The things you strive for as a creator, and the way you conduct yourself, often act as a spotlight, illuminating early life experiences that might still be steering your career—and your life as a whole.
In my work, I have the privilege of meeting many musicians and embarking with them on a deep journey of discovery. Today, I have a holistic view of what an artist wishes for themselves, what they expect from their creations, and how they carry themselves, in relation to how they grew and evolved.
Before we dive in, a small (and lighthearted) disclaimer: I am not a therapist, nor do I claim to offer psychological facts. I am simply the person listening on the other side—the one tasked with helping shape the execution of creators and their art. These insights come from countless hours in the studio, witnessing the inevitable frictions and the exhilarating successes that come with the territory.
Humble Presence vs. The Protective Mask
A person who is connected to themselves and acts with authenticity is usually enveloped in a certain humility. This is because they are “resting in their place,” simply manifesting their true nature. In contrast, someone who lives behind “masks” may act with a sense of false superiority, preoccupied more with the result than with the devotion to the creation itself. These descriptions represent two points on a broad spectrum. Who do you feel closer to?
The Fuel: Expression vs. Deficit
Does your creation stem from the depths of your heart? Or are you hoping this will be your path to becoming famous and gaining validation? When a creation is driven by a “deficit,” it is often an attempt to obtain something that was missing during one’s personal growth. What is even more frustrating is that the creation itself often fails to even touch that painful point, because usually, in such a situation, we are unaware that we are being driven by a wounded place seeking healing.
The Paralysis of the Past
Another symptom of an artist managed by their past and apprehensive about their future is stagnation. We might give up even before we begin, instead of simply creating for the sake of the act itself.
Opposite the creator managed by their past is the connected and invested creator—the one who researches, consults, and paves their own original path. This is usually the artist who succeeds in expressing the pains of life through their art, rather than letting those pains dictate their entire creative process.
The Red Flag: To Have vs. To Tell
When someone speaks only about what they want to “have” already, rather than the story they want to share—that is a red flag for me. The person answering from the heart will make me put down the questionnaire and just listen. For me, this is also an indication of the level of investment and dedication they can maintain throughout the long journey ahead.
The difference between
- Artificial vs. Handcrafted
- Taking vs. Giving
- Fear vs. Faith
- Closed vs. Open
- One-off vs. Sustainable
- Temporary vs. Eternal
These are contrasting states. We can, and should, move between them—searching for the middle ground, the integration, and constantly asking: What does your heart truly seek? What does it not dare to wish for? What is it avoiding, and why?
And don’t let my serious tone mislead you. Even creating for the sake of pure fun is an emotional creation. What I recoil from is when a creation is born out of excessive calculation of the result while neglecting the heart.
The Heart’s Formula: What Happens on the Other Side?
Think about the last song that truly moved you—the one you added to your favorites. What was your heart’s “formula” for falling in love with that song? Was it the sound? The melodies? The lyrics? Or was it simply that your heart reacted and felt. This is how I listen to music. I am looking for the meeting point where my heart meets the heart of the creator.
I am looking for the meeting point where my heart meets the heart of the creator.
I am putting personal taste and musical genre aside for a moment. What I’m talking about transcends those boundaries. If music was created with an “interest” in mind regarding you, the listener—you will notice. If music was created out of emotion—you will identify with that emotion, and in that moment, a connection is formed.
In Summary: My Credo
My core belief is that there is no true success without a story to tell. There is no real meaning or value to streaming numbers if you, as a creator, do not use your platform to communicate with the person on the other side—the one who might desperately need your words. Creators are blessed with the ability to turn abstract emotion into something tangible that another person can lean on. When a creator falls into the trap of emotionless creation, they are essentially giving nothing.