The Sound of Creating
Why what we listen to matters, and how to choose music that fuels creativity.
Have you ever noticed how music changes the way you create? I've been exploring this - how music shapes our creative energy, and I want to share some beautiful discoveries with you.
From simple practices we can try together, to artists who play pianos among volcanic rocks, bass with whales, and electronic music under desert stars... let's see how music can open up our creativity in unexpected ways. I'll share some ideas we can play with, and take you to some incredible places where music and nature dance together.
Music shapes our creative process in ways both subtle and profound. I've been thinking about how different works influence each other - how we can inspire ourselves, draw from the collective consciousness above, or find inspiration in anything that already exists in this world, often completely independent of what we're creating, yet somehow intertwining.
The music we listen to while writing can really impact what we write. It has the power to set the pace, shape the mood bring it’s own atmosphere. Music can be used in so many ways, while creating. It can be just background noise, or we can turn to it intentionally for inspiration.
It is not only about writing practice, you can write or create anything else while listening. Maybe music helps you get into a creative flow while cooking. For me, music plays a big role in the kitchen. I’ll play music inspired by what I’m preparing. For example, when I'm cooking Italian food, I play Italian music. The alignment creates an atmosphere that influences not just the food, but the entire creative experience.
I am in a process of writing a book about creative power. It is quite early still, but I would like to share you a short excerpt from the book, on this theme:
Creativity emerges from music.
Music exists in the present moment even when recorded - it can do powerful, intense things. Live music even more so. When you want to awaken creativity within yourself and feel blocked, try immersing yourself in music, moving for just a moment. Move your body, move your soul to music that resonates. There's no point playing some playlist of "creative frequencies" that mean nothing to you - what matters is that you hear the music and it communicates with you. That's when you enter a flow state even if you resist it - you're already in a process. This process can be anything: gentle swaying, tapping your feet, or dancing, moving. All of this is already creative expression. Playing an instrument and singing, even more so. All of this is divine creativity. Music is one of the ways to get as close to the divine as possible. Listening to music, perceiving it with your whole being, actively engaging with music, singing! Your voice! Just as your words hold great power, your voice and singing are one of the great transformative forces in your being.
Conscious Consumption
I already wrote about how important it is to have as much control as possible over the content we surround ourselves with. Yes, I know it can be really hard because we don’t always have control over the algorithms that feed us all kinds of content. I still have Instagram, although since I started my Substack, I spend very little time on it. But what I regularly do is clean up who I follow. I unfollow accounts that aren’t “nourishing” to me, even though calling something nourishing in the context of social media can really be an oxymoron. Still, I know there are inspiring people and accounts worth following. Everything else that no longer serves me, I unfollow.
But there’s another catch. It’s not enough just to clean up who you follow, because Instagram’s default algorithm still pushes content we don’t follow, thinking we might like it. The default setting of our feed is “For you,” which is a mix of the accounts we follow and a ton of ads and recommended posts. That’s why you need to switch the top left corner to “Following.”
This is how you can shape your online space, at least as much as possible, to make it serve you instead of you being a consumer of recommended content and ads. It’s not about giving up Instagram, but if you don’t want to completely disconnect, this is a tip on how to tidy it up. And of course, avoid falling into that rabbit hole of scrolling through one reel only to be shown 200 more that Instagram recommends afterward. I also clean up my email inboxes this way. I don’t want to feel unnecessarily overwhelmed by ads I don’t care about when I open my inbox.
Yes, we are curators of our lives, so why not make it beautiful and nourishing in all areas of our being? And I’m not saying it’s easy. I struggle with this a lot myself. But we can do everything we can to make our environment pleasant to live in, and we can consciously influence what we watch, listen to, and read. Just think about how we choose the books we read. It’s something we dedicate a lot of time to—reading books. At least I do. We carefully choose our books, spending time in bookstores before committing hours to a novel.
How much time do you dedicate to other things, to the content you consume? Does it deserve my time? Is it worth it?
