Music is the Ashes of Our Existence: Embracing "Shitty Music" as a Creative Act

There’s a powerful quote from Leonard Cohen that has always resonated with me:

"Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash."

This idea extends beyond poetry – it’s also true for music. Music is the ash of our existence, the byproduct of a life lived fully. It’s not something separate from us that we need to master or perfect. Instead, it flows naturally from our experiences, emotions, and state of being.

As musicians, we often focus too much on creating good music or crafting the perfect song. But what if we shifted our focus away from the end product and towards the creative process itself? What if, instead of striving for perfection, we allowed ourselves to make "shitty music" without judgment or self-criticism?

This concept is beautifully echoed by Amie McNee, known on Instagram as @inspiredtowrite, who often speaks about creating “shitty art.” The essence of her message is simple: the quality of the end product doesn’t matter as much as the creative act itself. This shift in perspective is liberating, as it frees us from the pressure of needing to be "good" or "worthy." When we approach music with this mindset, we stop focusing on how our work will be received by others and instead enjoy the act of creating.

A Life That Burns Well Creates Music

To make music is to reflect life. If we are truly alive, engaged, and present in the moment, music naturally becomes a byproduct of our existence. It isn’t something we force – it flows from us as naturally as breath. But this flow can’t happen if we are constantly judging ourselves or attaching too much importance to the outcome. To create from a place of freedom, we need to embrace the idea that "shitty music" is not only acceptable – it’s a crucial part of the process.

Recently, I had an experience that reminded me of this truth. I opened GarageBand and started messing around with the song “Jurema Ôh Jurema” by Josii Yakecan – a song that’s close to my heart because it was the first I ever played in a ceremony. I added layers of instruments, from trombone to electric organ, creating a completely whacky version of the song. By all traditional standards, the result was “shitty.” But I had fun. I enjoyed the playfulness of it. And I learned a valuable lesson: it’s not about creating something that’s “Instagrammable” or polished. It’s about enjoying the process and allowing myself to play.

This is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the past years as a musician. The creative process is more important than the final product. Like a child finger-painting in kindergarten, there is joy in simply being in the act of creation, free from the weight of external judgment. But this goes beyond just play. As Leonard Cohen continues in his famous quote,

"For me, art is the evidence of life and not the life itself, it's the ashes of something that has burned very well... and sometimes we confuse ourselves, and we try to create the ashes, instead of the fire."

This insight speaks to a common pitfall for creatives: focusing so much on the end product that we forget to tend to the creative fire that fuels the art itself. When we focus solely on the product – on creating the "ashes" – we run the risk of stifling our creativity, making the process feel rigid and uninspired. Instead, we need to nurture our inner fire, trusting that the music, the ash, will flow naturally from that burning source.

THE ALCHEMY OF MUSIC

Music is the ash of our existence – the byproduct of a life lived fully, not something we need to perfect.

Tending to the Creative Fire

So how do we, as musicians, ensure that we are keeping our creative fire burning well? First and foremost, we must learn to care for ourselves. Just as a fire needs fuel and oxygen, our creative energy needs attention, rest, and renewal. If we don’t take care of our inner artist, we’ll burn out, and the music we create will feel forced and disconnected.

In a previous blog post, ‘Musicians and Self-Care: Why You Must Fill Your Cup Before Serving Others’ I explored the importance of self-care for musicians. In the same way that we can’t serve others from an empty cup, we can’t create authentic, inspired music when we’re running on empty. When we neglect our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, it reflects in our music. The flow becomes blocked, the connection to the creative source weakens, and the music feels distant from our true selves.

To keep our creative fire burning, it’s essential to practice self-care. This includes rest, nourishment, emotional well-being, and grounding practices like meditation or time in nature. When we tend to these areas, our creative energy is renewed, and we can approach our music with vibrancy and authenticity.

Another key to nurturing the creative fire is allowing ourselves to create freely – without attachment to the outcome. The fear of creating "shitty music" often stems from a desire to be seen as talented, skilled, or successful. But true creativity arises when we let go of these external expectations and embrace the joy of making art for the sake of it. When we allow ourselves to create without judgment, we open the door to new ideas, insights, and breakthroughs.

THE ALCHEMY OF MUSIC

When we focus solely on the product, we risk stifling our creativity. We must tend to the fire, not the ashes.

Filling the Gap Between Taste and Skill

This leads me to a concept I’ve discussed before in my blog post ‘Bridging the Gap Between Taste and Skill as a Musician.’ When we start out as musicians (or even as intermediates), there is often a significant gap between the music we want to create and our current abilities. It’s easy to get discouraged during this phase because our taste may be more evolved than our skill.

However, making “shitty music” is an essential part of bridging that gap. Each time we create, even if the result isn’t perfect, we’re learning. Every imperfect piece brings us closer to mastery. This process helps us release the pressure to be “good” and instead teaches us to enjoy the act of creating.

THE ALCHEMY OF MUSIC

The fear of making 'shitty music' often stems from the desire to be seen as talented, but true growth comes from letting go of that pressure.

Playfulness and Non-Attachment

What I’ve also realized is that embracing the imperfection of creation cultivates non-attachment: When we make music from a place of non-attachment, we are no longer worried about how it will be received or whether it will be "good enough." We create for the sake of creating, letting the music flow through us without trying to control the outcome.

Creating "shitty music" is a powerful way to cultivate this mindset. When we stop taking ourselves and our creations too seriously, we allow space for true creativity to emerge. It’s not about the end product – it’s about the energy we embody while creating. And that energy is what ultimately shapes the depth, soul, and power of the music we offer.

The Ashes of Our Existence

So, how do we live a life where music becomes the ashes of our existence? We let go of the need to perfect every note. We allow ourselves to create freely, embracing the messiness and joy of the process. Music becomes a natural extension of who we are, flowing effortlessly when we stop forcing it to be anything other than what it is. In the end, it's the creative act that fuels our growth, and through that, we discover the beauty that lies within even our most imperfect creations.

THE ALCHEMY OF MUSIC

Embrace the imperfections of creation – this is where we grow, learn, and evolve as musicians and creatives.

Conclusion: The Beauty of Shitty Music

In a world where we are constantly judged by how our work is received, it’s freeing to let go of the pressure to create something perfect. Instead, we can focus on enjoying the process – the true essence of music and creativity. Whether you’re laying down a whacky track on GarageBand, like my recent experiment with “Jurema Ôh Jurema”, or you’re simply jamming for fun, remember that it’s about the act of creation, not the result. Embrace the shitty music, the imperfect art, and know that this is where the magic happens. This is where we grow, learn, and evolve as musicians and creatives.