Taking Your Music to the Next Level: What I’d Do If I Were You

Taking your music to the next level is one of the hardest challenges you’ll face as a music producer. It requires consistent practice, focused learning, and often some level of investment. From my own experience producing electronic music – and from working with students at The Sound Lab – there are a few core principles that make a real difference.

If you’re wondering how to improve your music production and move beyond basic tracks, this is exactly what I’d focus on.

1. Practice More – Especially the Things You Avoid

If you want to improve as a music producer, you have to work on the areas you find uncomfortable. Avoiding weaknesses is one of the biggest reasons producers plateau.

Here’s how to tackle it:

• Start with problem areas: If breakdowns, basslines or lead sounds slow you down, centre your next project around them.

• Collaborate for accountability: Working with other producers forces you to push through creative resistance.

• Schedule study sessions: Analyse tracks in your genre, break down arrangements, and apply what you learn immediately.

• Create repeatable workflows: Whether it’s sound design, arrangement or mixing, consistent workflows build confidence and speed.

Deliberate practice is one of the fastest ways to take your electronic music production to the next level.

2. Learn from People Who Are Ahead of You

One of the most effective music production tips is simple: don’t stay in a bubble. Progress accelerates when you learn from producers who are already where you want to be.

Ways to do this include:

• Collaborating with more experienced producers and studying how they structure drums, automate energy, and mix elements.

• Hiring professionals to mix or master your track, then comparing their version to your own.

• Working with a mentor who can give targeted feedback and explain why certain decisions work.

At The Sound Lab, we see producers improve dramatically through 1-to-1 mentoring and focused feedback sessions.

3. Define What Makes Your Music Unique

To stand out in electronic music, you need a clear artistic identity. This doesn’t mean every track should sound identical – but there should be a consistent mood, energy or feeling across your work.

To define your sound:

• Decide what you want listeners to feel when they hear your music.

• Create a simple mind map with 3–4 words that describe your artist identity.

• Make consistent sound and arrangement choices that support that identity.

Your signature sound is built through repetition and intention – not a single plugin or preset.

4. Focus on Storytelling and Arrangement

Once your technical skills improve, the biggest gains usually come from better composition and arrangement.

Key principles:

• Cut sections that don’t add energy or progression.

• Introduce small changes every 8–16 bars to maintain interest.

• Hold back your main hook to build anticipation.

• Work on multiple ideas and combine the strongest ones.

At this stage, taking your music to the next level is about keeping listeners engaged from start to finish.

Longevity Is Everything

Improving as a music producer is a long-term commitment. Real progress comes from:

• Showing up consistently over years, not weeks

• Developing as a producer, DJ and artist

• Finding inspiration beyond a single genre or label

• Listening to mixes, podcasts and long-form sets

These are the principles we build on through our music production lessons and DJ courses at The Sound Lab.

If you’re ready to take your music to the next level, we offer 1-to-1 mentoring, detailed feedback sessions, and practical training both online and in our Lincoln studio.

Book your free discovery session today and start building long-term progress in electronic music production.