livemind - Tumblr blog

livemind · 8 years ago

Text

Push Forward.

Live Mind Blog #3

Posted: 03/01/2017

Welcome!

Thank you so much for your interest in the Live Mind blog! I’m actually surprised to be here. Moment of truth: this edition almost did NOT happen.

Unfortunately, I was having dealings with every creator’s nemesis, “discouragement”. I simply couldn’t bring myself to believe that continuing what I’ve started was necessary. For a brief period of time, my heart wasn’t in it. I realized a change was needed in order to continue.

I went back to some of the feedback I’ve received so far on the blog, and found it all positive! For days, I kept asking myself: “What do you really want to do?” There was already an answer to that question. Then I asked myself: “Why haven’t I started yet?” There was no answer.

One morning, during a desperate search for inspiration, I concluded that I was allowing too many things distract me. Things that weren’t contributing to my goals, both in creativity and life-wise. I decided to separate myself from everything that has been hindering my progression and to immediately start working on all the ideas sitting in my head.

That morning is the reason this edition exists. Redirecting my focus towards everything that motivates me was exactly what I needed to do. I had to push forward.

Dream Support:

Paige, Music Blogger

Paige is a 24 year-old music blogger from Toronto, Canada. Inspired by her love for discovering new music and bands, she started her own blog online known as Paige Backstage.

Besides her editorial skills, Paige has had the opportunity to interview many artists in her local music scene, and has continued to grow further her career on the internet and in real life. What I admire most about Paige is that she shot for the stars and has been successful in doing exactly what she wants to do.

“I worked for a record label and was constantly disappointed by how my voice was ignored, despite me being the exact demographic of who they were trying to sell music to. I decided that the only way I'd be heard was to create my own space on the internet and to do it my own way...so I did.”

~ Paige

Some of Paige’s inspirations include Hayley Williams (front woman for the band Paramore), Qcknd, and Gwen Stefani, but most of her inspiration comes from her friends. “I've surrounded myself with a really cool group of people that all work in creative industries, and bouncing ideas off each other usually sparks some unrelated idea in me,” states Paige.

Paige also started another blog called At The Barricade. If you love music news about your favorite bands, as well as a great aesthetic, you’d love this blog!

There’s so much I could say about Paige and her career. It’s insane to think that this is just the start of it. She has so many future plans, including revamping her blog to grow along with her, making nifty gear, or promoting those who do. She would love to have her own music festival tour someday, but in the meantime, her main goal is to have a full-time career on the internet.

At this rate, it’s almost guaranteed Paige will achieve all of those goals in the near future. She’s been one of my biggest inspirations for starting Live Mind, so please be sure to follow her progress on any of the following platforms:

Blog. Instagram. Facebook. Twitter. Tumblr. YouTube. At The Barricade.

New Noise:

“I want to make meaningful music that people can relate to. I want to make people feel something while listening to my music.“

~ Untraceable Sounds

Untraceable Sounds, is a 17 year old Danish musician. She started her music project on November 4, 2015. She posted her first guitar cover on Youtube, soon after teaching herself guitar earlier that year. Untraceable Sounds started referring to the video clips she posted online in order to keep improving. She began by posting a cover of a song every few months, but early on, it became clear that her desire was to make her own songs instead.

“I was writing many poems, and I wanted to transform them into songs, because I have always had a passion for music. But I played drums, and I didn’t feel like I was able to express myself as much through drums as I can with guitar. So as soon as my dad started learning guitar, I picked it up too,” she states. In only two years, she has made so much progress musically! She dedicates all her free time to writing and recording songs and is truly happy with what she’s been doing.

Her favorite band is PVRIS, which happens to be one of her biggest inspirations. She also gets inspiration from various musicians, movies, poems, and the like. Anything that sparks a feeling inside inspires her.

Right now Untraceable Sounds is recording her upcoming EP. She wants to make the best music she has ever made with this EP, learning as much about recording, mixing and mastering songs as possible. Since she is a solo project, this is a bit challenging, but she continues to do her best to learn and become a better musician everyday. In the future, she would love to collaborate with many talented musicians. Regarding the EP, she’s planning to release it on Spotify, Apple Music, and more!

The project Untraceable Sounds has only just begun, and with the efforts she’s already made, she will likely go far with it! After reading her story, I am beyond thrilled to have featured her in this blog. Please support this amazing project by following it on these platforms:

YouTube. Soundcloud. Instagram. Twitter.

