The Myth Of Constant Output

Hello... are you still here? Let me start with a question: "Without putting your art out into the world, do you lose momentum?" I came across this quote a few days ago, wrote it down in my notes app and honestly... it's been echoing in my head ever since. Maybe because I'm about to release a new track - ironically titled "Momentum" - and maybe because I've been thinking a lot about this idea of creative consistency vs creative presence. After stepping away from social media - and now reducing my interaction with music platforms - something interesting started to happen: the urge to constantly release music began to fade. Not completely, I still love (and want) to share my work, but the pressure behind it dissolved. And in that space, I found... peace? Clarity? Probably both. Here's the thing: after releasing my latest album back in March, I felt like I deserved - or better, needed - some time. Time to think, time to recharge, time to let the album breathe, not just for me, but for the people listening as well. Albums are big. They take a lot of energy to make and I believe they deserve time to settle. A few months at least... But then comes the dilemma: that momentum thing. The idea that if you stop releasing, people forget you exist. Or worse - you lose your "edge", your growth, your evolution. Is that true? Maybe. Maybe not. Here's what I do know: the way I work has changed. Since I started building my own platform - my own web app (which is basically a website, but with more to it) - I've felt more free than ever. I no longer worry if Spotify is glitching, if distribution takes too long or if a track gets flagged or shadowbanned for some random reason (which, to be fair, hasn't actually happened - yet). I don't stress over Instagram or TikTok trends either. My music has a home now. A home that I control. And that changes everything - at least for me. (The web app is almost done, I promise...) I'm not saying I've abandoned - or will abandon - streaming platforms or social media completely. My music and content are still out there. But I'm not relying on those channels anymore. They're not the centre. They're just satellites orbiting around what I'm actually building. And if they disappear tomorrow, my music (and I) will be just fine. This shift in mindset is what made me feel ready to release something again. Not because I had to, but because it felt right. The new track "Momentum" was originally part of the album process, but it didn't quite fit. It won't be in the upcoming bonus tracks either. It has its own identity, its own message - so I'm letting it stand on its own. And that made me reflect again: does releasing = growing? In today's world... probably. Algorithms love consistency. Audiences expect it. But I think it goes deeper than that... Some artists release something every week. Others, every few years. David Guetta vs Tame Impala. Does one feel stagnant when they go quiet? I think it depends on what we've come to expect from them. Expectations shape perception. In my case, people might not even notice a pause - I've always worked in waves. I release a project, then I go quiet. Then something new appears. That's just how I operate. And that rhythm now feels even more aligned with who I am. So here's my take: momentum doesn't come from always releasing. It comes from always moving. Even when you're not putting things out publicly - if you're growing, exploring, building - you're not stagnant. You're evolving. Quietly and internally. And when the time is right, you resurface with something real. Something that genuinely feels right to share. This isn't me trying to sound enlightened for stepping away from the noise. I'm just someone who enjoys creating from a place I can fully control. And right now, that means building something of my own: something sustainable, meaningful and above all... mine. So yeah, I'm still here. Still making stuff. Still sharing it. But now, on my own terms. Thank you for reading "Inside The Mind Of An Artist". Until next time, Vítor