/blog

The past couple of weeks have been tough. I'm not entirely sure why, but my mental health has taken a downturn. It doesn't feel like the meds are really doing anything at the moment, and I've been increasingly restless and fitful during sleep again.

Yesterday, I had to go back to the doctor's as the pharmacy was having problems getting hold of my repeat prescription so we also discussed the current situation.

I've had an almost constant headache for the past 7-8 days, occasionally dipping into migraine territory. This has been attributed to not being properly rested. Even though I may be asleep, I am not gaining the benefit.

Consequently, I've been advised to take melatonin to help promote healthy sleep alongside an increased dose of fluoxetine — I don't think I can go much higher.

Autumn has hit with a vengeance, and the reduced hours of daylight likely don't help. I always struggle at this time of year. The transition from away from the long days of summer really affects me.

All this, and things being quite busy at home, have meant that studio time has been at a premium. The last couple of times I have managed to get up there I just listened to the same 16 bar loop on repeat, knowing that the track should exist but not having the headspace to work on it properly.

Yesterday, I took delivery of a Roland TR-505 bought cheap on eBay. It's in excellent condition for a 40 year old device, especially the screen, and I'm hoping it'll give me a bit of inspiration through shiny new toy syndrome.

I had a quick play last night, comparing it to the 505 samples I have on the LM Drum, and it sounds very nice — really punchy.