks to (hopefully) finished songs.

📺 Watch the video version of this story → Here (on Youtube)

#StartBeforeYoureReady #ThousandEchoes #CreativeLegacy #SongwritingLife #UnscriptedCreation

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Watch the Video Now

Stay inspired everyone!
Josh Schroeder
Founder, Thousand Echoes