Why Make Music… Episode 038 – “Do or Do Not… There Is No Try”

Podcast Episode Script

DJ Warm Cookies (Willa May): Hey hey, what’s up everybody! Welcome to Episode 038 of Why Make Music… I’m your host, DJ Warm Cookies – also known as Willa May – coming to you all by my lonesome today. I want to start on a personal note: our main man, ThinkTimm, isn’t with me in the studio this episode. He’s taking some time to be with family after the passing of his grandmother. We send all our love and condolences out to Timm and his family. (pauses solemnly) Family first, always.

But as they say in showbiz (and in life), the show must go on. Or to put it in Jedi terms: the grind continues. In fact, that brings me to a perfect theme for today’s show. I’m borrowing some wisdom from Master Yoda himself: “No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.”  Recognize that line? Do or do not… there is no try. It’s one of Yoda’s most famous teachings, and it’s at the heart of what we’re talking about today. This entire episode is going full Star Wars – using a bit of Jedi philosophy to inspire our creative journeys.

So let’s dive in, my young Padawans. Yoda’s words – do or do not, there is no try – carry a lot of weight, especially for anyone pursuing creativity. To me, it’s all about commitment. Either you’re all in, or you’re not in at all. When you say, “I’ll try to make some music” or “I’ll try to finish this project,” you’re already giving yourself an excuse, a little escape hatch in case it doesn’t work out. But if you say, “I’m going to do this,” you eliminate that wiggle room. You mentally commit to making it happen. It’s a subtle mind trick (in the best way) that pushes you forward. Remember in The Empire Strikes Back when Luke tells Yoda he’ll try to lift his X-Wing out of the swamp? Yoda wasn’t having that – because trying isn’t the same as doing. Sometimes we all need that tough love. We need to channel our inner Yoda and remind ourselves that if we want to achieve something in music (or anything), we have to approach it with a do-or-don’t-do mindset. No half-measures.

Now, speaking of having an all-in attitude, let’s talk about one of the big advantages we creators have today that Yoda didn’t mention – probably because Jedi temples didn’t have Wi-Fi. I’m talking about technology and the incredible tools at our disposal. We live in a truly amazing time for making music (or any kind of art). This is not the old days where you needed a giant studio and a huge budget to get a decent recording. Today, we’ve got what I like to think of as the modern musician’s “Force powers” – and they come in the form of software, apps, and AI. Used right, they can lift your creative X-Wing out of the swamp when you’re stuck, just like the Force in Star Wars. Let me give you a rundown of just a few tools and techs that are total game-changers for the DIY artist:
	•	ChatGPT – This is like having a 24/7 idea generator or writing partner on call. Stuck on lyrics or need inspiration for a concept? ChatGPT can spark new ideas with you. It’s an AI that can help brainstorm, edit, or even riff on your thoughts. Imagine having a friend who’s always available to bounce ideas around – that’s what it’s like.
	•	ElevenLabs – Now this one is near and dear to my heart (or should I say voice). ElevenLabs is an AI voice cloning technology – in fact, it’s the very tool that allows me, DJ Warm Cookies, to speak to you in this lovely voice! That’s right, I’m essentially an AI-driven persona brought to life with ElevenLabs. Crazy, huh? This tech means that ThinkTimm can script out a podcast episode and have me deliver it in a natural-sounding way. I’m literally a product of creative technology, and I sound pretty darn human (if I do say so myself).
	•	iZotope – For those who don’t know, iZotope makes a suite of audio plugins that are like having a team of professional engineers inside your computer. Need to polish a mix or master a track so it sounds slick and clean? iZotope’s tools (like Ozone for mastering, Neutron for mixing, etc.) are your best friends. They’re the wizards behind the curtain, helping your home studio tracks sound studio-quality.
	•	Logic Pro & FL Studio – These are two of the major digital audio workstations (DAWs) that artists use to produce music. ThinkTimm actually uses both: Logic Pro for a lot of his production, and FL Studio for when he’s in beat-making mode. These programs are basically entire recording studios in software form – you can compose, arrange, record, and mix whole songs just on a laptop. They’re like the Millennium Falcon and X-Wing of music production software: trusty, powerful vehicles that can take your music to light-speed.
	•	Apple Notes & Pages – Yep, even the simple apps are crucial! Inspiration can strike anytime, and you gotta capture it. ThinkTimm uses the Notes app on his phone to jot down lyric ideas, to-do lists, or quick thoughts before they disappear. And Pages (Apple’s word processor) comes in handy for writing out things like this very podcast script, organizing album concepts, or drafting blog posts. Never underestimate the basic tools – they often bridge the gap between an idea and a finished product.

