If you have parents that covered your eyes during the sex scene of Love Jones when you were smaller, or yelled over parts of Lucy Pearl songs that said “sometimes I wanna lick you,” you probably still have a sensitive ear. So phrases like rapper, Wayne’s “shut up b**** swallow” may not be conducive to your creative process. Also being an artsy student, you probably need a certain atmosphere to create and to live. The lighting, the colors, and the people you surround yourself with, drastically affects your progression as a human being and an artist. Another muse that you may use is music. But how much “if she ain’t freakin’ we ain’t speakin’” can an artist take before their inspiration, their work, and their very character changes?
Think of your favorite CD or album. Now consider why you love it and what it makes you feel. What memories are attached to this music? And, finally think of the lyrics to your all-time favorites. Many people don’t even recognize the meaning of the lyrics in some of their favorite songs, but some can recite every word. If something as miniscule as the color of a room can be proven to affect your brain’s cognitive function, how much more can words that are being replayed in your head throughout the day?
Much of mainstream music is unimaginative, purely recycled thoughts and phrases put to yet another interesting musical accompaniment. Then, you are made to listen to this small menu of songs, on various stations, over and over again. How many times can you listen to someone talking about how they are “swimming in women” or how rich and famous they are, before you start striving for the same lifestyle unconsciously?
College Student, Christina Greenwood, states, “I only listen to V-103, and 107.9 when other people are in my car. The talk of ‘riches’ and ‘b*****’ wears me out, and that’s 90 percent of what mainstream radio plays. It’s like everyone wants to party and get faded, but that’s all they do…fade away. It’s actually paradoxical that rappers like to talk about a hood lifestyle that they no longer live. If that’s all you want to say to your fans, then you could’ve stayed rapping in the hood. But the only way to change what is played is to hit them in the wallets, and boycott the stations that don’t respect the integrity of their listeners.”
Whatever your musical muse may be, you are an adult artist now that doesn’t have a hand in front of their eyes or a voice to protect them from the rawness of the world. But, one thing you do need is a filter. You need to be continuously careful of what and who you expose yourself to, including in the world of music because the changes that you subconsciously make, may not be for the better. It is stupid to think that any element that you expose yourself to isn’t laying on your skin, ready to seep in. Even if you don’t consider yourself spiritual, or sensitive to the world around you, most creative people are in many ways sponges for everything around them. This is where inspiration comes from. And, most college students are people who want to make a positive impact on the world. Just make sure you’re not sucking up the stuff.