French producer, DJ, musician, and sound designer Raw Main has carved out a distinctive path through ethnic influences, melodic sensibilities, and live performance.
Photo credit: Raw Main – Official
A rising name within the All Day I Dream family, he has previously released music on Lost Miracle, Abracadabra, Sounds of Khemit, and Bar 25, and appeared on All Day I Dream compilations in 2020 and 2024.
Now, he returns to the label with his first full EP for the imprint, ‘Theory Of Love’. To celebrate the release, Raw Main shares five pieces of advice on creativity, production, workflow, and maintaining balance as an artist.
1. Let unfinished tracks breathe
My first advice is about composition in general. We’ve all found ourselves stuck at some point while creating a track. Sometimes we spend hours, days, weeks, or maybe even months trying to figure out what’s missing to finally finish it, or searching for a melody that just never comes.
I’m very stubborn and I hate giving up because it feels like wasted time, even though in music we improve day after day.
But if you’re stuck on a track and can’t find the solution, let it go and start a new one. Sometimes certain tracks are simply not meant to be finished at that particular moment. You can always come back to them later, or even throw them away completely.
Over the last few months, I’ve often put unfinished tracks aside because I felt I had already spent too much time on them, and ‘Acrobat Dreamer’ is the perfect example of a track that was abandoned and then brought back to life a year later.
There are no rules, and even less certainty in music. So put it aside and stop forcing it.
2. Build a mastering chain you trust
My mastering chain once I’ve finished mixing a track:
1. Sonnox Inflator — I compose with a low level, so I always add around +6dB of input gain. In terms of effect amount, I usually set it around 20–25%.
2. Pulsar Audio 8200 — It’s an EQ mainly used to shape the high frequencies. I’m very sensitive to harsh highs; I often feel like there’s too much top-end, when in reality it’s usually the opposite.
3. Shadow Hills Industries Mastering Compressor Class A — I love the dual compression character and the extremely clean input and output response.
4. FabFilter Pro-L2 — My final limiter to finish the mastering chain.
Once your master is ready, export it and compare it with your reference track. If you don’t already do that, start right now.
3. Work from a template
Here is my Ableton session template.
I always start making music with an Ableton template. I have more than 10 analog synths and I use a MIDI patch to control them. I can’t waste time creating MIDI track by MIDI track every new session.
So my first tracks are:
1. Kick Sidechain
2. Hat Sidechain — can be used for gate open/close, like an arpeggiator
3. Kick — I’ve been using the same kick for a few years now
4. MIDI Tracks group to control all my synths:
Model D, PRO1, Nord Rack 1, Nord Rack 3, Moog Slim Phatty, Korg MS2000, Prophet 6, Moog Sub37, Bass Bot TT303, Moog Mother 32, Arturia DrumBrute, Yamaha Motif Rack XS
5. 3 empty Simplers
6. 3 empty Audio Tracks
7. Master: Inflator, Sonarworks
This template is still evolving every year.
Don’t forget, a template saves you time.
4. Test your tracks
Test your tracks, don’t be shy (I’m also shy). A lot of answers are on the dancefloor. If you cannot play them yourself, send them to a friend.
5. Take care of your mental health
My fifth and final advice is about the artist’s life itself. We don’t talk enough about artists’ mental health. It’s a real subject that needs more attention. I’m 40 today, and I’ve seen a lot in the DJ world. Even if my advice may sound simple, it’s actually very difficult to apply consistently:
– Build a routine. It’s hard, but in the long run you’ll become much more efficient.
– Don’t fall too deep into excesses (alcohol, cigarettes, drugs…). It has a huge impact on your mental state.
– Get proper rest. A good night’s sleep is often the key to creativity.
– Exercise regularly. It’s important for your body and helps keep your mind clear.
– Never compare yourself to others. Every DJ career is different.
– Music is not an exact science. Failing is not failure, it’s just another step forward.
– Be resilient. Music takes time, so don’t rush the process.
– And if tomorrow someone asks you for feedback on a track, remember that you were once in the same position a few years ago.
Raw Main’s ‘Theory Of Love’ is out now via All Day I Dream. Stream and download your copy here.
Follow Raw Main: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
