Building Software Like a Music Producer
This is the first email from my newsletter. Just a series of observations, and random thoughts. Mostly around SaaS. I’ll also send out new music and things I put out into the world. Would love replies and discussion!
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Music producers shape the sound of songs and albums, guiding artists from raw ideas to polished tracks. I try to approach building software in a similar way.
Just like producers and artists aim to make listeners feel something, software builders solve problems. But how you convey that solution is a matter of taste that can (and should) be honed and trusted.
Producers trust their instincts and see themselves as tastemakers. They don't create classics through committees or focus groups. They rely on their vision.
I've seen artists with hundreds of unreleased songs because they can't narrow them down into a project. They’re in an endless “refining” stage. So, the tracks just gather dust on their personal hard drives instead of being out in the wild.
Similarly, developers often start projects and then spend months or years discussing their ideas with friends and potential users—without ever producing or releasing anything tangible. Worse, they might distrust their intuition and talk themselves out of every idea. But if they just built something, let their ideas evolve, and iterated as they went, their chances of success would increase. Success could mean lessons learned, financial gain, social status, or the intrinsic joy of creating something—however success is defined.
Producers often take years to find their “sound”. And even after they find success, their sound often shifts over time. My favorite producer ever is Quincy Jones. He started off as a jazz musician & composer, then went on to produce Thriller, and still kept going. He has a whole wikipedia article for just his music. Seriously, go look how much he released. He produced over 20 albums and soundtracks in the 70s. Bro was absolutely cookin’.
Developers should be more like Quincy Jones.
Build and take risks. Not every idea will hit the mark. And gathering validation can lead to a false of certainty anyway. In both music and software, some concepts don't connect with the audience and taking an L is just part of the game. Of course, you need some sort of validation. But it’s important to be about that action.
I’ll leave you with this song, enjoy: