Was it Bandlab or FL studio? Do I need to purchase this $800 mic? What do I write about? Is that how my voice sounds? If you have ever thought of fully committing to a creative project you’ve probably experienced the liberation of creating and the small doubt that comes with process but does it have to be this way? 

A bit of background…

Last year, I finally put myself out there and not only as a singer-songwriter but also as an actress in a short film. But, I have been writing music since I was like seven…so what took so long? I mean, I had lived  in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, the creative district for all types of artists but that was almost six years ago and I am only now, as a Houston metropolitan resident, working on creative projects AND putting them out to be seen. 

All those songs written about heartbreak, redemption, freedom, change, and they were kept in the compounds of my mind because I was waiting for the perfect time, perfect lyric, perfect melody, perfect moment…and when it never came I felt the characteristics of my creativity, visions, dreams, greatness was miscategorized and distributed to the wrong person. It was as if my ideas were too big for me and it was a taunting feeling of “being behind”. It felt like my ideas were so out of reach but I had a deep understanding that it was mine to build and connect with others. 

But this experience, being a singer-songwriter and actress, was a blessing as it gifted me perspective and opened up my eyes to see what my creative process was missing! My perspective changed when I experienced trusting collaboration, discipline in the creative process, and finding my distinctive why to the reason for my creativity. We’ll discuss the possible “creative blockages” you might find yourself while creating your first song and how to overcome them! 

I. EXPECT DISCOVERY NOT PERFECTION

Think about your favorite song, album, artist, anything. Now, dismiss it because you will find as you cultivate your voice and writing that though you may like these songs and a particular artist you may have a different calling in the way you create. Again, someone needs to hear YOU, not the mimicking of someone else and of course inspiration from others are a valid sparks of what we aspire to help create but you might find that you naturally sing more ballads than uptempo songs or you or more abstract in words more than trendy sayings. And what’s even better is that you can absolutely broaden your range, but don’t dismiss your song because it isn’t a resemblance to the artist you love.

Think of a feeling, most songs hold feelings of nostalgia, vulnerability, a moment in time where it holds a piece of a space in time. Think of some of the songs that you love, maybe you listen to it with your grandparents or when you’re going through that time with your ex or when you graduated high school. They might not be the greatest songs ever or even a melody that is long gone with the time it was created in but you love it because you remember the feeling of it. That’s why I think when us black folks have cookouts we play the same songs over and over again, it’s not just about the logistics and musicality of the song but it’s the commonality of the cultural moments we have attached to it.

Moving to Texas, line dancing is a big thing, the country swing gets people on their feet where in Philly it was more uptempo house music mixed with trendy remixes. I hear a Philly club remix and instantly remember my time at JAMZ or at a block party. Now, I attach line dancing with my first homecoming week at my HBCU. This is not to discredit the art in the song but it is to not attach a “golden” timeframe or composition when all we need to hear is you. Your song, your voice, your thoughts and in that transparency allows the audience to make a memory from it.  As cliche as it may be, you truly aren’t trying to write a song for people to like. 

II. YOU DON’T NEED TO BUT MORE. USE WHAT YOU HAVE.

As I have stated before, I have always loved music and wrote songs. I even had the privilege of receiving gifts such as a guitar and  AKAI MPK to cultivate these skills. And I am very thankful to have them but through all my time of having them I haven’t had to use them to produce as much as I thought I did. I have two podcast mics and I use those, are they the most elaborate mics for the job, no but it does help me get my ideas out and allow me to learn the different technical ways to bring my ideas to life.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I do believe musicianship should be brought back to the music industry as much as I respect computer engineers. There has just been a overconsumption of keyboard beats and I LOVE a live band with live instrument and I am guilty of not being as far as I could with instruments but I look forward to created a live sound with chords and melodies that aren’t just looped and sampled, but I want to have a choice and balance between the two. But let’s say that I didn’t have a guitar or my AKAI MPK or even my two mics. How could I be created if I don’t have those things? This is where innovation meets collaboration.

Before I had those things, I had a roommate — three others to be exact but with all our dating lives in the mix it was more than I signed up for — nevertheless, I would write music with one particular roommate. She had a keyboard. Now, I learned some chords when I was in middle school, as a music elective so I would experiment with different (and basic) triad chords and 7th and 9th chords and we would write music. I am by far a professional pianist but through my time of playing in band, orchestra, and being in choir since elementary school, I could move around (slightly) on the keyboard. We would spend maybe a few hours making music and I during the time, my guitar was just decor at that time. No practice, practically not even looked at everyday. But what I didn’t have she shared, and what she didn’t know, I shared.  Which attributes to the next thing…

  III. WATCH AND LEARN FROM OTHER CREATIVES 

It can be very nerve-wracking showing my art to people at times and the few I feel that get it are other creatives. They know how it feels to write, produce, and perform something that you spent time creating. And in those beautiful moments of truly creating with someone you connect to not only musically but just naturally you might feel seen in a new way, especially if you have been hiding a gift for so long. And when you both show up, then you can also see that there is so much to learn and that should excite you if this is something you love to do!

