Beyond the studio: the best books for music lovers
At EUMES, we always say that to make your mark on the music industry, it’s not enough to spend hours locked away in front of a screen or fiddling with knobs. As a leading school of music production, we know that the holistic training of an artist or producer is born of curiosity, a critical spirit and, above all, of feeding the mind with new references.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your own tracks, want to improve your studio skills or are searching for the perfect gift for a music lover, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to the best books for music lovers. and professionals in the sector. From technical reference manuals to essays on the artistic mind, these readings will help you to Focus on your path towards a solid music career.
Creativity and an artistic mindset: unlock your potential
Success begins in the mind. Before mastering any tool or software, you must learn to manage your own creative process and break down internal blocks. These titles are a must-read for any music lover who wants to grow as an artist.
'The Creative Act: A Way of Being' – Rick Rubin
The legendary music producer offers us an interesting meditation on what it means to live a creative life. You won’t find advice on compression or equalisation, but an indispensable philosophical guide to connecting with your intuition and understanding that creativity is an attitude towards life.
'The Artist's Way' – Julia Cameron
A genuine, timeless classic that works as unlocking therapy. Through weekly practical exercises, this book gives you the tools to overcome your own fears, perfectionism and imposter syndrome, paving the way for your authentic creative flow.
'How Music Works' – David Byrne
The founder of Talking Heads dissects music from every possible perspective: technology, history, the architecture of the spaces where it is listened to, and the market itself. A fascinating read for understanding how context directly influences the way we compose and consume sound.
Technique and theory: the best books on music production
If you’re looking to polish your sound, understand the rules of the game, or bring your mixes up to a competitive standard, these books on music production are a must-have for your bookshelf.
'Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers' – Dennis DeSantis
Published by Ableton, it has become the go-to handbook for any independent creator. Rather than talking you through cables or microphone techniques, it focuses exclusively on solving real-world problems. Music production: how to start a track from scratch, how to develop a stuck idea, and how to effectively finish your songs.
'Music Theory for Electronic Music Producers' – Anthony Allen
Music theory doesn’t have to be a dry or distant subject. Anthony Allen manages to break down traditional academic barriers and adapts harmony and composition directly to the environment of the electronic music and the use of DAWs. Ideal for gaining agility when creating melodies and chords without feeling limited.
'The Mixing Engineer's Handbook' – Bobby Owsinski
Probably one of the definitive reference books for understanding the art of mixing. A true classic that analyses the different phases of sound design on a three-dimensional plane and includes brilliant interviews with the best sound engineers on the planet.
'Mixing With Impact' – Wessel Oltheten
This book goes one step beyond purely technical aspects to focus on the intention of the mix. How can you achieve a frequency balance that evokes a specific emotion in the listener? An essential guide for anyone who wants to delve deeper into a Advanced mixing course and understanding the philosophy of a good sound finish.
'The Language of Harmony: From the Beginnings to the Present Day' – Lluís Vergés
Considered by many professionals as ‘the musician’s Bible’, this work explains in detail everything you need to know about harmony, from the basic structural concepts to the more complex modern harmonies used in contemporary compositions.
History, rhythm and club culture
To know where the future of music is heading, you must first have a thorough understanding of where we come from. Cultural heritage is what truly distinguishes a technical operator from a genuine artist, and it is essential reading for any music lover.
'Loops 1' and “Loops 2” – Javier Blánquez (with Omar Morera on Loops 1)
At EUMES we are immensely proud to have Javier Blánquez as a professor on our campus. This pair of books has become an indispensable encyclopaedia of the Electronic music. Loops 1 immerses us in a passionate study of the birth and evolution of the genre during the 20th century, while Loops 2 resumes the historical journey from the new millennium, analysing how this style has ceased to be a minority culture to become the main axis of the musical narrative of the 21st century.
'Dilla Time' – Dan Charnas
The definitive biography of J Dilla, the producer who completely revolutionised the sense of rhythm in modern music. Charnas masterfully details how his unique use of the Akai MPC shattered the traditional rigid metronome, influencing everything from underground hip-hop to mainstream pop and contemporary jazz.
'Killing Papito' – Oriol Rosell
An intelligent, critical and incisive look at independent and contemporary music scenes. Rosell, also a professor at EUMES, invites us to question the industry’s established discourses through a chronicle that reminds us that electronic and avant-garde music must always be linked to subversion and constant exploration.
'The Eternal Noise' – Alex Ross
A book that is read almost compulsively. Alex Ross brings us closer than anyone else to the history of 20th-century music, from the classical avant-garde to its connections with popular culture, helping us discover the enchanting sensations that sound evokes in our society.
Strategy, positioning and industry
'The Purple Cow' – Seth Godin
The current music market is teeming with artists and bands, among which standing out has become a tough exercise in creativity and ingenuity. In this key book for anyone who wants to understand the In the music business, marketing guru Seth Godin offers his unique insight and opinion on the functions and strategies that enable us to transform our project, create extraordinary offerings and differentiate ourselves in a highly competitive industry.
Ready to make the leap into the music industry?
And you, which of these books will you start with? Remember that feeding the mind is the indispensable first step, but true change comes when you decide to take action and turn your creativity into your livelihood.
At EUMES we provide you with the technology, space and support of practising professionals to connect you directly with today’s industry. If you’re ready to take the ultimate leap and take your talent to the next l The Diploma in Advanced Music and Sound is the comprehensive training you’ve been looking for.
