Ah, the never-ending “need” for more. It’s all around us these days. Many people believe we’ve hit peak consumerism – the act of buying stuff for the sake of, well, buying stuff. More more more more more (did I write that enough times?). Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be another essay on the pitfalls of consumerist culture (though I have a few keys feelings about that topic). I just want to tell you how I manage to be a minimalist musician.

For the post, I will assume you don’t want to get sucked into buying a ton more stuff for your music career (or music hobby). Whether you’re anti-consumerism or you’re just plain broke ❌💵 I got you.

I get it. I’ve felt it. I’ve bought into it.

A little backstory about how I fell into the Buy More, Be Better mindset

When I started my past career as a marketing specialist and copywriter I felt that “needed” so many things. I put quotes around that because they weren’t really needs, they were just packaged to make me think I needed them. It seems I’d forgotten to play the “needs / wants” game my mom taught me when I was younger.

I thought I needed a new computer, all the fancy stuff for my desk, a new desk while I was at it, file folders, a stapler, a fancy copier machine, all the best software, and courses to upgrade my knowledge. Fast forward and I was spending more money than I was making some months. It took a little adjustment time but I soon understood – start up costs are a part of the gig but they don’t need to drown you in debt!

🫣 As someone who literally worked in marketing I’m a little ashamed about how long it took for me to realize I was being conned into buying things I didn’t need. (Side note – I made a point to use my skills in marketing to help people find things they already needed or wanted and refused to participate in predatory marketing tactics, but I knew how they worked).

I refuse to do that, again.

When I started making music again for the first time in about 20 years, I felt that pull, though, lol. But I’m happy to say I avoided the overspending trap.

Feel like you’ve lost your mojo lately?

Check out this post about: How to find inspiration for your arts when you feel like you have no creativity left.

How I avoid buying things I don’t need for my music career

I’m gonna tell you what’s worked for me and, hopefully, some of that will work for you, too. Here are the key things I keep in mind when it comes to making music.

1. Start with what you have to make music with and what you can get for free

This is literally the best advice I can give. You’ll be surprised what you can do for (basically) free. I can’t say it’s completely free because you’ll still need the internet and I’m assuming you already have a computer with a keyboard for some of the options I’m about to put forward.

You can start writing your songs with a guitar or keyboard (or any other instrument) you already own. Can’t play it very well? YouTube has a ton of free videos to teach you almost anything you wanna learn.

A free DAW (digital audio workspace) like Ableton Lite allows you to create music for absolutely no money at all. Let me be clear, I’m not an affiliate, I just love Ableton for this feature. They let you use up to 8 tracks per song when creating and it comes with tons of free sounds, effects, etc. I make full songs with Ableton Lite.

You can even use your computer keyboard as a MIDI controller for Ableton (and probably a lot of other programs) so you can key in different instruments!

2. Make a list of things you want to get to build up your career

Ready to actually record yourself? You’ll need to get a preamp, some cables, and a microphone, depending on what you’re trying to do. Or you can book yourself some studio time with a professional… but yes, these things cost money.

My first investment was a preamp because I already had an old electric guitar and a cable to connect that guitar to the preamp. I ran everything through to Ableton and there I was, recording my first single in over 15 years. I saved up and purchased a proper cable for an old microphone and suddenly the song was done! (This was a multi-month process).

Here’s an alternative I did once upon a time. It was hard to mix and master in the end and didn’t sound amazing, but I created my first album using sound loops and MIDI on my computer, put that onto a disc and took it to a local studio where I recorded just the vocals on top of the track. Like I said, it’s not the best solution but it’s good for beginners!

My second big investment was my acoustic guitar. I haven’t actually recorded an acoustic song yet, but having an acoustic guitar has been huge for my overall creative process. (Next up on my list is a full keyboard MIDI controller so I can play piano parts as well as create MIDI melodies with ease).

3. Commit yourself to making a certain number of songs with what you already have before upgrading your gear, your software, or booking studio time

I continually assume, in this post, that you aren’t looking for perfection straight out the gate. I assume you’re open to growing and learning and evolving as an artist. And, to be honest, some of the best music out there is stuff that was created with very little. Think about the iconic songs of the 60s and 70s that used little more than a guitar, a bass, and a drum kit.

If you’re a solo artist who isn’t about to go record yourself full on playing drums, think about the things you can do with a MIDI setup and a drum rack in Ableton. All it takes is a little learning.

My point, here, is that you don’t need all the fanciest gadgets and effects and software and instruments. My favourite song I’ve ever made (Coast of You) uses a few key features of Ableton and a ton of tracks BUT it’s mostly just a synth, my vocals, MIDI bass, a drum rack, and my guitar + a little delay and a lot of reverb.

You can even skip a drum rack altogether and use a microphone to record yourself tapping on something to add a unique beat. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Music is art. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

4. Remember to do what works best for you

That sounds simpler than it is. At the end of the day, you gotta ask yourself what’s truly in your best interests.

If you’re trying to make a serious music career and you wanna quit everything else you do, get signed, go on tour, etc. or even if you wanna make it on your own by pumping out songs at breakneck speed online, touring, paying for ads, etc. well… you might need to spend money quickly and you might find that you’ll spend way more than you’ll make for a while.

But, if you hit it big, those things pay themselves. If you don’t, you might need a backup plan. But hey, at least you tried!

Now, if you’re like me and music is more of a hobby, it’s probably in your best interests to prioritize be careful with your money. In that case, or if you’re trying really hard not to overspend, you’ll probably wanna follow numbers 1-3 on this list.