Music.

Music as inspiration is a good thing in most cases. Listening to to what you enjoy and having it spark a thought, an image, a train of thought to lead to anything is pretty great. Except when, at least I feel, that when the lyrics itself influences what you're thinking.

Pure instrumentals have a life of their own. Certain tones and inflections are practically programmed to respond to our minds in a certain way. Attached to lyrics they're practically writing themselves again in a way that isn't the way you've intended. Sad songs are sad. Happy are happy. Energetic are energetic. They almost write themselves.

As for writing, it can be a crutch and sometimes drift you off into somewhere you didn't want to be. As of this exact writing I have Awolnation playing in the background. I have just discovered them based of the song "Sail". I have the album playing and I do enjoy their efforts but not on the lyrical side. They're lyrics are good, don't get me wrong. I really enjoy them. When I hear words I think of what the singer wants me to think but when I want to be personally creative I can't help but absorb the singer's thoughts. I want my own, not his.

Years ago when I was in high school English, a teacher of mine asked the class to listen to a song and write what they thought. I remember it was a Metalllica instrumental. No words, just sound. Unfortunately I don't remember the song but I remember what came to me.

A soldier was running up a hill to claim it for his army. The tempo, bass and rhythm were intense and what I saw was solder storming a position. Moments later the whole song shifted to a much calmer and serene melody. Suddenly the soldier was home. He was on a porch, visiting Grandma, eating heartily and laughing with his family. A good moment. Soon after the intensity of the song came back. The same soldier was back on the hill, dying of a bullet wound. The moment of happiness was him reliving a happy moment upon realizing he was dying. He died surrounded by his brother in arms storming the same hill but living their own separate memories. All this came about by an instrumental without lyrics.

Music is glorious for ideas. It has and will inspire some pretty good and awesome material. As long as you don't focus on lyrics. Lyrics hold the story already. Forgo lyrics and a new universe of experiences will follow.

If you like to listen to music as you write like I often to, try to block out the words. Just the movement of the composition can influence a piece of work that can truly be called your own but remember where the inspiration came from if able.

Keep in mind that when writing, I could be completely fuck off wrong. That's the beauty of writing. My particular interpretation of writing could be so completely wrong from what you feel. If you hear the lyrics and see and feel something completely different from the artist's intended idea then by all means roll with it. I love that about creativity. One person's vision can and most likely will be different  from another's.

Music is once again, awesome. On one level I wish I was as awesome to come up with music. On another side I'm pretty glad I can experience from the listener side. From that side I can be motivated to come up with my own ideas and express them how I'm most capable. At this point in the blog, Awolnation is actually pretty blah. =/

The point in the end, grab your inspiration where ya can. Music helps tremendously and life itself is the best point of inspiration. Take it where it comes. Music still fucking rocks though.