11 replies to this topic

[apstrougo]

I'm curious - what influences you in creativity?

I've been wrestling with it the last few days - we (some members of my band curium) are promoting an upcoming show on a radio show tonight and the DJ says "we'll talk about some of your influences" and I really started breaking down the meaning of that word.

Is it just stuff I like? Stuff I'd want to emulate? Stuff that inspires me to do something different than it?

We've said life is the biggest influence, but you really can't play "life" on the radio.

And I've always wanted to ask artists/musicians in Phoenix, "where is 'Phoenix' in your work".... a place as an influence...

What about you?

[s.cosand]

i like these dudes.

[bob]

I'm curious - what influences you in creativity?

i really like rock n roll. i like playing it. if i didn't, i'd be a more normal person, and i wouldn't be able to stand myself. even though playing rock n roll is pretty normal these days.

I've been wrestling with it the last few days - we (some members of my band curium) are promoting an upcoming show on a radio show tonight and the DJ says "we'll talk about some of your influences" and I really started breaking down the meaning of that word.

Is it just stuff I like? Stuff I'd want to emulate? Stuff that inspires me to do something different than it?

i could be way off, but an artist's work is usually in response to the things that has inspired them. like a conversation. or a dialogue. inspiration can be things one loves or hates. a pop song is usually about one of those two things. or both. poor musicians emulate. good musicians steal. or something like that.

We've said life is the biggest influence, but you really can't play "life" on the radio.

but you can play life the board game. and death (the one on drag city) is a pretty good band. they probably won't get played on the radio.

And I've always wanted to ask artists/musicians in Phoenix, "where is 'Phoenix' in your work".... a place as an influence...

i write about phoenix a lot. i wouldn't have anything to write about if i didn't write about arizona. i don't think arizona or phoenix has its own sound, but if it did, it would be somewhere between texas and california.

What about you?

[weener]

I have realized in the last year that I live a gag-focused life. This means that, musically and in general, I strive to do things that are hilarious to myself and others. I've been lucky to find other musicians with a similar focus. For them, influences are things like They Might Be Giants, Devo and Weird Al. Mine are more along the lines of Frank Zappa and Ween. This doesn't mean that we try to play songs that sound like those artists, just that, like them, we are gag- and prank-focused people.

[Lt. Dizzle!]

Streetlight Manifesto, RX Bandits, The Mars Volta, The Fall of Troy, The Dear Hunter, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Slackers.

not very gag-oriented, but those bands are what make me keep playing music.

[Tony]

i get off on trying to find or create things that haven't been created before - that may be impossible with 6 billion people in the world, so maybe it's more appropriate to say things that i've never thought of or tried before. if i hear/see/eat something that's derivative of something else, that's not a bad thing, but it doesn't give me the same buzz as when i hear/see/eat something that i haven't experienced before. and maybe nobody else has either. because when it happens, there's that little voice in the back of my head that says "you are the only person in the world doing this right now."

[The Real Jeffrey Lebowski]

Streetlight Manifesto

+ Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution

The Mars Volta

Yummers

[chadk]

We've said life is the biggest influence, but you really can't play "life" on the radio.

what? are not most songs about something relating to life or experiences? i guess if you were talking to whole concept of "life" then yea, but portions of life are strewn across the airwaves 247, not to say that they aren't some record produces market research topics that will sell millions and are about as watered down as you could get ie "i kissed a girl and i liked it" but non the less they are are about aspects of life about life.

or maybe i didn't understand what you were getting at.

[joe.distort]

THIS GUY (grant morrison)

also, david lapham, warren ellis, ivan brandon and evan dorkin are influences on my creativity and style. i honestly dont write anything like grant, but he is just insane and makes me want to think more TOTALLY BATSHIT NUTS things.

[Lt. Dizzle!]

Streetlight Manifesto

+ Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution

The Mars Volta

Yummers

BOTAR are my jamz

[apstrougo]

Those are all really awesome viewpoints.

I don't want to get too particular but I'm thinking now that I've confused influences and inspiration. Life and everything that happens in it is definitely an inspiration to many to make art, and hopefully in a way that allows us to feel that same moment.

I think that's what inspires me - when a work of art makes me feel something indefinable, but whatever it is, it makes me want to give that feeling to others in what I do.

[Syeed]

I like this thread~. It's nice to see influences that are different than my own.