Where do songs come from? For me, inspiration can arrive from just about anywhere — sometimes in ways that make no sense at all until the song is finished.
A two-word prompt can spark a full track.
A misread line in a book turns into a chorus.
A 75-year-old comic book or a 100-year-old patent application can open a door to something brand new.
A walk outside might plant an image in my mind that demands melody.
Other artists’ music often nudges me to start writing.
And sometimes, random ideas simply appear out of nowhere, uninvited but insistent.
I’ve come to realize I live on the extreme spectrum of creative synesthesia. My brain insists on cross-wiring words, images, sounds, and feelings into songs. It means I never really know where the next idea will come from — but I trust it will arrive.
How about you? Where do you find your inspiration?
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For me, music helps the most. I also write while listening, and I try to choose tracks that fit the mood of the scene. Sometimes, when I lie down, I play a scene in my mind, and that’s when new ideas come — things I can already picture vividly in front of me.
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Sanna Peth, music helps you how? It helps me in being creative, giving me inspiration, and giving me joy that I can actually write songs. I only really discovered that in April of this year. Interesting that you get ideas while in bed. I write almost every song in bed, more than 400 so far. I sit and type away on the laptop. I would be interested to know how you picture things.
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Wyman Brent Music helps me to feel. There are songs that, when I listen to them, almost hurt… And those emotions help me write my stories in a way that others can also feel that pain, and see what I see. 400 is an amazing number — I sometimes think there must be something wrong with me, or maybe I just suffer from one-time creativity. I often read with some fear how many songs or stories others have written, and I wonder: does quantity really matter? I’ve only written a three-part novel, and for me it’s important that this one truly stands on its own. I do have ideas for the next one, but I haven’t dared to start yet. For now, they are the ones I want to perfect — I’ve put everything on them.
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Sanna Peth, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. I just got lucky with creative synesthesia and having ADHD with hyperfocus. The combination means that ideas arrive constantly. For me, it is like standing beneath a waterfall. I catch the ones I can and write them down.
And no, quantity does not matter. I like all of my songs. However, I do know that some are better than others. As for perfection, I do not worry about perfection. Who is to say what is perfect? Was James Cameron highly successful with Avatar? Yes, and enjoyed by people around the globe. However, I cannot stand the film. My favorite films are those which tell tales without relying on overblown stories.
The 2010 film Main Street starring Colin Firth and Ellen Burstyn is a great example. It is a story in which very little happens, but it is a real slice of life. Another example is the sci fi film Hunter Prey which is also from 2010. It is primarily a story of the interaction of two opponents trapped in a situation they did nto expect. Another great one is the animated film Nocturna from 2007. It is a beautiful story of a child overcoming its fears. There are no big names in it and no massive animation budget. Not every cartoon requires Tim Allen and Tom Hanks.
As for feeling pain, I have felt so much in real life, physical and mental. I do write songs of longing and desire. I also write songs of pure joy. I am including links to two of my songs on Bandcamp. If you do listen, I would enjoy knowing how they make you feel.
https://wymanbrent.bandcamp.com/track/you-move-backwards
https://wymanbrent.bandcamp.com/track/yay-yay-yo
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Wyman Brent It’s very unique and creative, that’s for sure. I think the important question is: what is your goal with it? Do you create mainly for yourself, or do you want to reach a wider audience? As a layperson, I feel that if someone aims for a more serious career, then either they need to follow the trends, or bring something truly new that makes a big impact. On my own path, I try to find the golden middle ground: keeping my uniqueness, but also paying attention to what works for readers / or what captures the audience in a film. But if, for you, this is more about self-expression and joy, that’s perfectly great too, because it really is unique.
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Sanna Peth, you ask what is my goal. Good question. I create for myself because I must. The ideas come pouring out and I must capture them. At the same time, I create equally for a wide audience. I think of my family-friendly weekly animated series What the Mack? It has zero violence, zero bad language, zero cynicism, zero alcohol, drugs, smoking. The people can get on each other`s nerves. However, they always remain friends throughout everything.
As for finding the golden middle ground, I have no idea what that is. I create what I do without giving any thought to what is currently popular or trending. I have zero clue what is popular on TV or in the cinema in the USA or anywhere else in the world. I do not know who are the most popular singers and songs. I do not know any of the current social media trends or challenges. I keep my uniqueness 100 percent. I am in talks with an animation studio that is excited about What the Mack? I did not do any studies or ask anyone what they thought of my ideas before making contact with the animation studio. It was actually one of the owners who contacted me first. It is the same with my songs. I write whatever pops into my mind at the moment. It is great if people like the songs, but I will write them no mattter what. Many of my songs could become huge. However, those are not my thoughts when I write a song. i write them because I must. The same with some of my bizarre songs that are highly unlikely to ever become popular. They are just as important to me.
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Wyman Brent Of course they are important — our creations are like our children, and we love them all equally. :) I’m really glad that you stay true to yourself, that is such an important thing. :) What more can I say, neighbor… only that you’re doing great, and I wish you lots of success and, of course, plenty of joy in creating!
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Sanna Peth, you are right. They are like our children. I have a real life child. I do hope that my shows and songs are successful. He has special needs and I want to make sure he is taken care of for long after I am gone. He is a main character in my show What the Mack? The character is named Glenn just like my son and looks just like him. Every character in the show has a song. I wrote one for his character titled, His Name is Glenn.
Thank you for your good wishes. I also wish you success and happiness.
https://wymanbrent.bandcamp.com/track/his-name-is-glenn