We as designers, writers, programmers (the list goes on), will always be plagued with the “block” from time to time. In this article, I’ll talk about listening to certain types of music to help remove the block or enhance your creativity . I’ll explain what works for me and what could possibly work for you.
I found my inspiration through classical, instrumental, and electronic music. It’s helped me to “get into the zone” or break free from a creative blockage. This is my theory on why it’s worked so well for me and others that I have introduced it to.
Lyrics are instructional, which verbally paint a picture for you. If you listen to music without lyrics, you’re able to see a self-narrated vision through what you hear not who you’re hearing. Nobody is telling you what’s happening, the instruments and sounds show you something that is unique to you.
When people listen to a lyrically-charged song, they all have an identical interpretation of that song. If those same people listen to a song without lyrics, their experiences come out drastically different. I have tested this on many individuals throughout the years and it’s fascinating to hear what people “see” in their head when listening to instrumental/electronic music.
If I’m starting out on a project, I tend to listen to music groups like Boards of Canada. If I’m in a rush and need to get something done quick, I’ll listen to something faster. And if the project requires an aggressive nature…well, you get the idea.
So if you need to break out of your creative blockage or you’re seeking some new inspiration, explore the countless genres of instrumental and electronic music. By the time you’re done with your project, you’ll be shocked that you were “in the zone” longer than you anticipated. Here are two definitive resources to start out with.
Pandora Radio (this is a radio station that plays music you like)
Shoutcast Radio (the largest library of internet radio stations)
There are many other resources out there, like Last FM but the two above are my favorites because they get right to the point and have very minimal advertising.
Tags: Audio, Block, Imagination