James Berkeley

Artist 🎤 Producer 🎧 Composer 🎮 Yakul 🦌

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Maybe in life, our safeguards against perceived negative outcomes are actually the things that hold us back because we’re making decisions based on false information.

The Spilt Coffee Dilemma. Is that a good name?
2/2

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

I just spilt my morning coffee and made me think of a dumb stupid analogy. It wasn’t going to spill until I tried to stop it from allegedly spilling. My reaction caused it.
1/2

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

My second EP - feeling something, more or less is out today! 🫶

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

‘Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough’

This Julie Cameron quotes hits ✊

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Examples of how increased effort doesn’t always lead to better outcomes:

1. Trying to play the best you’ve ever played on a show
2. Trying to write the best song you’ve ever written
3. Trying to fall asleep

Sometimes the goal is reached by focusing on things around the goal

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Disappoint other people before you disappoint yourself

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

What’s a trait you have that looks positive on the surface, but underneath actually holds you back? I’ll go first:

Weaponising work ethic as a means of achieving goals rather than being smarter and more tactile (and probably a bit lazier)

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

When you have the time, audience and budget it’s a lot more viable to get into the minutiae but early on you’re probably just procrastinating

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Your level of perfectionism should have an inverse correlation with your audience size

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

If you get too entrenched in a certain way of writing then you’ll miss out on every idea that doesn’t fit into that box. Be fluid with your process and listen to what’s trying to come out 💭

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Reminder not to ruin a song by leaving a part in that doesn’t work, even if it’s your favourite bit. Be willing to let go of anything in the best interest of the song. Take your ego out of it

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

What’s your favourite quote about the writing process? This is mine at the moment:

“Writing is like driving a car at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Never underestimate the potential of a terrible first draft / demo

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Anyone needing some motivation to practice today, here’s some reasons:

- It’s satisfying to watch yourself progress
- Being in control of your attention brings a deep sense of calm
- You can lord your newly learned skills over everyone around you

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Start writing songs like you’re making a Pinterest board - just follow what excites you and figure out what goes together later.

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Coldplay’s album Parachutes came out the same year that D’Angelo released Voodoo and that just doesn’t compute in my brain

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Maybe you’re doing exactly what you should be, but you just haven’t given it enough time to see the results

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Nothing helps mental clarity like time away from your normal environment

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

Having boundaries is vital for us to maintain a healthy relationship with social media

[James Berkeley @JamesMBerkeley]

For anyone who needs to hear this (me) - an experience can be enough without having made a video of it or talked about it via social media. Not everything in your life has to be an opportunity for leveraging reach and audience growth.