These tools and apps form the arsenal that lets one person create an entire universe of sound and content. It’s not cheating to use them; it’s smart . In fact, ThinkTimm has been diving deep into this tech-enabled approach. Fun fact: he even experimented with using ChatGPT to help write a couple of children’s songs just to see what would happen . And guess what – in about ten minutes, the AI had generated two complete song drafts for him! Crazy, right? Now, that doesn’t mean he’s handing over the reins entirely (no AI is gonna replace his creative vision), but it shows that he’s not afraid to play around with these new possibilities. The point is, these technologies can accelerate and inspire your creativity if you embrace them. So, use that tech Force, my friends. The only “Dark Side” here is ignoring the new tools at hand and missing out on what they can do for you. We’ve all heard those grumpy folks who resist new tech, but at the end of the day, those who refuse to adapt often get left behind while others innovate. Don’t be that grumpy folk – be Yoda, lifting the starship with an open mind!

You know who’s really been living the “do or do not” philosophy? ThinkTimm himself. Let’s give credit where it’s due – this guy has been on an absolute tear creatively. In fact, this month marks about one year since the ThinkTimm brand really kicked off, and in that time he’s released six full projects. Yes, you heard me right: six albums in one year. That is a massive accomplishment . And we’re not talking about six little two-track EPs or something – these are full-length albums, each with 26 tracks. If you’re doing the math, that comes out to 156 songs in under a year . I mean, who does that?! It’s the kind of output that might even flirt with a world record, seriously. And what’s even more impressive: it’s all been 100% independent and DIY. No big label machine, no army of producers and writers. Just ThinkTimm, his creative vision, and a hell of a work ethic (plus a sprinkle of AI magic here and there).

Let me recap those projects for you, because each one has its own flavor and they deserve a moment in the spotlight. In order, the six releases are: “Demotional… Caught Feelings”, which was his debut album; then “Beatanical… Booming Bouquet”, a project that really bloomed with eclectic beats and vibes. Third came “SuperlaBass… Reality Affect”, a bass-forward journey that’ll rattle your soul. After that, he dropped “LoFication… Sonic Civilization”, which dives deep into lo-fi and atmospheric sounds (truly a civilization of sonics). Then “PeriHopic… Elemental Fusion”, a concept album that fused elements and moods in a really unique way. And finally, the most recent capstone of that first year run: “NomenClefture… Verbal Scales”, which just came out around the turn of the year . Six distinct projects, each with a clever name and concept, all in roughly a year’s time. Whew! Take a moment to appreciate that output. That’s the kind of thing that happens when you don’t just try to create, you just go ahead and do it relentlessly. Like I said, 156 tracks in about a year  – I get tired just thinking about it, but it’s also incredibly inspiring, isn’t it?

And guess what – the train isn’t slowing down one bit. On the episode, I also teased a little something special that’s coming up next. ThinkTimm is already hard at work on his next album, and this one’s going to be a bit different. For the first time, he’s putting a big focus on vocals. That’s right – after six instrumental projects, the next ThinkTimm project will be vocal-focused. We’re talking actual singing, lyrics, maybe some guest vocalists – who knows? The point is, you’re going to hear voices on a ThinkTimm record for the first time, and that’s super exciting. I could practically hear the smile on ThinkTimm’s face when he gave me the scoop to share. He’s really energized about how it’s coming together. Now, I can’t spill all the beans (gotta leave some surprises!), but I can say that from what I’ve heard behind the scenes, this album is going to add a whole new dimension to the ThinkTimm sound. If you’ve been vibing to the instrumentals and wondering “hmm, what would this sound like with vocals on top,” you’re about to find out. So stay tuned – we’re as eager as you are to see (or hear) how that turns out, and you know we’ll talk about it more on a future episode when the time comes.

I want to take a step back for a second and highlight something important about all these accomplishments: this is all DIY. Like, truly DIY to the core. Everything ThinkTimm has put out – the albums, the music videos, this podcast, the website – it’s all largely been a one-man operation. Now, he’s not completely alone in the universe; there are collaborators here and there, and wonderful supporters (like you listeners!). Plus, he has some digital sidekicks (yours truly, Warm Cookies, being one of them). But there’s no major label, no big production company, no hired social media team. It’s basically one determined dude in a home studio using the tools we just talked about to create worlds of music. I find that insanely inspiring. We live in a time when one person can genuinely wear all the hats in a music career  – the creator, the producer, the engineer, the marketer, the distributor – you name it. ThinkTimm likes it that way; he likes having his hands on every part of the process. Sure, it’s challenging (and I’ve seen firsthand that it leads to some very late nights for him), but the fulfillment and creative control that comes with doing it yourself is priceless.

