Feedback: It’s a Gift (Sort of)

how to ask for it, receive it, and not lose your mind in the process

That’s what they say — “feedback is a gift” — but if you’ve ever given or received it, you’ll know it doesn’t always feel that way.

For neurodivergent creatives especially, it can feel overwhelming, exposing, or depending on the context, just plain unhelpful.

But feedback is a necessary part of producing creative work — especially if you’re sharing it beyond your bedroom speakers. And this ties in closely with last week’s theme of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) — which is why this week in The AMP Club, we’re focusing on feedback: how to approach it, how to ask for it, and how to use it meaningfully.

Why Feedback Feels So Charged

As neurodivergent creators, many of us tie our creative work to our identity. That means feedback — even well-intentioned — can feel like a personal judgement.

But learning to reflect on our work without falling into black-and-white thinking (“It’s amazing” vs “It’s terrible”) is a skill. Good feedback helps us move beyond “I like it / I hate it” and into curiosity:

What’s working? What could improve? And why?

When Not to Seek Feedback

• When your identity is tightly bound up in the piece

• When you’re not feeling resilient or grounded

• When you don’t know what you want feedback on — you’ll get a mixed bag of opinions

What Good (+ timely) Feedback Can Do

• Show you alternative approaches and workflows

• Help you spot specific songwriting or production issues

• Teach you how others listen — and what they listen for

• Remind you that some people do want to help (and aren’t just “brosplaining”)

How to Make Feedback Useful

• Ask Early — before a piece becomes “locked in”

• Take Breaks — distance yourself from your track, then listen with fresh ears

• Use References — compare your track to similar ones for clarity

• Be Specific — say what you’re looking for (e.g. mix clarity, vocal tone, arrangement flow)

And remember: you don’t have to take every piece of feedback on board.
Your music is your own — and your choices matter more than anything else.

What Stage is your track at?

Ask for the right kind of feedback at the right time:

• ✏️ Songwriting – General feedback on ideas, themes, lyrics

• 🎹 Demo – Should you develop this idea further?

• 🏗️ Structure – Does the sequence work or should the bridge become the chorus?

• 🎧 Arrangement – Are your sounds/instruments effective?

• 🔊 Mix – Do elements clash or need more clarity?

• 🪜 Draft Mix – How does it compare to reference tracks?

• ✅ Final Mix/Master – Does it translate on different speakers?

When You’re Giving Feedback…

• Ask: “What kind of feedback are you looking for?”

• Focus on the stage they’re at

• Avoid technical overload unless they’ve asked

• Emotional or evocative responses can be just as helpful

Try using language like:

• “It made me feel…”

• “It reminds me of…”

• “You might consider trying…”

Top tips:

1. When to Ask for Feedback

• Early: Before you’re emotionally attached to the piece

• After a draft: You’re unsure what’s working or not

• Pre-release: Final mix/master checking

2. What to Ask About

• Songwriting (melody, lyrics)

• Structure & Arrangement

• Instrument/sound choice

• Mix & Balance

• Vocal tone, timing, tuning

• Overall emotional/genre vibe

3. What to Say When Asking
Examples:

• “I’m working on the mix — anything feel too loud/muddy?”

• “This is a demo — does the chorus hit for you?”

• “What kind of mood does this track give you?”

4. Tips for Receiving Feedback

• Take notes but don’t feel you need to take everything on board

• Use reference tracks

• Give yourself space before reacting

• Think about the reaching the right audience to critique your piece

5. Giving Feedback to Others

• Ask what stage they’re at

• Use clear, kind language

• Offer both technical and emotional impressions

Feedback isn’t about approval. It’s about growth.

You’re not looking for someone to tell you what to do - you’re looking for new perspectives.
You’re not trying to please everyone - just connect with the right people.
And you don’t need to act on every note - you’re the artist.

let me know if you found this blog helpful or if you’d like to share any humdinger feedback stories, we’ve all got them!