This was such a fun read for me because I’m literally learning little dance routines with my daughter right now and repetition is everything. At first something feels exciting, then after a few run-throughs you can tell what actually flows and what just felt good in the moment. I loved this perspective. It made me think about how that same idea shows up in everyday life too. Thank you Idris Elijah for consistently putting out such thoughtful content, I always take something real from it!
Repetition is everything! I wish more creatives understood this, because the things that repeat allows for what really matters to shine through. Love these takeaways! Thank you for sharing!! 🤓🤗🤩
I’ve definitely had hooks I loved for about five minutes and then by the sixth loop I’m already skipping it 😭 The 10 listen idea makes it real though. It’s not about that first spark, it’s about whether it actually holds up. I can already think of a few hooks where I was doing too much instead of just locking into one feeling and letting it breathe. I’m going to start looping ideas way earlier and being more honest when something loses me halfway through. I needed that reminder to stop falling in love with the first version and actually test it. I really appreciate you writing this one for the music lovers Idris Elijah!
You’re most welcome, Brooke! Love that this resonated with you. It’s so easy to fall in love with an idea, but not so much when you sit with it and allow it to fill you up. That’s when you know you have something or don’t. I find this in music that I like all the time. 🤓🤗
This explains why some songs I love never get old and others I burn out on in like two days. I’ve definitely had those songs I play nonstop at first and then suddenly I’m skipping them by the end of the week. The ones that last always feel simple but hit something specific every time. Like I don’t have to work to feel it, it’s just there. I never really thought about it this way but it makes sense now why certain hooks just stick with me for years. Thank you Idris for a fun and educational newsletter today, it’s making me hear music a little differently now!
This was interesting to read as someone who works visually because the same thing happens with a piece. At first it feels exciting and full of ideas but the longer you sit with it you start noticing where it gets heavy or loses its edge. I think I sometimes add more trying to make something stronger when it actually works better once I take things away and let one idea stand on its own. I like the idea of holding up over time as a test. Not just does it look good right now but does it still feel right after you’ve lived with it a bit. Thank you Idris Elijah for consistently guiding me in what to pay more attention to!
I think you landed on something special here. As creatives we tend to ask ourselves, what else can I add? Instead of, what can I remove? I think the old adage, less is more is so valid here. And you’re most welcome! Pleased to be of help 🤓🤗😎
That feeling of something sounding great at first and then slowly losing its impact the more you sit with is what I run into all the time with my own writing. I think I’ve been guilty of hiding behind longer sentences instead of just saying the thing cleanly. Reading this made me want to go back and actually listen to my writing a bit more instead of just looking at it on the page. Thank you for writing this Idris Elijah, there’s something here I know I’m going to carry into my next draft!
I’ve been guilty of hiding behind longer sentences as well. But what I’ve learned through the years is to adopt a sense of rhythm in my writing. Long sentences to slow scenes down, short ones to speed them up. Hope this helps! 🤓🤗
This was such a fun read for me because I’m literally learning little dance routines with my daughter right now and repetition is everything. At first something feels exciting, then after a few run-throughs you can tell what actually flows and what just felt good in the moment. I loved this perspective. It made me think about how that same idea shows up in everyday life too. Thank you Idris Elijah for consistently putting out such thoughtful content, I always take something real from it!
Repetition is everything! I wish more creatives understood this, because the things that repeat allows for what really matters to shine through. Love these takeaways! Thank you for sharing!! 🤓🤗🤩
I’ve definitely had hooks I loved for about five minutes and then by the sixth loop I’m already skipping it 😭 The 10 listen idea makes it real though. It’s not about that first spark, it’s about whether it actually holds up. I can already think of a few hooks where I was doing too much instead of just locking into one feeling and letting it breathe. I’m going to start looping ideas way earlier and being more honest when something loses me halfway through. I needed that reminder to stop falling in love with the first version and actually test it. I really appreciate you writing this one for the music lovers Idris Elijah!
You’re most welcome, Brooke! Love that this resonated with you. It’s so easy to fall in love with an idea, but not so much when you sit with it and allow it to fill you up. That’s when you know you have something or don’t. I find this in music that I like all the time. 🤓🤗
This explains why some songs I love never get old and others I burn out on in like two days. I’ve definitely had those songs I play nonstop at first and then suddenly I’m skipping them by the end of the week. The ones that last always feel simple but hit something specific every time. Like I don’t have to work to feel it, it’s just there. I never really thought about it this way but it makes sense now why certain hooks just stick with me for years. Thank you Idris for a fun and educational newsletter today, it’s making me hear music a little differently now!
You’re most welcome, Brian! Glad you got something out of this issue. 🤓🤗😎
This was interesting to read as someone who works visually because the same thing happens with a piece. At first it feels exciting and full of ideas but the longer you sit with it you start noticing where it gets heavy or loses its edge. I think I sometimes add more trying to make something stronger when it actually works better once I take things away and let one idea stand on its own. I like the idea of holding up over time as a test. Not just does it look good right now but does it still feel right after you’ve lived with it a bit. Thank you Idris Elijah for consistently guiding me in what to pay more attention to!
I think you landed on something special here. As creatives we tend to ask ourselves, what else can I add? Instead of, what can I remove? I think the old adage, less is more is so valid here. And you’re most welcome! Pleased to be of help 🤓🤗😎
That feeling of something sounding great at first and then slowly losing its impact the more you sit with is what I run into all the time with my own writing. I think I’ve been guilty of hiding behind longer sentences instead of just saying the thing cleanly. Reading this made me want to go back and actually listen to my writing a bit more instead of just looking at it on the page. Thank you for writing this Idris Elijah, there’s something here I know I’m going to carry into my next draft!
I’ve been guilty of hiding behind longer sentences as well. But what I’ve learned through the years is to adopt a sense of rhythm in my writing. Long sentences to slow scenes down, short ones to speed them up. Hope this helps! 🤓🤗