Understanding the creative process: Transporting yourself into a Rave New World
What does it mean to be creative?
Why is creativity important?
How does one enhance their creativity and get their creative juices flowing?
Does this result in a sense of motivation and accomplishment?
These are just a few of the questions that may have crossed your mind in the endless abyss of scrolling through the plentitudes of photographs of boredom-inspired banana bread that appeared to flood social media channels during social isolation periods.
behind extraordinary ideas, are courageous people
Creativity is having a vision and bringing it to life. Creativity can probably best be described in the quotation by Michelangelo: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” Creativity involves talent, discipline, and determination - in whatever amounts you choose to delve into each of these.
For many, it does not come easily.
Yet, behind extraordinary ideas, are courageous people.
Creative people are those who can “see the light of day before dawn.” They are O'Shaughnessy’s music makers, dreamers of dreams, the notorious “movers and shakers of the world forever, it seems.”
While the results of creativity may be more tangible than the creative force that rises up within one before setting its wheels into motion, the process of being creative has many benefits and is certainly a pursuit worthy of a portion of one’s time.
CREATIVES DRAW INSPIRATION FROM VARIOUS FORMS
Within any artistic pursuit, or indeed any creative’s process, multitudes of factors come into play. Oftentimes there could be a specific message or meaning that the creator would like conveyed. At other times, it can also be that there is the freedom of abstraction with less structure. However, across mediums, many creatives draw inspiration from various forms.
Image from Kristopher Roller via Unsplash
Linus made a playlist specifically for when working on this collaboration
In the creation of Linus Leonardsson’s pieces with THE GUESTLIST for his Rave New World Collection, the designer wanted to put “conventional exclusivity on a tipping point… in contrast to a younger, less heritage-based audience and allow a new generation into secluded spaces.” In THE GUESTLIST collection, this is achieved by the use of colour and print.” Linus took “a very traditional checkered pattern and put it on top of a gradient colour combination of one earthy, traditional tone (beige, brown) and one bright, energetic colour (green, blue).” As much of his pieces were referencing private clubs, Linus made a playlist specifically for when working on this collaboration. He describes it as having “a quite positive nightclubby vibe” due to the topic of his collection. Within his own personal creative process, he begins every collection of his with an audio stimulus.
Image by Luca Latrofa
Within the ether of this medium, the exploration begins. The world that he is creating starts to take shape, from the auditory to the visual, then into the tangible and finally the wearable. This leads him into a collection of visuals - everything from imagery to specific artists and atmospheric feelings.
THE PROCESS HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE DIGITAL
While in the past he has enjoyed doing this through the medium of paper prints from magazines, zines and publications, he admits that this process has become more and more digital.
Although a little bitter-sweet, as it loses the notion of working with the hands right from the start, it is also more sustainable and has less environmental impact. One thing leads to the next, and - from this collection of imagery - his creativity takes hold as the ideas that will become his collection start to bear fruit.
The selected tracks within his playlist hold all the right ingredients to make a statement. While some are demanding, others hold a sense of nostalgia within them. Most are up-beat, rhythmical and have an air of taking up space through the act of claiming that space - and indeed owning it. This, whilst still embracing the notion of liberation and freedom, is an intriguing and inspiring combination indeed. If you find yourself in the depths of a creative slump, find inspiration in the waves of movement that Linus' playlist might inspire in you.
Image by Marnik Boekaerts
Although a little bitter-sweet, as it loses the notion of working with the hands right from the start, it is also more sustainable and has less environmental impact. One thing leads to the next, and - from this collection of imagery - his creativity takes hold as the ideas that will become his collection start to bear fruit.
While in the past he has enjoyed doing this through the medium of paper prints from magazines, zines and publications, he admits that this process has become more and more digital. Although a little bitter-sweet, as it loses the notion of working with the hands right from the start, it is also more sustainable and has less environmental impact. One thing leads to the next, and - from this collection of imagery - his creativity takes hold as the ideas that will become his collection start to bear fruit.
Image by Marnik Boekaerts
The selected tracks within his playlist hold all the right ingredients to make a statement. While some are demanding, others hold a sense of nostalgia within them. Most are up-beat, rhythmical and have an air of taking up space through the act of claiming that space - and indeed owning it. This, whilst still embracing the notion of liberation and freedom, is an intriguing and inspiring combination indeed. If you find yourself in the depths of a creative slump, find inspiration in the waves of movement that Linus' playlist might inspire in you.
The selected tracks within his playlist hold all the right ingredients to make a statement. While some are demanding, others hold a sense of nostalgia within them. Most are up-beat, rhythmical and have an air of taking up space through the act of claiming that space - and indeed owning it. This, whilst still embracing the notion of liberation and freedom, is an intriguing and inspiring combination indeed. If you find yourself in the depths of a creative slump, find inspiration in the waves of movement that Linus' playlist might inspire in you.
Bryllyant by Boytronic is accompanied by a music video that aligns with the color-spectrum of the Rave New World collection. Indeed, one could effortlessly become part of the realms depicted in the video wearing any one of the pieces created by Linus. The concept of synthwave is appreciated, becoming reminiscent of the times of classic synth and electronic music. Embellished with arrangements of synth interventions that decorate the main melody of the song, it is a tribute to a bygone era, no less relevant today. Formed to play electropop in 1983 by Holger Wobker and Peter Sawatzki in Hamburg, Germany, the original Boytronic released two synthpop albums: The Working Model from 1983, contained Bryllyant. This is the perfect track to get you motivated during a mid-afternoon slump. It moves without startling and maintains the same rhythmic tendency throughout while remaining dynamic.