We want to eat healthy and value our bodies, but we should also value our souls, our time, and not just the physical side but everything we “consume” also influences our psyche.
With music, it’s the same. I try to be mindful of what I listen to. As my life becomes more connected to nature, I listen to a lot of music that has some connection to it too. I also love spending time digging through YouTube or Spotify, discovering new music. Again, I actively look for it. I don’t just get swept into the most popular hits; I try to not be passive of a listener. I enjoy exploring Spotify, Youtube (watching live performances), discovering new artists, and different musical styles—something inspiring.
It's like tending a garden - keeping what helps us grow, letting go of what doesn't.
Creative Companions
I've always written with music as my companion. Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) has been a constant presence - I often start by playing "The Wolves (Act I and II)." Sometimes it's the haunting Dark Rooms soundtrack from A Ghost Story (have you seent it? Such a beautiful film), or Hozier's latest work, especially song De Selby (part 1) where he weaves Irish language with vocals, adding ancient depths to modern sounds.
Recent inspirations
Now, I’m going to flood you with the music that’s been accompanying me lately. When I listen to music, I prefer musicians over performers. What I mean is that I’m drawn to those who create, who mold and shape sound into something that reflects their inner world, their experience, or their vision.
A musician, to me, is someone who crafts their art, whether it’s through composition, instrumentation, or a personal touch that defines their style. Performers, on the other hand, are often more about delivering the music, channeling energy, or interpreting the work of others.
While I deeply respect performers and their ability to bring life to a piece of music, I find that I connect more with those who pour their own soul into the creation process. The music of musicians, especially those whose work resonates with deeper layers—like a connection to nature—carries that extra weight, that authenticity, that feels more personal and grounded.
Let’s be honest about it. I don’t always need music to creatively, almost spiritualy stimulate me—that’s the beauty of music, it can accompany any of our states of being, moods, or needs… Sometimes I learn to rap Eminem’s songs or practice playing Red Hot Chili Peppers on the guitar.
Nature's Concert Hall
But right now, I want to share with you some music that has been particularly special to me recently. It holds an additional layer of meaning, one that’s very rare for me: a connection to nature.
Let me share some remarkable examples of artists who've chosen to let their music breathe in natural spaces:
Dianna Lopez: The Forest's Echo
There's something about Dianna Lopez's music that feels like those quiet moments when you're parked somewhere in nature, just breathing it all in. This New York musician creates sounds that wash over you like meditation - deep, immersive, pulling you into a different headspace.
Her blend of psychedelic rock, R&B, and lo-fi somehow captures what it feels like to watch the sun rise over mountains or listen to rain on your roof. It's raw and real, often recorded in nature or in the back of a pickup truck while driving through a forest. Her airy vocals float over hypnotic instrumentals, reminiscent of those moments when you're alone in nature and your thoughts drift freely. Listen to her wander trough beautiful landscapes and bringing you peace and creative energy.
Garth Stevenson - When Bass Meets Wilderness
I need to tell you about Garth Stevenson. Picture this: a musician who carries his more than 150-year-old bass to the most incredible places - through forests, along beaches, across deserts, and even to Antarctica. Growing up in Western Canada's mountains shaped his entire approach to music, but what he does now... it's something else entirely.
Instead of recording in a studio, he just goes out there, into these wild places, and lets nature guide his music. His three albums - they're like journals of these adventures. But here's what really caught my attention: he leads these musical meditation hikes where people follow him into nature, carrying a wireless sound system. At some point, he just... stops and plays, letting the surroundings inspire every note. The music becomes part of the landscape.
And he takes it even further - playing music with whales off the coast. This March, he was again creating oceanic concert where his bass will dance with whale songs in the open sea. There's something profound about this way of making music - not just playing in nature, but playing with nature.
