We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Arthur Retiz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Arthur, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
I definitely get creativity blocks from making music at times, but I try to get out of my comfort zone and push myself to explore different creative outlets beyond just music. I love writing, painting, and working with my hands — it helps keep my creative energy flowing. Even finding new hobbies can be a huge help by giving me a fresh perspective and puts me into different creative zones. Exploring different forms of art often helps me see past the blocks and find new inspiration.
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 musician and multimedia artist with a passion for going down different creative avenues. My work spans across music, writing, and visuals. What excites me most about what I do is the freedom to experiment, whether I’m crafting a song, writing a story, or creating a music video, I love pushing the boundaries of my creativity. Each project feels like a new journey.
Recently, I’ve been focused on combining different mediums, like integrating my music with visual elements and storytelling. I released my first solo EP, STONEDRUMMER, early 2024 and currently I’m a co-producing an album for another solo artist.
I definitely like to stay busy and dive into new projects to keep the creative juices flowing. It’s all about sharing that process and inviting others to experience the world through a creative lens with me.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been my grit, curiosity, and the ability to adapt. Having grit and resilience helped me push through challenges and bounce back from failures or setbacks. Curiosity kept my creativity alive by inspiring me to explore new ideas and perspectives. Having the ability to adapt and shapeshift allowed me to embrace change and experiment with new approaches when things didn’t go my way. For anyone starting out, I’d say focus on building patience, staying open to learning, and trusting that small, consistent steps will lead to growth. There’s no secret in the sauce, just be consistent.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Robert Ansell, Esquire has been my biggest influence and mentor in pursuing my passions. As a successful criminal defense attorney-turned-drummer later in life, Robert showed me how to stay true to my passions while always having a goal in mind. He taught me the skills to successfully lead, showed me the importance of setting benchmarks, and not getting too caught up in things out of my control.
Through his years of guidance before he passed in 2022, I’ve learned to embrace challenges as opportunities and to push the boundaries of my own creativity. His mentorship has been invaluable in helping me develop the skills and mindset needed to stay true to my passions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://arthurretiz.com/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SMSoundFX
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/arthurretiz
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/arthurretiz
Image Credits
Amy C & Andrea L
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
