Before I went full-time into music, I was a college lecturer for about 9 years, I toured as a session drummer and did studio running/engineering in the evenings and between term time ... Through a friend of a friend I met a guy called "Joe", we only met the once, he worked from home scoring movies and adverts. I asked him what it's like to score films and essentially work for yourself, all he said was "no one really warned me how lonely and long the hours were but the works great. Just be careful of the loneliness". He lived in a house-share so I never really understood what he meant. He lent me two short books by The Lama Yeshe before I said goodbye to my friend, one called "The Peaceful Stillness of the Silent Mind" and the other "Becoming Your Own Therapist". I think about "Joe" quite often and still have those books, he was right about the lonely thing, I get it now! 🌱
I have the opposite problem. I live with my wife and daughter, so the process of creating music is very often interrupted - everyone needs to pay attention. I'm often nervous about this. But still, watching this video, I would not change anything in my life. I will advise the author of two options. 1. Learn to live with yourself as with another person - learn to enjoy it, revel in it.For many, this is a luxury. (At one time I lived alone and this approach helped me cope with loneliness). 2. Find activity related to other people - become a volunteer, take dance lessons, go to boxing - everything that is impossible to do alone. Thanks for the video, you're great, you're going to be fine!
Hey Will, I just watched your video with my boyfriend who also is music producer. Didn't know you before, but what you said about loneliness really touched me, because me and my boyfriend felt the same way for a long time. To me it seems like your life is a bit too organised sometimes. You're obviously very good in keeping your routines and being a consistent worker, but what is with the time inbetween, where you can let go and get out of yourself. You can try to search, if there are any groups in your area that enjoy a hobby together. You don't have to find a best friend but it brings a different kind of movememt and joy to your life. And now and then, try to do things without any purpose behind, just something that feels right in the moment. I think too much planning and routine can feel a bit like prison after some time. And one day per week where you just follow your gut is not enough! Free your heart a little bit more. My boyfriend also started to cry when we talked about the topic, because it affected him for such a long time. Wish you the best!! 🌻 Greetings from Austria.
I don’t know how much thought you put into this comment or if it was just off the cuff based on your own experiences, but you’ve absolutely nailed my thought patterns, routines, and behaviors-thank you! The question, “What is with the time in between, where you can let go and get out of yourself?” really stands out to me. You’re so right; I do need to get out of myself and do things without purpose. And, you’re absolutely right again-I don’t have to find a best friend - Sometimes it’s okay to just do things, talk to people, and not expect any deeper relationship to come from it. It’s definitely a case of too much planning and, if I’m honest, feeling stagnant in those moments in between. Your comment has really hit me hard, and I’ll definitely be re-reading it to motivate myself in the coming days. I’m so glad you reached out. I’m really happy you and your partner found each other, and it means a lot to know that others have been in a similar position and made it through. It’s a great reminder that loneliness doesn’t have to be an endpoint-just a bump in the road. Thanks again, kind stranger! 🌻
@@WillHattonpowerful thread here. I organize a lot but am learning to plan nothing or free form days. Hard cuz like you I love a routine! But getting there. Planning occasional trips, while actually hard to change my routine, feels great by the end. Great video! Made me think and feel
@@WillHatton So nice that my message actually reached you! I think we all have times where we really struggle with our lifes and feel kind of stuck. But from what I've learned it's exactly these times that give us the chance to realise what really matters. I think it's always an up and down in life and it's okay. Thank you for sharing your feelings! 😊 Sometimes we just need to put ourselves out there and good things will come on their own. ✌️ Still learning that myself! Just wanted to share my thoughts with you because I really felt your words.
@@juliarose3886I struggle with this too! It’s the fear of not being productive and/or missing opportunities. Hard to relax and progress at a desired pace, especially with work, partner, kids, hobbies and keeping your social media up to date ha!
Thank you for sharing your story Will! I feel that many of your followers, including myself, might appreciate this kind of content. While many people focus solely on well-“polished” content, I believe that sharing the realities behind it and your personal story can sometimes be even more unique. This is truly a valuable video!
Watched until the end without pausing and get distracted... This video was so engaging! But you forgot one thing man. Give yourself credit for this incredible determination and dediction you have❤ not many people are capable of this much discipline. Sending you a big hug😊 PS (that park close to your house is wonderful!)
Diego, it's always an absolute JOY to speak with you! I know, I know, I hear you - it's way too easy to be critical foremost before celebrating ourselves. Will strive to do better for myself! Appreciate you man, don't be a stranger - big love!
As a fellow musician, predominantly touring while trying to keep up with weekly content here on YT.... MAN I actually envy that sense of routine that you have. To be able to say "Wednesday's are for "x" thing" etc feels like such a nice thing to me. I don't have that, I have SUCH an all over the place schedule, hardly home longer than a week or 2, never know what the next day is gonna look like. There's a balance there somewhere.... I hope we both find it!
I hope we both find it! Do you keep a journal or diary? Perhaps that's where you can find my "Wednesday's are for..." If you were to schedule out a thing for every other day of tour, it might give you some routine whilst you're away "Monday's I get a fry up...", "Wednesday's I do Yoga between soundcheck and show time", "Friday's I try to listen to one new album between venues" ? I'm spitballing here!
Its great you were so open and honest 😊 Many people live such lives - at least theres a creative element , and we hope you branch out and shake things up with a radical break, holiday, romance , doing something different - yeh we all say that . Stay chilled .
What a refreshing and relatable video. I definitely can resonate with the isolation you mentioned in this. It’s unfortunately one of the reasons I have such long gaps between my videos. You are a great creator Will and looked up to by myself and the rest of the music production TH-cam community. Thank you for making this
Thanks so much bud, means the world coming from you, there isn't an episode of yours I've missed! Definitely need to get into the group activities, run club is on the agenda! Thanks for being part of the good side of the community too bro, appreciate you!
Wow. Thank you so much for sharing that very real slice of your life. I am a music producer who has only just taken the leap and quit my job to take it more seriously. I'm currently in the very early stages of learning how to live this way and it's been a pretty rocky start. Watching your video gave me some incredible insight and perspective and it will be playing on my mind. I was watching it to learn more than anything and I believe I did but if I had to say anything to offer some advice it would be that you seem very busy, the amount you do in a week made me feel like you deserve more rest, or more time just to spend doing whatever you want. I'm not sure how helpful that is but I just wanted to share! Also I don't want to dox you but I live in the same town as you and I would love to grab a coffee and connect! Peace
Bro, what a treat this video was. Very relatable as I fight a lot of the same demons with loneliness & feeling anxious about running out of time in the day. What I find frustrating is that many of my friends / collaborators do not live near me, so I can't quite get my human interaction fill from that. For me, having a dog and an amazing girlfriend surely help keep me grounded. Thanks for your authenticity and inspiration!
Dude, thanks for sharing your experience too! Totally agree - all the kind folks I've "met" and collaborated with (present company included) are from all different corners of the earth except mine hahaha! I've definitely been thinking about getting a pooch to keep me company, I think it'll get me out the house more often too! Thanks again bud, catch you soon!
Enjoyed this quite a lot. Cool of you being very real. Can relate with some of this as well. Something interesting in the balance of "wow what an absolute gift this is to do what I love for a living" and yet, still, the realities of life and some struggles still hitting hard in the midst of that gift. Anyways, hello from Minneapolis - glad youtube algos sent me here! -chris
Mr Hatton, I happened across your video and was impressed with, at first, your healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise and then your honesty in exposing something personal as loneliness. I'm sure the health implications from negative thoughts are not lost on you and I applaud your attitude of figuring it out instead of just giving in to it. Best of luck from the Divided States of America.
finally made it to watch this video. good job Will! I really appreciate your transparency. this video is dang inspiring and you are such a hardworking person. the way you get through each week with such a packed routine blows my mind. wish we lived in the same area. just wanna give you a big hug. I truly look up to you and I’m proud of you!!
hey will, I loved your video, it was a very authentic and honest view of music production life. Im also a music producer, about to be full time. but I did work from home at another job as I pursued music production for the last 5 years. your statements on loneliness really struck me because I suffered from that as well, I had a huge issue with it for years as I was at home the majority of my time, and my best friend was the outdoor cat that lived in my yard haha. I think the thing I learned from that experience and that I tried to improve (not100% successfully yet) was that I needed to find space and time that wasn't work while I was home. such as your work with the tape mod. its harder to find that separation in your work/life balance when your work is from home. not that you should find a new place to work, but spending some time outside doing other activities really helped. making new friends too. but mostly just not living in that chair all day. I hope it helps, best of luck to you! I look forward to seeing more of your content!
