Ever have those moments when your creativity seems stagnant and you can't seem to get that ebb and flow going? Well today I would like to share with you how I come up with fresh new ideas and thoughts to get those creative juices flowing. Some of these ideas may be familiar with you, but some may surprise you. As music creators, you need a way to constantly feed your desire to create, so check out my top ten list and hopefully get inspired!
#10 Keep a Journal - There is always something cool to write about, journaling about your day, places you visit, or people you meet can keep your mind racing with new ideas. That person you just met could become the anchor to a chart hit. That vacation spot can lead to a low-tempo bass line that sparks some ideas. Feed your creative need with journaling.
#9 Observation - Just as powerful as journaling, actively observing the world around you can spark new bursts of ideas. Did you notice that cool dress she was wearing? Did you notice how swiftly that dove grabbed the bread in the park? Just walking around and being observant can yield many great creative rewards. ( I do this a lot)
#8 TV/ Radio/ Media - These are all powerful tools for the writer. You've heard "Imitation is Art", but beyond that, you can learn a full lesson in plot writing, story structure, lyric structure, and sound design all from a favorite TV or radio show. You just have to watch with new eyes and listen with new ears.
#7 Recording - One of my new favorite ways to get those creative juices going, is simply being ready at a moments notice. I use my phone's digital recorder to capture thoughts, sounds, voices, etc. This has been one of my go-to methods this past year, and it just works. When I get that melody or beat stuck in my head, I can grab my phone and record. No more lost material. Yeah!
#6 Write Silly Songs - Some of my favorite tunes have been created from writing pure nonsense. I have a character, Che'Weird, who began his journey as a Prince wannabe artist. I started writing tunes that closely resembled his royal badness, but something happened, the character took a life of his own. This all began with being a little silly. Creativity should be fun and free, so don't take it so serious all the time!
#5 Collaborate - For many years I would stay in my OddioWorx studio and grind alone. I still do most of my creating this way, but I've learned to allow others to come along for the ride. When you collaborate you invite new ideas, get a different spin and perspective on material, and it's cool to invite others to participate with the process. From songwriting to mixing, beat-making to mastering, every area of the process can be developed with others.
#4 Make Music - Many times I will go down to the studio and just bang out cool chord progressions and tweak atmospheric synth sounds. I usually will come up with a full song just by letting the music flow and trying out different sounds. A chord progression has led to full Neo-Soul songs, a House beat has led to some fun dance tunes, and finding some cool samples have led to adding that missing element to many tracks.
#3 Sample Packs - Speaking of sampling, there are thousands upon thousands of sample packs out there for musicians. From Country to Hip-Hop, Rock to Pop you can find samples and beats to purchase and for free online. Many of the packs have demos so you can try before you buy. One sample pack I purchased years ago, "Smokers Delight", is still one of my go-to packs for rich, lush melodies and chords. The power of sampling gives you the choice to either use the file "as is", or use elements from the sample in new and creative ways. I usually choose the latter.
#2 Plug-Ins - The list of plugins is as exhaustive as the list of samples. Plugins are digital devices that you connect to your digital workstation, For example, I use Reason 10 as my DAW (digital audio workstation), but I can incorporate the mastering plugin Ozone 8 and use them together. There are effect, instrument, and a host of other plugins available. Plugins help with sculpting that sound to make it fit your creative needs.
#1 Education - I watch a lot of YouTube videos and tutorials about sound design, mixing, and mastering. Just from watching great online content from folk like Graham Cochrane (the Recording Revolution) I've learned so many ways to use my recording equipment creatively. Just from his knowledge, I've picked up ideas on using reverb, getting the right EQ sound, panning techniques, compressor techniques, etc. By learning from others, you will find your own niche in creativity.
Well hope you enjoyed that Top 10 list of how I capture creativity. Now it's your turn to do the same!
Love and Life
Dray
1drayproductions.com
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