Ever wonder what someone walking past you on the street is listening to on their earbuds? Or what someone in the next car over from you is rocking out to at a stoplight? Sure you do.
I always find it fascinating to know what folks listen to while they’re working. True, some work better in total silence and free from distraction but those who carefully procure and painstakingly choose a lineup of songs to listen to while hard at work seem to have a clear idea of what really helps them rise to their most creative and productive peaks.
In an attempt to get to know a little more about some of the most distinctive and innovative personalities in the area, I thought it would be interesting to find out what music some of our local movers and shakers listen to while they’re hard at work.
Chances are you’ve been exposed to the highly original and mystifying art of Chris Preston. The work of this talented Tampa-based painter and graphic designer is often shown at local art shows, galleries, restaurants and coffee shops. Music is a huge part of Preston’s life. Besides being one of the finest and most versatile deejays in the area (how many guys will serve up some Buzzcocks alongside A Tribe Called Quest in the same night?) Preston’s love for and fascination with music runs deep. As enthralled with cover artwork as he is with the grooves pressed onto the enclosed piece of vinyl, Preston views the art form as a total package. A record collector with a penchant for 45s, Preston is easily one of the brightest and most distinctive artists in the area. His keen eye and his palpable style are as confounding as it is engaging and each and every piece he creates is an exercise in pushing his own boundaries.
I caught up with Preston recently to inquire about the role music plays in his captivating creative process.
Is there a specific musical artist that inspires you most while you work?
It's hard to pin down just one because there are so many amazing albums that have given me inspiration over the years. There's one called "A Data Learn the Language" by The Mercury Program (from Gainesville, Florida) that I've been painting to since the late 90s and it always puts me in the right place.
What role does music play in your creative process?
When I'm actually working and in a good creative zone, it's like whatever I'm listening to is taking over and pushing the art along. Outside the studio, I'll hear a song that might spark an idea, or I'll come across someone's album design that moves me. It really comes from all the different aspects of music.
When did you realize music played an integral part in influencing how you work?
I didn't start correlating music with art until I was about 14 or 15 and got into heavy metal. The album art for bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden really opened my eyes to what art could be. Not to mention the songs themselves conjured up some great imagery. I used to constantly draw the bands' logos on everything.
Do you ever opt to work in complete silence as opposed to with music playing?
I do work in silence sometimes, but not often. It's usually when I'm in a hurry to finish something and don't want the music to distract me. If a song comes on that really moves me, I'll stop what I'm doing and geek out on it, which is not a good thing when you're trying to hit a deadline.
What’s the most fulfilling or rewarding part of having music playing throughout the day?
If you're the type of person that feels music very deeply, it can be incredibly therapeutic. It takes all the things out of your mind that can limit creativity. Not that stress, anger and sadness don't play an important part in the art world. Some of the greatest songs ever written are about all of those things. But the right kind of sound can also open up new doors of the mind that become closed from dealing with everyday life. It's really one of the last forms of magic that is still around.
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This article appears in Dec 19-26, 2019.