We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Miles Holt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Miles, 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 stay open, and I stay curious. There’s a point you reach in your creative life where, if you are lucky, you’ve been through enough, and fear has had it’s volume turned so far down, that you can do what you want. When you’re there, without that fear, your curiosity amplifies, and that’s when you meet inspiration. Curiosity and inspiration birth creativity.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a nonstop creating machine. I make music, dj, under the name Cool Miles, formerly known as Mauser. I also design T-shirts, speakers, music equipment, and build everything, I try my hand at whatever I get interested in, and I see how it goes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I’m not afraid fail and fall flat on my face. I learn from it, apply it to the next thing.
I also am the DJ and backing vocalist in the band HXLT with my brother Nigel Holt, Alfonso Mayen and Nick Bernstein.
It’s so much fun.
The album HXLT, Original Crazy is available on all streaming platforms.
I’m proud of it. It’s brilliant.
I may have a solo project in the works.
I also have a pop up T-shirt line called HMH.
And currently working on another called Temporary Clothing Company.that will launch soon.
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?
There’s more than three that come to play, but I’ll say, Love, action, honesty. Love: You’re not going to give it your all unless you love it in one way or another, and that will keep it consistent.
Action: You have to start. Everything is a good idea, but that’s all it is, unless you make it happen.
Honesty: When you do something, you have to be honest with yourself about what and why you are doing whatever it is you are doing. A lot of things fail when you don’t know why you are doing it. Keep it real with yourself.
For people getting started…
Keep it real with yourself. When you don’t, there’s no confidence there, and it feels fake.
You’ll come to realize, there are no rules to this. There is no measure when it comes down to your own creativity.
We are all different and we need to embrace that instead of falling into some wack shaped box where our individuality is stripped and repackaged.
Do it for yourself. This is something I learned in my many many years of creative expressions….. It’s yours. Make it for yourself because you love it. You are merely sharing it with others. Don’t let anyone dictate your creativity. Don’t listen to anyone who is trying to tell you how to do your thing, especially if they aren’t doing their own. We all have our own creative language and no one can speak yours, but you.
Everyone has an opinion, but don’t let it effect you spirit. Art is subjective. Everyone interprets things differently.
And listen to your instincts and intuition.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I step back, look at everything, and breathe. I think about what’s priority, me or the things that I am overwhelmed by. I narrow it down to the thing that gets me hype, and then I put that on the top. But….ultimately what helps me keep a balance,…..is to …..Take …..Breaks!!!. I am a dyslexic ADHD, hyper creative maniac and I have periods where I will go so involved in what I’m working on, that I will flood myself with everything at once, and lose my balance. Stopping, breathing, and taking breaks helps prioritize and balance out. There are no rules….You can stop when you need to and sometimes, you end up changing the direction of what you’re doing and it works.
Take breaks. Balance out. Don’t forget to have fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hmh.printify.me/products/1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shutter_gang_chicago?igsh=MTduODFydXFwZ3R0bA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miles.holt1?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/BnRhy-3ra1c?si=gR1_12hjkQKSff6S
- Other: https://4444mauser.bandcamp.com https://youtube.com/playlistlist=OLAK5uy_lcvqFgGbP6dnmgcAVBEOiCncw6zrDRwgc&si=Vt4DmiSnnrLFoour
Image Credits
Mathew Reeves photography Victoria Sanders photography Azieb music
