Over the last couple of weeks, I found myself in a space of feeling like I should be producing electronic music, but not really having the desire to do it. Creatively, I felt a little lost. And yet, it seems like it is almost drummed into us (well, to me at least) that we should be able to produce on a constant cycle.

After an arduous, frustrating period of not producing, I took some time to reflect on this experience. In doing so, I was reminded of creativity and how it actually works. The result: an increased desire to produce again, a calmer mind, and an opportunity to shift focus just a little by making some small but important changes.

This post explores creativity and offers simple, effective approaches to getting your spark back when you have lost it.

There is much to be said about the forceful nature of producing electronic music when you do not feel like it. There is the internal pressure of thinking you should be doing it, the (potential) frustration of not feeling creative, and of course the external pressure to produce music with a deadline (if one exists).

On one hand, a little pressure can help. When you feel stuck, jumping into action often builds momentum, sparking ideas that often result in a finished track. This approach has its place.

But what happens when you have tried to push through? What happens when you sit down at your DAW to start a new project, or continue an existing one, and you just cannot seem to make anything worthwhile? What happens when, after hours of forcing yourself to create, you end up more stressed than when you started, frustrated at yourself for not being able to do it, and overwhelmed to the point where you have to walk away?

What can you do then?

As backwards as this advice may sound, walking away from making music when you feel creatively stuck is often one of the most effective approaches. It provides space to disconnect from the problem (feeling creatively stuck or uninspired), clears frustration and stress, and helps you reconnect to the direction you want to take.

So why does this work? To understand that, it helps to look at creativity itself.

Creativity does not come from the mind alone. It is not something you can figure out, or even plan for. That is efficiency, not creativity.

Creativity is something that comes through you. Without getting too spiritual, creativity is more aligned to the soul. Creativity is infinite. There are endless possibilities because creation is almost always based on what already exists, expressed in a new unique way. And there is no limit to that. With sound, we continually find new ways to adjust, position, transform, and create it, birthing new music and genre all the time. That is what makes electronic music so exciting (well, to me anyway).

Therefore, to access creativity, you must be available for ideas to come through you. In other words, you cannot be stuck in your head trying to figure it out.

Being stuck in your head means you are trying to create from the known. Yes, creativity is based on what you already know, but unless you want to be a carbon copy of what you have already produced (or another producer), you must also access the unknown. And that access point is not through your thoughts; it is through your emotions.

Just like music has notes on a scale, emotions have a scale too. It is also based in frequency. As human beings, our senses interpret energy or frequency. Most of us know that light is a frequency and sound is a frequency, but everything around us has a frequency.

How we feel is an energetic frequency. And it can be measured. I have explored multiple emotional frequency scales, and while they differ slightly, they all point to the same general pattern. I am not getting hung up on which one is right or wrong, because the specifics are not important right now, so here is one example:

This image offers a way of measuring the intangible. It points to our way out of heavy states and highlights the emotions associated with feeling good and feeling pretty terrible. To understand the basics, if you look at the LEVEL column, you’ll find words that we typically call emotions. The column titled EMOTIONS are then the typical experiences associated with that emotion. The PROCESS column is how we usually behave.

I will create a separate post that goes into this Map in more detail, but for now, just observe that there are measured frequency levels for each of the emotions, processes etc.

The fact is, if you feel better (especially closer to the higher end of the scale), you will find it easy-er to access creativity. Your thoughts at this level work with you, not against you.

You might argue that some of the best music or art comes from people in pain— and that’s true. Powerful ideas can emerge from the darkest moments of life. But do you really want your life to revolve around pain and darkness just to create something meaningful? More often than not, though, people aren’t actually feeling these emotions. How do you know? If you’re stuck in your head, you’re not feeling— and that’s where creativity comes from.

Being stuck in your head usually reflects an inability or unwillingness to feel. When you are trying to figure out a way forward and you feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, you are not feeling the totality of those emotions. You are often trying to use action to compensate for your frustration, which compounds on itself until you become so stressed you either lose your shit or walk away.

