Picture it: You’ve gotten off the elevator and you’re headed to your office. As you walk to your desk, you hear laughing and chatting. The voices belong to your colleagues, your friends, and…. James Brown.
If you work at FableVision, this is a regular occurrence. Here at the studio, music is a major part of helping us build a solid creative vibe.
Everybody has his or her own way of inspiring their creative side. Here at FableVision, we listen to music. Whether it’s funk, rock, soul, or hip hop, you can be sure it’s made its way onto our playlists. For us, music is as essential to the creative process as a strong cup of coffee (or herbal tea, if that’s more your speed).
As a fully functioning studio that’s working on multiple projects at a time, it’s important to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when collaborating and juggling tasks. A good playlist is an essential tool to keeping our spirits up and our creativity sharp.
On your average day here at our offices you can hear Simon and Garfunkel crooning or Michael Jackson busting out in song while our staff of producers, animators, and programmers mingles and chats about revisions, testing, and technical specs for our many educational projects.
The atmosphere is always loose and frequently very fun, with lots of conversation about everything from what’s in the news to the latest movies. If you’re working on a tight deadline and find it a little distracting, there’s always the option to pop on your headphones, where more music awaits.
So what makes a good song for fostering the creative process? The list of requirements is as varied and diverse as our staff itself. Some might think it has to be upbeat, with lots of positive energy. Others might opt for a good message or instantly repeatable lyrics. Still others might just have a preference for a particular artist or album. After all, who hasn’t felt inspired by the second side of the Beatles’ Abbey Road? The possibilities are limitless, just like creativity itself.
We solicited some of our favorites from our staff, here’s what we’re listening to these days. You can also listen along on Spotify here.
What do you do to get the creative juices flowing? Feel free to drop us a line in the comments section with suggestions of things to do or favorite songs that inspire you to be your best creative self. And keep reading below to see our staff's picks!
"Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m." by Simon and Garfunkel:
If I'm working on something that requires a lot of thought, I need something calm, relaxing, and melodic. And you can't get any better than Simon & Garfunkel; this one is a current favorite. (Michael Fogarasi, Associate Producer)
"Kissing My Love" by Bill Withers and "I'm Gonna Make It Alright" by Paul Pena:
I tend to listen to music that gets my toes tapping and energizes me. (Brian Grossman, Technical Director)
"Black or White" by Michael Jackson:
Impeccable rhythm, timeless Michael Jackson, but I also remember the video clip, fresh and uplifting, especially all the bobbing heads of beautiful people of all shapes and colors. (Margarita Dekoli, Senior Developer)
"Relaxin' at Camarillo" by Charlie Parker and "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
When I'm writing a lot of times I like to listen to things that don't have words. Charlie Parker is usually anything but relaxing, which is great, because I like music with energy. I've also been listening to a lot of the Boss while writing. This song is really upbeat and catchy. (Dan Eder, Marketing Intern)
"So Sleepy" by Fiona Apple and "America's Sweetheart" by Elle King:
I love songs that ease me into the day and wake me up. These songs are melodic and upbeat but don't distract me from my work. (Sarah Ditkoff, Communications & Development Strategist)
"Retrograde" by James Blake and "To Pluto's Moon (Son Lux Remix)" by My Brightest Diamond:
I've been listening to a lot of soulful music with some electronic mixed in. I'm also a sucker or powerful voices and a nice crescendo. These songs turn something on in my mind that instantly creates this vivid story. I can't help but feel creative and inspired! (Hannah O'Neal, Artist/Animator)
"Desmond Dekker, 007" by Shanty Town and "Cup of Tea" by Kacey Musgraves:
I put Desmond Dekker on in the studio often, and he never fails to elevate the mood. The other is a sweet song with a great message, plus it references tea, which is kind of a FableVision thing! (Loren Lee-Flynn, UX/UI Designer)
"Heroine" by DWNTWN, "Orca" by Until The Ribbon Breaks and "03 Ghosts |" by Nine Inch Nails:
There is this fascinating thing that happens when your mind and hands are completely in sync, it's almost like you're not even in the room. You're just taken out of the room and you're just experiencing the moment. A weird fact is that I actually don't listen to, or care about lyrics. They always blend in like texture, like any other instrument. (Keith Zulawnik, Lead Artist)
