Hey Reader, right now I’m lying under a sunshade, sweating my ass off. It’s getting hot in Germany – and honestly, the pool looks way more tempting than my laptop. Still, here I am. Writing this newsletter. #33 in a row. Every Tuesday, for the past 33 weeks, I’ve sent out a letter like this. Was it always fun? No. Was it always good? Probably not. But I kept going. And slowly, it got easier. Even fun. Same thing with music. I try to open Ableton every day – even if it’s just 15 minutes. Not to finish a track. Just to stay close to my sound. Because I know: if I want to release better music, this is what it takes. So let me ask you: If you had just 15 minutes today – what could you do to move forward? Here’s what I’d do:
It’s not always about writing a banger. It’s about keeping the momentum alive – even when it’s small. Takeaway: Progress doesn’t come from perfect sessions. It comes from showing up – especially when you don’t feel like it. Enjoy your week! Stay Productive, PS - Fun fact: I wrote this sweating under a sunshade. That’s commitment. Or poor planning. 🚀 Need a productivity boost?If you're ready, here’s how I can help you: Stay Productive Notion Template - The ultimate tool to organize your music business, manage your tracks, and stay productive. Designed for music producers. This email is sent by Stefan Lehmann via https://musicbyleman.com. I help independent music producers stay organized, consistent, and focused – even with a full-time job. These emails share tools, workflows, and personal insights to support your music journey. |
Get expert insights every Tuesday, tailored for music producers balancing a full-time job. This newsletter helps you streamline your workflow, boost productivity, and make steady progress in your music career with proven tips and weekly inspiration.
Hey Reader, Most of us live the same reality: A 9–5 job, sports, friends, family, daily stuff — and if you’re lucky, an hour here and there for music. In my case, add content creation, writing this newsletter… and a girlfriend who doesn’t enjoy music production at all. (Which means I also need to keep her entertained instead of locking myself in the studio 😉). With so much going on, it’s no wonder producers end up with the same story: Projects pile up.Loops never grow into tracks.And most...
Hey Reader, I’ve just launched the Track Finishing Blueprint 🔵 — the exact workflow I use to take tracks from the first idea all the way to release. If any of this sounds familiar… Lots of loops, few finished tracks Opening your DAW without a plan Tweaking details instead of making real progress …then this is for you. 🔑 What’s inside: Set Your Focus — turn big goals into weekly actions Prepare Your Session — reference mapping + a simple session checklist Create & Arrange — build the drop...
Hey Reader, Last week, I asked ChatGPT a question I’d seen from YouTuber Dan Martell: “Tell me something incredibly special or unique you’ve noticed about me, but you think I haven’t realized about myself yet. It doesn’t have to be something positive and you don’t have to be nice to me – just truthful.” This only works if the AI already knows you well – if you’ve been using it for a while and it’s seen how you think, work, and make decisions. I was feeling slightly stuck. My product work had...