I’ve always struggled with releasing music. Not because I haven’t been working, but because I’ve been stuck in the loop of chasing perfection. This past year I’d often get consumed by a single track, trying to make it flawless, and in doing so, I stopped creating new ideas altogether. As Rick Rubin said,

“When consumed with a single work to the degree that we believe it’s our life’s mission, there’s no room for the next one to develop.”

That’s been me. Endlessly tweaking the same few ideas without making meaningful progress.

So I’m changing that.

This newsletter is part of that shift. So is posting on Instagram. It’s all to keep myself accountable, to focus on progress, not perfection and connect with followers and other likeminded people. I want to be transparent about the creative journey, even when I’m in the middle of it. If you’re reading this, you’re already part of that process.

This month I:

Mixing has always been my bottleneck, but I’m finally feeling more confident now that I have a system in place. The biggest breakthrough? Keeping it simple.

As Steve Jobs said,

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

I’m finally feeling that in practice.

I’ve built a system from watching other producers over time, something structured that gives each mix a clear direction. No more aimless tweaking. I now follow a step-by-step process where every decision has intent. And when the arrangement is simple, the mix just clicks into place. I’ve been thinking of putting together a walkthrough of the mixing system I use, but only if people actually want it. If it’s something you’d use, let me know and I’ll make it happen!

I’m still yet to start posting on Instagram, but it’s coming. If you're interested in seeing snippets of what I’m working on in the meantime, I’ll start posting more regularly on Instagram Stories and Reels.

Plugins:
– Upgraded to Serum 2 and FabFilter Pro Q4. Some powerful stuff in there I’m diving into now.

Podcasts:
– Behind The Wall with Daniel Wall – Jon Bellion episode
– Invest Like The Best – The Chainsmokers episode

Book:
– Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain
(Also been watching No Reservations. Both are creative gold.)

Creative Tip:
Doing things outside of music has actually helped my music. Stepping away to do something else creative gives me space to come back sharper. Whether it’s lifting, cooking, running, or just watching a movie, it clears my head and often gives me the spark I was missing in the studio.

The biggest lesson this month: stop trying to make the “perfect” song and just keep creating. New ideas bring excitement. And quantity breeds quality. When I allow myself to move freely between writing, producing, and mixing, I make more progress than when I obsess over one piece for months.

That’s it for this month’s Post Fader. If any of this resonates — whether it's the creative struggle, the breakthroughs, or the music, I’d love to hear from you. Hit reply and let me know what you're working on, stuck on, or excited about. Or…

✅ Follow me on Instagram — I’ll be sharing more WIPs, breakdowns, and snippets there soon.
✅ Save Line In with Lexton — I update it monthly with what I’m listening to and inspired by.
✅ Stick around — Next month, I’ll be dropping a free guide on how I process pianos in my mixes.

✅ Reply to this email – Let me know what you’re working on or stuck with