What I've Learned This Year

I keep a running list of things that seem important to remember in my notes app. Here is a summary of this years entries.

• I learn from trial, error, forgetting, relearning, and occasionally doing the opposite of what I know works. Theres no way to remember everything, its more important to me to practice and develop my INSTINCT which is the only thing thats actually consistent day in and out.

• Don’t romanticize ideas to the point that you’re afraid to touch them. Preciousness is just procrastination in nicer clothes.

• Even if the rabbit hole of curiosity sends you in a tailspin, the outcome is still important.

• I don’t believe in writers block but I do believe in 9 bad ideas to get the 10th good one worth pursuing. It takes a lot of stamina to stick with it to find gold.

• If I am in a bad mood or not happy with the way work is going I will go for a walk or take a 20 minute nap - anything to jump my brain into a different mindset. Walking especially is the key to many artists unraveling the knots of frustration in their minds.

• That said, commitment isn’t white-knuckling yourself into burnout. It’s learning, unlearning, pacing, and knowing when persistence might turn into self-harm.

• You don’t have to share everything. That is not anti-gatekeeping. You are allowed to have secrets and systems that no one knows.

• Environment matters. We may not always be able to afford or have access to the rooms or living situations that would inspire our best work, but even small changes or effort into making where we work a secret garden or expansion of our mind can help immensely.

• Staying up all night to follow a real creative thread is one thing. Staying up out of fear or stubbornness wrecks judgment and confidence for days.

• Become a collector of work that moves you not just as a fan, but as a craftsperson studying the lineage. Revisit your archive and notice what resonates.

• When something stands out, ask what makes it different. The contrast between the extraordinary and the competent is where the lesson lives.

• Think in blueprints. Map structures, arcs, energy, pacing. Patterns reveal themselves when you stop over-analyzing the surface.

• Its okay to borrow principles, invite influence, pull from adjacent fields, then build something honest from your own center.

• Expect the gap between your taste and your ability. Vision improves faster than execution. Professionals live in that gap longer than amateurs are willing to because they have the experience that shows this is where the revelations happen most.

• References are best used as a compass and not the map.

• I try to take on work where I can find creative, emotional, and spiritual fulfillment. Sometimes it becomes “a job,” but the north star is still contribution and integrity.

• You can’t manufacture passion for people who don’t want it as bad as you do.

• Most people don’t fall short on talent. They fall short on patience, discipline, and curiosity.

• Beware of self-sabotage. Do not worry about what others do. Lean in to who you are and how you see the world.

• Work moves in cycles. Momentum, slowdown, doubt, renewal. Fighting the cycle makes it worse. “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose.”

• Crushing your mix trades emotion for nothing.

• Use more mics on your drums. Use more space and air. Manipulate the room response by either moving the mics or moving the kit.

• I don’t believe in templates or chains per source. There is consistency to my approach but I never say no to any outlandish approach unless its more convoluted than it needs to be.

• Gear matters less than people think. Some analog pieces are truly special, but taste, judgment, and intention are the real bottleneck.

• I work in the box. Plugins, saturation, EQ, layering, and taste dictate my problem solving. I think about signal processing not by what unit is being used (LA-2A) I think about it in terms of what the effect is (Opto Compression) and what the desired outcome is supposed to sound like.

• The only way any studio survives is by serving their communities and rejecting the myth of competition. We need big rooms, small rooms, improvised spaces, basements, sunrooms, closets, whatever. We need all of it.

• Free work almost always costs the most. Without money, boundaries disappear and expectations inflate.

• Reality has a price and a timeline.

• Leave the studio regularly. Invite people to the studio for things other than work.

• Ask better questions of the people you learn from. Don’t ask for vague feedback. Ask about process, constraint, failure, and tradeoffs. Insight lives in the path, not the outcome.

• There is no cutoff age for making music. There is no finish line everyone else already crossed.

• Start dates matter more than due dates. Momentum shows up after you begin.

• Hold on to anything that makes you feel something. That material becomes work later.

• Build a workspace that supports your brain and body — sometimes that’s light, air, quiet, or a single small change.

• Everything else like tools, platforms, or trends is all logistics.

Learn more about 1:1 consulting

If this resonated and you’re looking for practical support applying these ideas to your own projects, I offer one-hour 1:1 consulting sessions for artists and engineers covering any of the following:

• Structuring a recording, mixing, or mastering project

• Diagnosing what’s actually holding your work back

• Making technical decisions without chasing trends or gear myths

• Improving workflow, consistency, and critical listening

• Preparing a record for release with confidence

• Navigating DIY vs professional production decisions

• Positioning yourself as an artist, producer, or engineer

• Pricing, boundaries, and sustainability in creative work

• Reviewing mixes, masters, or in-progress material with experienced ears

Some testimonials:

June Isenhart (Recording Engineer)
“Dereck is knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in helping others succeed. His mentorship made an intimidating industry feel accessible, and he continues to be a trusted resource and friend.”

• Michael Cataldo (Recording Engineer)
“Working with Dereck over eight weeks was transformative. His insight, honesty, and guidance strengthened my skills, my mindset, and my confidence in building a sustainable career.”

• Emma Newton (Producer / Engineer)
“Dereck combines deep technical knowledge with compassion and community-minded leadership. Through his mentorship I gained practical engineering skills, business clarity, and a stronger sense of connection and purpose in my work.”