REMINISCENT OF THE TIMES OF CLASSIC SYNTH AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC
Bryllyant by Boytronic is accompanied by a music video that aligns with the color-spectrum of the Rave New World collection. Indeed, one could effortlessly become part of the realms depicted in the video wearing any one of the pieces created by Linus. The concept of synthwave is appreciated, becoming reminiscent of the times of classic synth and electronic music. Embellished with arrangements of synth interventions that decorate the main melody of the song, it is a tribute to a bygone era, no less relevant today. Formed to play electropop in 1983 by Holger Wobker and Peter Sawatzki in Hamburg, Germany, the original Boytronic released two synthpop albums: The Working Model from 1983, contained Bryllyant. This is the perfect track to get you motivated during a mid-afternoon slump. It moves without startling and maintains the same rhythmic tendency throughout while remaining dynamic.
Keep the fire burning by Gwen McCrae has a similar tempo with heavier bass notes. As a gutsy Southern Soul Diva, Gwen had a particular affinity for dance tracks. Accompanied by a higher-pitch, “Keep the fires burning,” reminds you that “It's your time to be a star.” Such motivation could be needed when hitting a spate of writer’s block or when one enters a cul-de-sac of creativity.
Keep the fire burning by Gwen McCrae has a similar tempo with heavier bass notes. As a gutsy Southern Soul Diva, Gwen had a particular affinity for dance tracks. Accompanied by a higher-pitch, “Keep the fires burning,” reminds you that “It's your time to be a star.” Such motivation could be needed when hitting a spate of writer’s block or when one enters a cul-de-sac of creativity.
The track brings within it an implicit sense of ‘togetherness’
Representing the electro house genre, Justice vs Simian’s We Are Your Friends makes an appearance on the playlist too. The psychedelic pop experimentalists who place emphasis on the mental aspect of things, came into fruition after James Ford, Alex MacNaughton and James Shaw met Simon Lord. The four decided to work together under the name of Simian. As a track in and of itself, it reminds you that “you’ll never be alone.” Reassuring and rhythmical within the midst of the solo creative pursuit - which, at times, can become quite lonely - it maintains a forward looking tempo. The track brings within it an implicit sense of ‘togetherness,’ encapsulating that feeling that one, at times, needs to be reminded of.
Further on, the Dance/Electronic track, Beulah Loves Dancing by Jam Rostron appears. Better known by their stage name Planningtorock, the English electronic musician and record producer who lives in Berlin, Germany, is renowned as a celebrated gender-queer songwriter, composer, producer and director. An ode to Jam's sister and their music-fuelled youth, it's a joyous offering,rippling with barely-contained rave energy.
Further on, the Dance/Electronic track, Beulah Loves Dancing by Jam Rostron appears. Better known by their stage name Planningtorock, the English electronic musician and recordproducer who lives in Berlin, Germany, is renowned as a celebrated gender-queer songwriter, composer, producer and director.
Planningtorock explains: “It’s because of Beulah that I know anything about dance music. Her passionate love of house music back in the 90s literally shook our house for years and simultaneously gave her a safe space to live out the difficulties of living in a society ignorant to differently-abled people. Beulah loves the song and after listening, laughing, she reminded me that I’d forgotten to mention the time when a picture fell off the wall and hit the TV.” Within the authenticity of the back-story of the track, is an even more genuine music video. Jam and her sister are pictured within a car recording the footage on what appears to be a cellphone. Their interaction is joyful, full of smiles, depicting the deep love that they evidently have for one another. Accompanied by the story-telling lyrical tone, the track becomes almost an audiobook-esque homage to that very personal story and experience that the two share.
An ode to Jam's sister and their music-fuelled youth, it's a joyous offering, rippling with barely-contained rave energy.
Planningtorock explains: “It’s because of Beulah that I know anything about dance music. Her passionate love of house music back in the 90s literally shook our house for years and simultaneously gave her a safe space to live out the difficulties of living in a society ignorant to differently-abled people. Beulah loves the song and after listening, laughing, she reminded me that I’d forgotten to mention the time when a picture fell off the wall and hit the TV.” Within the authenticity of the back-story of the track, is an even more genuine music video. Jam and her sister are pictured within a car recording the footage on what appears to be a cellphone. Their interaction is joyful, full of smiles, depicting the deep love that they evidently have for one another. Accompanied by the story-telling lyrical tone, the track becomes almost an audiobook-esque homage to that very personal story and experience that the two share.
Within the notions of creativity, some prefer silence, some prefer letting their minds run amok in pursuit of their subconscious ideas, while others, like Linus, prefer to have created that world through the medium of sound first, and then translate that into the more tangible aspects. Regardless, music can often lift one’s spirits, and maintain a productive emotional landscape. So be sure to pop the Rave New World playlist on in the background of your next creative pursuits - you’ll never know just when skimming the fractured surface of parts of a vision can lead you to a place of endless light and creative flow.