Both outcomes are valuable.

But you do not need to wait until you lose your shit to change. You can walk away at the first sign of blocked creativity and follow a few simple steps to get back into flow.

Once you have walked away, you are already on the pathway back to creative clarity. But you’re not done. It takes some work. Picking up your phone and scrolling socials is not helpful. It is a distraction. Same with switching on the TV. Same with alcohol and drugs.

Yes, you might argue that alcohol or drugs help you relax and tap into creativity. And that is often true. The question then, isn't whether or not alcohol or drugs are effective in helping you access a creative state, it's whether or not you want to continue relying on alcohol and/or drugs to be creative. If so, your success as a DJ and Electronic Music Producer now depends on a habit that harms your mental and physical health. Thus, if you want a long, successful and enjoyable career in electronic music, it is not exactly a sustainable long-term approach.

What follows is a way to move from frustration, stress, and overwhelm into clarity and creativity, without relying on external substances.

Stop what you're doing and step away from your computer, instruments, or synths. Creative blocks often worsens the more you try to push through it. Create space physically and mentally.

Your nervous system is likely in overdrive, making it harder to access creativity. The quickest way to find calm is to focus on your breath.

Find a quiet space, sit or lie down, and breathe slowly in and out through your nose. This signals safety to your body, which helps you relax and settle the mind. If you fall asleep during this, that’s okay! (More on this in another article!)

Nose breathing is crucial: ever see someone having a panic attack breathe calmly through their nose? Exactly. Mouth breathing typically signals stress; nose breathing promotes calm.

To deepen your calm:

Optional: Put on ambient music to help focus.

Within 5–10 minutes, you’ll likely feel more grounded and clear-headed.

Once you’ve regulated your nervous system, move. Dance to music (ideally not the track you're working on), stretch, or go for a walk.

If you're still feeling stuck, take a real break:

Avoid the trap of "productive walking" (e.g., calls, messages). I might be calling out the obvious here, but it’s not f*cking rest if your brain is still switched on! 😝

If you're still mentally cluttered after breathing and walking, a short nap can help reset your brain. Aim for no more than 30 minutes during the day.

Can’t nap? That’s okay! This is just one of many tools. Sometimes this might happen during/after Step 2. That’s good too, let your body lead, it knows what it wants!

Tap into your body’s natural dive reflex:

This can quickly reset your nervous system and pull you out of overthinking mode.

Learn more about the dive reflex here.


6. Take Real Time Off

If nothing else is working, you may need a real break. A day off (or maybe even a few!) could be exactly what your body and mind need.

This doesn’t mean working remotely by the beach with your laptop. True rest means fully disconnecting from your creative tasks. No music, no projects, no “just checking socials”. Ummm also, no phone!

Your body, your music, your mind and your business can survive a day without you, even a week. It’ll all be there when you come back.

Honor that. Seriously. You’ll return with more clarity and better focus.

If you follow the steps above, your creativity will return: genuinely and naturally. You’ll feel excited to make music again, not obligated. For some, that spark may come after Step 1; for others, it might take all six.

The key is to listen—to your body and your mind. Ignoring their signals once or twice might not hurt much. But when ignoring becomes a habit, like when sleep is cut short or your diet suffers or you’re constantly pushing through stress… there are consequences.

Eventually, your body will step in. Illness, exhaustion, or a complete emotional shutdown may force you to stop, whether you want it to or not.

Here’s the truth: we won’t feel inspired all the time. And that’s okay. We’re not machines. Creativity thrives on life itself: through relationships, love, challenges, growth, joy, and even rest. It needs both attention and disconnection.

If you don’t allow space for the rest of life, it’s hard to show up creatively when it truly matters, in the studio or behind the decks.

So go out. Live fully. Prioritize your health. Reconnect with what fuels you.

Your entire life (and your music!) will be better for it.

Adam Cox

We’re entering a new era of electronic music. An era where artists prioritise their health just as much as their music.

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