Creative blocks are annoying. They always seem to appear at the worst time—right at the beginning of a project with a tight deadline. Additionally, they can last scary amounts of time without intervention. It is safe to say almost every creative has experienced a block at some point in their career. Since certain blocks can be rooted in deeper or unresolved issues, they may require the help of a professional. Conversely, if the issue is simply a rut, music could be the answer to moving past your next creative block.
Try Something Different
Turning to inspiration for inspiration is not new. Playing your tried and true favorite playlist can easily get the creative juices flowing. However, sometimes hearing your most often-played songs will not deliver the jolt needed to end creative blocks. If that’s the case, try using the following guidelines when selecting your music playlist:.
- Choose songs, artists, or genres you are not as familiar with. Instead, seek out artists you either do not know, barely know, or who have very unique or unexpected styles.
- Avoid well-known radio hits. Choose artists who have brand new music out to explore instead.
- Pay close attention to something different within the songs you choose instead of just listening for entertainment or distraction. For example, if you normally listen to lyrics first, pay close attention to how each instrument is being used throughout the song instead.
Here’s An Example
To help kick-start your new playlist, below is an example of how using different music helped me through a creative block several years ago.
A client asked me to design a logo for an initiative that paired citizens with civic leaders for dinner and dialog. It was called Around the Table. Since I was struggling with a creative block at the time, I decided to create a playlist for inspiration. I happened to include a couple of songs by Kishi Bashi. If you have never heard of him, he is a classically trained violinist who beatboxes and uses a looper pedal to create multiple layers of sounds. His music was very different from anything else I had ever heard.
When Kishi Bashi’s songs played, I found myself repeating them over and over. The next day, I went back to work with a newfound confidence. I was going to try something unusual. I was inspired to color outside of the lines, to take a completely different approach than my initial attempts.
The result was this logo. It represents people talking across the table by what appears at first to be chaotic intersecting lines. However, at a closer inspection, the lines are strategically placed in order to form the organization’s acronym (BRAC). While different than what my client envisioned, they approved and were excited by the fresh take. ~Logo designed by Angela Hardison.
Start a New Playlist
So, the next time you have a creative block and turn to music, try following the guidelines above as much as possible to start your new playlist. You will be amazed by how much including something totally different will inspire you. Good luck on your creative journey!