This is Brain Music: a selection of songs curated monthly by different members of the Rochester community that we hope will inspire you the same way it inspires its curator. Today, we bring you a playlist curated by The Botanist, Shelby Beyler. Without further ado, here's Brain Music Episode 40:
Hello, Rochester Brainery blog followers! I'm Shelby Beyler of The Botanist. My young, 2 year old business is, you guessed it, botany focused: both educationally and artistically. I use my rediscovered creativity and desire to work with my hands and mix it with my obsession of science and plant biology. My favorite part of being an amateur Botanist is the problem solving aspect; which is why music is an integral part of not just The Botanist by my entire being. It helps make things click.
I’d rather listen to music than watch TV at any given time. I really like all genres of music and grew up listening mostly to rock n roll, country, oldies, and rap but as the years have passed, I’ve met people that have influenced my taste in music. Some of my playlist include chillaxing, party, game day, work out, and feel good titles.
When I am in my studio space and working on something mindless like packaging and labeling, I tend to pop in some 90's hip-hop. It's fun to dance to, rhyme with, and takes my mind off the boring parts of business ownership. I also gravitate towards post-punk and new wave sounds like Joy Division and The Smiths and some angsty heavy metal like Iron Maiden.
When I'm potting, propagating, or assessing, I tend to lean towards the music that is timeless and I've grown up with: Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, The Beatles, and the likeness of similar modern artists. It's fun to sing along to without feeling too distracted from the work I'm doing.
Typically, I listen to music that I form emotional connections with. And sometimes certain tones, rhythms, and melodies invoke deep, otherworldly, and down right strange thought processes. Melodic sounds with soft vocals or vocals that are difficult to follow often help with my creative brainstorming. It's reminiscent of a musical baby made by genre parents of shoegaze and dreampop. It instigates some part of my brain to think outside of the box (and I'm so grateful my brain works this way).
I'd un-proudly classify myself as a music snob; which makes this list difficult. I cannot, in good faith, combine all of these important themes into one list so therefore I am choosing songs based on my creative process—those that inspire and motivate creativity. These are often new sounds I've randomly discovered or just an obscure musical piece that perked my ears. I typically lean towards female vocalists (no offense to men, its just what my ears are attracted to).
So without further ado, in no particular order, I present a short yet seemingly long list similar to what I'd listen to when I'm brainstorming and creating. Thanks for listening!
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Listen to Shelby's playlist here, or preview it below.