Sebastian Mullaert’s music reminds us to simply be. The Swedish artist has a distinct approach to life and his art, focusing on tranquility, Zen meditation, creativity, and nature—especially the forest near his home in Röstånga.
Photo credit: Sebastian Mullaert – Official
Known for his work as one-half of Minilogue, Sebastian is also an accomplished solo artist and live performer, with various aliases and projects. His work ranges from a neo-classical concert and album with the Zurich Philharmonic Orchestra, ambient sleep concerts, to the collaborative improvisations of Circle Of Live and the deep, underground techno of Wa Wu We.
Established as a significant force in electronic music, Sebastian is dedicated to reminding people to be present, whether on the dance floor or at home. He emphasizes the importance of feeling the music and being the frequencies, rather than just thinking about them. His holistic approach involves connecting with one’s body sensations and emotions, and he encourages activities like nature walks, yoga, and meditation to activate creativity.
Sebastian believes that creativity is the essence of life, a source of creation that should manifest freely without the stress and demands of production. He advises artists to let the spark of creative sensations guide them and to trust in the process.
Sebastian Mullaert recently released his latest album ‘Hind’ through Lamour Records. To celebrate the release, Sebastian invited EG into the studio to share 5 creative tips, emphasizing the importance of allowing creativity, understanding its distinction from innovation, and letting the spark guide one’s artistic journey.
1. Allow your creativity
You are the expression of creativity, never ever forget or doubt that. Creativity is to allow creation in the form it takes through you. Don’t focus on the result, let the result present itself to you. EVERYONE is creativity, the term more or less creativity is a misunderstanding and distortion with the result of limiting life to flow.
2. Creativity is not innovation!
Creativity has nothing to do with innovation but innovation has everything to do with creativity. Innovation is amazing and in many perspectives it’s something that our human brain and our societies are looking, probably to be able to evolve and solve problems we encounter. Regardless of how beautiful and important innovation is, we should not limit our creative expression to the seeking of innovation. Seeking for innovation is often the least fruitful way to innovation. The real gateway to innovation (if that’s something you are looking for) is creativity. Explore your creativity, allow your creativity, let your creativity manifest …. Sometimes that leads to innovation, but it ALWAYS leads to creativity.
3. Feel the music, be the frequencies
Many producers and artists are heavily infected by thoughts. To allow creativity is not about thinking (it’s not about not thinking either). To allow creativity means to activate your entire being, it’s a holistic invitation to the complete You in the very moment.
The Human brain love thoughts and have therefore allowed patterns focusing on thoughts. This leads to a neglecting of other aspects of you, it’s narrowing the space and minimizing the potential connection that could appear in the moment of creation. The easiest way to avoid this is to include activities in your daily life (and studio life) that activities all dimensions of you; this could be nature, sports, yoga, meditation, dance, sharing, shaking, and many many other things. Explore and figure out what feels right for you.
A good recommendation is to continuously connect with your body’s sensations and emotions. Let sounds, rhythms, and melodies be felt in you, let your entire body taste them and allow the sensation of them.
Bottom line – Music creation is not limited to the execution of a thought! (Even though thoughts of course are also part of it)
4. Creativity is the meaning of life
Creativity is the source of creation, the same source that creates the world, nature, and everything else in the universe. To live is to create and everything alive is both the creation and the creator. To allow this creation in your expression gives you a deeply fulfilling experience; the meaning of life. Most of us came in contact with music because of this, it could be in the listening experience, it could be when allowing the dance, it could be while playing an instrument, or when blending sounds during the post-production in the studio. For many of us, this experience of freedom and meaningfulness is the reason why we work with music but regardless of that, it’s so easy to forget it and let thought patterns take over. These thought patterns often lead to fear and insecurity, a spiral that will narrow the stream of creativity more and more.
5. Let the spark guide you, don’t bother about production.
The beauty of creativity is that it gives you so many amazing sensations. Let the spark of those sensations guide you, listen for them, and trust them. To allow creativity is not stressful, it’s not frustrating, it’s not demanding …. It’s the season of freedom and meaning. The creative journey as a human being can of course be full of emotions, also sadness, hate, or anger. This is totally fine, and it is also fine if you don’t feel any emotions. Listen for the sensation of meaning and spark and say yes to this.
Sebastian Mullaert’s ‘Hind’ is out now via Lamour Records. Stream and download here.
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