Amped Artists:

By: Anjali, Age: 14

These unique pieces were created by Anjali. She’s a 9th grader with an interesting story:

“I started actually hating art. I never had the patience for it and it always seemed too difficult and tedious to actually do. Sure, the end results were pretty, but it seemed like the time was not worth the effort. One day in 6th grade, we had this project: to combine two animals together. I decided to do an owl and mouse...and that was the first time I was truly interested in art.”

~Anjali

In the 7th grade, Anjali moved to a new school district where her art stood out amongst the rest of the students. She spent all her lunch periods in the art room drawing and talking with the art teachers and was eventually accepted into Studio in Art. Her art has even been put up in local show cases!

Since the beginning, she has grown so much in her art. I really admire her experimental mentality! I find that using art as an escape is one of the best ways to quietly express yourself freely and creatively. This is exactly what Anjali does and it’s obviously working out great. Her biggest inspiration is her sister, who is also very talented with art and constantly helps Anjali improve. In the future, Anjali hopes to become an animator or video game designer and be a radio hostess for side work. “The joy that those two ideas gives me (as an animator dealing with art and radio hostess dealing with music) is overwhelming,” she says. What could be more fitting than that? Her story proves that trying new things can create an entirely different outlook on the future. Possibilities are truly endless!

Live Minds:

The Wonder Years at the Marquee, Tempe AZ.

The above compilation was done by McKenna, an 18 year-old aspiring photographer from Arizona. Like most photographers, she started out by simply taking pictures with her phone. Eventually, she got a better camera so she could further her progress. She was placed in photography class last year and her teacher inspired her to take photography more seriously.

McKenna enjoys taking pictures of whatever she likes, including nature and sunsets, as well as pictures at concerts.

“I'm really into the whole "alternative scene" and I go to a lot of pop punk shows. Elmakias (photographer) is a pretty big inspiration in the whole music-photography thing.”

~McKenna

Right now, McKenna takes photos as a hobby, but in the future she would like to do photography in college. “I just really like going to concerts and I really like taking pictures so I'm combining all that together. I think it's cool that I have opportunities to do that,” she says. A little goes a long way, and it’ll be awesome to see her grow in photgraphy! You can follow more of her awesome work on Instagram and Tumblr.

Do It Now, Thank Me Later:

As mentioned in my sappy introduction, it is very common for creative minds to get discouraged. It’s important to not give up when you hit low points in your ventures. Remember, every person or project you’ve looked up to has been discouraged along the way. You have to push forward.

Challenge #3: Eliminate distractions.

In this day and age, it is nearly impossible not to be influenced by social media. However, this can be a good thing! Instead of allowing it to distract you from what you want to be doing, you can use it to inspire you. Unfollow pages that are not contributing to your creativity, and follow new pages that will continue to inspire you to bring your ideas to life! Force inspiration.

Feel free to tell me how it goes at [email protected]. Your story could be featured in an upcoming blog!

Get Inspired:

For this edition, I decided to include some of my recent work. In early 2016, I purchased a camera in order to relaunch my YouTube channel. Recently, I decided to use video as a way to express my ideas more creatively. Rather than simply stating my thoughts on camera, I decided to show them. If you’re interested, please click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFb3IwDppjE&t=49s

I hope to continue making videos like this, in order to inspire myself and others.

Thank You:

Thank you so much for reading this edition of Live Mind. I’m extremely grateful for all of you willing to be involved in this project. There would be no content without all of your support, and I can’t thank you enough! Don’t give up on what you love. Continue making great things. Dream louder.

Let Me In On This:

Got a style that stands out? Tell me more!

Submissions: send info to [email protected].

Questions/Feedback: Message me on Instagram @livemindmag!

Find Me Elsewhere:

YouTube. Instagram. Tumblr. Pop Punk Amino.

#live mind #creativity #creative inspiration #art #music #photography #dream louder #blogger #blog

4 notes · View notes

livemind · 8 years ago

Text

“Retain Mystery.”

Live Mind Blog #2

Posted: 02/01/2017

Welcome!

Thank you for your interest in the Live Mind blog! If you're a returning reader, welcome back. If you're here for the first time, welcome! Have you had the chance to check out the last blog? The feedback was amazing and I can't thank you all enough for inspiring me to write another!

