Meet John Michael Rouchell

We recently connected with John Michael Rouchell and have shared our conversation below.

John Michael, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

I am a music producer, composer, and songwriter, in turn, creativity and the pitfalls therein are a daily challenge. What I have found as a professional creative over the last 20 years is their are two mindsets that are necessary to solving a creative problem or creating something: the dreamer and the editor. The Dreamer creates. Everything is beautiful to the dreamer. Possibilities are endless. The Dreamer is an additive state. All that said, the Dreamer never finishes and gets something done. The Editor is the exact opposite. The Editor questions everything. The Editor looks for the optimal solution. The endless has to be turned into a finite thing. The Editor arranges and frames but cannot create.

Creative blocks happen when someone plays the wrong role at the wrong time. If you play the role of the Editor too early, you will be “blocked”. If you do not kick the Dreamer out of the room to let the Editor take over, you will never finish.

This balance is the entire game of creativity. It is a constant game of juggle between the irrational and the rational. This dance is what gives me joy.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a music producer and composer. My job is to turn resources (time, talent, money) into products that hopefully delight an audience. I have sold over a million records from my work. I am a Grammy Award winner. I have had the pleasure of working with artists and musicians from all walks of life and entertainment brands from Disney to A24.
Recently, I launched a Substack, HereInTheBlueRoom, as a means to share information, knowledge, and analysis that I have garnered over the years.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First and foremost, everything in my world starts with empathy. This is a job of service. In order to be a collaborator, one must be able to connect with those around them in a profound and deep way.
Secondly, toughness and resilience is a requirement. Entertainment is a brutal business. You are hot one day and ice cold the next. I find myself more attracted to people who can respond to adversity than people with talent. The tough ones last. The talented ones tap out.
Lastly, one must be curious. Music and art is a folkloric tradition. Having a thirst for knowledge and information has served me. Curiosity and a growth mindset is a prerequisite to staying afloat in an ever changing world.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

I live my life like every day is the last. I want to leave this life empty. I want all of my knowledge and skills and love to be out of me and into my tribe when my time comes.

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Image Credits

Phot by Angelo Imbraguglio

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