If you’re an artist who writes, records, and produces your own music, you’ve probably experienced the frustrating limbo of having a mostly finished track sitting in your DAW — weeks (or months) after the initial inspiration.
The core idea is strong.
The parts are mostly there.
But something’s not clicking — and you can’t quite tell why.
You tweak the snare. You double the chorus vocal. You throw another plugin on the master bus. And still, the track doesn’t feel done.
Sound familiar?
You’re not broken. You’re just doing too many jobs at once — and here’s what to do about it.
The 3 Big Reasons Self-Producers Struggle to Finish Songs
1. You’re Too Close to It
When you’ve spent hours recording, editing, comping, and mixing your own track, your brain stops being able to hear it objectively. This is real. It’s called listener fatigue — but it’s also emotional bias (‘demo-itis’). You’re attached to the work because you built it from scratch.
You start to lose the ability to tell whether the vocal’s too loud or just louder than you’re used to. Whether that middle eight is actually boring or you’re just sick of hearing it.
2. You Don’t Have a Clear Finish Line
Most self-producing artists know how to start — but not how to finish. You chase a vibe, build out a section, add parts… and then what? How do you know when it’s enough?
Without an outside perspective or a clear goal, you can fall into endless tinkering mode. This is where good songs go to die.
3. You’re Playing Too Many Roles
You’re being the songwriter, the arranger, the producer, the engineer, and the mixer. That’s a lot of hats — and none of them are getting your full attention.
It’s like trying to write a novel, design the cover, edit the manuscript, typeset the pages, and do the marketing… all at once. Even if you can do all those things, should you?
How to Fix It (Without Selling Your Soul to a Label or an Algorithm)
1. Define the Goal Before You Hit Record
Is this a single you plan to release? A song for your EP? A sketch to send to a collaborator?
Knowing what job the song needs to do helps you make better decisions and avoid the “maybe I should add a sax solo?” spiral.
2. Bring in an Outside Ear
This doesn’t have to mean giving up creative control. It means letting someone else hear the song with fresh ears and help you make decisions — even if that’s just “this part’s working, this part isn’t.”
A good producer or mix engineer (hello 👋) helps you keep the emotion intact while solving the technical and creative problems you’re too deep inside to see.
3. Work in Stages, Not Spirals
Set yourself mini-deadlines:
- Song is written = done
- Rough production is done = done
- Arrangement locked = done
- Mixing tweaks only = done
Each of these stages a decision point. Every time you say “done,” you get closer to releasing. Avoid the endless loop of “what if” by making one choice at a time.
Bottom Line: Finishing Is a Skill — and a Team Sport
If you’re making music alone, it’s easy to think you should be able to do it all.
But the truth is, every great record is finished by more than one person — even the ones that sound DIY.
So if you’re stuck, it doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It just means you’re ready for that next level of collaboration. And that’s where I come in.
If you’ve got a track in limbo, send it my way — I’ll tell you what it needs (and what it doesn’t). No pressure. Just honest ears and a plan to help you finish.
Steve Baker 