Music has always been the soundtrack to my life: sometimes just in the background but often the main character. Growing up, there was always something playing in the house: from Dionne Warwick to Aphex Twin and everything in between. I’m not saying I liked everything back then, but it did ignite a passion for music that I still feel as I write this. It became a running joke that every ‘new’ artist I proudly introduced to my dad was already in his CD collection. It's funny because it is true.
Anyway, I always wanted to be a singer: the stage, the music, the thrill of performing - it all seemed incredible. But I kept it a dream: I play a little bit of piano and sometimes I will sing a good note, but I never worked for it to become reality.
While music stayed with me, I discovered a deeper connection with painting and over time, the two became inseparable. I’m not sure of many things in my life, but there are three things I will bet you all my money on:
- As long as my hands work, I will paint
- As long as my hearing works, I will listen to music.
- Combining those things will always be a valuable way of spending my time
The Deep Connection Between Music and Emotions
Just like a painting enhances a room and reflects personality, music sets and elevates an atmosphere. It’s a mood shifter, brings out deep emotional connections, and is a powerful tool for self-expression. Music has the ability to embrace you, motivate you, or completely change your perspective. It connects, can satisfy your needs and it can (and will) kick you in the ass when needed.
I never fully grasped the impact of live music until I saw Counting Crows perform around 10 years ago. The moment they played the intro to Round Here, a song I was listening to on repeat in those days, I felt an overwhelming rush of emotion and cried right then and there. That moment changed how I experienced music. Since then, concerts have been an emotional outlet for me - whether alone or with friends. From Nick Cave, Jamie Cullum, José James, The Paper Kites and James Blake, to Wende, Angus and Julia Stone, Kae Tempest and Ziggy Marley: I’ve had countless experiences where music unlocked something deep within me.
Music has this magical way of pulling me into the moment, making me feel more alive and aware of everything around me. There were concerts where I got to know myself better and felt closer to the person I wanted to be. Where just for a moment, for a couple of minutes, I could grasp life and be right there. Something that can be very hard for an overthinker like me.
As someone who is both nostalgic and a bit melancholic, I’m always thinking about (and slightly terrified of) how quickly time passes. And let me tell you, there is nothing like a good saxophone that wants to make you live forever. Except of course, for me, some paints and a canvas.
How Music Influences my Painting Process
Music plays an essential role in my creative flow. Certain albums help me focus, others break me out of perfectionism (shake things up a little) and some give me the emotional depth I need to create meaningful work.
Different moods, different brushstrokes. I always play full albums, no shuffling, so the mood stays uninterrupted:
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For deep focus and detail work: When I need to go into tunnel vision, I turn to Long Way Down by Tom Odell or Idiot Prayer, Nick Cave’s solo piano concert.
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For breaking creative blocks: When perfectionism starts creeping in or when I spend a lot of time on realistic details in my still lifes, I fight back with the Zappatite list, with the juicy songs by Frank Zappa. But my forever album when I need to move around ánd feel something is One Nite Alone... Live by Prince. It is impossible to sit down while listening to that concert.
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For letting out any creative frustration: I mean, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns in an art studio. It can be extremely hard work, there are many times where sessions don’t go your way and you have to push through for it to work. If I really need to shake things up and let out any creative frustration The Murder Capital will blast through my little Marshall speaker, dissolving my fear of anything. This is when my abstract pieces, the ones sitting unfinished for too long, get a bold new layer, a fresh direction and where I bounce back from any creative restrictions.
- For femininity and inspiration: My playlist wouldn’t be complete without the presence of Erykah Badu, Lianne La Havas and Julia Stone. They bring a different energy into the room: confident, soulful and deeply moving. These are the artists I turn to when I feel I’m on the right track, but need a little push left or right. They show me the way to be able to keep going and keep enjoying the process. (Please check out the Weird Fishes cover Lianne La Havas did of Radiohead, because it’s a gem. And while you are at it, turn up your volume and soak in Bag Lady by Erykah Badu. You will not be disappointed.)
Music is as Personal as the Creative Process Itself
There is too much good music out there and too many amazing concerts I’ve been to, to do them all justice: but there is one thing that is remarkable for me when it comes to the combination of music and my art practice. There are albums I believe are only a good fit in the morning, at the start of a session or just during daytime: like ‘That Sea, That Gambler’ by Gregory Alan Isakov, ‘Amos Lee’ by.. yes, Amos Lee and ‘Calling’ by Elephant. And then there are also these albums that only work in the evening, at the end of a painting session or when the sun is down: like ‘9’ by Damien Rice, ‘States’ by The Paper Kites and ‘Down the Way’ by Angus and Julia Stone.
On top of all that, there is even this unwritten rule in my brain that I can’t play all albums when I paint at home (which I sometimes have to, due to lack of time while also working another job four days a week). When I play the Song Society Playlist at home by Jamie Cullum, it doesn’t have the same effect as in my studio. And vice versa, Angie McMahon's incredible lyrics and music work perfectly in my tiny home, but not in my studio. And if your eyebrows are raised by reading this: yes, I am well aware I came up with these rules all by myself, but that’s the thing about a creative process: it’s very subjective, specific and extremely personal.
A Studio That’s Never Silent
Whenever I talk about escaping my overthinking, I say that painting is my solution. But it’s more than that. I move. I dance. I sing along. It’s the effect painting has in combination with music. Music keeps me in motion and helps me stay connected. It turns my studio into a world of its own, where the outside fades away and only the sound and the canvas remain.
Music is part of my process, woven into every artwork I create. It helps me start, keeps me going and reminds me why I do this in the first place. And it’s comforting to know that so many of us (painters, musicians - creators of all kinds) are all trying to make sense of life through what we make, one song or one brushstroke at a time. It makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself.
Curious about the music that fuels my creativity? I’ve put together a playlist of my favorite albums to paint to and it’s updated regularly. You can listen to it here! (In random order because ranking them would be a task I probably would not ever be able to complete.)
Happy listening! Feel free to reach out to me and tell me about your favourite music albums, I would love to chat about it.