I absolutely loved this video-you’re so talented, and your passion for what you do really shines through. It’s incredible to see the effort you put into your craft, but hearing about your living and working situation really struck a chord with me. I also work on music full time from home, so I can relate to some of the isolation that can come with this lifestyle. Something that’s brought me a lot of fulfillment is volunteering-I’ve found it’s not only rewarding but also a great way to connect with people outside of the music world. It helps me step out of my bubble and see things from a new perspective. I wonder if something like that might resonate with you too? You’re truly inspiring, and I hope you find more ways to connect and thrive both in and out of your creative work.
This was both heartwarming and interesting. Also, great video and photography skills. It was really enjoyable to watch! Keep it up and also watch out for your mental health. You seem to have a very rough routine, which is good in the way that you are really good organized. But maybe you´ll find a way finding a bit more time for yourself and socialising. Wishing you all the best and thank you for this refreshing and honest video. I´m sure it wasn´t easy and took some guts shooting and uploading this video. Greetings and a hug from Germany. ❤
Thanks for sharing! That was a delight. I feel for you, with the loneliness- my life as a husband, parent, and touring musician with several bands is SO different from yours! Even though the creative work is similar in some ways, I have a lot more family obligations, and a lot more change from week to week. Some of your structure sounds really nice, but MAN I am grateful at all the variety I get to experience. Traveling to different places, playing different music for different crowds, hanging out with awesome bandmates in different groups- it's very fulfilling. If there's one thing I would encourage you to do, it's join or start a band. There's NOTHING like making music collaboratively, in person, and performing it for a live audience. The camaraderie would really do a lot to uplift you, I think. It's not always easy, but even working through interpersonal issues is SUCH a valuable life experience.
Hello Will, I enjoyed this video and checking out a week in your life as a full-time music creator. I found it to be unflinchingly honest which is refreshing! I commend you for being driven enough to go after your passion as a music creator. I encourage you to keep going and to always be steadfast in your honest expression!
I found this video very helpful. As a content creator and as a musician I really enjoyed your vlog. It's really insightful in looking into other peoples workflow and how others work. and make a living and do their lives. Great Video!
Your best vid bro, appreciate the honesty! Def recommend joining a bball/team sport or martial art class once a week to get that interaction and mid week energy boost.
Even though I do local gigs every week or so, this video is quite relatable, and I appreciate it. Your discipline is inspiring! Another thing you probably do but didn’t mention is the house projects and cleaning on the off-hours. Having pets, I basically need to dedicate more than half of my day off on cleaning around the house.
Hey Will! I've been in your shoes before when I lived solo, had a fully remote job, and was focused on creative projects that led to an isolated lifestyle. I found that focusing & being intentional with my support system, deriving less fulfillment from my career/music (mindset shift from expecting meaning -> nice to have), and keeping active hobbies with social elements (climbing/run club) were really helpful. Keep it up man, love your work. ❤
I REALLY appreciate your perspective and advice, thank you!! I need to take all of the words you said into consideration, there all areas I can improve, as you can already tell! I've recently noticed a weekly run club in my area and think that will be the first go-to! Thanks again!!!
I’m currently in exactly the same boat. Live alone now for the first time in years . Work remote and not on same piece of land as the rest of the team. I don’t work in music but studied it at uni and play guitar, drums and piano at night. It isn’t a very social hobby for me like it used to be. I was about to say take up golf and then I saw you at the range. Joining a club is good as you can play with randoms and get a good chat. It’s really good in the summer, less good in winter. Thanks for the video.
I feel you. We need connection and it's challenging without it. I was heading in the same direction as you've gone in terms of work. After my studies for audio in Vancouver I got ill and have spent 14 years on healing. It's given me space, time to reflect and perspective on what matters. We are of course all different, but I think once we are at the death bed (I've been there a few times now, luckily not my time yet), we won't look back at the work we've done, social status or money accoumulated. We'll look back on the connections we've had, the people we've met, places we've gone to, experiences shared, friends, family, community, having loved deeply, helped others, and all that. Thanks for sharing your insight! It's been fun to see your day to day and it seems like you're doing really well for yourself with your work! Hope you don't neglect the other aspects of life too, but you seem to be doing good. Stay safe and be well!
Hey Will! Great video, very well documented! I can sympathise with the isolation factor of being a music producer, you're not alone with that. Seeing my church family at the weekend is something that works great for me and going on walks to refresh things a bit. You're making some amazing content, keep up the good work! :)
Hey Will! Enjoyed your video as I was working. I think you're doing a great job at work/life balance. Life is crazy busy and there's always things that need to get done so you having even the mindset of getting time away from screens and getting outside is a huge thing. Keep it up!
This is my favorite video you’ve done. As a full time music producer I don’t think I’ve ever related more to a video 😂 I appreciate how much time and effort must have gone into making this. Just wanted to say THANK YOU. Love all of your content but this one was special💜
I can totally relate as a fulltime producer also. Going out jogging can be helpful for you and trying to work with other artists will make you feel less lonely. I tend to link up with the artists for recording, beat making or just hanging out over tea or coffee cuz I don't drink and that helps a lot. Helps refresh the mind, brings more inspiration for new ideas and just keeps your mind from blowing off. Great Video
Thanks for sharing this man. I’ll be honest, I don’t envy the grind! I try and do some of it on top of my career, partner, kids, gigs etc but I don’t know how you do it!
This video its a perfect example how music producers are working, i can feel your pain man but keep in mind your not lonely and if you are its better beacuse you have all the time with your self ,respect from Greece for your video is really educational (sorry if my English are bad)
Your video came up on my feeds, very interesting and engaging content, thanks for sharing. You come across as a very dedicated producer/content creator and I admire the way you structure your life. However I genuinely hope that you will find a way to make a living without isolating yourself. Don't forget to connect with your people and family. I think that's so important. Easy said from my point of view I know.. Anyway I wish you all the best
Good Video Will, this is the life we choose hard sometimes but there is allot of good in there , love to see your journey, keep the honest content coming. one l sol
Your video just showed up in my TH-cam home page and I wanted to watch it for the “music creator” stuff, but you really got me with your story. I guess there’s a lot of us feeling some kind of loneliness due to our very own different circumstances. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one feeling this way. Thank you for sharing, you’ve got yourself a new follower🤘🏻
The last part is really interesting. Because me personally, the professional life you live is the life I want to live. But I work 50hrs a week managing a pizza shop, married with a beautiful wife, and I just WISH I could buckle down and get back to producing music full time like I used to before when I was single and not in the workforce. I know it’s tough sometimes, but be grateful for the phase you’re in right now, because it won’t always be like that. You’ll find love, and connections, and everything you want because you’re clearly a good person with a lot to offer. Just wanted to send you that message. But my main piece of advice is: Call your grandpa!
I know how it is, I ended up focusing on my wifes career first and then when that was sustainable (took 12 years), now i'm finishing my degree for MP and finishing it up now. Good luck with finding the time and stability cause thats what really helps. lol Essentially buying time to invest in yourself :)
Thank you for sharing, it's all about perspective for sure! The pastures aren't always greener, we're all living our individuals experiences with drawbacks and points that are attractive to others. Thanks again!
