From Chaos to Clarity: How to Shape Raw Ideas into a Sonic Identity
That Loop You Made? It’s Got Potential
You dropped a loop. You vibed. It clicked. Then it played again. And again. And now… you’re stuck.
Sound familiar?
Welcome to the messy middle, where 90% of tracks die. But what if the chaos isn’t the
Chaos Is the Beginning, Not the End
“Make a mess, then see if you can get out of it.” - Brian Eno
Great producers embrace mess:
Rick Rubin calls it the “Seed Phase” → collect anything that excites you.
Brian Eno builds in randomness to invite surprise.
Mistakes? Often the most original part.
💡 Pro tip: Stop judging your idea too early. The gold is often buried under noise.
📚 Why the “Messy Middle” Matters
The gap between spark and song is where your sound takes shape.
But here’s the secret:
It’s not about working harder. It’s about listening smarter.
Bonobo listens to his tracks while walking or driving; it re-contextualises the idea.
Four Tet gets unstuck by diving deep into other music.
Rick Rubin says step away when stuck. Wash dishes. Let your subconscious solve it.
“Distraction is not procrastination. It’s a strategy.”-Rick Rubin
Finding Your Sound (Not Someone Else’s)
You don’t “invent” a sonic identity. You notice it.
Ask yourself:
What textures do I keep using?
What emotions show up in my loops?
What sounds just feel like me?
Try this:
Build a Sonic Mood-board:
3 tracks you love
2 textures you return to
1 word that describes your vibe
Tape it up. Let it guide you.
From Chaos to Clarity = Subtraction
Once you’ve got ideas:
Start removing what doesn’t serve the song.
Rubin: “The subtractive part is where essence shows up.”
Play your track on a phone, in the car, on cheap earbuds.
Can you still feel the emotion? If not — simplify.
Quick Tips to Shape Raw Ideas
→ Use a “scratchpad” project
→ Tag sketches by energy or mood
→ Give each idea a name (even a dumb one)
→ Duplicate + remix your own loop
→ Let flow happen — analyse later
Creative Philosophy Recap
Sonic identity isn’t found. It’s revealed.
Process > perfection.
Energy = compass.
Subtraction = clarity.
Distraction = tool.
Want to Go Deeper?
Books:
The Creative Act – Rick Rubin
Making Music: 74 Strategies – Dennis DeSantis (free on Ableton’s site)
Talks:
🎙️ Tape Notes
🎥 Brian Eno @ Red Bull Music Academy
Tools:
🎴 Oblique Strategies – Brian Eno’s creativity prompts
This Week’s Sonic Challenge
👉 Pick one raw sketch from your drive.
Give it:
A name
A reference track
One small next step
And remember:
“Where there’s excitement, there’s energy. And where there is energy, there is light.” Rick Rubin
Hope this sparked something! Until next time keep creating and stay curious.
