Breaking Away from the Algorithm: Reflecting on a New Release Strategy for Through the Quiet Dark (Dawless Music Production)

Releasing my latest album Through the Quiet Dark was a departure from my usual approach. After a year of dawless jams made on YouTube, I was sitting on a large number of “ideas” that I could pull from. I had never used these kinds of tracks for releases before, instead always creating in the DAW or putting hardware samples into the DAW and expanding. But my time in the studio has drastically decreased after becoming a parent, and this new workflow was the only way to still create.

The first track, Iridescent Bloom, was when I realized there was something to this new dawless music production workflow. The process boiled down to recording a sample from a live instrument — like the main guitar loop in this track — then splicing it up and reworking it in ways only a sampler can do. From there, I expanded with new samples, melodies, and beats. It was a simpler, more immediate way of creating, and it became a lifeline when time and energy were limited.

Here's how that track was made:

This decision was one of the best I’ve ever made. Instead of focusing on endlessly mixing and getting caught up in my own perfectionism, I was able to just create and finish tracks. Parenthood did play a role in this shift — aside from a lot of sleepless nights, it was a motivating factor in channeling all those complex emotions into musical form.

With this new outlook, I also decided to take a closer look at my release strategy. My previous approach was heavily focused on chasing Spotify streams and algorithmic playlists, something I never truly enjoyed. With Spotify's recent changes to royalty payouts — now requiring a yearly threshold per track before payouts — combined with the consistently shrinking per-stream payouts, I felt disillusioned. That was the catalyst for focusing on Bandcamp and physical releases.

In many ways, I’ve found deeper and more meaningful connections with listeners through my YouTube channel and Bandcamp than I ever did with playlist streams. There’s a genuine interaction in the comments — conversations about the music, shared experiences, and feedback that feels real. By contrast, the anonymous streams on Spotify often feel disconnected.

This all led me to the decision to create a limited run of cassettes for Through the Quiet Dark. I've always loved the sound of cassettes, but this was the first time I decided to use them for a release. Since the music itself was created in a tactile, hands-on way with hardware, it felt fitting to create a physical product that listeners could hold and experience tangibly. It’s like a shared experience — a connection formed through the physicality of music, which streaming often lacks.

The response to the cassette release has been humbling. Despite having minimal time to promote it, the cassettes are nearly sold out, and the album even received plays on KEXP radio. It’s validating to know that listeners are willing to support and invest in physical media.

Looking ahead, I’m not entirely sure what the next step will be. I don’t want to completely neglect streaming listeners — it’s not their fault that these platforms make the decisions they do. But I also don’t feel compelled to support the direction that streaming services are heading in. It feels like a catch-22. Ultimately, this experience has shown me that there’s no set path in music. You have to find what resonates with you creatively and see how you can make it work.

For now, I’m grateful for the experience of making and sharing Through the Quiet Dark. It’s a testament to finding new ways to create and connect, even when the familiar paths no longer make sense.

Buy digital and cassette here: