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Alright, let’s talk about something that can completely transform the way you make music: empathy. I get it—“empathy” might not be the first thing you think about when you open your DAW, but just hear me out. Understanding the people who are going to hear your music is one of the most underrated tools you’ve got as a producer. And no, I’m not talking about chasing trends or making whatever you think will get more streams. This is about truly understanding the moods, feelings, and expectations of the people on the other side of your track so that every sound you create actually connects.

Here’s the thing: when you start thinking about who you’re producing for, a whole new level of creativity opens up. Your listeners aren’t just statistics on a streaming service—they’re real people, experiencing your music in real moments. When you get a sense of what those people need or want, you can start making way better choices about your sound design, arrangements, and overall vibe. Stick around because by the end of this, you’ll know how to get into your audience’s head and use that insight to make tracks that hit harder and mean more.

What Does It Mean to Have Empathy in Music Production?

So, what does empathy really mean in the context of making music?

It’s more than just thinking about what your audience might like; it’s about understanding their experiences, their emotions, and their contexts. Picture this: someone is on a late-night drive, and your track comes on. Do they need something chill and atmospheric to keep the mood, or do they need something that slowly builds to give them energy? That’s empathy—knowing how your music fits into someone else’s moment.

Empathy in music production means putting yourself in your listener’s shoes. Imagine the setting where your track might be played. Is it in a club, where people are feeling the groove and want to be moved physically? Or is it in someone’s headphones on a rainy day, where they need something to comfort them? Understanding these different contexts will help shape every decision you make—from the tempo to the instruments, to even how you mix the final product.

If you think about it, the best producers out there are essentially masters of empathy. They know how to make people feel something—whether it’s joy, nostalgia, or a sense of relief. This isn’t about making generic music that “everyone” will like. It’s about finding a specific feeling or experience and nailing it, so that when someone hears your track, they think, “This is exactly what I needed right now.”

Why Audience Matters in Music Production

Understanding your audience matters more than most producers realize. Let’s be honest—it’s easy to get lost in our own little production bubble, making what we think sounds cool without ever considering who’s actually going to be listening. But here’s the truth: if you’re not thinking about the audience, your music might be missing its full potential.

The greats—think about producers like Rick Rubin or Quincy Jones—they tailor their sound to resonate with their audience. They understand that every group of listeners is different. A track that works perfectly at an intimate venue might fall flat at a festival, and a deep house track that shines in a club might not have the same impact when someone’s listening at home. It’s crucial to recognize who you’re making your music for. Is it DJs looking for a track that fits smoothly into their set, or is it casual listeners who want something catchy they can hum along to?

Another aspect to consider is how people are consuming music these days. Streaming platforms have fundamentally changed the way people listen. Playlists are king, and people jump from one mood to another. Knowing that your track might be sitting between a chill-out tune and a high-energy banger can inform how you approach your arrangement. Should you have a long, gradual build-up, or should you get to the hook faster? Understanding your audience’s listening habits will allow you to craft something that doesn’t just get played—it gets remembered.

Using Empathy to Shape Your Sound

So how do you actually apply empathy in a practical way while you’re producing? It starts by integrating your audience’s perspective into your workflow. Let’s break it down. Imagine you’re working on a track that’s meant for a festival setting. You know the crowd is there to lose themselves, to dance, and to feel the music physically. You’d probably lean into heavier kicks, powerful bass, and arrangements that build and release tension to keep people on their feet.

On the other hand, if your audience is a late-night study playlist, your approach changes completely. Maybe you use softer percussion, ambient pads, and keep the energy in check to create a sense of space rather than urgency. This kind of intentional production—where every element has a purpose based on the audience—can turn a good track into a great one.

Even choices like the song length can be influenced by empathy. Tracks meant for DJs are often longer, with extended intros and outros for seamless mixing. But if you’re making something for casual streaming, maybe you need to get to the point faster. Thinking about how your audience will use your music helps inform those structural decisions that might otherwise feel arbitrary.

Another great tool is using sound design to create a specific mood or energy that resonates with your intended listeners. If you know people will be listening while working out, add that extra bit of distortion to your synths, give the percussion a sharper edge, or add layers that make it sound more aggressive. If you want people to listen while winding down, use reverb and delay to create space, to let the track breathe more. By thinking about these details, you ensure that your music doesn’t just play—it speaks to those who hear it.

