You know when you’re spoiled for choice, when you have so many options that you end up choosing none of them? There’s an interesting study involving Jam that the Harvard Business Review can tell you about - point being - I’m overwhelmed with amazing tracks that I could put on the essay writing list that I just don’t know where to start.
I’m experiencing this when it comes to track selection but it’s the same when it comes to writing prompts, the to do list, just about any creative process when you think about it. Where do you start - who do you start with - how do you…? All the whats and whys and wheres and hows are practically infinite in their expression, so what to do?
The trick I’m using today is familiarity - that’s right - I’m unashamedly going with a track from an artist that I already know and like. Sure - he’s not terribly well known in the States but this is the third track of his to make the list and I just keep getting drawn to his music when I want to write.
The clincher for me is the opening riff - I couldn’t work out why it felt so familiar until it clicked that it reminded me of Pink Floyd's intro for Time (once you get past all the alarm clocks.) And while it’s at a faster tempo and yes - actually totally different - that connection resonated with me and ultimately ended up getting the track on the list.
There’s something very valuable about familiarity in the creative process - certainly you don’t want to plagiarize or be too obviously derivative, but if your creation can resonate with an existing memory or emotion - there’s a much higher chance it’ll make a connection with your audience.
Add to that - if you’ve been developing a relationship with the audience over time and they in turn have become familiar with you - then wow - double familiarity whammy!
You can check out Rudgazes previous tracks here:
You can learn more about Rudegaze here:
About the Curator: Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As the founder of musicto I’m on a mission to inspire a global audience of music lovers and artists through the development of people powered playlists.