Meet Emerson Vernon

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emerson Vernon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emerson below.

Emerson, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I try to explore different mediums of creation. If I’m feeling a creative block while working on music, I like to pivot to something different. I’m really fascinated by cinematography and virtual production so lately when I’m feeling a lull in creativity for my music I’ll learn something new in those arenas. And by the time I’m done with those projects, I’m sick of them and ready to get back to music.

I also have found that getting new gear is always a good was to spark creativity. Sometimes the same old sounds just grow stagnant and you have to try something fresh to get the gears turning.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m kind of just a guy who wants to make good music. When it comes to my personal “Emerson Vernon” music catalogue, one can expect honest lyrics, diverse production, and tasteful visuals. A big thing I pride myself on is the fact that most of my work is made entirely by me. I produce and mix all my own stuff, and I make my own cover art when I feel my vision is doable. Because of these skills I’ve refined over the years I’ve been able to produce some really good other artists and I’m always looking for something new to bring to life.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Commitment really matters. It’s easy to start a project and feel good about it, but real growth comes from coming back to finish what you started. Greatness is not found in the spark of creation, but in showing up again and again until the work is finished. And if you want people to notice what you’re doing, you’ve got to keep sharing your work. I feel this is a form of exercising faithfulness in yourself.

Authenticity is important too. Be honest about who you are, but also about who you are becoming. Don’t settle for the person you think others want to see; live as the person you are called to be. That is the truest form of self.

Lastly, never lose your curiosity. When something inspires you, dig into it. Learn how it works and try it yourself. The more you understand, the more you can become a self-sufficient and worldly creator.

Let it be known that I often struggle with following my own advice!

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Short term goals help a ton. I try to set a small goal every day. When it comes to music, I try to be realistic with my goals. I used to say “I’m going to make a song this week!” and nothing would get done because it seems so daunting as a whole, but lately I’ll say “Okay, Monday I’m working on drums only, Tuesday I’m going to add chords, Wednesday I’m writing, Thursday I’m mixing, etc…”. This goes for everything in my life really.

I heard a saying once that goes something like “If you’re driving across the country in the middle of the night, you’ll only ever need to focus on what’s in your headlights. The destination is too far out of reach to focus on, but you’ll get there so long as you concentrate on what’s before you.” And that stuck with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emersonvernon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emersonxvernon/
• Twitter: https://x.com/emersonxvernon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@emersonvernon333
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/akawolfi

Image Credits

Carolyn Davis @carriebdavis
Mark Schlegelmilch @markalexanderphoto