Your car playlists sounds like mine lol Smooth guitar singer songwritter beach vibes and then boom face melting 808s lol Awesome video buddy! Good to see the life style of a fellow producer, I guess in a way it makes us see we're not so crazy afterall for chasing this unorthodox path and lifestyle. Thanks for sharing! Keep up the amazing content!
Great time management, and great perspective in life, Will!! One heck of a schedule. This is insane how much work musicians have to do nowadays because the industry is almost gone. Even though we were getting ripped-off years ago by the record companies, you could just do the music, and have less hats to wear. Hopefully it will change, and artists can just do their art... :-(
Hi Will, I can very much relate regarding the isolating loneliness involved with this. I rely a ton on natural light and house plants, and my pet dog. Also my boyfriend lives with me, who I love, but even still it's extremely isolating and lonely at times. I'm pretty introverted which doesn't help. But I wouldn't trade it for a "normal" job. I used to be a restaurant GM among some other things, and I'd much rather be doing what I love writing music. Just wanted to chime in and tell you thank you for your honesty with your video, and that you're not alone.
Maaaaan I hear u about how this can be such a lonely existence!!!! For me I try to alleviate some of that by working from a few different places/coffee shops every week. I find that helps break up some of the monotony of the day. Ofc I still get some days where I don't feel like doing anything. I guess my job is to figure out how to balance the productive days with the unproductive ones 🤷♂ Ps: you know my old lecturer Thomas Trueman!
Very hard to get out of this loneliness in the west, in particular. Between the work grind due to rising living costs and the dating scene being impossible... More and more guys have your kind of lifestyle than ever. Thanks for the candid video blog sir. It's very, VERY relatable.
This video is the most real thing I have seen on TH-cam and frankly, something that inspires me to tell my story as well. I can empathize with you, it's difficult but I guess we all need to work a little to have a life outside of work (something I suck at right now) loneliness is difficult, but something that has helped me be less lonely, make some new friends, bring work down and do some other things (it's reading, writing and art for me) find communities in non-music related spaces and trust me it'll make your music a lot better as well and your overall wellbeing good. You're amazing and you deserve this! take care of yourself bro! we're here to see you win!
First time on your channel. I like day in the life videos. It seems like you have cultivated a large self compassion lifestyle. Not bad depending on your personality type and goals. I've been where you are and now I'm on the other side. Non stop family, work, and self life. You always can add little by little experiences like trying a improv class. I'd like to have seen you make jams in the making. Maybe I'll have to check out another vid for that.
Enjoyed this Will… yeh, the loneliness is an issue for me too. But the time and space to do work is amazing. I just came out of a 5 year relationship with house stuff, step kids, my kid, partner, ex-partner … it’s such a feeling of freedom, but I ended up missing all the non digital creation chaos. I am where I am but creatively I’m in a good space. Just need to embrace the extra space to be creative more… I fail more than I succeed, but I make a good living out of it… I now have more time to recover from failure. Fail better is my mantra 😀 g
the one thing im getting from this is dont spread yourself too thin. Based on your outro, dont run the risk of getting to burnout from your creative passion by trying to do and be everything. I've had a very similar experience delving deep into music and now solely focus on teaching and practising/writing in my free time. it is super okay to have non creative days, weeks, months... rest is essential for introspection, reflection and recharge, we aren't meant to be ON at all times. human interaction is super important albeit difficult in this quite individualistic age. well done for building yourself a successful platform and keep going mate! great vid
Man that loneliness part at the end hit me hard. thank you for sharing, its tough to open up like that. Have you thought about reaching out to other musicians, particularly songwriters so you can do session work together IRL? making music with artists or for pitch. i think you would be great at it, since you seem like a great producer. Most of that scene is probably in london, but that definitely helped me with my loneliness. I used to have a lot of similar days like you, alone grinding out creative work. It was exhausting, but then eventually i got more confident in my work and started sending songs/ideas out to other people and started writing with them. over zoom or IRL. Probably the best decision ive ever made. I still make lots of music alone, but now 2 or 3 days a week i have a songwriting session with a few different people. made a bunch of friends and connections that way, lots of wonderful people out there! Also if you can show publishing companies that you can make good songs they can get you into writing camps with other people as well, and you can meet people that way, its fun!
Here in Italy we have a nice habit. We check out from work at 18/19, and before you go to make your dinner, you go out to a bar for "aperitivo". Drink a glass of wine or two and have a chat with other people hanging there for an hour. Stick to the same place for a while and you'll get to feel like home and chat to some friends every time you come. You just need to find the right place, where you order drinks to actual people . If you're not into wine you can always have a coke :)
haha 45 seconds in and all i gotta say is, you look lik eme when im going to work. work is work and sometimes work can just be a monotonous regardless of what we are doing. so thank you. instant sub. dont know how i've not seen your stuff before
This might honestly be my favorite video of yours. So incredibly vulnerable, but also very relatable. I work from home almost full time and spend my spare time making music. Even though I'm happily married and have a few friends, I can definitely relate to the solitude. Love this man. Wish we lived in the same area, so we could get each other out of our routines from time to time! 😅
Wow! Watched the whole video, very insightful. Really felt the meltdown. Been watching your videos for years you are super inspiring and super talented. Wishing you all the best!
This is the best video I saw in the last 3 months. I m so much connected. Thanks for sharing and speak out the truth ! Your life is very nice , but the trap is that when you meet people , you feel uncomfortable because you get used (and you like) being by yourself. At least this happens with me. I like you man, you re such a nice producer and human being . I watch all your videos !
Damn, man. That is one of the best and most accurate looks at what it takes to be a Content Monk. Laughed my head off at the "I went to the coffee shop because I craved human interaction and then a robot took my order." bit. So good. You just gotta laugh. Too much here to unpack in a simple TH-cam comment, but I'd love to catch up on a zoom or something in December, if you've got a free hour. More to commiserate, because I don't have any answers. All I can say is, you're weirdly alone, but not alone as well. Plus, I clocked something written on your whiteboard that I'd love to chat you up on. All in all, man...this was one of the best videos I've seen this year. As the kids say, "No Cap."
You just have to laugh, bud!!! I love the term "content monk" I will be stealing it, kindly. Absolutely, I have all the time for another catch-up! On or off the podcast, I'm game buddy!
@ haha. Not a steal: a gift, my friend! Awesome, I’ll hit you up on DM and we’ll put a date/time! Looking forward to catching up! Should we have whiskey at the ready? Haha
Hey Will, loved this video. You are very talented filmmaker, its beautifully put together film. Your film touched as it was so honest and open and refreshing to see behind the curtain of content creators. From the outside it looks like you have a double whammy of a completely remote job plus living alone, must be hard to not have much human contact. Dont really have any advice other than to say things will change, they always do so until be kind to yourself ! You are not alone!
Some times as creative artists, mixing business with our art is not that easy to find Ballance in our lives. Reminding ourselves of our end goal but at the same time, finding the time to connect and enjoy special moments wether in solitude or with others is a fundamental need not a want. Its great Will that you recognise this and looking for ways to make improvements in your lifestyle. I found this video so inspiring and want to thank you for your transparency in sharing. All the very best in your present and future ventures. 😊❤
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful message-it really means a lot. You're absolutely right; finding balance as a creative, especially when mixing art and business, can be such a challenge. It’s easy to lose sight of those fundamental needs, like connecting with others or even just taking a moment to enjoy solitude. I’m glad the video resonated with you, and your encouragement means the world to me. I’m definitely still figuring things out, but hearing from people like you makes the process feel less isolating and more like a shared journey. Thank you for your kind words and support-I truly appreciate it. Wishing you all the best as well!
Hey Will 🙂 this was a great video, and as someone said here, it's great to see the reality behind doing music full time and your own personal thoughts and feelings. I have these thoughts all the time and love routine as it's great for my mental health, but for the last few years, I've started noticing that routine can make me stagnant and trapped in a sense. I'd suggest treating your work like any other as a Monday - Friday and have at least 2 days off. It's easier said than done as I know myself what music work is like, but definitely having time to enjoy yourself and unwind is also so important. You know what they say about all work and no play 😅 Also, actively making an effort to socialise is also so important. I'm a bit introverted and have gotten more so since I moved out by myself and have no partner or pet etc but sometimes you need to force yourself, or these skills can stagnate as well. I really hope you find a better balance for yourself and take time to have fun also you have a great routine so far and have covered lots of great bases but this is something that we will always refine as our circumstances change over time. Take care of yourself, and feel free to reach out any time!
