Hardest Things To Do
This past weekend, I dedicated a few hours to recording some music. I get nervous and hesitant when recording, knowing that I’m a total beginner. I had spent many months just getting the systems to actually work, but I didn’t expect to feel this frustrated as I began. Learning a DAW software is extremely daunting. There feels like 1000’s of buttons and names and terms that I don’t yet know. I’ll click one button on my keyboard, and the whole system will react in ways I have no idea how or why. I’m googling every single next step -“how to cut my sound clip”, “how to eq my acoustic guitar”… and half the time, Im asking questions I don’t even know how to ask, not yet knowing the correct terms. It’s been one of the most overwhelming things to learn. But being a beginner is hard; learning a new skill is hard. There’s a reason people don’t stick to new things when just learning is such a challenge.
I decided to record my song called “Hardest Thing To Do.” I began by getting the guitar recorded. I had finally felt confident in the measures and beat of the song. I recorded the guitar as I counted out the beats, to ensure the song's timing fit together as I planned. I was able to get the guitar in the first 3 tries, and felt confident in it. I added an EQ, removing the low frequencies while adjusting the mid and high frequencies slightly.
Then I recorded vocals. This took a handful of tries. I recorded one main vocal, going through the whole song. I then layered a second main vocal, where I sang, emphasizing the beat and certain phrases. I then added a low and a high harmony layer.
All layers were added to a beat that I found on Splice.
Once I got to this point, as I was trying to edit and remove some layers, I ended up deleting it all. Luckily, I had a previously saved file. Unfortunately, the file was saved before I recorded the harmonies, so all of those were deleted. My chest started to tighten as anxiety started to boil within me. My head was racing, trying to figure out what I had done and why?!?! It felt like I was back in the midst of my software trial runs using old equipment, and my files were constantly getting deleted…(read Use What You Got)
Extremely frustrated, I took a break, ran an errand out of the house, and came back after 30 minutes or so.
When I calmed down enough, I got back to it. I worked with the files I had preserved and continued recording and editing. I redid the harmonies, and changed up a few of the vocals. After another hour or so, foolishly, I repeated my first mistake and deleted all my layers. And worse, I accidentally saved the deleted version as is, without any of the layers of vocals and guitar that I worked so hard to create. My heart and stomach sank. How did I manage to delete my work, not once, but twice? With tears coming to my eyes, I took another break and just breathed for a few minutes. Once I had calmed my anger, I thought, maybe it’s not deleted? I AM actually working on a 2025 system… I googled “how to find lost files in Pro Tools” and sure enough, I got instructions on how to find my backup files. I was able to recover all the harmonies and vocals I thought I had originally lost. The relief was empowering. How I love modern technology.
I ended up removing a few vocals, and leaving this recording quite simple. Although I have many thoughts and ideas on how I could make the recording better, knowing the flaws better than anyone, I’m happy to say I finished it, and I’m pleased with what I was able to accomplish as a beginner.
“Hardest Things To Do” came to life because of my daily writing. Each day, I have a routine of writing very specific things, including my energy, mind, and body rating for that day. I had this thought one day, looking at my stats, that I would never have believed my average mind could be a 7/10. I spent so many years in such anxiety-ridden distress, to say my average is a 7/10- I was very proud of myself. This thought snowballed into thinking about how truly the best, most healthy things in my life have been the hardest things to do. And in return, I’ve found the most joy, love, and satisfaction in my life.
Recording this song taught me that my files always have a backup, thank the lord. Writing this song and singing it is a beautiful reminder to continue to do the hard things. By doing so, you’ll continue to find light, love, knowledge, strength, and so much more 🩵
Lyrics:
Hardest Things To Do
Katie Grass
VERSE 1
I’d bet all my money against,
One who’d claim, that my own minds-
average was tracking, great.
Could I really be that way?
Disregarded all the signs.
Feelings lost between my storylines.
Vast and daunting, to succeed.
Could that really be me?
CHORUS 1
I do feel light.
I’m stronger and smarter too.
They say the best things in life,
are the hardest things to do.
Verse 2
Who knew time and discipline,
bring subtle changes, day by day.
Noticing,that Im the only one-
Standing in my own way.
I could really be that way.
I could really be that great.
Chorus 2
2nd Chorus
I do feel mine.
I’m far more loving too.
They say the best things in life,
Are the hardest things to do.
