Carter Vail is a musician, producer, and video creator. His fast-paced, lighthearted short-form songs have garnered him hundreds of thousands of followers across social media. His new album, 100 Cowboys, combines upbeat music with emotional lyrics that document a difficult breakup. Carter shares his songwriting process, thoughts on collaboration, and why he chooses to work fast and be prolific in his creative process. This episode is sponsored by Baby Audio, makers of incredible music software. Use the code MPP15 to save 15%! https://babyaud.io  Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Takeaways: Carter Vail's new album '100 Cowboys' strikes a balance between upbeat music and sad lyrics. Having fun with music is important and can bring joy to both the artist and the audience. Working in a simple studio setup can be beneficial, as it minimizes potential bottlenecks and allows for a seamless creative process. Carter believes in showing up and working consistently, rather than waiting for inspiration to strike. Simplicity in the creative process and studio setup can lead to faster and more efficient music-making.  Inspiration is fickle, and it's important to take action and create even when feeling uninspired. Having a concept and direction before diving into production is important for songwriting.  The proximity of instruments to the computer can affect the recording process.  Collaboration can bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the creative process.  Specific details in lyrics can create a personal connection with listeners.  Efficiency and consistency are key in managing social media presence. Links: Carter Vail Website - https://www.cartervail.com Carter's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cartervailmusic/?hl=en Carter's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@cartervailmusic Carter's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@cartervailmusic?lang=en "Nashville" by Carter Vail - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCQhCt4PcLc "It's Time for Shrimp" by Carter Vail - https://youtube.com/shorts/eZ-S2ZYYjL8?si=Z9__aqPrwYc-kbXl Recording Unhinged by Sylvia Massy - https://amzn.to/4cXACo5 Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc  5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store This episode was edited by Animus Invidious of PerforModule - https://performodule.com/ Thank you for listening.  Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider! And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs. Brian Funk