I love this video. Very open & honest. One thing I wills say is... Even though it may feel lonely, you're living someones dream. To do this, something you love full time rather than the normal 9-5. It's a dream no matter how simple it may seem.
Love this honest and sincere video that offer me a little bit blue but weirdly upbeat and healing kind of vibe! I can't do nothing but write this comment and subscribe!! Please keep up with your great content !!!
Good video! One of the reasons why I never went full in on this creative job thing. I love my day job and love my hobby even more because it's just that. One tip I would consider is doing charity work for half a day in a week or so. Very rewarding to give some back while meeting others that need us.
Appreciate your honesty mate ! Not many have the courage to express it . The fact that nobody waits for you at home , hits hard. I was thinking , as a suggestion, and because you re doing lots of walks by yourself. You know who d love them ? A pet . Have you ever consider that as an option to cope with loneliness? Take care now
Respect for an honest video dude. As long as you're clear on your 'why' then it's all good. What bothers me most is your keyboard angle - that's a recipe for RSI right there! Keep it flat and avoid future injury 🙏
Thanks for sharing this, man. Such an honest and insightful glimpse into your life. It’s clear from your work how much you care about music and enjoy helping others on their musical journey! I can relate, I sometimes get into cycles of not speaking to anyone or even going outside when I’ve got a lot of work on. It’s always inspiring to hear how others navigate this.
It is an interesting and important video reflecting modern life. If I might say, as you asked for such views. I see your life to be made up of 'snap-shots', almost glimpses of particular deeper lifestyles put together. I see that you need a partner to share your world and to take you on longer, deeper journeys - adding more detail and depth to your life. How you currently live is almost like that of a retired person (I know from personal and professional experience). I say all this with the best of intentions and genuinely wish you well.
Good video. I'd love to hang out with you. You seem like a genuine and nice guy. I'm an isolated person like you too, and I never see anyone. I feel that man, but you have a strong passion there. Hold onto that because that could become your thread of hope and joy, the only thing if that situation becomes to dire. Your passion for music will still be there. Much love man :)
Thank you for the very personal peak into your life. I work IN IT, from home too most days, but with a team on the other side of ms teams it never feels like I am alone. And with wife and two kids II sometimes long dearly for a little alone time. I look at it from this angle: nothing is forever, everything has its time. Lean into it, enjoy, times will change. And one thing, going for walk, exploring unknown places is my way to unwind. Should work beautifully in the uk. I use Komoot to come up with new places to visit. Very helpful way to change things up.
Will, from what I understand, you have a perfect life. The only reason a perfect life might not be happy is because you need things in your life that are not perfect. Helping others is helping yourself. I recommend that you spend some of your time helping others. These could be our animal friends. Maybe looking after a dog or a cat. Take care of yourself.
This video has really helped me, I recently quit my job and have been pouring my time into music production. Theres really a lot of similarities in your thoughts about being isolated. Brilliant video.
very great video, i am currently stuying audio engineering, I might have to start planning out my weeks like yo udo, very great video though, thank you for this, gonna look back over the next few days to see if there's anything else to take away from this
Great video, thanks for that! What could really help is finding a social sport activity. I boulder once a week and over the years have made many friends there. It's my little weekend before the weekend. Also, a small tip as a safety advisor, beware of the way your keyboard is placed. The constant flexion in your wrists is likely to cause issues in the long run ;)
Really enjoyed this mate and it resonated a lot with me as a solo creator and some of the comments are close to home as well. A few years back, I quit my job to focus on music stuff and moved back to my folks place for stability while I grew it, and I'm still here, so I sort of get away with the loneliness in the sense that there are people in the house. But I don't see my friends much and I'm often too burned out at the end of the day to reply to messages so I still feel very isolated. My creative bursts are first thing in the morning so I don't exercise or get outside in the morning, and then I get engrossed in Ableton and again, I'm too tired for anything else at the end. I feel like all my commitment to making music is paying off as I'm making headway with it, but I'm always knackered, isolated and gaining weight from sitting at a desk all day and not exercising. Ironically, where you could loosen your routine up a bit, I'm the opposite - I have ADHD and can't seem to address the admin + additional 'to do list' stuff with any cohesion! I'm going to take some of the more organised elements from your video and try to implement a bit of self discipline, and also reflect on the isolation and try to address that. You seem like a real genuine geezer mate, keep grinding.
Feel yeah man I’m in the same boat as you life is very lonely especially when all you do is work. You ain’t the only one out there having these types of issues. Just keep pushing and things will change. ask yourself what can I do differently and let that sit for mad long and it’ll come out of no where. I’ve been alone for 2 years with no one at all. I do the same type of stuff you do on your free time. There’s no pity for expressing emotions it’s how us humans feel.
This is brilliant.. yes you are kinda isolated.. but you are doing what you love every day.. imagine feeling that way and doing g what you hate every day on top.. I respect it.. keep going geeza!! Your doing great
Man I am a music business student how is actually working more than 60 hours/week from home but in Digital Marketing… I am thinking on working fulltime in music and believe me that you are lucky enough to take some walks… I can’t do that. You inspire to start my journey in full in music industry with this video. About loneliness just do the things you do with friends. Get some gym bro, get some yoga friend. Then you’ll be more happy 🙌🏼
Hey, Will. I really enjoyed this as a musician from the UK (with a very new family!) who has been considering switching to music full-time. Is there a parkrun near you? That might be a great way to keep the fitness up and meet people!
Before I went full-time into music, I was a college lecturer for about 9 years, I toured as a session drummer and did studio running/engineering in the evenings and between term time ... Through a friend of a friend I met a guy called "Joe", we only met the once, he worked from home scoring movies and adverts. I asked him what it's like to score films and essentially work for yourself, all he said was "no one really warned me how lonely and long the hours were but the works great. Just be careful of the loneliness". He lived in a house-share so I never really understood what he meant. He lent me two short books by The Lama Yeshe before I said goodbye to my friend, one called "The Peaceful Stillness of the Silent Mind" and the other "Becoming Your Own Therapist". I think about "Joe" quite often and still have those books, he was right about the lonely thing, I get it now! 🌱
Will defintely check the books!
find the balance go out more. thats also taking care of yourself. these are just lessons along the way. thank you for sharing them.
@@Prophesized1 Thank you for sharing too!
I want to do this....
Thanks so much for a look into your day in a life of a full time music creator
I have the opposite problem. I live with my wife and daughter, so the process of creating music is very often interrupted - everyone needs to pay attention. I'm often nervous about this. But still, watching this video, I would not change anything in my life. I will advise the author of two options. 1. Learn to live with yourself as with another person - learn to enjoy it, revel in it.For many, this is a luxury. (At one time I lived alone and this approach helped me cope with loneliness). 2. Find activity related to other people - become a volunteer, take dance lessons, go to boxing - everything that is impossible to do alone. Thanks for the video, you're great, you're going to be fine!
Thank you so much for this video. It was the most honest thing I've seen on TH-cam in a long time.
Thanks for your kind words, I tried my best!
Hey Will, I just watched your video with my boyfriend who also is music producer. Didn't know you before, but what you said about loneliness really touched me, because me and my boyfriend felt the same way for a long time.
To me it seems like your life is a bit too organised sometimes. You're obviously very good in keeping your routines and being a consistent worker, but what is with the time inbetween, where you can let go and get out of yourself. You can try to search, if there are any groups in your area that enjoy a hobby together. You don't have to find a best friend but it brings a different kind of movememt and joy to your life. And now and then, try to do things without any purpose behind, just something that feels right in the moment. I think too much planning and routine can feel a bit like prison after some time. And one day per week where you just follow your gut is not enough! Free your heart a little bit more. My boyfriend also started to cry when we talked about the topic, because it affected him for such a long time.
