Why My Friend Wasted $4,000 on a Song — And How You Can Avoid the Same Trap
Let me tell you a quick story.
A good friend of mine — let’s call her Jess — is an incredible songwriter. Raw talent. Killer voice. Deep lyrics. She finally decided to go all-in and record her first real single.
She spent $4,000 on a studio, a producer, mixing, mastering — the whole nine yards — because this song meant the world to her.
And when it was done?
She hated it.
I don’t mean she was being picky. I mean she literally cried in her car after hearing the final bounce. Not because it was awful — it was fine — but because it didn’t sound like her. Not even close.
Even the people who mattered most to Jess agreed — something was off.
Worse: now she had to spend more money re-recording vocals, tweaking production, and essentially redoing what should’ve been the most exciting project of her life.
I actually tried to help her out because I felt so bad, but when I opened the project that her previous producer sent over, it was truly unsalvageable.
This is, unfortunately, more common than you might think.
Here’s why it happened…
(+ how to make sure it doesn’t happen to you):
Mistake #1: No Clear Vision Going In
Jess went into the studio saying something like:
“I want it to sound kinda indie… like Phoebe Bridgers but with a little bit of Billie Eilish vibes. You know, moody but not too sad. Cinematic but chill.”
Cool vibe. But not enough to actually guide a creative process.
Here’s the truth: you don’t have to show up with a perfect vision. That’s what great producers help with.
The problem isn’t not knowing — it’s not having space to figure it out before the clock starts ticking.
When you don’t pause to explore what the song really wants to be — emotionally, energetically, and sonically — you can end up with a track that technically works, but doesn’t move you.
Mistake #2: No Path From Voice Memo to Final Mix
Jess had a beautiful song. But she didn’t know what it needed:
What instruments would carry the emotion?
Should the vocals be intimate and raw? Or polished and expansive?
What arc should the arrangement follow to mirror the story?
This is where a lot of indie artists get stuck — somewhere between the feeling in their head and the track in their DAW.
Without a guide, you can get lost in endless options, or worse, settle for something that just feels… off.
Mistake #3: The Producer Didn’t Ask the Right Questions
This one’s tough — and unfortunately, super common.
Jess worked with a technically skilled producer. But they didn’t pause to ask the big questions:
“Why does this song matter to you?”
“What’s the emotional center we’re trying to highlight?”
“What do you want your listener to feel when they hear it?”
They built a decent track — it just didn’t feel aligned with who she is.
(side note: they also cut a lot of corners, & I know this because I opened the project, but we won’t get into that)
A great producer isn’t just someone who makes things sound nice. They’re a translator. A mirror. A co-creator. Someone who helps pull your truth forward and build a sonic world that reflects it.
So... How Do You Avoid This?
Simple: start with CLARITY.
Before I produce anything, I sit down with artists to get aligned. Even if their vision feels foggy, we talk it through — and get specific about what they want the song to feel like, say, and do.
We map it out together.
Because your songs deserve more than “good enough.”
They deserve to sound like you — fully, honestly, unapologetically.
& you deserve to be obsessed with the final result — because your song will live forever.
Want to Make Music That Actually Sounds Like You?
I offer free 30-minute Clarity Calls to help indie artists avoid exactly what happened to Jess.
We'll talk about your vision (even if it feels half-formed), your sound, and the story you’re trying to tell — and if it feels aligned, I’ll share how I can help bring it to life.
Sound good? [Click here to book a Clarity Call.]
Or DM me on Instagram and I’ll send you the link.
