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Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:05 am
by jeffe
Is is just me or is this a common thing among creative minds?A good number of people I know like to be around people all of the time. My father lives in constant noise. Radio or TV on even when he sleeps, and if it goes off, the silence wakes him up!Very often I like to go to places on my own where there is little or no noise at all. My mind is constantly ticking and songs and ideas seem to flow all the time, and it seems the only way I can re-charge my energy is to completely cut myself of from everything.It's feels like a major relief.Anybody else like this?If not. What do you do to clear your mind for your creative pursuits?
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:20 am
by jbeck
I can relate to that...Even though I am very outgoing and have a lot of friends I tend to crave some kind of quiet sanctuary when writing, almost as if my mind needs space to lay out all the music I'm hearing in my head.Some of my writing buddies say they write stuff all the time in the midst of noise and chaos. I guess no two creative minds are exactly alike. But I do seem to get a lot of creative ideas while I'm around a bunch of people and busyness. That's when I look like a total fool scrambling for something to write on. jbeck
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:46 am
by hummingbird
Quote:Is is just me or is this a common thing among creative minds?A good number of people I know like to be around people all of the time. My father lives in constant noise. Radio or TV on even when he sleeps, and if it goes off, the silence wakes him up!Very often I like to go to places on my own where there is little or no noise at all. My mind is constantly ticking and songs and ideas seem to flow all the time, and it seems the only way I can re-charge my energy is to completely cut myself of from everything.It's feels like a major relief.Anybody else like this?If not. What do you do to clear your mind for your creative pursuits?Absolutely, I'm a solitude sort of person. If there's too many people around, I long to get away after a very short time. I create best late at night when all is quiet, or in the early morning after a long walk Oh... but I just remembered... I do enjoy cafe writing... as long as it's not too noisy. My local haunt has a lovely gas fireplace... and big chairs. I often write there.... and sometimes even nod off
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:22 am
by jeffe
Oh good. It's not just me then. Any more for anymore.
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:32 am
by ernstinen
Quote:What do you do to clear your mind for your creative pursuits?I do Transcedental Meditation. Been doing it since I was about 20. It's amazing how after 20-25 minutes of T.M. your mind feels like you've slept 8 hours!Ern
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:40 am
by Casey H
Quote:Quote:What do you do to clear your mind for your creative pursuits?I do Transcedental Meditation. Been doing it since I was about 20. It's amazing how after 20-25 minutes of T.M. your mind feels like you've slept 8 hours!Ern Hey... I used to do TM.. I still do once in a while. I am still superstitious about not telling anyone my mantra, though I am told it's based on your date of birth and no big mystery.Sometimes when I can't fall asleep I chant my mantra.P.S. My wife thinks her mantra would be "shopping"... Casey
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:32 am
by jeffe
Do you need peace and quiet for the meditation? Or can you shut the world out?
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:41 am
by horacejesse
Quote:It's amazing how after 20-25 minutes of T.M. your mind feels like you've slept 8 hoursI can't stand my foul breath and matted hair after TM.
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:18 pm
by jeffe
Quote:Quote:It's amazing how after 20-25 minutes of T.M. your mind feels like you've slept 8 hoursI can't stand my foul breath and matted hair after TM.I can picture it now!Foul breath and matted hair?Do you tend to find days go missing whilst deep in trance? I think I prefer a long walk.
Re: Songwriters and solitude.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:57 pm
by jchitty
Quote:Is is just me or is this a common thing among creative minds?A good number of people I know like to be around people all of the time. My father lives in constant noise. Radio or TV on even when he sleeps, and if it goes off, the silence wakes him up!Very often I like to go to places on my own where there is little or no noise at all. My mind is constantly ticking and songs and ideas seem to flow all the time, and it seems the only way I can re-charge my energy is to completely cut myself of from everything.It's feels like a major relief.Anybody else like this?If not. What do you do to clear your mind for your creative pursuits?I think you have a fair point about songwriters and solitude. I would venture to guess that many songwriters are introverts, and they need time to charge their batteries. Not saying that all are, but it seems to be a common theme. Because they are introverts (which isn't a bad thing, imo), this makes them very observant and aware people, a common trait of good songwriters.I am sort of a mixture of both....sometimes, I am very outgoing and want to be a around people at parties and gatherings, while other times, I like my down time. I need a few days alone so I can write better as well. Christmas time can be a difficult time for me to write because I'm constantly around family and friends.....everyone gets together around the holidays. I get fussy after a while, even grouchy if I'm spread too thin, and when I can't write, I get grouchier still.