Wish you the best!! 🌻 Greetings from Austria.
I don’t know how much thought you put into this comment or if it was just off the cuff based on your own experiences, but you’ve absolutely nailed my thought patterns, routines, and behaviors-thank you!
The question, “What is with the time in between, where you can let go and get out of yourself?” really stands out to me. You’re so right; I do need to get out of myself and do things without purpose. And, you’re absolutely right again-I don’t have to find a best friend - Sometimes it’s okay to just do things, talk to people, and not expect any deeper relationship to come from it.
It’s definitely a case of too much planning and, if I’m honest, feeling stagnant in those moments in between. Your comment has really hit me hard, and I’ll definitely be re-reading it to motivate myself in the coming days.
I’m so glad you reached out. I’m really happy you and your partner found each other, and it means a lot to know that others have been in a similar position and made it through. It’s a great reminder that loneliness doesn’t have to be an endpoint-just a bump in the road.
Thanks again, kind stranger! 🌻
@@WillHattonpowerful thread here. I organize a lot but am learning to plan nothing or free form days. Hard cuz like you I love a routine! But getting there. Planning occasional trips, while actually hard to change my routine, feels great by the end. Great video! Made me think and feel
This whole thread here deserves it's own video essay/blog.
@@WillHatton So nice that my message actually reached you!
I think we all have times where we really struggle with our lifes and feel kind of stuck. But from what I've learned it's exactly these times that give us the chance to realise what really matters. I think it's always an up and down in life and it's okay.
Thank you for sharing your feelings! 😊 Sometimes we just need to put ourselves out there and good things will come on their own. ✌️ Still learning that myself!
Just wanted to share my thoughts with you because I really felt your words.
@@juliarose3886I struggle with this too! It’s the fear of not being productive and/or missing opportunities.
Hard to relax and progress at a desired pace, especially with work, partner, kids, hobbies and keeping your social media up to date ha!
Thank you for sharing your story Will! I feel that many of your followers, including myself, might appreciate this kind of content. While many people focus solely on well-“polished” content, I believe that sharing the realities behind it and your personal story can sometimes be even more unique. This is truly a valuable video!
Really appreciate your support, thank you!
Watched until the end without pausing and get distracted... This video was so engaging! But you forgot one thing man. Give yourself credit for this incredible determination and dediction you have❤ not many people are capable of this much discipline. Sending you a big hug😊 PS (that park close to your house is wonderful!)
Diego, it's always an absolute JOY to speak with you!
I know, I know, I hear you - it's way too easy to be critical foremost before celebrating ourselves. Will strive to do better for myself!
Appreciate you man, don't be a stranger - big love!
As a fellow musician, predominantly touring while trying to keep up with weekly content here on YT.... MAN I actually envy that sense of routine that you have. To be able to say "Wednesday's are for "x" thing" etc feels like such a nice thing to me. I don't have that, I have SUCH an all over the place schedule, hardly home longer than a week or 2, never know what the next day is gonna look like. There's a balance there somewhere.... I hope we both find it!
I hope we both find it!
Do you keep a journal or diary? Perhaps that's where you can find my "Wednesday's are for..." If you were to schedule out a thing for every other day of tour, it might give you some routine whilst you're away "Monday's I get a fry up...", "Wednesday's I do Yoga between soundcheck and show time", "Friday's I try to listen to one new album between venues" ?
I'm spitballing here!
Its great you were so open and honest 😊 Many people live such lives - at least theres a creative element , and we hope you branch out and shake things up with a radical break, holiday, romance , doing something different - yeh we all say that . Stay chilled .
What a refreshing and relatable video. I definitely can resonate with the isolation you mentioned in this. It’s unfortunately one of the reasons I have such long gaps between my videos. You are a great creator Will and looked up to by myself and the rest of the music production TH-cam community. Thank you for making this
Thanks so much bud, means the world coming from you, there isn't an episode of yours I've missed!
Definitely need to get into the group activities, run club is on the agenda!
Thanks for being part of the good side of the community too bro, appreciate you!
Wow. Thank you so much for sharing that very real slice of your life. I am a music producer who has only just taken the leap and quit my job to take it more seriously. I'm currently in the very early stages of learning how to live this way and it's been a pretty rocky start. Watching your video gave me some incredible insight and perspective and it will be playing on my mind. I was watching it to learn more than anything and I believe I did but if I had to say anything to offer some advice it would be that you seem very busy, the amount you do in a week made me feel like you deserve more rest, or more time just to spend doing whatever you want. I'm not sure how helpful that is but I just wanted to share!
Also I don't want to dox you but I live in the same town as you and I would love to grab a coffee and connect! Peace
Bro, what a treat this video was. Very relatable as I fight a lot of the same demons with loneliness & feeling anxious about running out of time in the day. What I find frustrating is that many of my friends / collaborators do not live near me, so I can't quite get my human interaction fill from that. For me, having a dog and an amazing girlfriend surely help keep me grounded. Thanks for your authenticity and inspiration!
Dude, thanks for sharing your experience too!
Totally agree - all the kind folks I've "met" and collaborated with (present company included) are from all different corners of the earth except mine hahaha! I've definitely been thinking about getting a pooch to keep me company, I think it'll get me out the house more often too!
Thanks again bud, catch you soon!
Enjoyed this quite a lot. Cool of you being very real. Can relate with some of this as well. Something interesting in the balance of "wow what an absolute gift this is to do what I love for a living" and yet, still, the realities of life and some struggles still hitting hard in the midst of that gift. Anyways, hello from Minneapolis - glad youtube algos sent me here! -chris
Mr Hatton, I happened across your video and was impressed with, at first, your healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise and then your honesty in exposing something personal as loneliness. I'm sure the health implications from negative thoughts are not lost on you and I applaud your attitude of figuring it out instead of just giving in to it. Best of luck from the Divided States of America.
finally made it to watch this video. good job Will! I really appreciate your transparency. this video is dang inspiring and you are such a hardworking person. the way you get through each week with such a packed routine blows my mind. wish we lived in the same area. just wanna give you a big hug. I truly look up to you and I’m proud of you!!
hey will, I loved your video, it was a very authentic and honest view of music production life. Im also a music producer, about to be full time. but I did work from home at another job as I pursued music production for the last 5 years. your statements on loneliness really struck me because I suffered from that as well, I had a huge issue with it for years as I was at home the majority of my time, and my best friend was the outdoor cat that lived in my yard haha. I think the thing I learned from that experience and that I tried to improve (not100% successfully yet) was that I needed to find space and time that wasn't work while I was home. such as your work with the tape mod. its harder to find that separation in your work/life balance when your work is from home. not that you should find a new place to work, but spending some time outside doing other activities really helped. making new friends too. but mostly just not living in that chair all day. I hope it helps, best of luck to you! I look forward to seeing more of your content!
I absolutely loved this video-you’re so talented, and your passion for what you do really shines through. It’s incredible to see the effort you put into your craft, but hearing about your living and working situation really struck a chord with me.
I also work on music full time from home, so I can relate to some of the isolation that can come with this lifestyle. Something that’s brought me a lot of fulfillment is volunteering-I’ve found it’s not only rewarding but also a great way to connect with people outside of the music world. It helps me step out of my bubble and see things from a new perspective. I wonder if something like that might resonate with you too?
You’re truly inspiring, and I hope you find more ways to connect and thrive both in and out of your creative work.
