Creative Wave Movement

A kaleidoscope of beats; a collection of fine melodies: After all, we are the continual creative type… seeking the next moment of positive inspiration; the next point of creative expression. Music plays an integral role in our bursts of artistic freedom: whether this is in the form of painting, writing, creating of any kind. In creative-type like fashion, I’ve stumbled upon some tunes that have- yet again- moved my artistic reach slightly above where it was prior to the discovery.

Southern Point breaches any solomn contract we had with what electric pop and today’s music should sound like.

Some of you may know them, but for those that do not: meet, Grizzly Bear.  The track, “Southern Point”, in particular, from their Sophomore album, Veckatimest, takes our creative flow to a refreshing direction we might not have expected it to travel. I preface this by simply saying the following:

As artists, just like musicians, we are here to communicate, to inspire with positive movement and motion, not encourage routes of unrest or confusion. Music can influence this flow.

When I first heard “Southern Point”, I was instantly taken to a place of clarity, refined focus as it pertains to my artistic direction: The lyrics were not profane, just simple with a rather open interpretation. The guitar chords that precede the chorus remind you of acoustic melodies chosen by 1970s group, America and their tune, “Ventura Highway” , a time when music was a bit simpler, a bit cleaner. As Southern Point proceeds, the percussion kicks in, and you are transported to tunes by Animal Collective, and lyrics reflect the flower child’s band of the 1960s, The Byrds.  It is within this compositional collision of past and present- paying homage to the cleaner lines of the past, incorporating the new beats of the present -that I find myself receiving a nice level of ‘artistic fine-tuning’ if you will. Yes, even in the melody of one song.

As visual communicators, it is our job to filter what we fuel our moments of creativity- feeding those creative episodes with lyrics and tunes that influence clean creations. Our tunes of choice most certainly can be, and should be, eclectic. But let us try to make it clean.

The cleaner the water, the more will want to drink.

Cheers and Happy Creating!

Lindsey