Live Mind now has an official Instagram! I will be posting announcements, behind the scenes work, sneak peeks, and other work to motivate creativity. If you'd like to receive these exclusive updates, click here and follow the blog!

This edition is a bit different from the last. Two more sections have been added: Loud Looks and Dream Support. That's right, the Dream Support section is officially here. Literally, right here:

Dream Support:

Fernie Mac is a 22 year-old photographer. He’s always been interested in photos, film, and art, but recently started taking his photography more seriously thanks to the inspiration from a friend. Fernie has made an effort to learn what it takes to take good photos and invested in a better camera. That investment sparked even more of his passion for photography, capturing moments such as these:

“Follow your heart, chase your dreams. Anything is possible.”

~ Fernie Mac

Fernie has a very creative and open mind. I’ve been following his project for quite some time now and he never ceases to amaze. He has a lot more to offer and I highly encourage any of you artsy people to check him out on Instagram!

I really hope someone new can be featured here in every blog from now on. I can't do it without your submissions, so please continue to spread the word and create wonderful things!

For more information regarding submissions, check out the Let Me In On This! section.

New Noise:

Taxi For Bob are from a town called Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. The band started in 2013, covering songs by Green Day and Blink-182. They have an energetic, upbeat, pop-punk sound with very catchy melodies that you can’t help but sing along to.

Their members are Tom Jackson, Alex Bower, and Mattie Jones. Some of their musical influences include: Good Charlotte, Alkaline Trio, Ramones, and Stiff Little Fingers. Regarding future plans, Taxi For Bob would like to take it as far as it can go.

“We’re not doing it for the success, we all just love doing it. But it would be amazing if we could get any kind of career out of it.”

~ Alex Bower

After hearing their single “If You’re Not Dreaming, You’re Just Sleeping”, I was immediately pleased with the message of the song and reached out to Alex to find out more about the band. If you’re interested, I urge you to check out Taxi for Bob and follow them to stay updated on their project:

Bandcamp: taxiforbob.bandcamp.com/releases

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/taxiforbob

Amped artists:

By: Mallery Lewis, Age: 20

This awesome illustration of Tyler Carter (vocalist of the band Issues) was made by Mallery Lewis. She’s a 20-year-old artist from Ohio and has been drawing all her life, continuing to progress with art as she got older. “My mom was a big inspiration because she’s a very creative person and I watched her paint a lot as a kid,” states Mallery. With that being said, I believe she’s a great example of a little inspiration going a long way.

Mallery is currently going to school to become a graphic designer. She hopes to work in that field as well as sell her traditional art on the side. With these goals as her focus, we can all be sure she will succeed! There’s way more art where this came from. Check out more of her work here!

Loud Looks:

This section will feature unique fashion, hair, clothing, diy, and more!

We all know fashion is another great way of expressing yourself. Why follow the trends when you could stand out? We aren’t ordinary. We are not duplicates. We are custom-made.

Chantelle has been crocheting for about 4 years. She’s made blankets, scarves, hats, and more. Very recently, she was inspired to start selling her work online, opening a shop on Etsy called Cozy Little Owl Crochet.

In her shop, you will find winter gear such as hats and scarves. Chantelle plans to add more products very soon, including coasters, baskets, and blankets. You can even get items customized!

Stay warm and cozy this season with some amazing hand made threads by Cozy Little Owl Crochet:

Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/cozylittleowlcrochet

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozylittleowlcrochet/

Live Minds:

Dane, Content Creator

Dane, (a.k.a. StraightEdgeDane) is a 16 year-old from England. He enjoys turning clips of film into a work of art and posts his work on Youtube. This straight-edge kid is full of innovative ideas and imagination. Dane is also a big fan of pop-punk and alternative music genres, as well as pro wrestling. He plans to make more videos involving those passions along with other mini-films and skits.

“I want to become a film producer and take up Pro Wrestling training as a hobby once I finish education,” states Dane. He posts videos in 4k and will continue to do so in the near future. I believe he can go as far as he desires, and even further with support from others. Show your support and check out his videos!

This aesthetically pleasing lyric edit and photo was done by Isabella. She is a 17 year-old senior in high school. Within the past year, she took a photography class which led her to conclude that photography really makes her happy.

“I’ve always sort of been drawn to the arts. I remember seeing Adam Elmakias’ photos and I thought how cool it would be to do what he does.”

