John M Davis

For the second time in as many projects I find myself in a post-project malaise. The hard work of making ‘Fisher King’ (composing, producing, etc, etc) is finished. All that remains is incorporating feedback, making some tweaks to the masters, and the work-a-day stuff of releasing the thing.

I find it interesting that I’m in this place again. ‘Night Tides’ was such an emotional project I assumed the slump was emotional exhaustion. ‘Fisher King’ is more cerebral (I tell myself) and yet here I am in that same place. It’s not depression, that’s a very different thing. It’s more like the party’s over, the guests have gone home, and I’m just going to leave all those dishes in the sink and deal with them tomorrow.

What’s a little odd is I find myself empty. No ideas, no music clamoring to be made, no real need to be in the studio. Need is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. When I’m creating, I have to be in there doing the thing, daily if I can, and working on the work. Suddenly the need is gone and I’m like, “well, I guess that’s it then.” It’s disorienting.

So, time to refill the well. Yesterday we went to a talk at the local art museum where four visual artists talked about their shared project and what they were thinking along the way. Today, we’re going to catch some student recitals at Brown U. We’re blessed to live near a large university with a vibrant arts and music program.

The ideas will come, they always do, but right now I’m fresh out. Time to go steal some get inspired.

Peace.