What advice would you give to your noob self?

[cryptzzz]

This is a nice topic! I agree with everything that is being said. This might be kind of general advice but: trust the process. Everyone is differnt in life and in music, don't get fixated on genres. It is the uniqueness that shines through the music we love. Inspiration is good but don't stress over not sounding like an artist you admire. You just do you, even if you feel you're not there yet... It's about the process, not the goal, it's about the journey, not the destination.

[Potions Of Eleanor]

A lot of great things already mentioned. I'll piggyback off of some of the previous responses and emphasize that completing songs is everything. Running through the entire song process over and over again is one of the best ways to be able to understand it and get better (this goes for any part of the process).

Another big one which I believe was also mentioned is get a good pair of reliable headphones. This is often more affordable and easier to use on a budget for making your mixes sound good without needing monitors and a treated space. Don't underestimate crappy speakers either, check out how your music sounds all over the place like in your car, a friends house, or a cheap Bluetooth speaker.

Finally, one of the most important things that took me way to long to learn was... resting my ears. Ear fatigue is a very real thing and can skew your opinions of your projects as your working on them greatly. Often times when I get frustrated making a song, I step away sometimes for days before I listen to it again. When I come back with fresh ears and a new perspective, it helps me make meaningful adjustments and better calls moving forward with the project. I started making much better music consistently off of this point alone. Do not underestimate ear fatigue!

[Stéphane F.]

"Don't worry about the hiss or the cleanliness of your samples, man, in 15 years lo-fi and hauntology will be hype."