~ Isabella

Isabella recently started taking portraits of her friends around downtown Nashville and would like to continue photography as a hobby. She even hopes to eventually start photographing some local bands! She’s definitely on the right track. Follow her progress and find more of her work here.

Do It Now, Thank Me Later:

In the last edition of Live Mind, I encouraged you all to dedicate a week to focusing on an idea of yours that deserved more attention and growth. How did you do? Personally, I decided to take this Live Mind blog more seriously. After discovering that people actually submitted content for it, I was extremely thrilled and I realized that this is more than just a mental project. This is really happening. These results have inspired me to say yes to more opportunities of growth and I must say, I've been happier and more confident.

Challenge #2: Do something that scares you a bit.

Stop saying no and talking yourself out of the opportunites that could potentially get you exactly where you want to be. You don’t know what you could be missing. So, why not find out? You’ll likely be surprised at you results!

If you believe your story will inspire others in some way, tell me all about it at [email protected]. It may be featured in an upcoming blog!

Get Inspired:

This poem creates scenery. Picture it as you read:

-Untitled-

You came into my life a subtle thoughtful breeze Joy and laughter quickly overtook me I became slave to your refreshing sound Each gust retrieved a part of me The warmth of your temperament cleansed the air bringing freedom as I inhale Into open hands I placed keys to doors long forgotten sacred places locked away Long betrayed by the others Places beyond the stairs beyond the walls and painted columns You'd trek through bitter winds Over broken pieces enduring hailstorms with nothing but trueness as a shield Endless volumes could not contain what's meant to be shared If hearts could speak do they give themselves away? Reveal the secret, or retain mystery. A lifetime of tomorrow's full of wonderment & surprise From shadowy mornings wrapped in haze...then Moon-glow spotlight to capture the effortless sway of the night It's rhythm is a pulse, the rhythm a passion The rhythm is a dance....with love its serenade.

~PoetryNPain

The writer of this poem chose to remain anonymous, which actually inspired the title of this blog. Retain a little mystery in your creativity. Not only will others keep wanting more, but you will too!

Thank You:

Thank you so much for reading this edition of Live Mind. I honestly feel extremely fortunate being able to put out a second blog. That’s only thanks to your support! I’m very grateful for that and your spreading the word. I hope to see you in the next one. Until then, keep it live. Dream louder.

Let Me In On This!:

Got a style that stands out? Tell me more!

Submissions: send info to [email protected].

Questions/Feedback: comment below or message me on Instagram @livemindmag.

Find Me Elsewhere:

YouTube. Instagram. Tumblr. Pop Punk Amino.

4 notes · View notes

livemind · 9 years ago

Text

emBRACE YOURSELVES.

Live Mind Blog #1

Posted: 01/02/2017

Introduction:

Greetings People,

Welcome to the Live Mind blog! This section will typically feature Dream Support, that is, any creative mind or idea in need of more recognition or growth. Any of you can be featured here! If you’ve got big dreams and a strange soul, please send me more information using the proper link under the Let Me In On This! section.

Since this is the first edition, I figured this would be a perfect time to introduce myself. My name is Kayla, I'm 20 years old. I enjoy going to concerts and listening to various bands. Art has been in my life for as long as I can remember, so my undying love for it is strong. I also enjoy writing songs, playing guitar, and making videos online. Okay, enough about me, let's cut to the chase:

Recently, I realized I'm in a weird spot in life where I have to decide what I'm going to do with my future. Apparently by now I should either be in college, working, in a serious relationship, or living on my own. Truth is, I'm not doing any of those things. That's right, I'm a certified loser. HA! Just kidding. I'm simply extremely untraditional. I blame it on my passion for creativity.

For a very long time, a lot of the people I look up to chose an alternative route to "success". They had a crazy idea one day and decided to bring it to life. Now they're happily making a living off of something they've always loved. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. I decided I need to give it a shot. So here I am. Shooting.

I created this blog to serve as a platform of motivation to all of you consistent, wild, dreamers. You have an amazing mind, and with enough motivation, you will achieve everything you want—and more! After all, everything starts as an idea. It’s time to bring your ideas to life. Don't shut your mind up. Dream louder.

~ Kayla

New Noise:

This section will feature news and the latest small victories in music.

On Sunday December 25, 2016, Jeremy Mckinnon (vocalist of the band A Day To Remember) tied the knot! I felt this was inspiring considering the struggle of maintaining a relationship while on the road. One of A Day To Remember's most popular songs "If It Means A Lot To You" touches on that very subject. Now here he is years later, happily married.

