Amy Dabbs: Balancing Music With Life, Running Your Own Label & Why Every Good Track Was Once a Shit Track
This week I'm joined by Amy Dabbs - Berlin-based DJ, producer, and label owner who has built a music career entirely around a demanding job in digital advertising, international gigs, and a self-run release schedule.
No shortcuts, no safety net - just an incredibly honest account of what it actually takes.
We get into how she structures her time to protect studio sessions, the moment during covid that forced her to either quit or throw everything at it, and the creative process behind going from self-taught beginner to releasing music she's proud to play in her own sets.
We also talk about running her own label, why she can directly track gaps in her release schedule to her bookings dropping off, and the technique she uses - the golden hour - to hear her tracks with fresh ears before that window closes forever.
This one's for anyone trying to make music fit around real life without losing their mind or their sound.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Protect your golden hour: After two sessions building an idea, leave it completely alone for one to two weeks. That third session is the only time you'll ever hear it with fresh ears - make every decision you can in that window because it never comes back.
- Finish it even when you hate it: Every good track was once a track you wanted to bin. Pushing through that moment - not opening a new Ableton session - is the single most important habit you can build as a producer.
- Kill your darlings: Sometimes the thing you've spent the most time on is the thing that's holding the track back. Save it somewhere, close the folder, and let the track become what it needs to be.
- Release schedule drives bookings: If you're not releasing consistently, you're going backwards. Amy can see the correlation on a graph - gaps in output lead directly to fewer gigs.
- Ask for what you need: She asked to go part time and remote before covid made it normal. They said yes. If you don't ask, nothing changes - and more flexibility might be closer than you think.
BEST MOMENTS
"Every good track I've ever made was a shit track I didn't give up on." - Claude VonStroke, quoted by Amy
"That third session is the golden hour - the only time you're ever going to hear that track with fresh ears in the whole world. It never comes back."
"I've missed my friend's birthday for this. I can't do it. Maybe I've written all the good tracks I'm ever going to write. And then you turn a corner - and you did not see it coming."
"If you have a gap between releases, I can see a couple of months later my bookings lay down. Put it on a graph - it's very easy to correlate the two things."
"Don't lose yourself. Don't let the knockbacks make you start changing who you are. Being authentic is the most important thing of all."
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
ABOUT THE HOST
Lex Luca is a London-based DJ, producer, and tastemaker, known for his infectious energy both behind the decks and in the studio. With releases on Snatch!, Nervous, and his own label In Tune, Lex has garnered support from industry heavyweights like Pete Tong, Annie Mac, and Claude von Stroke. A former BBC Radio 1 producer, he brings a wealth of experience to his craft, delivering a unique blend of house, disco, and techno that has taken him from London to Ibiza and beyond. Lex founded OpenDAW Songwriting camps, bringing together independent musicians to collaborate. And now, as the host of OpenDAW Talks, Lex shares his journey and insights with the next generation of music creators.
CONNECT & CONTACT
http://instagram.com/opendawmusic
Email: hello@opendawtalks.com
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