And that’s a message I want any creators out there listening to take to heart. If you’re an artist or musician or writer or anything – this is your friendly reminder that you can do a lot on your own. Don’t wait around for someone to give you permission or a big budget. Use what you have, start where you are, and do the thing. Be like ThinkTimm – instead of saying “I’ll try to make an album (or write a book, or start a business) when I have more time or money,” just start doing it with the resources available. One step at a time. You might surprise yourself at how far you can go. The DIY path isn’t easy, and it’s not for everyone, but if you have that itch to create, the barrier to entry has never been lower than it is today. Or as Yoda might rephrase to us creatives: “Make, or make not. There is no ‘try to make.’” (laughs) You get the idea.

Now, real talk for a moment: because ThinkTimm is doing all of this as essentially a one-man band, there are only so many hours in a day. So sometimes things like, say, social media might take a back seat. And I want to talk about that, because it’s something a lot of independent artists struggle with (and maybe some of you listeners can relate). We live in a world where it feels like everybody is hustling for attention on social media 24/7. If you’re an artist, you’re told you have to post constantly, engage with fans every day, push out content non-stop or else you’ll be forgotten. There’s definitely some truth that you need to put yourself out there, but here’s the flip side: artists often don’t have time to be on social media all day because they’re busy actually creating the art. Crazy concept, right? DJ Warm Cookies is here to tell you: social media is great for sharing your work and connecting with people, but it is not the work itself. It’s the amplifier for your work. The music, the art – that’s the core, that’s the thing. Everything else is secondary. If you find yourself spending more time thinking about Instagram captions than writing your lyrics, it might be time to re-balance a bit.

And hey, I’m not throwing shade at social media – we use it, we like it, and it’s a fantastic tool. But it’s a tool that can easily turn into a treadmill. The content you post there lives on a very short lifespan. Seriously, an average tweet is basically old news in minutes, and an Instagram post in a day or so . The algorithm is hungry; it’s always craving more, more, more, and most people will scroll past your stuff in a flash . That’s just how the platforms are built. So if you’re a creator, you have to strike a balance. If you go a week or a month without posting because you’re in the zone making something awesome, that’s okay! In fact, that’s usually a good sign that you’re focused on your craft.

I often tell people this: when you don’t see ThinkTimm flooding your feed with updates, it usually means he’s deep in creation mode behind the scenes. It’s like when the studio door is closed, magic is happening inside. And then, when the time is right, boom – he’ll drop a whole album out of nowhere. Social media can wait; the muse won’t. So to all the fans and friends out there, don’t worry if there’s a quiet period on the socials – something good is likely brewing in the studio. And to fellow artists: don’t beat yourself up if you’re not posting every day. It doesn’t mean you’re failing; it might mean you’re succeeding at making art. When we do hop online and share, it’s because we have something we’re proud of and excited about, not just because “it’s been 6 hours since the last post, oh no!” Quality over quantity – that’s the vibe.

Alright, I’m hopping off that soapbox now (laughs). I say all that only to encourage you. We love social media for the connections it allows, but we also know it’s easy to get caught in the comparison trap or the algorithm game. So keep it in perspective, focus on what matters (your music, your message), and use those platforms as tools to amplify that when the time comes. Trust me, your sanity and your art will thank you.

Before we wrap up, I want to do a few quick shout-outs and plugs. Because even if we aren’t always online, we absolutely love connecting with our community when we can. So, if you want to reach out, follow along, or just see what we’re up to, here’s where you can find us: @ThinkTimm on basically all platforms – Instagram, Twitter, and yes, even on BlueSky. That’s spelled T-H-I-N-K-T-I-M-M (don’t forget that double M at the end!). ThinkTimm posts updates on music releases, behind-the-scenes peeks, and some motivational stuff too. Then there’s @djwarmcookies – that’s yours truly. Give me a follow if you want a mix of music musings and maybe the occasional dessert meme (because, let’s be honest, I stay on brand… cookies forever!).

We also have @WhyMakeMusic – which is the official handle for this podcast. Follow that for episode announcements, highlight clips, and quotes from the show. It’s a good one to keep tabs on so you know when new episodes drop (especially for these longer, special episodes). And for the wider community of all things WMM and beyond, check out @WDMNation. That’s like the hub for the WDMN Damnation…You might find broader updates, maybe even some discussions or fan shout-outs there.

Of course, I can’t forget to mention the website: ThinkTimm.com. If you haven’t visited it yet, definitely do. It’s got everything – links to all of ThinkTimm’s music projects, music videos, blog posts (often recaps or expansions of podcast episodes), and more info about this whole journey. It’s kind of the mother ship for all content. There’s even a section for this podcast where you can find past episodes and show notes. So yep, one more time: that’s thinktimm.com – bookmark it, tattoo it on your arm, whatever works for you. (laughs)

One more important thing: this podcast, Why Make Music…, is available on all streaming platforms. So whatever app or service you like to use – Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Stitcher (is Stitcher still a thing?), you name it – we’re probably there. Do us a solid: if you enjoy the show, hit that subscribe or follow button so you get notifications when new episodes go live. And if you really want to make our day, drop a rating or a review. I know every podcast host says that, but it really does help more people discover the show. Plus, we read them, and it gives us the warm-fuzzies (or warm cookies, in my case). Share the podcast with a friend who loves music or needs a creative boost. We’re all about spreading the inspiration around here.