This was both heartwarming and interesting. Also, great video and photography skills. It was really enjoyable to watch! Keep it up and also watch out for your mental health. You seem to have a very rough routine, which is good in the way that you are really good organized. But maybe you´ll find a way finding a bit more time for yourself and socialising. Wishing you all the best and thank you for this refreshing and honest video. I´m sure it wasn´t easy and took some guts shooting and uploading this video. Greetings and a hug from Germany. ❤
Thanks for sharing! That was a delight. I feel for you, with the loneliness- my life as a husband, parent, and touring musician with several bands is SO different from yours! Even though the creative work is similar in some ways, I have a lot more family obligations, and a lot more change from week to week. Some of your structure sounds really nice, but MAN I am grateful at all the variety I get to experience. Traveling to different places, playing different music for different crowds, hanging out with awesome bandmates in different groups- it's very fulfilling.
If there's one thing I would encourage you to do, it's join or start a band. There's NOTHING like making music collaboratively, in person, and performing it for a live audience. The camaraderie would really do a lot to uplift you, I think. It's not always easy, but even working through interpersonal issues is SUCH a valuable life experience.
Hello Will, I enjoyed this video and checking out a week in your life as a full-time music creator. I found it to be unflinchingly honest which is refreshing! I commend you for being driven enough to go after your passion as a music creator. I encourage you to keep going and to always be steadfast in your honest expression!
I found this video very helpful. As a content creator and as a musician I really enjoyed your vlog. It's really insightful in looking into other peoples workflow and how others work. and make a living and do their lives. Great Video!
Your best vid bro, appreciate the honesty! Def recommend joining a bball/team sport or martial art class once a week to get that interaction and mid week energy boost.
Even though I do local gigs every week or so, this video is quite relatable, and I appreciate it. Your discipline is inspiring! Another thing you probably do but didn’t mention is the house projects and cleaning on the off-hours. Having pets, I basically need to dedicate more than half of my day off on cleaning around the house.
Hey Will! I've been in your shoes before when I lived solo, had a fully remote job, and was focused on creative projects that led to an isolated lifestyle. I found that focusing & being intentional with my support system, deriving less fulfillment from my career/music (mindset shift from expecting meaning -> nice to have), and keeping active hobbies with social elements (climbing/run club) were really helpful. Keep it up man, love your work. ❤
I REALLY appreciate your perspective and advice, thank you!!
I need to take all of the words you said into consideration, there all areas I can improve, as you can already tell!
I've recently noticed a weekly run club in my area and think that will be the first go-to!
Thanks again!!!
I’m currently in exactly the same boat. Live alone now for the first time in years . Work remote and not on same piece of land as the rest of the team. I don’t work in music but studied it at uni and play guitar, drums and piano at night. It isn’t a very social hobby for me like it used to be. I was about to say take up golf and then I saw you at the range. Joining a club is good as you can play with randoms and get a good chat. It’s really good in the summer, less good in winter. Thanks for the video.
I feel you. We need connection and it's challenging without it. I was heading in the same direction as you've gone in terms of work. After my studies for audio in Vancouver I got ill and have spent 14 years on healing. It's given me space, time to reflect and perspective on what matters. We are of course all different, but I think once we are at the death bed (I've been there a few times now, luckily not my time yet), we won't look back at the work we've done, social status or money accoumulated. We'll look back on the connections we've had, the people we've met, places we've gone to, experiences shared, friends, family, community, having loved deeply, helped others, and all that.
Thanks for sharing your insight! It's been fun to see your day to day and it seems like you're doing really well for yourself with your work! Hope you don't neglect the other aspects of life too, but you seem to be doing good. Stay safe and be well!
Great video, very recognizable. The tiny violin part hit home quite hard. The passion is what keep me going!
Hey Will! Great video, very well documented! I can sympathise with the isolation factor of being a music producer, you're not alone with that. Seeing my church family at the weekend is something that works great for me and going on walks to refresh things a bit. You're making some amazing content, keep up the good work! :)
Hey Will! Enjoyed your video as I was working. I think you're doing a great job at work/life balance. Life is crazy busy and there's always things that need to get done so you having even the mindset of getting time away from screens and getting outside is a huge thing. Keep it up!
This is my favorite video you’ve done. As a full time music producer I don’t think I’ve ever related more to a video 😂
I appreciate how much time and effort must have gone into making this.
Just wanted to say THANK YOU.
Love all of your content but this one was special💜
So good! More content like this mate! So honest! Epic work man!
This is such a vibe, PLEASE KEEP DOING THIS!
Beautiful video as always, Will! 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to do this video for the community! ❤
Thank you for taking the time to watch and be so kind!
You are the man brother. A pleasure to be a part of your journey 🙏🏻
I've just seen this! 😂
A pleasure to have you in my life bud!
I can totally relate as a fulltime producer also. Going out jogging can be helpful for you and trying to work with other artists will make you feel less lonely. I tend to link up with the artists for recording, beat making or just hanging out over tea or coffee cuz I don't drink and that helps a lot. Helps refresh the mind, brings more inspiration for new ideas and just keeps your mind from blowing off. Great Video
Thanks for sharing this man. I’ll be honest, I don’t envy the grind! I try and do some of it on top of my career, partner, kids, gigs etc but I don’t know how you do it!
This video its a perfect example how music producers are working, i can feel your pain man but keep in mind your not lonely and if you are its better beacuse you have all the time with your self ,respect from Greece for your video is really educational (sorry if my English are bad)
Your video came up on my feeds, very interesting and engaging content, thanks for sharing. You come across as a very dedicated producer/content creator and I admire the way you structure your life. However I genuinely hope that you will find a way to make a living without isolating yourself. Don't forget to connect with your people and family. I think that's so important. Easy said from my point of view I know.. Anyway I wish you all the best
Good Video Will, this is the life we choose hard sometimes but there is allot of good in there , love to see your journey, keep the honest content coming. one l sol
Thanks so much!!
I can relate to you on so many levels. Thank you for sharing this video, you have a new subscriber! Stay blessed!
Hey man, thank you for the video. You reach many people through the TH-cam, just keep doing what you’re doing. Also great job on your edits 🔥
Your video just showed up in my TH-cam home page and I wanted to watch it for the “music creator” stuff, but you really got me with your story. I guess there’s a lot of us feeling some kind of loneliness due to our very own different circumstances.
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one feeling this way.
Thank you for sharing, you’ve got yourself a new follower🤘🏻
The last part is really interesting. Because me personally, the professional life you live is the life I want to live. But I work 50hrs a week managing a pizza shop, married with a beautiful wife, and I just WISH I could buckle down and get back to producing music full time like I used to before when I was single and not in the workforce. I know it’s tough sometimes, but be grateful for the phase you’re in right now, because it won’t always be like that. You’ll find love, and connections, and everything you want because you’re clearly a good person with a lot to offer. Just wanted to send you that message. But my main piece of advice is: Call your grandpa!
I know how it is, I ended up focusing on my wifes career first and then when that was sustainable (took 12 years), now i'm finishing my degree for MP and finishing it up now. Good luck with finding the time and stability cause thats what really helps. lol Essentially buying time to invest in yourself :)
Thank you for sharing, it's all about perspective for sure! The pastures aren't always greener, we're all living our individuals experiences with drawbacks and points that are attractive to others. Thanks again!
Your car playlists sounds like mine lol
Smooth guitar singer songwritter beach vibes and then boom face melting 808s lol
Awesome video buddy! Good to see the life style of a fellow producer, I guess in a way it makes us see we're not so crazy afterall for chasing this unorthodox path and lifestyle.
Thanks for sharing!
Keep up the amazing content!
Great time management, and great perspective in life, Will!! One heck of a schedule. This is insane how much work musicians have to do nowadays because the industry is almost gone. Even though we were getting ripped-off years ago by the record companies, you could just do the music, and have less hats to wear. Hopefully it will change, and artists can just do their art... :-(
Awesome insight into this creative world... I love it! And Live for It! Thanks😎
Hi Will, I can very much relate regarding the isolating loneliness involved with this. I rely a ton on natural light and house plants, and my pet dog. Also my boyfriend lives with me, who I love, but even still it's extremely isolating and lonely at times. I'm pretty introverted which doesn't help. But I wouldn't trade it for a "normal" job. I used to be a restaurant GM among some other things, and I'd much rather be doing what I love writing music. Just wanted to chime in and tell you thank you for your honesty with your video, and that you're not alone.
