I’m listening to “Change” by Dan Kye, Jordan Rakei’s House DJ alter ego.

House music’s about as far outside my comfort zone as True Religion jeans, but let me tell you, if you want to deep dive into a new DAW (Digital Audio Workstation, for those of you with real jobs), may I suggest creating clumsy approximations of four-on-the-floor dance music and giggling like a jack ass.

My usual songwriting process involves an acoustic guitar, blank sheet of paper, and over-steeped tea - I’ve never dug through sample libraries or learned keyboard shortcuts or built entire tracks without touching an instrument, and it’s been a while since I’ve edifyingly stunk at something. It’s wonderful.

I’m limiting myself to two hours each night. After two hours, it starts sinking in how much better I am at other stuff, and jesus if I stink at this I must stink at everything, and I should probably quit music and go back to school or whatever.

So, I don my producer beret for 120 mins, drink a class of cheap vino, then settle in to over-steeped tea mode, confidant there’s something elusive and brilliant hidden within the injustice that is my obscurity.