Fear Is Not Your Friend

The biggest enemy to art is fear. Fear causes artists to curb their vision, to play it safe, and to operate in a manner that is expected of them. In the recording studio fear manifests itself in many different ways. One can be afraid to try a new microphone or use a familiar one for a different purpose. An engineer can be afraid of upsetting an artist with an unusual sound. A producer may be afraid to let a group pursue a "new" direction. Record labels want you to do "what worked last time" or to "use 'so-and-so' because they had a hit with 'what's-his- name'." People are afraid of change and what lies outside the accepted norm. Fear will lead you down the safe and simple path, never pushing ahead, never bucking the norm and never breaking through to new sounds, songs and creativity.