Maaaaan I hear u about how this can be such a lonely existence!!!! For me I try to alleviate some of that by working from a few different places/coffee shops every week. I find that helps break up some of the monotony of the day. Ofc I still get some days where I don't feel like doing anything. I guess my job is to figure out how to balance the productive days with the unproductive ones 🤷♂
Ps: you know my old lecturer Thomas Trueman!
Very hard to get out of this loneliness in the west, in particular. Between the work grind due to rising living costs and the dating scene being impossible... More and more guys have your kind of lifestyle than ever. Thanks for the candid video blog sir. It's very, VERY relatable.
You built something for yourself bro. Give yourself some credit. Some of us are still hoping to be where you are right now!
Great one. Enjoyed the last part too. When you’re super in the zone it’s hard to be social.
So true!
This video is the most real thing I have seen on TH-cam and frankly, something that inspires me to tell my story as well. I can empathize with you, it's difficult but I guess we all need to work a little to have a life outside of work (something I suck at right now) loneliness is difficult, but something that has helped me be less lonely, make some new friends, bring work down and do some other things (it's reading, writing and art for me) find communities in non-music related spaces and trust me it'll make your music a lot better as well and your overall wellbeing good. You're amazing and you deserve this! take care of yourself bro! we're here to see you win!
First time on your channel. I like day in the life videos. It seems like you have cultivated a large self compassion lifestyle. Not bad depending on your personality type and goals. I've been where you are and now I'm on the other side. Non stop family, work, and self life. You always can add little by little experiences like trying a improv class. I'd like to have seen you make jams in the making. Maybe I'll have to check out another vid for that.
Enjoyed this Will… yeh, the loneliness is an issue for me too. But the time and space to do work is amazing. I just came out of a 5 year relationship with house stuff, step kids, my kid, partner, ex-partner … it’s such a feeling of freedom, but I ended up missing all the non digital creation chaos. I am where I am but creatively I’m in a good space. Just need to embrace the extra space to be creative more… I fail more than I succeed, but I make a good living out of it… I now have more time to recover from failure. Fail better is my mantra 😀 g
the one thing im getting from this is dont spread yourself too thin. Based on your outro, dont run the risk of getting to burnout from your creative passion by trying to do and be everything. I've had a very similar experience delving deep into music and now solely focus on teaching and practising/writing in my free time. it is super okay to have non creative days, weeks, months... rest is essential for introspection, reflection and recharge, we aren't meant to be ON at all times. human interaction is super important albeit difficult in this quite individualistic age. well done for building yourself a successful platform and keep going mate! great vid
Hi Will, just reaching out to say good on you for making such an honest video!
Man that loneliness part at the end hit me hard. thank you for sharing, its tough to open up like that. Have you thought about reaching out to other musicians, particularly songwriters so you can do session work together IRL? making music with artists or for pitch. i think you would be great at it, since you seem like a great producer. Most of that scene is probably in london, but that definitely helped me with my loneliness. I used to have a lot of similar days like you, alone grinding out creative work. It was exhausting, but then eventually i got more confident in my work and started sending songs/ideas out to other people and started writing with them. over zoom or IRL. Probably the best decision ive ever made. I still make lots of music alone, but now 2 or 3 days a week i have a songwriting session with a few different people. made a bunch of friends and connections that way, lots of wonderful people out there! Also if you can show publishing companies that you can make good songs they can get you into writing camps with other people as well, and you can meet people that way, its fun!
Here in Italy we have a nice habit. We check out from work at 18/19, and before you go to make your dinner, you go out to a bar for "aperitivo". Drink a glass of wine or two and have a chat with other people hanging there for an hour. Stick to the same place for a while and you'll get to feel like home and chat to some friends every time you come. You just need to find the right place, where you order drinks to actual people . If you're not into wine you can always have a coke :)
Music creation is mostly a rather lonely ride. I can relate! Thanks for sharing.
Great video! Really enjoyed watching!
Glad you enjoyed it!
thank you for this video. brutally honest and relatable
keep going.
and id love to see more about the building of the physical tape mod!
Thank you! Will do!
You have good habits and structure in your life. Don't underestimate that. Thank you for this video.
haha 45 seconds in and all i gotta say is, you look lik eme when im going to work. work is work and sometimes work can just be a monotonous regardless of what we are doing. so thank you. instant sub. dont know how i've not seen your stuff before
After a while, we all have our gripes huh? Thanks bud, welcome aboard!
This might honestly be my favorite video of yours. So incredibly vulnerable, but also very relatable. I work from home almost full time and spend my spare time making music. Even though I'm happily married and have a few friends, I can definitely relate to the solitude.
Love this man. Wish we lived in the same area, so we could get each other out of our routines from time to time! 😅
Sending you so much love and a big hug. 🫂
Hugs right back at you, thanks!
love this vid!
Wow! Watched the whole video, very insightful. Really felt the meltdown. Been watching your videos for years you are super inspiring and super talented. Wishing you all the best!
This is the best video I saw in the last 3 months. I m so much connected. Thanks for sharing and speak out the truth ! Your life is very nice , but the trap is that when you meet people , you feel uncomfortable because you get used (and you like) being by yourself. At least this happens with me. I like you man, you re such a nice producer and human being . I watch all your videos !
This is so kind, thanks for sharing your experience!
Keep striving to look after and out for yourself!
Keep it up man!! Kudos from Italy!
Thanks! Will do! ❤️
Lovely video Will, very grounded, and hit home for me! Great vlogging btw loved all the shots and format was sweet.
Thank you bud, really means a lot as always!!! Appreciate ya
Damn, man. That is one of the best and most accurate looks at what it takes to be a Content Monk. Laughed my head off at the "I went to the coffee shop because I craved human interaction and then a robot took my order." bit. So good. You just gotta laugh.
Too much here to unpack in a simple TH-cam comment, but I'd love to catch up on a zoom or something in December, if you've got a free hour. More to commiserate, because I don't have any answers. All I can say is, you're weirdly alone, but not alone as well. Plus, I clocked something written on your whiteboard that I'd love to chat you up on.
All in all, man...this was one of the best videos I've seen this year. As the kids say, "No Cap."
You just have to laugh, bud!!!
I love the term "content monk" I will be stealing it, kindly. Absolutely, I have all the time for another catch-up! On or off the podcast, I'm game buddy!
@ haha. Not a steal: a gift, my friend! Awesome, I’ll hit you up on DM and we’ll put a date/time! Looking forward to catching up! Should we have whiskey at the ready? Haha
@@TheoreticallyMedia For sure - one of WILL be drinking in the morning though! Hahaha
Content monk 😂 like it
Hey Will, loved this video. You are very talented filmmaker, its beautifully put together film. Your film touched as it was so honest and open and refreshing to see behind the curtain of content creators. From the outside it looks like you have a double whammy of a completely remote job plus living alone, must be hard to not have much human contact. Dont really have any advice other than to say things will change, they always do so until be kind to yourself ! You are not alone!
I’m optimistic they’ll change for the better too, I’m just in transition haha - or that’s what I tell myself!
Thanks for the support!!! Appreciate it
Some times as creative artists, mixing business with our art is not that easy to find Ballance in our lives. Reminding ourselves of our end goal but at the same time, finding the time to connect and enjoy special moments wether in solitude or with others is a fundamental need not a want. Its great Will that you recognise this and looking for ways to make improvements in your lifestyle. I found this video so inspiring and want to thank you for your transparency in sharing. All the very best in your present and future ventures. 😊❤
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful message-it really means a lot. You're absolutely right; finding balance as a creative, especially when mixing art and business, can be such a challenge. It’s easy to lose sight of those fundamental needs, like connecting with others or even just taking a moment to enjoy solitude.
I’m glad the video resonated with you, and your encouragement means the world to me. I’m definitely still figuring things out, but hearing from people like you makes the process feel less isolating and more like a shared journey.
