During the holidays, I took some time off to rest and reflect. New and revelatory insights about the creative process came to me, which I thought were worth sharing.
Last year, I felt stuck creatively more often than I used to. Sometimes not being motivated to put effort into making music, other times simply not feeling inspired. Luckily, I came across this book by successful music producer Rick Rubin that provided some much needed clarity: “The Creative Act: A Way of Being”.
Upon reading the first chapters, it already helped me break creative barriers that had existed in my mind. I realised I had applied counterproductive methods while making music. For example, I used to limit the potential of musical ideas by determining their style in advance. Or I would try to recreate the sound of a track like I had imagined it in my head.
The book also opened my eyes to a whole new way of being creative. In its purest form, it’s about letting go. And that’s exactly what I never did enough. Being busy with planning and overthinking, I wasn’t allowing enough space and time for that spark of creativity or inspiration to hit.
And so, I let go. And it’s working! I’ve been playing more freely on my instruments and writing more lyrics by trying techniques such as ‘stream of consciousness writing’. The other day, various puzzle pieces fell in place when an idea for an album project dawned on me. I’ve even picked up doodling and drawing, which used to be my favorite hobby as a child.
In general, I want to be more mindful of those unique impulses of creative energy. Whether it’s a melody, a lyric, an image or a sound that comes to mind, I’ll have to be aware and capture them in so-called ‘seeds’. Then, the challenge will be to carefully nurture these seeds to see what potential they might hold. That’s the only way to make things grow, and to transform ideas into art.
It’s become clear to me that the best works of art can only emerge by trusting and following the creative impulse, without any predetermination or desired outcome. Like riding a wave! Wherever it may come from, wherever it may lead, it’s time to be curious and excited about the journey ahead.
Rick van Meijel 