Creativity, a common trait amongst SG members. There is obviously no shortage of inspiration in the world for many of us, but where do you find it? Or do you find it, does it find you or is it random? Some people are constantly inspired, others, it is a once in a blue moon experience. How does it feel?
I would guess that like many other things, it is different for each of us. But what does the inspiration translate into, art, play, feelings, work, helping your fellow humans, the list could go on forever. Right now, my main inspiration, is my 3 yr old daughter, who until a few mths ago, I had not seen since she was barely 1 yr old.
She inspires me to be happy and also a very cool thing is I get to be a child again, building cubby houses, making sandcastles and colouring in, all good stuff.
But my lifelong inspiration has always been music. I don't play an instrument or hit the decks but I listen to music. Lots of music, lots and lots of music. I cannot get enough of it. As, I sit here typing, Silverchair's 2007 album, Young Modern is playing, on repeat. 2007, what was I doing in 2007? Being a newlywed was what I was doing, 7 years later I'm no longer married but I still love this album, it doesn't remind me of getting married but it does remind me of a time when just about everything was going well.
Like a lot of people, my lifes soundtrack was born from my parent's taste in music. Being baby boomers (born in the ten yrs after WW2), that included America, Zeppelin, Sabbath, The Stones, The Beatles, Bowie, etc.
Fast forward to the late 80s/early 90s, I'm now in high school, my mum has remarried after the passing of my father years earlier, and I am discovering my own music. Faith no more's '87 album, Epic was what I was listening to, much to the disgust of my parents. After my mum read the lyrics to Blood Sugar Sex Magik, she confiscated that album twice but gave up after I stole it back, why she didn't just throw it out I don't know. Come 1993, my final year of high school, my mates and I drove to Sydney to see Faith no More's Angel Dust tour, fuckin wow!
A hop, skip and a jump into the new millenium and I'm living in London, courtesy of a transfer with my employer at the time. By this time I'm in my mid twenties, single and free and eagerly anticipating the release of Jane's Addiction's Strays, followed by seeing them @ Hammersmiths Apollo. A very crazy time in my life, they didn't call it swinging London for no reason - sex, drugs and rock n roll!
And to now to the present day, reading this as I type away, one thing is certain, time flies! Having just moved back to England, in the lovely seaside town of Eastbourne, I have recently reclaimed my music collection after 2 yrs in storage and listening to albums from Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Garbage, Beastie Boys, Radiohead, Regurgitator, Iggy Pop, The Cruel Sea, Nick Cave, that have not been spun for a while is like going through my life again, albeit in hour long portions.
So if maybe you're inspiration is missing or lost, go back in time! It might not be the answer but maybe it is.