Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cat Thompson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cat, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
That’s a great question! It’s something every creative person experiences. I know how frustrating it can feel. I have heard of many different approaches to dealing with writers block but as a artist and songwriter, I find these four steps really help me.
Step one: Limit distractions – putting my phone on silent helps.
Step two: Set the mood – if I’m trying to write a love song or a vibey track I dim the lights!
I don’t know why but it really helps. When I was a student, I didn’t have money fun LED lights that do fancy things like dim and change colour so I used to drag my digital keyboard into the kitchen, turn off all the house lights and leave just the stove light on. Naturally, I made sure the stove was off – I didn’t want to burn the house down haha! But that little orange glow above the stove really helped to set the mood for writing songs. Now that I have my own recording studio, I have all the fun LED lights installed.
Step three: Try a different angle – when I get writers block, it helps to remember that creating music is a journey and it’s okay to experiment. Sometimes I switch up the melody or try writing the lyrics from a different perspective. Sometimes switching instruments helps too! You never know when or how inspiration will strike.
Step four: Take a break – when all else fails, I go for a walk to refresh my mind or if I’m hungry, I go to the kitchen and raid the fridge. My brain operates better after a snack.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a female recording artist, songwriter and producer. One of the best things about this work is hearing from other people how much they love the songs you have created. It’s truly wonderful to hear that a song you have written and recorded makes someone’s day happier or that they can relate to the lyrics. From the upbeat jams that make people want to dance to deep lyrics spoken from the heart, music really does connect us.
Music has also allowed me to connect with people in places I would never have thought possible.
I recently collaborated with some talented artists from Peru! We created a song called If I Go which is steeped in heartbreak and navigates the moment in a relationship when one must choose whether to stay or go.
If you would like to have a listen, you can find my music on streaming platforms under my artist name Cat Thompson.
You can watch my videos via my website: www.catthompson.com or via youtube: www.youtube.com/CatThompson
If you would like to connect, you can reach me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/
Give me a follow and let me know which is your favourite song!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the company you keep is hugely impactful. It’s so important to find your people – those that truly believe in you, cheer you on and are actively willing to help you on your creative journey.
Pursuing a career outside of the usual 9 to 5 like being an artist, a dancer, or starting your own business is not easy. In many cases, you have to invest a lot of time and your own money into the venture before you see the fruits of your labor. In the creative arts, we often hear a lot of, “No’s,” before we begin to hear “Yes,” so it takes courage, determination and self belief to pushing. There will be plenty of moments where you will question if you or your work is good enough.
Having people who genuinely support your goals, who are willing go out of their way to help and even open doors for you makes a HUGE difference. Sadly, these people aren’t always in your immediate family or in your current friendship group. If they are, that is AMAZING! Cherish them! But if those around you are not supportive then it’s time to look for your people – the ones that will help you on your journey.
Another important thing for me was learning the business side of my industry. We creatives often shy away from the business side and want to just focus on our craft. As daunting as it is, it’s important to have a basic understanding of how your industry works and how you are getting paid. Getting a good accountant and having a chat to them about your business goals can really help.
The last thing I should add is – be persistent! Practice makes perfect. Failure is not a bad thing – it’s just a lesson and a good opportunity to assess your strategy and try again with a few tweaks.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
For me, it can feel overwhelming when I am trying to do too much in a short space of time. They say, “When it rains, it pours,” and I have found that to be very true.
When it all gets too much, I find it helps to take a step back and reassess my jobs.
I look at my To Do List and the time frame I have. Then I work out what is an immediate priority and what tasks can wait until next week. I make sure to schedule in time to be human – eating properly, exercise and sleep are important for health and for productivity. I also love reading, walking and chocolate! Chocolate makes everything better haha!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.catthompson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catthompsonofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catthompsonofficial
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/catthompsonlive
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/catthompson
Image Credits
APW Photography Tim Woolfe Photography
