Music and the process of creation

[Eduardo Cardoso]

Music is inspiring. It always was. Most of the time, I put music playing in the background to write poetry or to create other forms of art.

So, my curiosity leads me to ask you: Do you use music to stimulate your creations?

[Rod Summers / VEC]

When writing I prefer total silence, when making art I listen to music both classical (Holst, Debussy, Bach etc.)and experimental (Sigur Rós, Múm, Sylvian, Pink Floyd etc).

[Ashazart]

Music is usually a part of the creative process for me. I find it very stimulating.

[Ander Morlando]

I use the imagination.......the bad imagination ! ! !
and a MARTINI

[Austin Wills James]

When people ask me what religion I am, my answer is Music. Most of my artistic inspiration comes from it, actually I'm listening to the Jefferson Airplane album "Volunteers" as I type this. If I'm not listening to music, I'm either playing it, or mowing the lawn :) . I always include a lyric, or song title on the reverse side of my cards. Personally I believe there are two universal languages, Love & Music.
-AWJ-

[Eduardo Cardoso]

Love & Music as universal languages... I totally agree!

[Shannon]

I really like the "two universal languages" - you are so right.

[carl baker]

MUSIC in the background as i'm make art.
not really listening,its just there moving in the background.
no words please, just instrumentation.
check out these musics 1/drone zone at somaFM, san francisco.
2/new music box.org from american music centre.
3/jazzradio.com, the avant guarde channel
pan with pipe, like a muse. cb>

[Karen Champlin]

I listen to Miles Davis when I make art. I stop thinking and start start flowing when it works.

[Carla Cryptic]

I usually like to have several things going at once - I have some ADD issues and they are calmed by more than one thing needing my attention simultaneously. If I do that, I am much more free in my art and less 'lost' in the overwhelming number of ideas which come up at once. So, either I'm listening to music (mine or someone else's), watching a film I've seen before for the millionth time (so I don't have to pay too much attention but, at the same time, there is a lot which triggers emotions in me), or creating while someone else (or many other people) are creating or doing something around me. I like making art while I'm in a line at the Dept of Motor Vehicles or in a park while everyone is running around making noise.

As someone else said, sometimes the music I'm listening to affects the art I'm making but, lots of times, it's just a distraction which demands a certain amount of attention (because I love it so much). That leaves other parts of my brain free to relax and focus on what I am making.

Please come listen to some of my music if you are into such things - maybe it would be a good mail art call to ask people to listen to each other's music while they are making the art they send in! In fact, I love that idea. I have over 200 songs, instrumental or with singing, spoken word, many different genres which are free to listen to (and many are available for download) at iCompositions as well as experimental music at Composer's Forum, PMusic Singles (Chameleon Elektra), and some stuff at MacJams, AcidPlanet, YouTube and elsewhere.

If people put links here, I will listen to your music and make art to it and send you something I make also. Not as a formal call, just for fun!

I have some stuff of yours Rod - you will be my first muse!

[Eduardo Cardoso]

Carla, that idea of making art while listening to other people's music is great. We could open a new group just for that purpose. ::)

[Karen Champlin]

I pretty much can't create without music. I only turn it off if I run it to a problem. I live miles davis kind of blue.

[Paulo Correia]

I usually ear cassetes because they don't get damaged easily with paint like cd's and vinyl, when i get tired of turning the sides i listen to radio, in portugal antena2 for me is the only real radio and the late ninght programs can be a surprise box.