A Step-by-Step Guide to Overcoming Creative Block in Music

How to Get Inspired Again

Feeling stuck when making music is completely normal. Every producer, from Daft Punk to Justice, has faced moments where ideas just don’t flow. No chords, no melodies, no energy.

Here are five simple ways to find inspiration and break your creative block, inspired by techniques used by some of the best producers in electronic music.

1. Experiment and Play to Trigger Happy Accidents

Many producers find new ideas by simply playing around with plugins and sounds. Open a new synth, twist random knobs, and record everything.

You don’t need a goal. Just let yourself experiment. Those small mistakes and unexpected sounds often lead to a full track idea or even your unique sound signature.

2. Build Your Own Sample Folder

When you’re not in the mood to compose, use that time to organize your tools.
Create a personal folder with your favorite drum samples, loops, and one-shots — the ones that inspire you the most. This will help you work faster later and build your own sonic identity.

Think about how Justice used the same over-compressed drums across their Cross album. It became part of their sound. Or how Madeon’s Adventure features instantly recognizable drums and textures throughout the record.
Even if you’re not creating new music, you’re still building your sound foundation.

3. Compose Over a Drone or an Acapella

If starting from silence feels overwhelming, begin with something static or familiar.
Try writing chords or melodies over a drone (a long atmospheric note with reverb) or an acapella from a song you love.
It’s one of the easiest ways to unlock inspiration and naturally build an arrangement.

4. Start From a Loop or Riff

Loops can be great inspiration triggers.
Grab a music loop or synth loop, chop it, and create a small riff or hook that feels catchy. Then start layering drums, bass, or chords around it.
If you use my packs like Nu-Disco Pop Essentials or Electro Synthpop, you’ll find many inspirational loops designed exactly for this type of workflow.

5. Anchor Your Track With a Core Element

When working with samples or micro chops like Daft Punk, Justice, or Todd Edwards, always keep one main element that holds everything together — a bassline sequence, a main chord progression, or a central sample.

For example, in “Face to Face” by Daft Punk, the main sample from “Evil Woman” by Electric Light Orchestra acts as the foundation of the song. They then built complexity around it, treating samples like real instruments.
That’s the key to making your music sound cohesive and powerful.

Bonus: Watch and Learn From the Masters

Here are a few great videos that show these ideas in action:

Final Thought

Inspiration doesn’t come from waiting, it comes from staying in motion.
Play, organize, experiment, and build small ideas every day.

Remember: the best songs often start from the simplest spark.
If you’re looking for sounds that help you get started fast, check out the premium sample packs on Justesse Sounds — created to help producers like you make professional music that stands out.