Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dekker Dreyer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Dekker, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
On some level, most artists have an intuitive sense of purpose, but few of us are able to stay true to ourselves. This isn’t about some amorphous, maybe antiquated, idea of “selling out” so much as recognizing the value of your perspective and working hard to articulate that vision. Purpose isn’t found, it’s lost. We all come into the world with purpose, but the world demands things from us that sometimes cloud our access to those original impulses.
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’m a writer, musician, and visual artist living in Los Angeles. This week I’m giving two talks about the digital art and storytelling at AGBO (the production company behind the film Everything, Everywhere All at Once). I recently launched a surreal live Twitch stream where an A.I. I’ve trained to mimic my own voice reads fragments I’ve written about our place in the universe over extended neural net remixes of my original music (http://stream.phantomastronaut.com). That’s not the kind of project you launch without a very clear vision for what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. I want people to find artistic experiences in unexpected places. I want more people to question why we behave the way we do and what are the systems that influence us.
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?
I’m not an artist that adheres to a single kind of craft or aesthetic. I’ve found that a willingness to be flexible and experiment has helped me realize projects as a creator working solo or in small collaborative groups. Never stop learning or experimenting. Stay curious about everything.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I feel overwhelmed often. I’m nocturnal by nature. I look for places where I can hide from psychic noise. This is grounding and necessary. I’m incredibly lucky to live in the area of Los Angeles that I do because I’m close to the energy of the urban center, but I can still look up at the night sky and get lost in nature from my back porch. Sometimes I take night drives through Hollywood. When I lived in New York City I used to walk out into the street at midnight during heavy snow and sit in the silent parks on benches that looked as if they were carved from snow. Separate yourself and come back revitalized.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://phantomastronaut.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dekkerdreyer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dekkerdreyerofficial
- Other: http://stream.phantomastronaut.com http://tiktok.com/@phantomastronaut
