“Something I do in the studio is revisit a tune that’s been recorded and just jam along with my guitar to see what I can come up with. If I find something that makes me go, “Whoa, I really like that,” I’ll go in and alter the song to include that new layer. I find that really works for me. We’ve spent so much time thinking about these songs, to the point where we’ve got them really nailed down. But, that one final pass might lead to something new and exciting.”
Musicians and other artists are a very special bunch of people. It takes a lot, not only to have that amount of creative energy, but to be able to channel that creative energy into producing something amazing. Brian Aubert of Silversun Pickups
is one such individual.
The quote above discusses a very important message in relation to the creative process. As a writer, I can certainly appreciate the sentiment of going through the same piece of work over and over again, thinking there is nothing more than can be done to it. And then, at the very last moment, you realize that there is one extra tweak, that one last alteration that really “completes” the piece.
Just because you may have looked over a piece of work a countless number of times already, it is usually worthwhile to revisit just one more time. This is an interesting viewpoint on inspiration, but it only works when you have the luxury of time. What about the rest of the time? How do you fill in the gaps when the vision doesn’t just come to you?
Appropriately enough, I think one of the best ways to get inspired is also one of the best ways to stay productive: listen to music. It’s up to you what kind of music you want, but just having it play in the background can work wonders on jump-starting the old noggin.
On a side note, I suggest you check out some of the music by Silversun Pickups. It’s definitely a little different from the mainstream, though it seems to borrow some inspiration from other groups like Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth. Among the tracks that I particularly enjoy are Future Foe Scenarios, The Royal We, Panic Switch, and Common Reactor.
You should always look again at work you have done because you can always find new inspiration or something in it that you make better. The same goes for books, blogs, or any other form of media. How many of us read a book over and over or watch a movie more than once?
I have watched Top Gun over 20 times because I gain inspiration from it. I listen to my Asian Bamboo music and my Tibetan Monk Chants because they relax and inspire me. I listen to Lunatic Fringe because it gets my blood pumping for a workout session. We all have our own inspiration keys.
Michael, my one question is who the hell is Brian Aubert????? Never heard of him or his group.
Brian is the lead vocalist and guitarist for Silversun Pickups. They’re from California and have won Grammy Awards. I first learned about them, interestingly enough, by playing one of their songs in Rock Band. From there, I looked up some of their other songs and even caught them in a concert (they were the opening act to Muse).
Tibetan Monk Chants? Buddhist music blared from street shops only reminds me of Buddhist quarters, monks and nuns who worship kneeling in front Buddhas, or closing their eyes while hitting wooden knockers.
Thanks for the primer to Silversun Pickups.
BTW, Beyond the Rhetoric has dropped to No.6 on Google front page for ‘Michael Kwan’. The actor now occupies No.2.
Could be because more links with anchor text “Michael Kwan” are being directed to michaelkwan.com rather than btr.michaelkwan.com. I’m okay with that.
For me, any noise, voice or music might detract from my attention to work.
Michael, you are definitely right when it comes to listening to music as a great way to get inspired, there are just songs that we like individually that just seem to give us a ton of energy! I know I get pumped when I listen to some of my songs, and can have a great power of uplifting me if I am in a bad mood.
Till then,
Jean
Sometimes it is good to revisit a past venture or project to see where it could be improved. You might just find a hidden gem that wasn’t there before.