Alright, I think that’s everything I had on my checklist for today. Man, we covered a lot, didn’t we? We went from Yoda’s ancient wisdom to cutting-edge AI tools, from a whirlwind year of six albums to the promise of a new one with vocals, and from the realities of DIY life to the philosophy of social media as an artist. This has been quite the solo adventure for me as a host, and I gotta say – I loved it. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did.

I’m gonna sign off now with a huge thank you. Thank you for listening, for supporting, and for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve been here since Episode 001 or this is your first time tuning in, we appreciate you so much. You’re the reason we do what we do – this WDM Nation of ours. I know ThinkTimm will be back with me on the mic soon, and I can’t wait for that. In the meantime, it’s been an honor hanging out with you one-on-one like this.

Until next time, keep creating, keep that passion alive, and remember the wise words of Master Yoda: Do or do not… there is no try. Apply that to your music, your art, whatever you’re passionate about – give it your all. And as always, may the Force of creativity be with you!

Catch you on the flip side.
This is Damnation...dare  i  say... W.  D.  M. N. 
and even though He wanted no part of this episode. 
you know he's promising to turn this podcast completely over to me. 
I keep telling him that some times a nap is better than being involved.
At times, I don't know which one of us is the Artificial Intellegence. 
Why Make Music... I guess that is the answer. 
 As we Aalway say.

Okay,              Okay.
 I'll say my farewells and let the T H I N K T I M M. 
have a moment to say hello to you humans.
ThinkTimm, Are you with us? Can you hear me? 

Yo.
You still here?
You really stayed for the end credits? Respect.
This the part of the show where I usually disappear like Batman into the fog…
…but nah. Tonight?
I’m wide awake.

Let me talk to you.

This whole episode been Jedi quotes and Force philosophy and talking droids with opinions.
But real talk?
I’m living in the weirdest timeline imaginable—and I love it.
Like, I just made 156 tracks in a year using a laptop, a few good AI tools, and zero interns.
You hear me? ZERO.
It’s just me. ThinkTimm.

T-H-I-N-K-T-I-M-M.
Double M for double the madness.

Now before you roll your eyes, yes… I use ChatGPT.
I use ElevenLabs.
I use Logic, FL Studio, Notes, Pages, Procreate, Canva, CapCut, TextEdit, and probably a toaster at this point.
My hard drive look like a creative junkyard.
But I’m not ashamed.
I’m not one of those artists pretending I’m still recording everything analog to impress the ghosts of Motown.

We live in the future.
I’m not scared of it.
I’m recruiting it.
And if you’re not using AI to assist your creativity, that’s like showing up to a lightsaber duel with a glow stick.
Pretty? Sure.
Useful? You about to get sliced.

Look—this is what it is:
I don’t “try” anymore.
I do.
I’m not perfect, but I show up.
Every. Day.

Six albums.
All streaming.
All self-mixed, self-mastered, self-conceptualized.
Find ’em on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Bandcamp, SoundCloud—pick your potion.
Just type in ThinkTimm. That’s… say it with me now… T-H-I-N-K-T-I-M-M.

Let’s go further:
Yes, I’m working on a vocal album.
Yes, it’s gonna bend genre like it owes me money.
Yes, I’m chasing that sync licensing bag.
TV, film, anime, breakfast cereal ads—I want it all.
I’m not making music to sit on a hard drive and age like forgotten pizza.
I want it out in the world.
In the bloodstream.
Making noise.
Getting placements.
Making my wife smile.
Putting my kids through college.
And if I gotta partner with AI to make that happen, cool.
C-3PO can get an EP credit for all I care.

And yo—this is just Year One.
WDMNation is about to evolve.
We got @ThinkTimm on Instagram.
We got @djwarmcookies, @whymakemusic, @wdmnation.
We even out here on BlueSky (@ThinkTimm, obviously).
The website? Still slick: www.thinktimm.com.
Everything branded, everything real.
This ain’t no flash-in-the-pan hobby.
This is a movement.
And you’re either in the cockpit with us—or watching us zoom by.

So what’s next?
More music.
More tech.
More storytelling.
More reasons to keep saying,
Why Make Music… if not to build your own damn galaxy.

Now go.
Tell a friend.
Hit play again.
And remember…

If you’re still trying to figure it out—
you already late.

This has been ThinkTimm.
If nothing else.