I’ve never really thought too much about what inspires me. When I mix music, capture a photo, or shoot a video, I don’t sit down and analyze why I’m doing it. I do it because something at that moment sparks a feeling, an instinct. It’s not about crafting a message or delivering a deep, hidden meaning—it’s about transmitting an emotion.
When I take a picture, it’s because I see something I find visually striking, something that makes me pause and appreciate. I don’t immediately think, “This represents a greater concept.” It’s just an urge to capture something beautiful, intriguing, or unexpected. Sometimes, much later, I look at the photo and realize it could represent something beyond what I initially saw. But that’s an afterthought, not the driving force.
The same applies to my DJ sets. Sure, I mix tracks that I love and fit well together, but the goal isn’t to showcase a message—it’s to create a mood, a space where people can feel what I feel at that moment. That’s why I don’t really resonate with the idea of meticulously planning an overarching theme or concept beforehand. I follow my instincts and emotions and let the result shape organically.
That’s not to say I don’t admire artists who work with deep meaning in mind. Some create incredible works with a straightforward narrative, where every detail is intentional. I just wonder—does meaning always have to be planned? Or can it emerge naturally from emotion?
Maybe some artists work the way I do, and the meaning only becomes apparent after the fact. Or perhaps I’m just someone who documents what moves me without overthinking it. And is that enough? Can something be art simply because it evokes a response, even if the creator wasn’t trying to say something specific?
I’d love to hear different perspectives. When you create—whether it’s music, visuals, or anything else—do you start with a meaning in mind, or do you let emotions guide you and figure out the meaning later?
Let’s talk about it.
