Do you go through phases with stuff you're interested in? Or do you generally do the same things throughout?

I have like maybe 7 things I am really passionate about and sometimes they overlap, but at times, like recently, I end up focusing totally on one thing, ignoring the rest until I gradually move to the other extreme. Because of this, I kind of figure when I'm on the beat making tip, I should milk it for all it's worth and push myself to make as much as I can because I also go through creativity droughts and at least that way I can keep some heat in the stash.

This fall/early winter I was like obsessed with making beats, budgeting out my shopping list for gear, finding samples, etc. I didn't care about anything else. My friend passed away in the end of December and I was asked to make something to play at her wake. I made it, and it's like after that I slowly started to invest more time in another hobby. Just last week, I wanted to take a break from OB4CL1 and Ironman which were pretty much all I was listening to for a few weeks and I put on some Dilla and some Lord Beatjitsu. That kind of lit a little spark in me to think about beats again.

Then, I wanted to hook up my ipod to this old school stereo/console thing I have but my 1/4" cable was broken. I had to use the outs from my SP. I brought it out, blew the dust off (ok not really lol) and set it up. I was listening to some Love's Unlimited Orchestra and sometimes I like to throw a little vinyl sim on, or tweak the frequencies a little. Feeling my fingers on the knobs and seeing the cute light up pads fanned the flame and I can almost feel the fire up under me to start becoming a beat freak again lol.

Are you like that too or do you make beats/whatever else you're into all day every day lol?

I go through this all the time. I don't all the way stop making beats but I focus on another aspect of it. Like maybe I will focus all my energy for a month doin awesome drums and just chopping breaks, then the next month I will just only collect samples and listen to new music. For me, making music is a perfect storm, once all the material is there and ready I just get down and complete an entire project in very little time. In the end, even when we aren't making music our life experiences will help shape our music.

Lately, I've noticed my gear collection growing and the amount of music I am making going down. It's been on my mind to get back to the basics and just make at least a little track everyday.

Yes!
Anxiety - cycles
Social life - cycles
Music - cycles between ambient/lofi beats & techno/minimal/atmos DnB/etc
Gear - cycle between synth & sample

I am borderline bipolar though
My whole life is cycles.. Although actually my drug addiction has made things alot more stable.. (at the cost of being financially fucked)

i go through these kinds of cycles too, in music and in other creative pursuits too.

i also lost two people who were very close to me last year (my condolences to you, mecha), and immediately after, passed through a phase that changed up my music again. so maybe that's natural after something like this? grieving is heeeeeavy duty. it effects everything.

Thanks Fauna and the same to you. Oh man, I can totally imagine that could be a factor. I still don't think I really processed it yet. Every so often I feel it or I think of something I want to tell her or go do with her and I realize I can't anymore. Last year must have been so crazy for you.