Dancing with the Muse: Creative Self-Care for Musicians
Emily Elbert
Living a musical life is an incredible gift. It allows us to engage our imaginations, expand our worldview, make our own rules, and hopefully have a positive effect on the world. As a career, it comes with potential challenges, though - there’s no clear path to follow, and the limited job security can feel stressful, particularly during a time of global crisis. In order to keep our groove going, it’s important that we take good care of ourselves, and be intentional about nourishing our bodies, minds, and spirits. This helps us deepen our work, and care for the world better, too. From the road to the studio (and quarantine), here are some ideas that I’ve found helpful in my own process.
Give Thanks
Without a doubt, I do my best living (and creating) when I cultivate a grateful heart. I’m far from perfect, but the more I practice gratitude, the more it grows. One helpful exercise is keeping a gratitude journal, and making a short list of things to be thankful for each day. It can include literally anything (new spring leaves, a hot shower, the invention of the modular synthesizer). The more you’re on the lookout for things to be grateful for, the more everything feels worthy of gratitude. When I get down or feel stuck, this can be a pretty radical perspective shift.
Cross-Pollinate
Erykah Badu is a doula, Steve Vai is a beekeeper. Prince was a ping pong expert, David Bowie was into chess. Fostering non-musical interests feeds the soul, stimulates curiosity, and helps bring balance to your life. You encounter ideas and people that you’d never intersect with otherwise. It also helps to have a passion that you’re not super skilled at, to lean into that beginner’s mindset and release attachment to outcome (aka: just do it because you think it’s rad!).
Tune In And Speak Up
The world is changing, and musicians have a valuable part to play in shaping our future. Author/activist Toni Cade Bambara said, “The role of an artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” Can you imagine the American civil rights movements of the 60s without the influence of luminaries like Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte, and Odetta? Who would we be today without the voices of Kendrick Lamar, Woody Guthrie, Fela Kuti, or Rage Against the Machine? Music has the power to unite, empower, and disrupt; to shine a light on untold stories, and introduce new ideas to our collective consciousness. We each have an opportunity - arguably, a responsibility - to attune ourselves to what’s going on in the world, listen deeply, and communicate courageously. This sense of purpose can propel us forward as artists, as well. In the words of Pete Seeger, “A good song reminds us what we’re fighting for.”
Get Moving
No matter what you play, your entire body is your instrument. I know that when I’m more aligned and engaged in my physicality, it shows up in my playing, writing, and whole being. Remember the Funkadelic quote, “Free your mind, and your ass will follow?” It can work the other way around, too. You don’t have to be a super yogi or ultrarunner (I’m certainly not!), but you can still find physical practices that make you feel alive. I’m a big fan of bumping a funky playlist, doing some interval training, walking or hiking, keeping a yoga practice, and dancing around my room uninhibited until my dog thinks I’ve lost my mind. There are tons of different classes available for free streaming right now, too, so you can find what gets you pumped.
Style Your Space
Oftentimes, being a musician means you have a lot of gear. Cables, pedals, instruments, recording equipment, and so on...I know I do. But the more TLC I put into keeping an intentional space that’s tidy and feels good to be in, the higher my quality of life is. I love keeping my instruments within reach, so that it’s easy for me to get into a creative flow at any time, and also surrounding myself with things that inspire me - books, records, warm light, plants, things that smell good. Making the bed first thing in the morning is also a game-changer, in my mind. Marie Kondo is onto something.
Meditate
Meditation can help us to observe our thoughts and emotions with compassion, rather than get caught up in them. Even a brief, regular meditation practice can alleviate stress and anxiety, improve cognition and emotional well-being, and help you tap in to a sense of stillness and peace. There’s a wide variety of entry points: Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock practice Nichiren Buddhism with daily chanting, and the Beatles were into Transcendental Meditation. Whatever the method though, the more inner quiet we allow, the better we can hear the music that wants to flow through. Simply tuning into our breath reminds us of how innately connected we are to rhythm. Apps like Headspace and Insight Timer or books by Ram Dass and Thich Nhat Hanh are great places to get started. (Then emerge from your meditative state, plug into the Avalanche Run, and get drone-y.)
Write It Out
One of my favorite journaling practices is the “Morning Pages,” made popular by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way. The idea is that you commit to filling three stream-of-consciousness journal pages each morning. This sets a creative tone for your day, and aims to disengage the inner critic. Wanna mix it up? Give yourself some writing prompts. There’s no rules, so they can be as open-ended as “How do I experience the color blue?,” or as specific as a love letter to Aretha’s Live at the Fillmore West album.
Make Your Mornings Meaningful
The morning is a powerful creative opportunity worth honoring. When we emerge fresh from the dream realm, we have a more tangible connection to our subconscious, and to our imagination. This is fertile soil to plant creative seeds for the day we want to have. Building a daily waking ritual or routine can enhance this even further. Dig into it! And keep that phone tucked away if you can - the news and notifications will still be there later.
Nourish Thyself
How we feed our bodies shapes how we feel. Each body is different, but I feel good when I start my day with some water with fresh squeezed lemon (benefitting liver and digestion), coffee or tea (because otherwise I chill too hard), clean produce and protein, and a plant-based boost like ashwagandha, maca, or Lion’s Mane mushroom powder. Lately, it’s also been therapeutic to spend afternoons cooking curries and homemade chocolates with my roommates. It’s all about balance, and tuning into what truly feels nourishing to your body (and following the guidance of your health practitioner).
Get Dirty
As I write this, most of the world is trying to isolate due to the COVID spread, so it’s tricky for many folks to safely be outside. Within what’s safely feasible though, what are some ways that you can connect with the earth? Can you take a socially-distant hike or walk, be in the sun on a porch, take your shoes off in a grassy yard? Maybe get some indoor plants, or join a CSA? Whether it’s building a fire or lighting a candle, swimming in the ocean or drinking a glass of water, the more I engage with the elements and the Earth, the deeper my sense of interconnectivity is, and the better I feel. Nature is an incredible teacher and musical inspiration.
Reach Out
All of these tools can be helpful, but they’re also only part of the picture. Humans are social creatures, and we thrive in community. Many of us in music come alive when we go to shows or sessions, or have difficulty adjusting when coming back from tour. Reaching out to family, neighbors, and friends is invaluable - from the road (or in pandemic isolation), setting FaceTime or phone call dates, sending that “thinking of you” text (or cute animal videos) can provide a lift and sense of connection. It’s also crucial to seek out professional support when you need it, though. There are a number of good resources out there - one is Backline, an organization that connects music industry folks with mental health and wellness professionals. You are not alone.
Music comes from our mind, body, and spirit, so maintaining the well-being of our entire system is integral to creative work. In challenging times, anchoring ourselves in purposeful practices can help us have a positive impact in the world. With the freedom of a musical life we can cultivate the radical, the soulful, and the sacred every day. Take care of yourself and your community, and keep creating - the world will be better for it.
Additional reading:
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Daily Rituals by Mason Currey
Journey of Awakening by Ram Dass
Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One With the Universe by Yumi Sakugawa
Effortless Mastery by Kenny Werner
The Mysticism of Sound and Music by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Emily Elbert is a music-maker and magic-seeker based in Los Angeles. As a singer-songwriter, she has independently released numerous albums and played DIY shows around the world, fusing folky introspection with funk-laden guitar work. As a supporting musician, she has played in the touring bands of artists like Esperanza Spalding, Mike Gordon, and Jenny Lewis, and collaborated with Bruno Major and Dweezil Zappa. In all mediums, she strives for connection and liberation through the merging of prayer and play.