We can all stay a bit warmer here in the U.S knowing Vans Warped Tour will be coming to a nearby city for its 23rd consecutive year this summer! No word on the lineup yet, but we know with Warped Tour's history, it's gonna be great.

Okay, it’s time to let you guys know about an up-and-coming indie band:

The Everyday Characters are from Minnesota. They have an upbeat, pop-punk sound along with outstanding lead guitar parts and catchy vocals. For now, they've been playing local shows but they hope to travel more in the near future. You can check out their single "Everything Matters" by clicking here and be sure to purchase their EP "It's Not Me, It's You" on iTunes while you’re at it!

If you know of an indie music project that you want featured in a future blog, please send me more information to the proper link under the Let Me In On This! section.

Amped Artists:

This section will feature underground artists, photographers, and do-it-yourself-ers.

By: Lily, Age: 17

For this edition, I wanted to feature some amazing art by Lily (a.k.a. Lily Mvc). She's 17 years old and has had a love for drawing since infancy. "It's the only thing I love to do!" she says. Well keep at it!

Her future plans are to attend art school in order to gain experience to become a tattoo artist. You can find more of Lily's work by clicking here.

By: Sarah Reniers, Age: 20

"In May 2016, I decided to start drawing more and trying to tell stories with my work. The comics evolved from the characters I'd been creating, mixed in with my own personal experiences. I've kept it up because it's a great form of self expression and also seems to be resonating with a bunch of people, which is really cool."

~ Sarah Reniers

What a brilliant concept! Pop punk definitely needs a lot more humor. Find more of her fantastic work here. Follow her on any other social media platform: @sarsapunk.

If you know of an artist, photographer, or diy entrepreneur that you want featured in a future blog, please send me more information using the proper link under the Let Me In On This! section.

Live Minds:

This section will feature lesser-known content creators, filmmakers, and writers.

Daniel Fourie, Content Creator

Mix the love of pop-punk and sarcastic humor and ta-da! You’ve found Daniel Fourie. Daniel is a 20 year-old content creator from South Africa. His videos vary from music comedy, tv parodies, challenges, and more! The creativity he puts into every video is impossible to miss. He recently started a comedic mini-series called “Boomer - The Series”, based off of a character played by Tom Delonge (Blink-182) in their music video “First Date”.

So far, he’s gained well over 500 subscribers on his YouTube Channel and is continuing to post very entertaining videos. Not only are they humorous, but you can also get an inside look at Daniel’s musical talent. In the realm of creative minds who often take themselves way too seriously, it’s always great to find people who bring in comic-relief. Click here to find his videos and be sure to subscribe to him!

If you know of a content creator, filmmaker, or creative writer that you want featured in a future blog, please send me more information using the proper link under the Let Me In On This! section.

Do It Now, Thank Me Later:

This section will feature a challenge for the week.

Since this is the first edition of Live Mind, I decided to go easy on you...

Challenge #1: Dedicate the next 7 days to focus on an idea that deserves growth.

Stop letting those great ideas sit on a shelf! Choose one and start working on it when you’re finished reading this blog. Even if your progress is all mental, it’s progress.

If you care to share your story with readers, send it to me at [email protected]. It may be featured in an upcoming blog!

Get Inspired:

To close off, here are some honorable mentions for inspiration:

Lyrics by: Panic! At The Disco

Art by: Anna, Age: 16

Social Media: @gerarduck

“Remember your days are like pages, chapters unread, you have to keep going, keep turning, keep reading...because your book has no end.”

~ Austin Carlile

To read the rest of his statement about a very difficult decision regarding chasing his dreams in music despite several serious health issues click here.

A Sincere Thank You:

Thank you so much for reading this edition of Live Mind! You’re reading this means so much to me and it’s the most I could ask for. I have plans for the future that exceed this blog and I’m determined to reach those goals. This is my start. I’d like to give special thanks to everyone who contributed to this blog and read this far. I’m very grateful for that! Your feedback is welcome so feel free to let me know what you thought about the blog.

Let Me In On This!:

Got a style that stands out? Tell me more!

Submissions: send info to [email protected].

Questions/Feedback: comment below or message me on Instagram @weirdokayla.

Find Me Elsewhere:

YouTube. Instagram. Tumblr. Pop Punk Amino.

9 notes · View notes