Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Inge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Michael, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
It’s crazy how a creativity block can make you feel that everything you ever did in your entire career has been one giant string of flukes! I try to remind myself to have fun and enjoy the process of creating. When we create we are dealing with the unknown and that often involves some degree of fear. We just can’t let the fear take control or stop us from creating anything at all. I notice that when I get blocked it isn’t that I am not able to create but rather that I am avoiding truly showing up and trying because I’m scared that “it’s not gonna be good enough and that I am really a fraud and have no talent at all whatsoever”. So instead, I end up washing dishes or calling a friend or doing absolutely anything other than facing that awful fear.
Sometimes if I’m feeling blocked, it can help to get creative in another medium. For example, I enjoy cooking and don’t have creative blocks around that the way I may around writing a song. Or I might go to an art gallery and take in some visual art or find inspiration from book titles or movie titles and daydream about what concepts I’d like to create.
My best art comes when I get to a place where I enjoy the process of creating and allow myself to explore, discover and bring my ideas to life. Once I have something started, then I enter a stage of refining and editing where I can polish it and carve out the details.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a New York City-based artist and songwriter, drawing inspiration from classic soul and R&B, infused with elements of pop and funk. My sound pays homage to iconic artists such as Al Green, Bill Withers, and Amy Winehouse.
I grew up in rural Southern Virginia and was always drawn to the arts. As a teenager I fell in love with music and wanted to figure out how to write my own. I went on to study music at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.
After I graduated I started to do session work as a singer and began hone my songwriting by collaborating with many different writers. As I developed my own sound and began playing shows, I discovered who I was as an artist. I then traveled to Europe and had the chance to write and work with songwriters and producers in other genres. Eventually I started to have songs recorded by other artists and had songs placed on tv and film.
Most of my opportunities were coming from outside of Nashville, even though I was based there. I decided it was time to move to a bigger city, so I chose NYC. Although I miss Nashville’s community, I love the energy of NYC and all the diverse, artistic influences that I find inspiring. Since moving to NYC, I’ve had the chance to sing on shows like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Myers, and sing on commercials. I recently sang on a Meow Mix commercial that’s currently running.
Although I’ve sung on projects for many years and even sung on releases for other artists, I’ve never released my own music. This year, I’m excited to finally release a project! I have an ep that will be coming out with the first single out this April. For more info go to www.michaelinge.com
In addition to my doing my own music, I teach singing and songwriting. Helping others develop their talent and artistry has been amazing and gives me a sense of community in the city.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think my two main strengths are my creativity and my ability to connect with others. I use these in pretty much every part of life. I try to think outside the box and bring a new perspective to what I am doing or making. As a performer, a co-writer, and even as a teacher, I am always collaborating with people, and it’s important to be able to make a solid connection.
The other skill I’d add that has really been helpful is diversifying what I do throughout my career. I was never just an artist. I’ve worked to develop my talents and skills to be able to do multiple things in my area of music. This has allowed me to stay busy with opportunities that I enjoy.
For folks that are new to their journey in the arts, I would remind them that they have the power to create their own opportunities and projects. Sometimes, there isn’t a perfect job or gig out there, but you can create it if you’re resourceful.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I definitely can get overwhelmed at times! When I feel that way, I try to break down what needs to be done into manageable chunks so it becomes less overwhelming. Living in NYC can be a lot just on its own, so I try to remember to tune in to myself regularly. Meditating and journaling have been great for that. I don’t do them every single day, but I try to make them both a habit. They help me stay aware of how I’m feeling and what I’m wanting, which allows me to prioritize better. Sometimes, when I’m so busy and not making time for myself, I start to get in a bad mood. If I can find just a small way to do something meaningful for myself, it can make a real difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michaelinge.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelinge
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themichaelinge
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelinge
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/themichaelinge
Image Credits
Shervin Lainez, Josiah Scheider, David Mitchell, Jackie Wilson