Thank you for your kind words and support-I truly appreciate it. Wishing you all the best as well!
Hey Will 🙂 this was a great video, and as someone said here, it's great to see the reality behind doing music full time and your own personal thoughts and feelings.
I have these thoughts all the time and love routine as it's great for my mental health, but for the last few years, I've started noticing that routine can make me stagnant and trapped in a sense.
I'd suggest treating your work like any other as a Monday - Friday and have at least 2 days off.
It's easier said than done as I know myself what music work is like, but definitely having time to enjoy yourself and unwind is also so important.
You know what they say about all work and no play 😅
Also, actively making an effort to socialise is also so important. I'm a bit introverted and have gotten more so since I moved out by myself and have no partner or pet etc but sometimes you need to force yourself, or these skills can stagnate as well.
I really hope you find a better balance for yourself and take time to have fun also you have a great routine so far and have covered lots of great bases but this is something that we will always refine as our circumstances change over time.
Take care of yourself, and feel free to reach out any time!
I love this video. Very open & honest. One thing I wills say is... Even though it may feel lonely, you're living someones dream. To do this, something you love full time rather than the normal 9-5. It's a dream no matter how simple it may seem.
What a great video. It's always nice to see a perspective of whats to come. Thank you for the tips on keeping it fresh and balanced on the daily.
Take the good bits, not the bad!! Happy to help!
Love this honest and sincere video that offer me a little bit blue but weirdly upbeat and healing kind of vibe! I can't do nothing but write this comment and subscribe!! Please keep up with your great content !!!
And that’s SO wonderful that you did, thank you. Stay in touch!!
Good video!
One of the reasons why I never went full in on this creative job thing.
I love my day job and love my hobby even more because it's just that.
One tip I would consider is doing charity work for half a day in a week or so.
Very rewarding to give some back while meeting others that need us.
Well said! I totally hear you! Thanks!!
Appreciate your honesty mate ! Not many have the courage to express it .
The fact that nobody waits for you at home , hits hard.
I was thinking , as a suggestion, and because you re doing lots of walks by yourself. You know who d love them ? A pet . Have you ever consider that as an option to cope with loneliness?
Take care now
Absolutely correct! I need to invest in a dog for sure, a little pal to get some exercise with!
Thanks bud, be well!
Respect for an honest video dude. As long as you're clear on your 'why' then it's all good.
What bothers me most is your keyboard angle - that's a recipe for RSI right there! Keep it flat and avoid future injury 🙏
Heavily noted on the keyboard angle, someone else mentioned my screen height too - you guys are the true heroes!
Appreciate the kindness
@@WillHatton Vertical mouse also recommened to minimize strain on your wrist!!
Great to see it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Thanks for sharing.
I love you bro. I love this video as well…. Stay strong.. be blessed!
Big love!
This is super inspiring, it’s always great to see the more personal and more relatable side. Thank you
Thank you. Really great video man.
it takes immense self awareness to be this open mate, thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing this, man. Such an honest and insightful glimpse into your life. It’s clear from your work how much you care about music and enjoy helping others on their musical journey! I can relate, I sometimes get into cycles of not speaking to anyone or even going outside when I’ve got a lot of work on. It’s always inspiring to hear how others navigate this.
Means a lot coming from you bud! Thank you.
It's all about interrupting those cycles!
Love seeing your stuff on socials too, keep up the great work!
It is an interesting and important video reflecting modern life. If I might say, as you asked for such views. I see your life to be made up of 'snap-shots', almost glimpses of particular deeper lifestyles put together. I see that you need a partner to share your world and to take you on longer, deeper journeys - adding more detail and depth to your life. How you currently live is almost like that of a retired person (I know from personal and professional experience). I say all this with the best of intentions and genuinely wish you well.
Good video. I'd love to hang out with you. You seem like a genuine and nice guy. I'm an isolated person like you too, and I never see anyone. I feel that man, but you have a strong passion there. Hold onto that because that could become your thread of hope and joy, the only thing if that situation becomes to dire. Your passion for music will still be there.
Much love man :)
I appreciate that man, my DMs are always open!
Big love to you
This is a mirror of every music producer.
You're better than a lot of us out here 😂
Top video man. Very honest.
Thank you for the very personal peak into your life. I work IN IT, from home too most days, but with a team on the other side of ms teams it never feels like I am alone. And with wife and two kids II sometimes long dearly for a little alone time. I look at it from this angle: nothing is forever, everything has its time. Lean into it, enjoy, times will change. And one thing, going for walk, exploring unknown places is my way to unwind. Should work beautifully in the uk. I use Komoot to come up with new places to visit. Very helpful way to change things up.
Will, from what I understand, you have a perfect life. The only reason a perfect life might not be happy is because you need things in your life that are not perfect. Helping others is helping yourself. I recommend that you spend some of your time helping others. These could be our animal friends. Maybe looking after a dog or a cat. Take care of yourself.
This video has really helped me, I recently quit my job and have been pouring my time into music production.
Theres really a lot of similarities in your thoughts about being isolated.
Brilliant video.
Thanks bud! Us music makers have to stick together - good luck to you!
very great video, i am currently stuying audio engineering, I might have to start planning out my weeks like yo udo, very great video though, thank you for this, gonna look back over the next few days to see if there's anything else to take away from this
For sure, that’s one of the biggest eases of my stress, planning on a Sunday so I know where I’m at for the week!
Great video, thanks for that! What could really help is finding a social sport activity. I boulder once a week and over the years have made many friends there. It's my little weekend before the weekend. Also, a small tip as a safety advisor, beware of the way your keyboard is placed. The constant flexion in your wrists is likely to cause issues in the long run ;)
Super real video from a super cool guy. Appreciate the inside look and wish I lived closer to hang with you!
I appreciate you sharing your day in the life. Its realistic.
Really enjoyed this mate and it resonated a lot with me as a solo creator and some of the comments are close to home as well. A few years back, I quit my job to focus on music stuff and moved back to my folks place for stability while I grew it, and I'm still here, so I sort of get away with the loneliness in the sense that there are people in the house. But I don't see my friends much and I'm often too burned out at the end of the day to reply to messages so I still feel very isolated. My creative bursts are first thing in the morning so I don't exercise or get outside in the morning, and then I get engrossed in Ableton and again, I'm too tired for anything else at the end. I feel like all my commitment to making music is paying off as I'm making headway with it, but I'm always knackered, isolated and gaining weight from sitting at a desk all day and not exercising. Ironically, where you could loosen your routine up a bit, I'm the opposite - I have ADHD and can't seem to address the admin + additional 'to do list' stuff with any cohesion! I'm going to take some of the more organised elements from your video and try to implement a bit of self discipline, and also reflect on the isolation and try to address that. You seem like a real genuine geezer mate, keep grinding.
Feel yeah man I’m in the same boat as you life is very lonely especially when all you do is work. You ain’t the only one out there having these types of issues. Just keep pushing and things will change. ask yourself what can I do differently and let that sit for mad long and it’ll come out of no where. I’ve been alone for 2 years with no one at all. I do the same type of stuff you do on your free time. There’s no pity for expressing emotions it’s how us humans feel.
This is brilliant.. yes you are kinda isolated.. but you are doing what you love every day.. imagine feeling that way and doing g what you hate every day on top.. I respect it.. keep going geeza!! Your doing great
Man I am a music business student how is actually working more than 60 hours/week from home but in Digital Marketing… I am thinking on working fulltime in music and believe me that you are lucky enough to take some walks… I can’t do that. You inspire to start my journey in full in music industry with this video.
About loneliness just do the things you do with friends. Get some gym bro, get some yoga friend. Then you’ll be more happy 🙌🏼
this is greatness. love the somewhat desolate reality of the 'me time.' very visceral.
Hey, Will. I really enjoyed this as a musician from the UK (with a very new family!) who has been considering switching to music full-time.
Is there a parkrun near you? That might be a great way to keep the fitness up and meet people!