The box we’re forced to think within as artists is constantly shrinking.
It’s no secret that society puts certain expectations and limitations on artists, whether it’s in terms of subject matter, style, or even success. We’re told to stick to what sells, what is marketable and popular. And for the most part, success stories in the art world seem to follow this formula.
But not all of them. Emmy-nominated poet, multi-platinum songwriter, and world-renowned keynote speaker IN-Q has proven that it’s indeed possible to create with both authenticity and success. In this episode of the podcast, he joins me to talk about his perspective on using art as a means of self-sufficiency and self-fulfillment.
Who Is IN-Q?
IN-Q, also known as Adam Schmalholz, is a renowned American spoken word poet and singer-songwriter. He was born in Los Angeles and grew up not far away in Santa Monica, California. IN-Q has established himself as one of the most talented and innovative artists in the world of spoken word poetry. His unique style combines elements of hip-hop, storytelling, and soulful singing to create thought-provoking and emotionally charged performances. IN-Q’s book, ‘Inquire Within‘ was released in 2020 and became an instant success, gaining praise for its poignant and relatable words that challenge readers to look within themselves and discover their own truths.
Embracing the Art of Letting Go
The creative community is absolutely full of professionals who hone unbelievable skills in everything from photography to painting to graphic design. Yet despite all of this ambition and talent, there’s one thing that most of us have never practiced, and that’s the art of letting go. It’s incredibly difficult for even the most innovative minds to master. However, learning how to let go is essential for personal growth and development as an artist.
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Letting go can mean different things for each individual. For some, it’s about releasing old ideas or projects that no longer serve a purpose. For others, it’s about freeing yourself from the expectations of others and creating purely for yourself. And for some, it’s about overcoming perfectionism and allowing imperfections to exist in your work.
IN-Q has had a difficult but productive journey learning this himself. He says that while he hasn’t mastered the art of letting go, practice is conducive to progress. His best advice for those who don’t know where to start is to take others out of the equation. “I’ve trained myself to be the first person in my audience,” IN-Q says. “I don’t think, ‘What does someone else want to hear?’ I think, ‘What do I want to explore?'” And that’s what ends up guiding him to make the honest and authentic work we all know him for.
Navigating the Creative Process: Intuition vs. Commercial Success
Who are you creating for? The majority of artists would like to say themselves and themselves only. But making a career out of creativity seems to demand a little more than that. Any artist hoping to make a living needs to chase success rather than let it come passively. With so much competition out there, it’s not a question of whether you have talent, but how compellingly you’re able to showcase value to potential clients. This often ends up influencing the creative process and final product, and ultimately how fulfilling a career in art actually feels.
There’s no doubt that the struggle is real; creators can’t realistically ignore the financial aspect of their work. But there’s also a balance to be found between following your intuition and catering to commercial success. After all, isn’t creating something that resonates with people the ultimate goal?
IN-Q offers some great advice:
“I would say to anybody who’s listening to this, who’s, um, considering creating or releasing something that is moving and meaningful to you, that almost always, if it is moving and meaningful to you, and it was created from an authentic place, it will be moving and meaningful to other people.”
The Power of Personal Exploration In Creativity
Creating for yourself is easier said than done, of course. The sheer competitive nature of the creative field has a way of hijacking the creative process with feelings of doubt and insecurity.
But when you can let go of those external pressures and just create for the sake of self-expression, it opens up a whole new world.
Then, turning that work into career success is simply a matter of mustering up some courage. “You have to be willing to give it away without expectation,” IN-Q explains. He also touches on the value of going beyond your comfort zone in terms of discipline, highlighting how exploration and experimentation can bring about unexpected results.
“I think you should go outside of your genre, because the more that you do, and the more that you’re willing to explore who you are in these different genres, the more tools you will have for communicating your main one and the more clarity you will have for your life.”
The Role of Art In Mental Health & Personal Growth
Art has the unbelievable power to translate deep, and sometimes even subconscious thoughts into tangible forms. It provides a means for expression, release, and exploration of emotions that words alone cannot always capture. For IN-Q, poetry has always been an outlet for the unresolved stories in his life. Feelings – such as curiosity, enthusiasm, annoyance, and passion – exist within us all and they can be acknowledged, unpacked, and understood through the art we create.
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Art is more than just a professional discipline. It’s a medium of expression. Most, if not all of us are in the game because we love the feeling of creating something new and unique. While the world at large is dictated by expectations to fit in with a standard that simply doesn’t mesh with true human nature, art offers an organic and incredibly satisfying means of self-validation.
The next time you’re asked to think outside of the box, take a minute to think about what that box is, who created it, and why. There is no right or wrong way of creating art – and that’s what makes it so beautiful. We can all benefit both intrinsically and extrinsically from the power of creativity. My discussion with IN-Q only solidified this belief.
Enjoy!
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