On Rotation: 5 Albums to Fuel Creativity

Whenever I sit down to create, I always put on an album rather than a playlist. I like listening to an album from start to finish. It sets the tone, creates a rhythm, and helps me get into that creative zone where I lose track of time. It reminds me of my college studio art classes, where my professors would play music while we worked on still lifes or figure drawings. Those moments helped me focus, and I’ve carried that tradition into my own creative practice.
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Here are five albums that I keep on rotation whenever I’m working on a new project:

“Bella Donna” by Stevie Nicks
My love for Stevie Nicks started back in 1997 when I saw Fleetwood Mac’s The Dance on MTV. I was instantly captivated. I was excited to discover more from the band and her solo work in my parents’ album collection. I recorded Bella Donna on a cassette tape and wore it out. I still connect with the album’s themes of love and independence. Stevie is one of a few magical performers that I'll always enjoy listening to. 

“The Velvet Rope” by Janet Jackson
Janet has always been my favorite performer. The Velvet Rope was the first album where I remember hearing an artist speak directly to LGBTQIA+ issues. As I grew older and dealt with my own coming out journey, I began connecting to the album on an even more personal level. It taught me how essential creative expression can be as an emotional outlet. The Sankofa symbol from this album packaging, also stuck with me. It represents looking to the past to move forward. I think about that concept often, and even have a sankofa bird tattoo to remind me.

​“Black Cadillac” by Rosanne Cash
This one takes me right back to college. My drawing professor, Jenny Knavel, introduced me to Black Cadillac during class, and it was unlike any of the music I was listening to at the time. Years later, the album's themes of grief, memory, and healing hit me in a whole new way. It's one of the most honest depictions of loss I’ve ever heard, and I turn to it often when I’m starting something new.

“New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh” by Erykah Badu
This album is everything I love about R&B—soulful, smart, funny, and introspective. Badu’s voice is amazing, and her lyrics always make me think twice. There’s a playfulness to this album, but also a lot of vulnerability. Songs like “Window Seat” stick with me long after I’ve packed up for the day. 

“Apart” by LÉON
LÉON’s voice always brings me a sense of comfort. Apart is an album about love, heartbreak, and healing. The songs on this album are exactly what I need when I’m sketching or carving. I became a fan almost instantly and was lucky enough to see her live in Chicago. She was incredible. Her music inspires reflection, and it’s become a quiet companion in my creative process.

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Music has always been more than background noise for me. It shapes the way I think, feel, and create. Pairing the right album with the right project helps me lose myself in the work, and that’s when the real magic happens!

​What albums set the tone in your creative space?