How Music Fans the Flames of Creativity

Musical influence has its roots in almost everything. Bards and minstrels told stories through song in the Middle Ages. Symphonies created by Mozart and Beethoven have been referenced and incorporated into other media countless times, and even today the art form is seeing a revolution with artists such as Kendrick Lamar redefining verbal prose.

For centuries, humans have used music as a means of expression, with the art form continuing to grow as society advances. Music is a fluid art form. One moment you can be left in tears at how a song makes you feel, and the next you could be laughing and dancing with your best friends. It can embody a rainbow of emotions that doesn’t even account for the artist’s expression or the listener’s unique interpretation. Every song will affect everyone differently. If you love a band like Nirvana but Weezer doesn’t stand out to you, that’s completely okay. We all embody music in a different way, and it just goes to show how unique and inspiring the medium is. 

As humans, it's in our nature to want to sing and dance. Sound is such a fascinating thing for us, and trying to hit the high note while we’re in the shower will always be something we chase after. A movie soundtrack will determine the entire tone of the movie. Imagine how different Titanic would feel if Metallica had done the soundtrack (just to give an extreme example). Music dictates our emotions. Sad songs help us when we’re sad because we can resonate with those emotions even more. Screaming out to our favorite songs or driving with the radio on max volume helps us free some of these emotions that would remain locked up without it. We’re not in this alone; there’s always someone out there who has felt this way before. Party songs help us party. They fill us with energy and create an atmosphere that invites laughter and dancing. The dichotomy between these two shows just how strongly music plays on our emotions. 

Think back to your favorite song. How does it make you feel? In how many different ways does it speak to you? The same song you sing your heart out to can be the same one you cry your heart out to, as well. Every single song has a meaning, and how everyone interprets music is different, too. This is true in all art, in fact. How we derive meaning from song, poetry, literature, art, etc., will be completely different for every person. 

How Can We Use Music to Become More Creative?

When you hear music, how does it make you feel? How do different artists evoke different emotions in you? A perfect example of this is through Hirohiko Araki’s work in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. Through most of the powers given to his characters, he wears these musical influences on his sleeve. Through the character “Killer Queen,” a reference to the Queen song of the same name, Araki is able to capture both the sophisticated and explosive aspects of the song in his artistic interpretation. Influence is also shown in Killer Queen’s powers relating directly back to the lyrics of the song: “Guaranteed to blow your mind(anytime)”. How do we do this? Think back to your favorite song. When you close your eyes, what do you think of? What is your embodiment of this work? Listen to “Killer Queen”; close your eyes. How do you imagine this song? Now look at Araki's interpretation. How do your interpretations vary? What makes your interpretation unique to you?

Music cannot be solely defined as just sound; we develop stories, poems, life experiences, and turn them into songs. No one person can write the same, sing the same, or draw the same, which is what makes everything we create so unique. Tapping your pencil on your desk, knocking on a door, even your cat meowing for food are music in themselves. What does the rhythm of your tapping tell you? What does the strength of your knock tell you? What does your speed to get your cat food tell you? All of these things define how we interpret music. Take Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” for example. Say my favorite part of the song is the vocals because of how smooth he sings, while another person’s favorite part of the song is the beat because of how crisp it sounds. Neither of these interpretations is wrong; far from it. But they show two completely different interpretations of the song. The question is, what do you decide to do with your interpretation?

Just like how every song is different, so is every person. Our own lives shape how we interpret the world. We can use these experiences to shape our creative processes. Writer’s block? What’s the song stuck in your head? How does its beat make you feel? Put these emotions you feel from this song into your writing. Say you’re creating a canvas painting. Close your eyes and listen to one of your favorite songs. Embrace it! Write a poem of your experiences, create a portrait of the sadness it makes you feel or express yourself through dancing with how invigorating the song is. 

Music and Mental Health

This is just the beginning. Music can be used for so much more and help with so much alongside creativity, especially mental health. Listening to music, singing your favorite songs, and activities such as karaoke with friends do wonders for your overall well-being and health. According to a national study by Lavinia Rebecchini, “Mental health diseases such as depression and anxiety can have devastating consequences both for patients and their families. Symptoms can be severe and debilitating, leaving individuals alone and isolated. Relationships among family and friends may suffer, and individuals may not receive the support needed to manage their disease. Music can improve symptoms associated with mental illness, but it can also provide an environment for social interaction.”

So, go out there, listen to more music! Sing that song that you’re scared to sing because you "don't sound good” or “no one wants to hear.” That doesn’t matter. Do it for yourself. Music allows us to open up a part of ourselves that would stay closed without it.

About the Author

Tyler Falls is an English major at UNLV with a concentration in creative writing and literature. His interests include reading, writing, music, video games, and hanging out with friends.