Creative inspiration is an interesting subject. Everyone thinks of it in a different way. We all find it in a different way. It can be pretty formulaic and pretty random at the same time. I haven’t put a ton of thought into it because, in my experience, I can’t force it. [...]
Creative inspiration is an interesting subject. Everyone thinks of it in a different way. We all find it in a different way. It can be pretty formulaic and pretty random at the same time. I haven’t put a ton of thought into it because, in my experience, I can’t force it. I’m just grateful when it comes.
My place of creative inspiration might be different than a lot of people. Then again, it might not. Interestingly enough I create/write the most when I’m in that state between dreaming and waking in the quiet of the early morning. My head isn’t cluttered with conscious thought and I’m free to explore the deep and far chasms of my mind.
I like silence. Unlike most songwriters I don’t write with a guitar in hand. I usually just compose all the chord changes and melody in my head, then commit it to paper. Most times I haven’t even heard/played the song out loud until I actually bring it to the band. The silence makes way for my mind to compose without distraction and boundary (which is probably why I write in the early mornings). The song can be as grandiose as I wish because there are no external, tangible limitations. When I pick up the acoustic guitar and try to pound out chords it can limit my imagination as to what the song would sound like with full instrumentation.
I write a lot in my truck. I’m forced to be alone and still. I don’t listen to music very much while driving. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to pray and compose. I get a lot of thinking done on the road.
I really don’t listen to a ton of music in general. That may sound odd to some but when I listen to music I analyze it. It consumes my thoughts and I have a hard time giving attention to anything else. That’s why I can’t listen to music when I go to bed. I will just stay up for hours listening and analyzing the instrumentation, composition, vocal inflection, and structure; thinking of ways I would have done it to make it a better song.
Sometimes that first stroke of the pen is the most difficult. I have to force myself, at times, to just start writing something down. Even if I don’t know what I’m writing I just make myself put pen to paper and create. It actually works most of the time. Sometimes I have paragraph upon paragraph to write and other times it’s just a sentence or two. If I don’t have any words it will just be a drawing. Something to simply express the thoughts in my head at that moment. I can’t draw very well but I look at it as an exercise in writing. I gotta get exercise somewhere!
2 Comments
I definitely know what you mean with analyzing music. It takes me a long time to listen through a new album because I want to sit and be involved and get inside of the music.
I need to try writing this way. I always get mental blocks when I sit down and try pound something out with my guitar. I should probably give myself more silent time as well.