5 Peak Productivity Hacks for Music Producers

Studio burnout has always scared the hell out of me.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with grammy winning vocalists in some of the the finest studios in the world. I’ve had my own music create impact in ways I didn’t think were possible. And through it all, I’m still here – still running my studio and producing music day in, and day out.

But despite all of that, the threat of overwhelm and fatigue is rarely more than a stones throw away.

The simple reality of succeeding as a music producer hinges on our ability to function at a high level and with an open mind. I might add, for long stretches of time, in a windowless room, under time constraints and in the presence of highly-emotional, sleep-deprived artists. 

Marathon sessions, diva vocalists, mix-down depression, interpersonal band drama, hyperactive drummers, loved ones sending concerned texts wondering if we’ve fallen into the abyss, and worst of all – A&R’s. The list of workflow bottlenecks is vast and winding.

As a community of professional music producers, we need to develop better tools for dealing with the pressures of studio life. This starts with identifying common pain-points, getting to the root of the problems, and developing better strategies for approaching them head-on, so that we can do what we do best, at the highest possible level.

Fundamentally, exhaustion, overload, burnout and fatigue all amount to the same thing: an inability to harmonize our internal psychological and physiological states with the realities and demands placed on our bodies and minds.

In music producer circles, it’s an issue often discussed, but not often addressed.

Perhaps one reason for the hush, is that it’s a slippery nut to crack. Think about it. As illustrated above, the realities of the job are hard. On top of all that, it’s a saturated and chronically under-appreciated field, where monetary compensation is very rarely what it should be.

Bottom line is this: If a studio-life-induced breakdown has yet to loom in your periphery, you probably haven’t been at it for very long. If you have some skin in the game, odds are, you know someone who has hit their breaking point, given up the ghost, quit music production and gone intro real estate. 

Don’t be that guy (or girl). We need you.

Producing music is valuable and it’s what many of us are meant to do. Despite the pressures and stresses, it’s a worthwhile endeavor, and a path worth investing in.

Whether you’re nearing the end of your rope, or navigating the tides with relative ease, there is always room to up your game. Growth, progress and momentum is how we stay focused, motivated and delivering, at our highest point of contribution.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing a great many outstanding and successful producers. Through mentorship, interviews with my peers and my own personal trial and error, I’ve created a short list of 5 significant and oft overlooked areas of potential improvement for music producers.

1. Posture

For the first 10 years of being a music producer, without fail, I would cringe when I saw a photo of myself at the desk. Hunched over, neck buried, arms tensed and back rounded – I looked like fucking golem. It was bad. 

As a direct result, I’ve dealt with recurring bouts of Carpal Tunnel and extreme hip pain, which in the past has landed me in expensive and time consuming physical therapy. Sadly, I’m not the only music producer who has experienced posture related injury.

Correcting my posture has been an ongoing saga, but through a series of conscious changes, I’ve made massive and life-changing improvements.

Here’s a few things I’ve found helpful in correcting my posture and subsequently addressing my Carpal Tunnel and hip pain.

• Exercise and stretching. No surprises here. The human body and mind was designed to hunt, forage and generally try not to die, which is for the most part, a physically intensive process. If you don’t use your body in energizing ways, you’re not doing yourself any favors towards activating your potential in the studio.
  
  I’m not here to preach about exercise. If you want to do it, you’ll find a way. That said, in particular, one commonly neglected area of tightness I’ve encountered in myself and in other producers is the Psoas and Iliacus. I like to lie on a Trigger Point Ball  for 12 minutes every morning. Essentially, I align the ball underneath either my Psoaz or Iliacus, usually while listening to an audiobook or a podcast. Hurts like hell, but the relief I’ve experienced can’t be overstated. Here’s a video of what it looks like, more or less.

• Chair and seat angle. This one blows my mind. We spend most of our time as producers sitting, yet how much attention do we give to our chair? How about our desk height? Our chairs are where we spend a quarter of our lives, and yet the mechanics of how we sit barely even enters our thoughts. It’s actually insane that we don’t give this more consideration.
  
  When I was dealing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I sought a physical therapist with specialization in repetitive-motion injury. The first thing he asked for were photos of me sitting at my studio desk. Immediately, he pointed out that both my elbows to forearms, and forearms to wrists, were slanted at nearly a 45 degree angle, which was putting pressure on my Median Nerve – the culprit of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. He then had me change my sitting posture so that my elbows were at a 90 degree angle with my keyboard, and my wrists flat. Within 2 weeks of consciously applying this principal while sitting at the my studio desk, the numbness, tingling and pain in my thumb, wrist and forefinger had all disappeared.
  
  It was remarkable. But why hand’t anyone showed me this sooner? I was actually livid that such a small tweak could make such a huge difference, and moreover, that this knowledge wasn’t readily available to the thousands of music producers I’m certain are experiencing the same thing!
  
