Reading this made me think about how my daughter and I dance around the living room. We don’t need anything fancy, just a song and some space. When I overthink it or try to do it right, the joy disappears. This newsletter feels like that same reminder: tools can help, but they can’t replace attention or care. I really appreciate how clearly you laid that out. Thank you Idris Elijah for writing something that applies to so many fields!
Mmmh, you discovered something real in those moments, and yes, you can’t overthink as a result. Attention and Care is the key!! And thanks for being here, Maria!!! 🤩🤩🤗🤗
I’ve hidden behind plugins when a chord progression wasn’t doing the job many times. The line about reverb decorating bad decisions made me laugh because… yeah. This reframed taste as the real bottleneck, not gear or software. It makes me want to strip sessions back and trust fewer choices instead of better tools. Thank you Idris Elijah for spelling out these ideas so clearly!
Loving these takeaways! It is about finding a balance. And nice, I thought it was funny too 😜 But you’re also right, taste is the bottleneck, but I good one to have until you can systematize it.
I loved the part about taste showing up through restraint. I’ve absolutely been guilty of adding instead of deciding…More layers, more tweaks, more “maybe this fixes it.” What made sense to me was the idea that tools just speed up whatever judgment you already have. That explains why some things I create move fast but still don’t feel finished. This was a good reminder to slow the decision-making down, not the process. I appreciate the care and honesty in this newsletter Idris!
I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of thinking better materials or new tools would magically sharpen my art when what actually matters is knowing when to stop, what to leave out and what deserves attention. The part about tools amplifying decisions was my favorite because when the judgment isn’t there yet, all the options just create noise. This reminded me that restraint is a skill, not a limitation. Thank you Idris Elijah for writing this with so much intention!
Same here, and when you breakout doesn’t it feel god-like? What matters is knowing when to stop, what to leave out, and what should get attention. No matter the medium. Making choices because that’s something you would do. Asking questions. Experimenting. So that you never have to be lost. You’re welcome!! 😇
Faster drafting hasn’t made my writing clearer, it’s just made my habits louder. The distinction between fluency and clarity really stuck with me. Cutting, rereading and choosing emphasis is where the work actually happens for me and no tool shortcuts that part. This gave me a lot to sit with. Thank you Idris Elijah for sharing it today!
Reading this made me think about how my daughter and I dance around the living room. We don’t need anything fancy, just a song and some space. When I overthink it or try to do it right, the joy disappears. This newsletter feels like that same reminder: tools can help, but they can’t replace attention or care. I really appreciate how clearly you laid that out. Thank you Idris Elijah for writing something that applies to so many fields!
Mmmh, you discovered something real in those moments, and yes, you can’t overthink as a result. Attention and Care is the key!! And thanks for being here, Maria!!! 🤩🤩🤗🤗
I’ve hidden behind plugins when a chord progression wasn’t doing the job many times. The line about reverb decorating bad decisions made me laugh because… yeah. This reframed taste as the real bottleneck, not gear or software. It makes me want to strip sessions back and trust fewer choices instead of better tools. Thank you Idris Elijah for spelling out these ideas so clearly!
Loving these takeaways! It is about finding a balance. And nice, I thought it was funny too 😜 But you’re also right, taste is the bottleneck, but I good one to have until you can systematize it.
I loved the part about taste showing up through restraint. I’ve absolutely been guilty of adding instead of deciding…More layers, more tweaks, more “maybe this fixes it.” What made sense to me was the idea that tools just speed up whatever judgment you already have. That explains why some things I create move fast but still don’t feel finished. This was a good reminder to slow the decision-making down, not the process. I appreciate the care and honesty in this newsletter Idris!
Love when you said tools speed up whatever judgment you already have, spot on! Thank you Brian for your support!! 🤩🤩🤗🤗
I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of thinking better materials or new tools would magically sharpen my art when what actually matters is knowing when to stop, what to leave out and what deserves attention. The part about tools amplifying decisions was my favorite because when the judgment isn’t there yet, all the options just create noise. This reminded me that restraint is a skill, not a limitation. Thank you Idris Elijah for writing this with so much intention!
Same here, and when you breakout doesn’t it feel god-like? What matters is knowing when to stop, what to leave out, and what should get attention. No matter the medium. Making choices because that’s something you would do. Asking questions. Experimenting. So that you never have to be lost. You’re welcome!! 😇
Faster drafting hasn’t made my writing clearer, it’s just made my habits louder. The distinction between fluency and clarity really stuck with me. Cutting, rereading and choosing emphasis is where the work actually happens for me and no tool shortcuts that part. This gave me a lot to sit with. Thank you Idris Elijah for sharing it today!
Exactly, I feel the same way. You right! No tool shortcuts cutting, rereading, and choosing emphasis. Thank you!! 🙏🏾