Creativity as a Coping Mechanism

My third book,?Second Skin, is set to launch on July 15th?(coincidentally, my birthday). I call it a "bizoir", a term I borrowed from my friend Jay Jay French from Twisted Sister, who coined it with the release of his brilliant book Twisted Business. This is my story. A story about resilience, reinvention, survival, and heavy metal.

As I neared the completion of the book, the question of content weighed heavily on me - not in terms of word count, but regarding the level of detail and vulnerability I should share. Despite the potential discomfort, I ultimately decided on complete honesty. If you know me, then you know that I rarely hold anything back, and for Second Skin, I've pushed the envelope even further.

With one final proofread and a few extra stories sprinkled in, the daunting question emerged: who would write the forward? Who would be willing to offer a blurb? And most importantly, how should I promote it?

Hopefully, you've caught my subtle hint - if you're interested in providing a short blurb or an early review, I'd be more than happy to send you a copy. (Here's the cover, shot by the legend that is Brian Cannon, the genius behind the classic first three Oasis album covers)

You can pre-order the book here. It's coming out through Heavy Metal Thunder publications (my own label, so your support is appreciated). The first 25 pre-orders get a free digital version of my award-winning photography book Down in Front.

In the meantime, life has been hectic, but that's how I prefer it to be. I've taken on an advisory role with the startup Thunderflix (think Netflix but for heavy metal), which launched a few months ago and is off to a roaring start (just Google 'Thunderflix' and click on 'news').

Moreover, I'm approaching my one-year anniversary as the head of brand and content at Tyk. My team just wrapped the new brand relaunch, of which I couldn't be prouder. The colours, the messaging, the creativity; yeah, this is what I love to do.

In other news, let's talk about AI. Is it even possible to write a newsletter without mentioning it these days? At first, I was resistant, but now I've embraced it, albeit not as enthusiastically as those who zealously proclaim AI's destruction of various job roles on LinkedIn. Their posts often exceed my self-imposed daily limit for bullsh*t, hence my lack of recent posting on the platform.

In reality, AI has proven to be a tool that enhances my creativity, sharpening my ideas into digestible nuggets. However, I find an over-reliance on AI tends to result in formulaic, inauthentic content. During a recent interaction with ChatGPT, I pondered an aspect of AI it seemingly can't touch - the emotional side of creativity. Inspired by the artistic resilience of my musical heroes, I explored how creativity can serve as a powerful coping mechanism and how it has shaped some of the most magical moments in music history. Here's where that led me.

Creativity as a Coping Mechanism

Creativity has the power to heal, connect, and help individuals overcome life's challenges. In the face of adversity, many people turn to creative outlets as a means of coping with their struggles. Channelling emotions into art has been proven to be therapeutic and beneficial for mental well-being. But don’t take it from me.?Research shows?that creative expression is a powerful tool for exploring one's identity, processing emotions, and reducing stress levels. Studies have found that creative activities such as drawing, painting, or writing promote personal growth and emotional well-being. Here are some examples of how individuals have harnessed their creative energy to overcome personal battles and find inspiration in their darkest hours.

Channelling Emotions into Art:

Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, was known for his wild antics and charismatic stage presence, but behind the scenes, he was struggling with personal battles that would eventually lead to his untimely death at the age of 27. Despite these struggles, Morrison produced some of his most iconic work during his darkest hours, including his masterpiece, "L.A. Woman". The Doors' music allowed Morrison to channel his innermost thoughts and feelings into his art, creating work that resonates with fans to this day. Interestingly, "L.A. Woman" was the last album recorded with Morrison before his death and was completed in just six days. Despite facing addiction, alcoholism, and mental health issues, Morrison's music served as a means of escape and creative expression, allowing him to process his emotions and connect with audiences on a deep level.

Takeaway:?Embracing your emotions and channelling them into your art can not only lead to powerful and resonant work but also promote emotional healing and resilience.

Using Creativity to Heal:

Following the tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton, Metallica channelled their pain into their music, creating the album “…And Justice for All.” The album helped the band find solace and strength, showcasing the power of creativity to heal in times of loss and grief. The album resonates with fans to this day and is considered a masterpiece of the heavy metal genre.

Takeaway: Allow your creative outlets to be a means of healing and processing emotions, providing a healthy outlet for feelings that might otherwise overwhelm you.

Collaborating for Support:

Dave Grohl found solace in forming Foo Fighters after the tragic death of his Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain. Collaborating with other musicians in this new project not only helped him cope but also led to a successful and enduring musical career. Foo Fighters’ music continues to resonate with fans around the world, showcasing the power of collaboration and creative expression in overcoming personal struggles.

Takeaway: Collaborating with others can provide a support system that fosters creativity and emotional resilience, leading to a sense of strength and growth.

Exploring Identity Through Creativity:

Laura Jane Grace, the lead singer of Against Me!, used her music to cope with feelings of gender dysphoria and societal pressure. By embracing her identity and channelling her emotions into her art, Grace has built a loyal fan base that relates to her experiences. Her music serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of self-expression and creative exploration in understanding and embracing one’s identity.