  Intrigue piqued, I began a series of experiments aimed towards bettering my posture. Eventually, I found the kneeling chair, and haven’t looked back since. Kneeling chairs are better for skeletal alignment, and somewhat effortlessly, help to strengthen the muscles surrounding your spine; muscles that have all but atrophied in many people from sitting in “normal” chairs for a third of their lives.  Personally speaking, this has been a game changer. Not to mention, It’s way fucking comfier, especially during long sessions. This is the model I use. At this point, I can’t imagine being at the helm of my spaceship with anything else.

 

2. Meditation.

Despite a substantial degree of skepticism, I took the plunge and invested in the practice of meditation. It has become my single most valuable active process for overall mental physical health. Anecdotally, the range of benefit meditation has had on my wellbeing is astounding. As it relates to posture, meditating daily has had a notable impact, particularly in regards to the straightening of my back. The simple act of sitting crosslegged with a straight back for 20 minutes every morning has led relatives and friends who haven’t seen me in a while to ask if I’ve grown by several inches. Now in my 30s, I can assure you, I haven’t. Simply put, in several seemingly unrelated domains, meditation has been nothing short of life-altering. In case you’re interested, this is the travel-yoga mat I use. It’s proved extremely useful for impromptu meditation sessions during studio breaks. This Sam Harris meditation app "Waking Up" is also ideal for getting started with meditation. If you're interested in the intellectual side of meditation, his book by the same name is a stellar read.

Another favorite of mine for learning about the benefits of meditation is a book from the 70s called Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa.

 

3. SAD Light 

Seasonal depression. It’s a thing. After living in both NYC and Berlin, I can tell you firsthand that when the sun goes down at 4pm, life starts to feel a lot less rosy. As music producers, one thing we don’t often actively consider is that we spend most of our lives in dark, windowless rooms - effectively simulating the effects of seasonal depression in many people, which can be profound. 

A few years ago, I added a SAD "Light Therapy" Light to my control room, and ho-ly-shitballs. I can’t express in words the degree of impact this seemingly infinitesimal tweak has had on my life.

Keeping the UV light on near my desk for an hour or so in the morning, and another hour in the afternoon, single-handedly alleviated the chronic migraines that had plagued my cranium for nearly a decade. It also improved my sleep and general mood, significantly.

I don’t know of anyone else who uses this in their studio – but really, more producers need to jump on board. The effects are not subtle. For me, it was something of a panacea, massively improving my psychological and physical wellbeing, and subsequently my effectiveness during sessions.

 

4. Supplements 

From Tinnitus to to lethargy, chronic sickness to inflammation, I can’t think of a more neglected and underutilized tool than plants, adaptogens, nootropics, vitamins and amino acids. Athletes, doctors and peak performers of all shapes and sizes use supplements to keep their energy levels high, and to effectively recover on their downtime. Music producers haven’t followed suit en masse, and I’m not sure why. 

Personally speaking, supplements have had an overwhelmingly positive impact on my life, most noticeably, in the area of focus. In effect, they have helped me to become happier, more consistent, and perhaps most importantly, to recover more effectively, both physically and mentally, from long and arduous sessions. 

Here’s a short list of the supplements I now consider essential to my process.

• Taurine – Commonly used to treat tinnitus, Taurine can mitigate or even the reverse the effects of hearing damage. Taurine has a breadth of restorative properties, particularly in regards to nerve function.
• My take – Why aren’t Taurine supplements given awat with every pair of drum sticks? In all seriousness, ear fatigue, tinnitus and hearing loss are extremely common amongst music producers. Our ears are our livelyhood, and Taurine, amongst others, are essential in keeping them in optimal condition.

• L-Carnitine – Primarily used as a protective and healing agent in neurodegenerative diseases, most notably, Alzheimers, L-Carnitine is also highly regarded amongst athletes for it’s energizing and weight-loss promoting properties. Additionally L-Carnitine has a wide range of benefits at the cellular level. There is evidence that L-Carnitine can reduce both noise and age related hearing loss.
• My take: It gives you energy, reduces disease risk and shields you from hearing loss. This stuff should be as available as guitar picks.

• L-Tyrosine – L-Tyrosine is another amino acid, naturally occurring in meat, fish, bananas and other foods. A precursor to dopamine – L-Tyrosine is a powerful mood enhancer, and also useful for adrenaline and thyroid regulation. 
• My take: Tyrosine is the the shit, simply put. It imparts a sensation similar to being in a flow state, and in general, increases ones sense of happiness, focus and motivation. It’s a bit like having creative and fun energy on demand. The stuff is kind of magical, really.

• Zinc – A mineral with antioxidant and inflammatory properties, low zinc levels have been associated with hearing loss and perceived loudness in ringing from tinnitus. Zinc has a scope of benefits ranging from immune function to prostate health, and just about everything in between.
• My Take: Yet again, another essential for music producers. We have band aids and alcohol for our cuts and toothbrushes and toothpaste for our teeth – supplements like Zinc and others are the equivalent for our ears. With anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting and restorative properties, Zinc is a no-brainer for studio dwellers.

