Mastering Technology: How Prince Showed Us to Take Control and Not Let It Control Us

As music creators, we find ourselves in a curious situation. In the middle of the 2020s, we have access to a mountain of music technology. We can use sophisticated synths, high-quality string libraries, and smart tools that help with chords and keys. The choices are endless. Yet, many of us still feel lost when faced with all these options.

When that happens, it’s easy to depend on technology for inspiration. After all, isn’t that what it’s designed to do?

However, there’s a risk. If we rely too much on presets and automated suggestions, our music might start to sound crafted by software rather than by us.

To outsiders, these tracks may sound impressive and playlist-worthy. But when you listen back, you might feel disconnected. You might wonder: is this really your music?

This ongoing battle between utilizing music technology and maintaining your creative voice has existed long before home recording became the norm.

Back in 2004, Prince expressed concerns about this issue in an interview with MSNBC. He worried that new musicians might be overly influenced by advancing technology. “Technology is cool,” he said, “but you’ve got to use it instead of letting it use you.”

Creating music that reflects your true self is crucial. If you write music to please others or follow current trends, you risk blending into a sea of sameness.

In that same interview, Prince explained how iconic songs like “When Doves Cry” came from his own instincts. “I never really sat down and did music that way,” he said. “When Doves Cry sounded like nothing on the radio.”