I learned more about producing because of this last project and observing how creatives interact with each other coming from different spaces and backgrounds and capabilities is a reminder that creativity truly comes from a giving place. A pour into place and the overflow of that naturally is also a receiving place. I think about the creativity that started it all in the book of Genesis seeing God bring things in order in delight and goodness. It was an overflow to all things created, the fish, the trees, the birds and even to humanity.

The garden is the absolute perfect example of creativity and what it is and what it does. And we can learn from Yeshua the power of creativity and the evidence of it. He gave us life and it was an abundant source of life. It was motion that wasn’t set on being compared to something else. He didn’t compare the water with the light or the giraffe to the eagle. He just created it as good. And when you are in a space with other creators with other new ideas and perspectives it is good to know that the foundation of it is goodness. That itself is a blessing to witness and be able to testify for and God has more than enough brilliant ideas and creativity to give and partner in building with you.

But his foundation isn’t comparison, fame or a clever brand it is the focus on building a relationship with you. Talk about fluidity in creation! The refusal to be limited to occupational success or reputational gain, it is immeasurable and is submitted in love. 

IV. FIND YOUR CONCEPTS AND THEMES 

While introducing this inner song that you are putting out it is good to have as much different ideas to create the whole idea. I love the whole process of thinking of the color template, clothing design, the story and cinematography, I love all of the small details because they build to the whole idea. It also is an invitation for me to learn something new, I might not know all about camera work or texture in clothing that best reflect lighting but I am encouraged to learn! Stage presence and connect with crowd instead of JUST distracting them with entertainment. I think it is good to put on an electrify experience for them but that takes the small details and knowing what you are trying to express. So, if there is any way to build that inner world of what your song is then take it.

I think I also consider great albums more than just trendy songs because I usually don’t forget the artwork of whoever completed the pieces! I have also learned that branding and marketing is important especially in this digital era, I think of it this way, be intentional, be specific but also enjoy it. Even if you are an artist that is trying to monetize on it I don’t think you have to lose your soul for the appeal of people. Be authentic, have change and shifts and don’t drown yourself with the stress of having the perfect cheat code to a “breakthrough” I don’t believe music or anything creative was suppose to be formulaic, I think that’s what it just has been turned to for the face value of convenience. So, allow yourself to pivot when you need to and get your hands into the creative process and all the ways you can give to the song. 

V. SURRENDER AND CONNECT

I think another thing I had to come to realize was that I was worried about what I would look like trying and how to prepare if it failed or became a mockery out of. I had always loved singing but I wasn’t always confident in my voice, multiple times when I was younger I was made to feel like it wasn’t good or worth sharing. And my songwriting was often hidden and when I did share it to the few that were courageous enough to share it to they like it but I didn’t want to get my hopes too high and then be embarrassed. And here’s what I will say about that.

Go for it anyways, the weight of feeling the burden of never flying and leaving the ground is worse than anything anyone who isn’t or wouldn’t do it has to say. If you are worried or overly concerned about people’s perspectives on your song, whether they are from the past or currently know you only as what they perceive you to be on the basis of familiarity, you gotta come to terms that this is nothing new.

Jesus experienced this with people in his family, crowds that surrounded him and even the people closest to him — his disciples. People will always have something to say, good or bad, they will always have an ideal and expectation and that might work for them but that shouldn’t be the confinement of what is true for you. And trust me, I know this is easier said than done but nevertheless this is something that you have to come to accept.

You are human, people have known you, will know you or are getting ready to know you and you can’t be stuck in a hour glass of people’s commentary to raise your self-worth or stop you from discovering your abilities and flourishing in your gifts. Sometimes the biggest enemy isn’t even what they say is what you THINK they’ll say and that is intrusive, impulsive decision making and more importantly….a lie. Don’t be deceived out of your calling and keep the main thing the main thing.

You can’t control things that can’t be controlled but you can surrender and connect with your why. I found my why and what I admired the most about any art form was the ability to empower, encourage and to love others with fullness. The most appealing thing about creativity is the act of being courageous enough to speak about humanity and living as a humanitarian and not as an idol. The platform, the awards, the achievement are appreciated but the art is the legacy that continues to uplift and refine connection. 

So, write your song, dance to your rhythm, cultivate your creativity and connect with the likeness that you were created in. Let yourself be able to be free from expectations and the fear of failure. Pivot, grow and take a leap of faith because any leap forward is better than any regret sitting back. Your best days are ahead of you and the moment is yours.