• NAC – NAC is an amino acid used to treat kidney and liver damage, addictive behavior, OCD, depression, fertility in men and women, respiratory function, immune function, and may reduce risk of heart disease. NAC is also used to protect the cochlea from noise damage, and may reduce noise-induced hearing loss. 
• My take: in addition to all that, it makes you feel fucking wonderful. As with many of these compounds, there is a profound positive effect on your mood, which for me anyway, translates to smoother studio sessions where I get more done. An absolute secret weapon for music producers.

• Rhodiola – derived from an arctic plant used by locals to stave off depression and stress during the depths of winter, Rhodiola is a powerful neuroprotector, providing cognitive stimulation and increased mental and physical energy. In modern medicine, it is used to treat chronic fatigue, decreased motivation and exhaustion. 
• My take: In my experience, Rhodiola gives you a feeling of wakefulness and calm, especially useful during marathon studio sessions and the not-so-occasional all-niter.

• Ashwaghanda – similar to Rhodiola, Ashwaghanda is derived from a plant used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. There is mounting evidence that demonstrates Ashwaghanda’s anti-inflammatory properties and a multitude of positive effects on brain function. 
• My take: Ashwaghanda imparts a distinct sense of vitality. I feel more focused and “in the zone” when I take it. I also experience the sensation of having more physical strength. Again, amazing for long sessions and staying alert when nearing the finish line of a project.

• Bacopa – Research indicates that Bacopa slows neurodegenerative disease, protecting the brain from the effects of aging. It may also promote serotonin production, another holistically important brain chemical. 
• My Take: Over time, Bacopa has unquestionably helped with my memory retention. It’s a wholly worthwhile addition, especially for older music producers who are more prone to cognitive decline.

• Circumin – Found in turmeric, Circumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and highly regarded for it’s protective properties in regards to heart health. 
• My take: As music producers, we put our bodies and brains through a lot. Whether you’ve spent 5 hours recording a trigger happy drummer, or eq’ing trap hats, a supplement like Circumin with it’s anti-inflammatories properties are essential for reducing swelling and keeping blood flowing smoothly, to our ears and other organs. I take circumin every day.

• Theanine – An amino acid found in green tea, Theanine is a tremendously powerful antioxidant that promotes healthy immune response. It’s also used in the medical community to treat focus related problems, as well as high blood pressure and sinus pain, and is said to modulate neurotransmitters, promoting creativity. 
• My take: Theanine makes me feel calm, but dialed in. It’s helpful for getting into a flow state with music creation and makes it a bit easier to unwind at night. I find it especially useful if I’ve been traveling a bunch or feeling a bit under the weather.

• Magnesium – The beneficial effects of magnesium can not be overstated. It’s great for nerve function and blood flow, protein synthesis, and most notably, digestion. 
• My Take: I really can’t say enough good about magnesium. It gives you energy, helps your body deal with stress, and is particularly helpful with digestion. When I end up eating pizza 3 nights in a row (hey, nobody’s perfect), magnesium helps with damage control. 

• B12 – B12 is outstanding for cellular health, and optimizes various body processes such as thyroid regulation and preventing neurodegeneration. Additionally, curcially low levels of B12 have been connected with hearing loss. 
• My take: B12 is one of the most integral supplements that exists for music producers. When it comes to keeping your golden ears golden, why take any chances?

• Vitamin C – Found in many fruits and veggies, vitamin c is essential for for your skin, eyes, heart, muscle-health, and immune function.
• My take: It’s a staple for fending off the common cold for good reason. Since supplementing with vitamin C daily, I went from getting sick 4-6 times per year (each time keeping me out of the studio for a few days minimum), to not-a-once. Crazy shit.
  
  The benefits I’ve experienced from supplements have been wide-ranging; I sleep better, digest better, and heal better. I get angry and fearful less often, and with less intensity. I can convey my ideas with more clarity, and retain information with a higher degree of accuracy. Arguably, it’s even helped me to more consistently stay in a creative mindset. It’s impossible to quantify the myriad ways in which supplements have benefitted my life. Suffice to say, I can’t recommend the above highly enough. 

5. Water.

How many music producers do you know drink 8 cups of water per day? 8 cups of coffee seems more likely.

I’m not even going to bother summarizing this one. You know the deal. Water intake effects everything from digestion, to energy-synthesis, to sleep-health, to fertility. Drinking enough water is absolutely integral, and almost nobody in our field does it. Most music producers I know are chronically dehydrated, the cumulative effect of which, without question, takes it’s tole. 

To stay hydrated, I use this absolute beast of a water bottle. It’s rugged and durable, and aesthetically feels right at home next to my most robust vintage outboard gear.

In addition, most music producers neglect the importance of air quality for your skin and sinuses. More recently, I’ve put this purifying fan in my studio, and since then, I breathe a lot easier, have healthier skin and without a doubt, happier clients.

In conclusion, there are some extremely basic things we can all do as music producers to promote wellbeing and get more out of our selves and our sessions. I want my friends and peers to be healthy and happy – and more often than not, I’ve found that that’s just not the case. I hope this guide has been helpful to you, and I’d love to hear any thoughts or suggestions you may have! Please don’t hesitate to hit me up at producersbrain@gmail.com

Hugs not drugs (except for supplements),