---
title: "Epic Fail (How Failure Can Lead to Success)"

description: "I just had to trash a song I was working on. It hurts, but failure is a good way to know you’re taking risk. Failure is a teacher, so let’s unpack how to listen to it."

status: complete

date: 2025-06-03

kind: solo

guestSlugs: []

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Epic-Fail-How-Failure-Can-Lead-to-Success-e33kboj"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/epic-fail-how-failure-can-lead-to-success/id1567355195?i=1000711060911&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/21m5bfPsSTaTVzBIx7d2Ee"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Failure"
  - "Creativity"
  - "Self-assessment"
  - "Overcoming negative self-talk"
  - "Creative risk-taking"
  - "Navigating opportunity costs"
  - "The importance of reflection"
  - "The creative process"
  - "Finding your unique sound"
  - "Balancing ambition and safety"

hostNote: |
  I made a bad thing. I'm not going to release it. That's where this episode starts, not as a metaphor, but as the actual situation I was in when I sat down to record.
  
  The thing about scrapping a song is it robs you of nothing except the song itself. Every lesson inside it travels forward. I get into the two failure modes: cutting loose too early (before the process has taught you anything) and holding on too long (after you already know it's not working). The diagnostic I use is simple, go to bed, even just a nap, come back and listen as a critic instead of a creator. Sometimes I've surprised myself. The deeper principle: if you aren't failing, you might just be operating in too narrow a band of expression.
  
  What you leave with is a practical after-action framework for creative setbacks, how to separate what went wrong from what you learned, and why the nonlinear path is the only path there is.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Introducing the theme of failure"
    startSec: 46
    note: "I discuss a darker side of music making, emphasizing that failure is a normal part of the creative process."
  - label: "The emotional impact of scrapping a song"
    startSec: 136
    note: "I describe the difficulty of letting go of a song that isn't working."
  - label: "Key lesson on timing in the creative process"
    startSec: 236
    note: "I explain the balance between cutting something loose too early or too late."
  - label: "Importance of personal style"
    startSec: 270
    note: "I emphasize the need to embrace a unique vocal style rather than conforming to trends."
  - label: "Trusting the creative process"
    startSec: 317
    note: "Discusses the importance of letting the process unfold and not rushing to judgment."
  - label: "Utilizing reflection to improve"
    startSec: 403
    note: "I share the idea of conducting after-action reports to learn from experiences."
  - label: "Embracing failure as a stepping stone"
    startSec: 451
    note: "I highlight how failure can indicate that you're pushing creative boundaries."
  - label: "Recognizing the nonlinear nature of creativity"
    startSec: 588
    note: "I discuss the unpredictable path of creative success and the importance of flexibility."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "It just doesn’t very good. You know? I made a bad thing. I’m not going to release it."
    startSec: 97
    reviewed: true
  - text: "There are two things that I want to take away from it... it would have robbed me of all the lessons that I’ve learned from this song that I can apply to the next song."
    startSec: 181
    reviewed: true
  - text: "...if you aren't failing then you might just be in too narrow of a band of expression."
    startSec: 457
    reviewed: true
  - text: "...the best way is to go to bed, even if it's a nap, even if it's 30 minutes, but like literally reset the brain, come back, listen to it, and now you can be a critic because sometimes I've surprised myself."
    startSec: 365
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Everybody's got other things going on and you need to be flexible, risk-taking, always assessing and napping a lot when you can."
    startSec: 583
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What are the key lessons from failure in music production?"
    answer: "Failure can provide invaluable lessons that enhance the creative process, leading to personal growth and better artistic outcomes."
  - question: "How can artists effectively assess their work?"
    answer: "Going through a reflective process, such as conducting after-action reports, enables artists to understand what went well and what can be improved."
  - question: "What role does self-reflection play in the creative process?"
    answer: "Self-reflection allows artists to separate their inner critic from their creative instinct, facilitating better decision-making in their craft."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---