Normally when I work with bands I'm trying to refine and improve what's already there.
My other advice is to start writing songs and singing right away.
I think that technology has both introduced new sounds but also allowed an increasingly painterly approach to recording music as you can now paint over what you've done and more and more refine an existing performance.
I had previously been in the band the Modern Lovers with Jonathan Richman.
I think being eclectic is bad when you're just starting out.
What's nice about being a producer is you get to roll the dice more often, and you get to be involved with lots of different kinds of music.