I, Brian

I figure any great song or lyrics needs passion behind them - but how often does depression make for great creativity?

I don't know about anyone else, but when I'm happy I'm just happy. But when I've been depressed, I've felt a need to express myself in some way.

Is that unusual, or is depression a great catalyst for creativity?

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Leonardo

No, I totally agree with this. Depression, heartbreak, tragedy and misery are absolutely the best catalysts for creativity, in any shape. The last year I've been blissfully happy, but I've barely touched my guitars and my tablet. I used to write every day.

It's hard for me to get around this. There are other catalysts for creativity, for sure, but they have to be looked for, and it has to be approached with great awareness. Recreational drugs, travel and any kind of discovery tend to trigger inspiration, even more so if used in combination (as they often are).

Right now, I'd say I'm pretty much stuck in a happy, stagnant track. I'd love to hear peoples advice on this, since all the catalysts I listed require time and money, which I don't always have.

Bucklberry

Generally I agree with this sentiment, unless you're a regimented writer (you set aside specific time for writing), then you will write more during emotionally darker periods.

The main reason for this to my reckoning, is that when you're happy, you're out there enjoying this happiness, whereas when you're more morose, you tend to wallow in it, you think about things much more deeply, which you don't tend to do during brighter times.

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Kingmob

Up beat happy songs are good for tapping your foot too, but its sad songs that people really connect with. I think most of my favourite pieces of music are sad/melancholy. That or Anger, being the other great creative energy (to paraphrase Pil).

I'm by and large a fairly negative pessimistic kinda person so I don't usually feel "to happy". But I sometimes think when you spend your whole time frowning, that when the suns does eventually come out you feel awesome...

Some people see rich fertile soil in which they want to plant flowers. I see a clump of dirt to be buried below.

rubybeetle

No, you don't have to be depressed to write. It just so happens writing and music are great to get you through those sad times. You have probably subconsciously trained your mind to believe you can only write using depression as a catalyst. The bare bones truth is if you are a good writer, you are a good writer all the time. You just have to retrain your mind and habits. (I know how hard it is to sit still and write when you're happy--you feel like doing active things)

I used to believe I couldn't write if I wasn't sad. Now I've rediscovered my imagination and I've learned how amazing it can be--a thousand time richer and fuller than when I was depressed.

tater03

I am not a great writer. But I would have to say that I do my best writing when I am depressed or something that I am angry or upset about. Not only that but it helps to get it out and down on paper.

Ms.Andi

There's a Nick Hornby essay about Ryan Adam's "Oh My Sweet Carolina" on McSweeney's in which he concludes:

"It sounds harsh, I know, but if you are currently romantically involved with someone with a real talent — especially a talent for songwriting — then do us all a favour and dump them."

If you look at the number of artists, whether painters or writers, who suffer from severe depression, I can't help wondering if there's a connection between the illness and the impulse to create.

trick-r-treat

Depression can bring about some sad songs, which can be pretty cool sometimes. We all go through different emotions, so we don't need all happy tunes all of the time.

Ms.Andi

It's not just sad songs. Depression, or melancholy, can add a bittersweet quality to happy songs and a complexity to beautiful songs. It's the layering of emotions and the deeper appreciation of the good that is possible when you experience pain that makes depression a catalyst for great art.

RefD

i find that when i'm battling a huge bout of depression i can't get my head to work well enough to come out with anything.

that said, oftentimes i will be able to dissect the whole thing after it's passed (days, weeks or months later) and it will be fodder for a few choonz.

more often, tho, i have to wait for the writer's block to clear on its own before i am struck with an interesting couplet or turn of phrase or melody.

in the mean time, it's just noodling on the unplugged electric in front of the silent tele.

wonder what's on TV3 right now?

trick-r-treat

I like to put my emotions in words - happy, sad, in love, etc. So whatever I am feeling is what I write.

icheadle90

I agree and disagree with the statement. I mean, yeah, when I am depressed (and like any good artist I have my times when I am VERY depressed) I write more frequently, but to say the material made when depressed is always and completely superior to songs written when I am not is untrue. I think it depends on the person really. Some people can only write when they are depressed/angry/sad. Some people only write when something terrible happens to them (a break up for example). But on the other end of the spectrum you have people who can only write when they are happy/excited, or only write when something good happens to them. Me personally, I am always writing. I have an easy time expressing myself through writing and always have. And when I choose to? That only effects how the song sounds or what it says, not how good it is.

Libertines_Best

You don't neccessarily need to be depressed at all, its all about how you interpret you're differences of emotions on to paper. Experiences in all types of circumstances are the catalyst for creative and unfortunately depression is a experience of life that most of us endure at some point. I love writing in general but when happy i very rarely feel the need to vent these feelings of happiness and to be honest struggle for motivation. When depressed you write with reward of having self gratitude to a degree, its means of making you feel slightly better. When happy I dont feel any need to write remotely. I would definantly say that its experiences that guide you're writing in general.

TarandLace

I kinda view the whole song/lyric writing process as a form of recycling..to me depression and anxiety are just natural emotions (not a disorder)- that everyone will feel at some point in our lives. But for those of us who struggle with it on a higher degree, I think that it's the collective weight of the world and all the people in it..and especially in today's world because not as many people aren't being constructive with their negative experiences and energies, and we're all consumed by the modern stressers..all work and no play. But I think what separates us from the past is how technology is..In the early-mid 1900's everyone stopped handcrafting items and didn't have much time to think, observes, and be creative..all to make money. People stopped taking their pride in their work and people have lost the appreciation in owning ever day things which were at one time, more of a luxery.
Anyways..we're all in this rat race, mass producing everything and anything, so busy making money to meet ends meet, and then going home to deal with more drama and if we have time we sit in front of the television and endulge in other peoples problems through news and reality tv..(which is another problem, bad news is easier to spread) and people who are dealing with depression and anxiety aren't identifying exactly what it is that is making them feel that way, aren't fixing the problems that could be effecting them more, and taking the energies by doing something constructive or creative with it..and instead they ignore it and take a pill.
All this negativity is just being circulated..it's on the walls, on everything a person owns..
I personally think that some people, mainly musicians/artists..creative peoples in general are more sensitive and are more prone to pick up on these negative energies, not just from their personal lives..but from a more worldly perspective as well. It's amazing to me, the power of music..how people can take such negative energies and turn into passion and what I consider to be true love and play it for people and make them feel understood, connected, hopeful...passion and love isn't a single emotion, it's a collective. Which is why you get songs that make you want to laugh and cry at the same time.
I think everyone should take time to be creative in one way or another..help balance out karma..I'm convinced that would make the world a better place
But yeah, those are my views..

I write a lot, thats what I do..mostly when I'm depressed. I usually never write when I'm happy..though recently I wrote a love song when I was smitten and I derived some good lyrics from it, I never did that before. Depression is more effective for me though..and I've felt it pretty much my whole life. Not so much recently though. But the darker the times, the better I write. I like how theres a lot of contrast in my writing..sometimes they are very tormented though.

Richard_Morgan

Personally I find the toughest time to write lyrics is if I'm emotionally flatlined.. it's strong emotions which seem to have my brain working overtime, otherwise I end up unable to find the right words.

Being depressed can certainly help, so long as it isn't to the point of complete distraction, and is theraputic too.. can't argue with results For me I find the best times to be when I'm feeling estranged and like my life is running away from me.