Yuuf: Symphony Under Trees
I recently discovered Yuuf, a quartet from London that speaks directly to the soul. Four musicians from different corners of Europe (England, France, Denmark, and Switzerland) create harmonies that feel like a warm summer evening under the trees.
Their performance of "In The Sun" in Surrey Hills' Hurtwood captures those perfect moments when music and nature dance as one. Natural sounds weave through their instruments - bass, guitar, drums, and handpan - as if the forest itself is playing along. The gentle guitar strums, rhythm of drums, and melodic tones of the handpan float through the trees, inviting presence and peace.
MARO: Pastoral Poetry
Imagine MARO, a brilliant Portuguese singer, performing in a pasture in the Azores. Not just any pasture - the verdant fields of São Miguel Island where Terra Nostra's "Happy Cows" roam freely. Her music floats across open fields, reaching both human ears and curious cows. And they are listening. So precious.
This "Concerto no Pasto" (Concert in the Pasture) embodies the beautiful intersection of art and nature. MARO's soulful acoustic songs blend with the peaceful presence of grazing cows and stunning Azorean landscapes.
Ólafur Arnalds: Volcanic Symphony
Have you ever experienced a performance that stops time? That's what happens watching Ólafur Arnalds play amidst Iceland's volcanic landscape. This artist, who weaves classical and electronic sounds, performed at Hafursey for Cercle, transforming the raw environment into an concert hall.
A piano stands among vast lava fields, volcanic formations rising like ancient guardians. In this setting that makes you feel simultaneously tiny and infinite, Arnalds' ethereal music takes on new dimensions. His pieces - "Loom" with Bonobo, "Only The Winds," "Near Light" - dance with the environment itself. The wind and distant natural sounds become part of the composition, creating moments of perfect alignment.
RÜFÜS DU SOL: Desert Dreams
RÜFÜS DU SOL's "Live from Joshua Tree" captures something extraordinary - electronic music finding its home in raw nature. As the sun sets over Joshua Tree National Park, iconic rock formations silhouetted against the sky, the Australian trio creates an otherworldly experience.
They transform the desert with light poles as darkness falls, playing tracks like "Valley of the Yuccas," "Eyes," "Innerbloom," and "Solace." But they don't just play - they let each song breathe with the desert. The vastness of Joshua Tree becomes another instrument, adding its voice to their electronic soundscape.
As I reflect on this journey through music and nature, it becomes clear to me that creativity is not something we create from scratch, but rather something we tap into, something that’s already all around us. Just like a river carving its way through a landscape, our creativity flows through us, shaped and molded by everything we experience. And when we allow music to guide that flow—whether it’s a song that lifts us in the kitchen, or a melody echoing in the mountains—we tap into a deeper, more expansive creative force.
Creative Practice
So, as you explore this connection between music and creativity in your own life, I encourage you to take time to step outside, close your eyes, and listen. Listen not only to the music, but also to the world around you.
Create a space—whether in nature or at home—where music can fill the silence, and let it guide your thoughts, your actions, and your creations. It’s a powerful reminder that creativity isn’t something to chase, but something we align with.
I'm curious - how does music flow through your creative process? Do you have specific playlists for writing, or do you just let your liked songs play and follow wherever they take you? Maybe you're like me with cooking - matching the music to what you're creating?
If you want to go on a journey this with me, here are some ways to explore your own relationship with music and creativity:
Try noticing how different sounds affect your creative energy. Maybe experiment with music you wouldn't usually choose. See what happens when you consciously pair certain sounds with your creative moments. I would love to hear about your discoveries in the comments, and please share any music that moves you to create!
Remember that bit about curating our space? Maybe take this week to notice what you're letting into your creative environment. It could be as simple as cleaning up those overwhelming email subscriptions or letting go of social media feeds that don't serve your creativity anymore.
Create mindful playlists for specific creative activities. For example this is my latest focus music playlist. Do you have yours?
This is just the beginning of our exploration - I can't wait to hear what you discover.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more with you as we keep moving, together.
Music is life
So beautiful