The Creative Independent
Musician and visual artist McKenzie Ellis (Mothica) on the importance of enjoying the process
Writer and entrepreneur Glory Edim on cultivating talent in yourself and others
Documentary Director Joshua Seftel on gently parachuting into the lives of others
Documentary Filmmakers Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton on the discipline of trust
Songwriter and musician Julia Steiner (Ratboys) on creative honesty
Directors Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh on a childlike view of the world
Professional clown Christopher Bayes on finding your feral self
Costume designer and director Nadia Acimi on subverting societal expectations
Musician Bill Callahan on trying to become a better human
Musician Choker on having a point of view
Photographer Roe Ethridge on not letting your expectations get in the way of discovery
Poet Susan Alexander on pushing back against the rules you’re taught
Writer, director and musician Nazareth Hassan on managing fear about a full-time art career
Photographer Ebru Yildiz on never taking your career for granted
Comedian Sindhu Vee on learning to care less
Writer and director Nastasya Popov on why it’s important to keep making things
Author T Kira Madden on making art a place of safety
Game designer Peter McPherson on finding a project’s soul
Musicians Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy on channeling the artists you admire
Dancer and choreographer James Vu Anh Pham on crediting your collaborators
Writer, grief coach, and death care worker Laura Sullivan Cassidy on asking to go slower
Illustrator and designer Joelle Arawjo on learning to do a lot with very little
Violinist and vocalist Sudan Archives on staying connected to community
Artist Jacqueline Kiyomi Gork on why perception is everything
Writer Sophie Strand on the importance of daily creativity
Painter RF Alvarez on how to live with imposter syndrome
Musician Peter Silberman (The Antlers) on rejecting nihilism
Pro soccer player and filmmaker Reina Bonta on choosing honesty over glory
Writer and activist Abigail Milinar Burns on removing beliefs that hold you back
Artist Dain Yoon on relishing a challenge
Writer Naomi Kanakia on embracing the amateur role
Filmmaker and composer Peter Coccoma on day jobs and distraction (and how to tell when a draft is done)
Author Hannah V. Sawyerr on how creative work transforms you
Art critic David Rimanelli on staying obsessed
Poet and writer aracelis girmay on moving toward a stranger version of yourself
Musicians Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek (Whitney) on accepting that circumstances change
Researcher César Fieiras on the complex influence of AI in creative industries
Writer and comedian Amy Silverberg on how to take the pressure off the process
Artist Stanya Kahn on creating work beyond your own direct experience
Photographer duo Guzman (Constance Hansen and Russell Peacock) on learning to see your work objectively
Musician Courtney Marie Andrews on starting now and learning later
Musician and writer cehryl on the value of being true to your own pace
Journalist, editor, and podcaster Zach Stafford on not doing it alone (and doing it for more than yourself)
Musician Courtney Hartman on the creativity of care work
Visual artist Marco Brambilla on agency and the artist’s negotiation with technology
Musician Katie Stelmanis (Austra) on being happy with the career you have
Songwriter and musician Brett McKenzie on knowing when to disrupt your own creative patterns
Musician Carlyn Bezic (Jane Inc.) on managing creative highs and lows
Author M.L. Rio on using all five senses
Artist, writer, and musician Cristy C. Road on finding a home in punk rock
Singer-songwriter and producer Deon Brown on redefining spirituality
Singer-songwriter Clairo on keeping your references close
Illustrator Lauren Martin on the pitfalls of saying yes to everything
Artist and researcher Ari Melenciano on getting to the root of things
Artist Louise Campion on growing as an artist without waiting for inspiration
Filmmaker, writer, and Olympian Alexi Pappas on letting momentum carry you
Musician Allie X on sustaining a career by staying curious (and fighting for creative control)
Experimental musician Daemyan Tang (Industry Standard) on staying self-contained
Painter Claudia Keep on pushing through even when you don’t feel inspired
Director Whitney White on how to lead with passion and foster opportunity for others
Artist Zoe Koke on creating space for reflection
Poet and translator Terrance Arjoon on the value of making productive mistakes
Poet and translator Terrence Arjoon on the value of making productive mistakes
Musician Gelli Haha on getting out of your own way
Musician Paz Lenchantin on making the journey the goal of your work
Artist Sam Linguist on creating your own logic
Musician Esther Rose on questioning your path and forging new ones
Artist Nasim Hantehzadeh on how to connect with your artistic intuition
Artist Nasim Hantehzadeh on how to connect with your artistic intuition
Animator Rachel Larsen on solving problems under pressure
Singer-songwriter, bassist, and sync licenser Pictoria Vark on appreciating raw material
Author Matthew Gavin Frank on trying everything you can
Musician keiyaA on resisting formality
Musician Angela Autumn on being a lifelong learner
Poet Leah Flax Barber on the importance of doubt and devotion
Photographer Josh Aronson on the collaboration between artist intention and audience perception
DJ Dylan Ali on creating success without comparing yourself to others
Fashion designer Hillary Taymour (Collina Strada) on fighting for your vision
Cookbook author Clarissa Wei on shifting your energy
Musician Silvana Estrada on navigating chaos by being kind to yourself
Founder Tyler Bainbridge on making the internet fun again
Writer and filmmaker Harmony Holiday on getting clear about your vision
Musician Andrew Falkous (Mclusky) on only worrying about the things that matter
Author and witch Pam Grossman on using magic to channel your creative force
Cartoonist Tommy Siegel on persistence as praxis
Sculptor, performance artist, and lyricist Michael Biello on the way art can heal you and hold you
Writer Nika Simovich Fisher on getting more from your ideas
Fashion and style editor Mahoro Seward on setting up infrastructures of care for the people who need them most
Musician Enji on music as a mirror for personal change
Publisher and photographer Jesse Feinman on imagining another world
Actor, comedian, and musician Fred Armisen on making work for your friends
Musician Nicole Miglis on sticking to your artistic intentions
Perfumer Trey Taylor on questioning what you consume
Musician Ben Kweller on finding reasons to be grateful
Visual artist Wendy Red Star on collaborating with your ancestors
Filmmaker Bing Liu on trying things over and over again
Musician Billianne on how work evolves with you
Writer Grace Byron on getting out of your bubble
Singer-songwriter, model, and writer Indigo Sparke on abandoning a timeline
Writer Zoe Dubno on the importance of good mentors
Editor/podcaster Erin Yanke and writer Rich Cross on doing what it is you need to do
Comic book artist and writer Sean Chen on thriving outside of your comfort zone
Visual artist Annie Lapin on finding new ways to be an artist
Poet and writer Daniela Naomi Molnar on art as an antidote to loneliness
Painter Zak Prekop on knowing what you have to do
Writer and editor Nicole A. Lamy on amplifying the voices of others
Visual artist Christopher Michael Hefner on letting go of the idea of the tortured artist
Musician Cornelia Murr on letting your work belong to the world
Curatorial duo ATLA (Ryu Takahashi and Jenny Hata Blumenfield) on committing to the creative path as a lifestyle
Poet and writer Diana Arterian on creating mental space to make room for deep work
Musician Colin Miller on focusing on the small things
Artist and concept store curator Cecilia “CC” Doan on realizing a hidden dream
Musician Annahstasia on consuming art with intention