How to Get to Know Your Audience

Now, let’s dig into how you actually get to know your audience. One of the most effective methods is live feedback. If you’ve ever played a set or watched a DJ work, you’ve probably seen firsthand how different tracks get different reactions. Watching a crowd either lose their minds or stand there unmoved is some of the best, unfiltered feedback you’ll ever get. Take notes. What worked? What didn’t? Use that information the next time you sit down to produce.

Social media is another goldmine for understanding your audience. Look at how people respond to your releases. Are they sharing it, commenting on how it makes them feel, or using it in their own content? Dive into those comments. You don’t need to pander to every request, but understanding what people connect with can help shape your creative choices. Maybe a track you thought of as a “throwaway” becomes the one that people resonate with the most because it fills an emotional gap you didn’t know existed.

Analytics can also be surprisingly insightful. Look at where people are dropping off when they listen to your tracks. Are they skipping after a long intro? Are they replaying a certain part of the track over and over again? Data doesn’t lie, and it can help you see where your music is resonating or where you might be losing people. Use this data to tweak your arrangements, your intros, or even your drops, so you’re giving your listeners more of what they want.

And don’t underestimate the power of simply talking to people. Whether it’s other producers, fans, or DJs, understanding how they interact with your music can give you insights you won’t get from numbers or streams. It’s all about putting yourself in their shoes. Ask questions like, “How does this track make you feel?” or “Would this fit in your playlist?” Their answers can often guide your production decisions in ways you wouldn’t expect.

Building Empathy into Your Workflow

Empathy isn’t just something you think about at the beginning or the end of the production process—it’s something you integrate throughout. Start with intention. Before you even lay down your first track, ask yourself: who am I making this for? What are they feeling when they hit play? Keep those questions in your head as you build out your song structure, choose your instruments, and work on your sound design.

One practical way to do this is to make multiple versions of your track. Create one that’s more energetic, one that’s more mellow, and one that’s somewhere in between. Then, test those versions—either by playing them live or sending them to trusted people in your audience. Listen to the feedback and adjust accordingly. This iterative approach ensures that you’re not just guessing—you’re crafting a track that truly resonates.

Another approach is to storyboard your song. Imagine different scenarios where someone might be listening to your track and write those down. Maybe they’re at a party, maybe they’re on a run, maybe they’re just having a tough day. Use those scenarios to guide your production decisions. If you can envision your listener’s setting, you’ll be better equipped to create something that hits just the right note.

Remember, empathy isn’t about compromising your creative vision—it’s about enhancing it. It’s a tool that allows you to make music that’s not only authentic to you but also meaningful to the people who hear it. It’s the difference between making something that sounds good and something that feels necessary.

Conclusion

Understanding your audience and integrating empathy into your production process can be a game-changer. It’s about more than just making a track that sounds cool—it’s about creating an experience that resonates. Empathy helps you tap into what your listeners need, ensuring your music is heard, felt, and remembered. Next time you sit down to produce, try taking a few moments to really think about your audience. Picture who they are, where they are, and what they’re feeling. Let that guide you.

And if you’re up for it, here’s a challenge: make two versions of your next track. One where you lean into your instincts entirely, and one where you actively think about how a specific listener would react. Compare the two and see which one hits home better. You might be surprised at what empathy can do.

How To Use This All Right Now

So, you’ve read through and you’re ready to start implementing empathy into your workflow, right? The best part is you can start small. Begin by picturing your listener the next time you open up your DAW. Think about where they might be when they hear your track and use that as a creative guide. Just that little bit of extra consideration can have a massive impact on the choices you make.

And if you want to take it further, set aside time to gather real feedback. Send your tracks out to people you trust, or better yet, play them live. Gauge reactions, take notes, and don’t be afraid to go back and tweak things. The goal isn’t to pander—it’s to make your music hit in the most authentic way possible. When you understand your listeners and build that connection, your tracks will start to resonate on a level you might not have thought possible. Now, get out there and start making music that speaks to your audience—and maybe, just maybe, to a bigger audience than you ever imagined.

The post The Key to Making Music That Resonates Is Knowing Who You’re Producing For appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.