Etymologists Agree, Muse is Music

What I do for a living often involves creative problem solving. This means the variables, the problems and the stakeholders for the projects I work on are quite diverse. I have worked with a very eclectic mix of clients too. I wouldn't have it any other way, to focus in one area would bore me to tears. I need to always be learning. Doing something that I've never done before is how I've spent the last 20 years of my career.

A smart businessman and friend once told me, always hire people that are smarter than you - so, I've surrounded myself with some amazingly talented people and they too have thrived on the varied projects that have come through our small shops' door. Some projects are bigger, more complex than others and that's when everyone really shines - in collaboration.

Sometimes however, we need to work alone on certain elements of a project, this often involves reflection, ideation and research - thought is critical. This can be tough to do in a busy office, even when it's quiet.

Then, there are times when the excitement of the project or the thrill of the chase isn't enough and you find yourself bogged down with the details of a very large project and facing a hurdle.

It's these times when I seem to look to music to motivate and guide me.

Music clears my head, sets me up for creative thought and helps me focus, puts me in the right frame of mind for a specific task - even when it's loud. More often than not, I find myself playing the same song or artist over and over again. I set my player (sometimes vinyl, sometimes not) on repeat and I don't get tired of it until I'm through my problem.

Music is my inspiration, my muse.

It may be that through music I am able to block out all other distractions. The motion, beat and melody carries me, elevates me to a place where I can concentrate on one task or problem solely and give me that elusive 30,000 ft view needed for objective analysis. This view gives me multiple angles.

Some songs are so perfectly crafted and original that they amaze me, they are pure genius. I have a wide variety of tastes in music and I know that not all songs or artists are worthy of being put on repeat, not while I work that is. Not to say they're not good songs, just that not all songs have that certain 'mojo' that takes me to that special creative space. These songs are hard to discover.

I began this practice of listening to music when my job involved a lot of design - as a designer, I would select a song or artist based on the audience that I was targeting and that would help me 'get inside the heads' of the end customer and design to their expectation. Like selecting a typeface, the selection of the right song is critical as it helps me better analyze the target audience, the people that are going to see the piece.

A sampling of the artists that have created a song or songs that I have listened to repeatedly while working on a project are as follows (no particular order):

Warren Zevon, Blue Oyster Cult, Widespread Panic, Johnny Cash, Ian Tyson, John Hiatt, John Prine, Judas Priest, Old Reliable, Five Blind Boys from Alabama, Iron Maiden, Kaiser Chiefs, Cheap Trick, Kenny Rogers, Gay Delorme, Ray Charles, Bourne & McLeod, Wilco, Richard Thompson, NRBQ, Frank Zappa, Gram Parsons, Len Price 3, Flying Burrito Brothers, Sex Pistols, Deep Purple, BB King, Louis Prima, Robert Cray, Nanci Griffiths, Kinematic, Taj Mahal, Franz Ferdinand, Lyle Lovett, Pigeon Detectives, Flogging Molly, and a few others.

My two favourite bands are not listed above as I've never listened to them while designing or working on a project for others. If you want to design something for me, do it while listening to the Rolling Stones or the Who - you'll likely come up with something that would appeal to me.

Any work being done for others needs to be taylored to suit the audience it is intended for and in my experience, there's no better way to do this than through 'their' music. It sets the stage for a role reversal, putting you in the shoes of your audience which is where you need to be if you're going to produce good work.

Even though I don't do much design work these days, I still find that music helps me focus, helps me be productive and on target for who I'm doing work for.

Going to eleven is always an option - thank you Spinal Tap.

Music, is there anything it can't do?

I don't think I'm that well versed in music to be a snob or to lecture others on their taste in music let alone get past the first interview at Championship Vinyl.

But, I think I got a pretty good handle on what I like, and after a few years of listening, I even have a favourite genre: I call it Garapunkolkativetal.

There are only two real categories of music that I'm not overly fond of: Rap and New Country. There are a few songs that cross over into the rap genre that I don't mind, likewise with new country, but overall, I would rather listen to the vacuum cleaner choke on a sock.

My favourite song? Well, it changes daily, hourly. Sometimes I like songs for their words, sometimes it's the music, sometimes it's both. Although I am just an amateur guitar player, I have enough understanding of the instrument to know and respect good musicianship - and sometimes that's why I like a song. Other times, it's just a frame of mind that I'm in that a particular song will speak to, then it becomes my favourite for that moment.

I do have a list of 10 desert island albums though, they are as follows, in no particular order (and this list morphs and changes over time too):

Land of Salvation and Sin - Georgia Satellites
A Ghost is Born - Wilco
Squeezing Out Sparks - Graham Parker
Exile on Main Street - Rolling Stones
Odds and Sodds - The Who
The Missing Years - John Prine
Shades of the Worlds - Allman Brothers Band
Midnight Stroll - Robert Cray Band
Greatest Hits - Wilson Pickett
Faithlift - Spirit of the West

The best part about a desert island list is I don't have to defend or explain them. I could easily create a desert island selection of 100 albums. In fact, I wouldn't want to be stranded with any less than 100... can I get iTunes on a dessert island?

While I have been writing blogs today, I have been listenting to the Herman's Hermits, Rancid, Thorn of Crowns, Ray Davies, Billy Talent, Delbert McClinton, Gypsy Kings, Warren Zevon, The Pigeon Detectives, the Ceasars, Tom Petty and Judas Priest. All of which I highly recommend.

For a guy that likes such a variety of music you'd think I'd change the discs in my car once in a while? I've had the same CD's in my car for at least 8 months... Red Hot Chile Peppers, Wilco, 2 mix CD's, George Carlin and Flogging Molly. The reason for this is satellite radio. In particular, Little Steven's Underground Garage (LSUG Channel 25) - this station is amazing and plays a diverse playlist like no other station I've ever heard. There's 100+ channels on the satellite radio and I rarely move it from channel 25.

The jocks on LSUG know their stuff and bring a lot to the table. Hearing Andrew Loog Oldham tell about his first hand experiences dealing with various bands and being a part of the music scene is worth the monthly subscription price on it's own. Andrew hosts the morning show and is amazing to listen to... most days the morning commute isn't long enough.

Next up is Little Steven himself. Wow, his introductions to the songs are in many cases better written than the songs themselves (TV Dinners by ZZ Top for instance, the intro was amazing and made hearing that song even more enjoyable) and remind us of the power that radio once held with skilled jocks behind the mics. Little Steven weaves intricate facts, backstage talk and popular culture in mini-stories that introduce the songs like I've never heard. In many cases, I've rewinded his introductions on several occasions to listen to them again and again. Yes, with the right Satellite receiver it records up to an hour of live music, like a PVR. His insights into music and popular culture are interesting, well thought out and mucho appreciated.

After Little Steven leaves the air we have a host of other great jocks such as Kid Leo and Handsome Dick Manitoba... there's just too much awesome to pack into one blog - you'll have to listen to it yourself to see what I mean.

So, is there anything music can't do? Yeah, ...probably lots, but it provides us the inspiration to do anything. And, on that note, I'm going to go out and fix my daughter's bicycle while humming Desperados Under the Eaves...