Takeaway: Use your creative outlets to explore your identity, embrace who you are, and connect with your audience through shared experiences.

In a world that can be overwhelming, creativity can provide an outlet for individuals to explore their identity, process their emotions, and overcome adversity. By embracing your creative outlets, you can find a sense of healing, expression, and connection. Whether you’re a musician, writer, or visual artist, don’t underestimate the power of creativity to help you heal and thrive. The stories of Jim Morrison, Metallica, Dave Grohl, and Laura Jane Grace serve as powerful examples of how individuals can harness the healing power of creativity to overcome personal battles and connect with others.

If you're still here and read this far, I've made a pretty epic playlist to kick off this Summer. This is part of my monthly newsletter, where I cover all things music, marketing, creativity, and photography so please sign up here to get the best of the best each month.

Here's what's on repeat on my turntable:

SONGS YOU NEED TO HEAR NOW!

I've spent a tremendous amount of time crafting what I believe is the best playlist on the planet for new music right now. There's something for everyone here, along with a glimpse into the future of what will be big this Summer. Get ready for a PhD in all things new music.

Broken Witt Rebels - Take it?- I stumbled upon these guys at a showcase they were supposed to be playing but never turned up. No idea where they are from or what happened to them, but at one time, they were primed to be the next big thing, and now they have completely disappeared. But this is one hell of a great song.

His Lordship - Buzzkill?- The most exciting band in the UK at the moment, sounds like Buddy Holly crossed with a Tasmanian Devil. I’ve seen them a few times now, and they just get better and better. They also happen to be the rhythm section for The Pretenders, but frontman and guitar hero James Walbourne is one of the best guitarists in a generation, and he makes it look so cool.

The Struts - Low Key in Love?- This is a bit of a guilty pleasure, and I think it's a perfect song for track three, traditionally held on albums for "the hit". I have no idea why The Struts are not the biggest rock band on the planet, as they continue to craft the catchiest songs in the style of some of the world’s greatest rock bands (with their own spin, of course). This one takes me back to the ’70s and has a real Linda Ronstadt vibe. Oh, that’s Paris Jackson singing on the duet with Luke, Michael’s daughter.

Eggplant - White Reaper?- Another song that I stumbled upon recently. A newer band from the States that bring a bit of that 90’s laid-back vibe to an emotionally charged track that just screams Summer.

Sleep Token - Aqua Regia?-?The biggest metal band of 2023 will be this British rock band from London. Formed in 2016, the group are an anonymous, masked collective led by a frontman using the moniker Vessel. Songs like "Aqua Regia" and "Granite" could easily be played on the radio alongside Billie Eilish or Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, while "The Summoning" and "Chokehold" fall on the other end of the spectrum as crushing epic metal masterpieces on another scale altogether. Watch out, America; you are next.

American Teeth - Barred Out?- Guilty pleasure popped up on my playlist via AI. Catchy number, sign of the times lyrics, mega earworm.

EMF - Sister Sandinista?- Brilliant single from the band’s first album of new material since 1995! One of the brilliant things about living in London is that I get to see the best bands from the iconic Brit-pop scene of the 90s on a regular basis. I saw EMF earlier this year, and they sounded incredible, and this song stole the show. I believe they are touring the States very soon with Jesus Jones, so don’t miss this one.

Jason Beiler - Birds of Prey?- The voice and guitar of one of my all-time favourite bands, Saigon Kick, has released his second solo record, and it’s a banger. Easily one of my top five albums for 2023, but this song is everything. That classic Saigon Kick harmony wrapped in a modern John Lennon-style piano groove. And the production, don’t even get me started; they don’t make records this glorious any more.

Electric Callboy - We Got the Moves?- One of the most insane songs I’ve heard this year. Imagine if the Scissor Sisters were crossed with a death metal band. If you can get to the chorus, it’s incredibly rewarding.

K??rij? - Cha Cha Cha -?The clear winner in this year’s Eurovision was Finland. They had it all when it came to a winning entry; weird, quirky, fun, energetic, and remarkably catchy. They got robbed, but with more than 10 million plays, I think K??rij? will be ok.

Bonus Tracks: (Songs from the past that have popped back into my life for one reason or another)

The Damnwells?-?Kiss Catastrophe?- Another one of those "this song should be massive". Not sure what happened to these guys, but they were at the forefront of the American movement, and they did it incredibly well.

Tora Tora - As Time Goes By?- I saw Anthony from Tora Tora play this song a few times during the Monsters of Rock, but it absolutely floored me when he played it acoustically. A timeless classic that was lost when Nirvana changed the world.

Wig Wam - Do You Wanna Taste It?-?What happens when you take Sweet and cross it with Cheap Trick but inject it directly into the height of 80’s metal? Wig Wam is the answer. You might recognize this one from the HBO Max series Peacemaker. I discovered them a few weeks back on the Monsters of Rock.

Get the playlists here:

Amazon Music Playlist Link

Spotify Playlist Link

Thanks for reading; grab a copy of Second Skin here. It's going to be a wild one.

Cheers,

Jason