Guy: I’ve never thought of it like that, but I think I’m the same way sometimes. Other times I’m a 50% whore, meaning I like things that are “the same but different” (there’s a zen nut to crack right there!).

Leadfinger: “it was partly writers block and partly working in a full on job.”
That’s what jobs does to you. Never get one

- c

http://closetcurios2.blogspot.com/

I myself find a lot of inspiration from other disciplines.

-Graphic design (I try to translate Graphic Design Cookbooks’ into aural ideas)

-Film (The Directors on Ovation TV is my current fave in this area)

-Actors Studio (with good old James Lipton)

-Modern Art theory, Literature (Critical Theory), modern philosophy, information theory (see McLuhan link below), and general current scientific discoveries all hold possibility for systems, structures, sound design direction, and overall ‘narrative’ ideas or simply ‘distraction’ to allow the subconscious to work out problems.

-Sometimes, just a good short story makes a good song idea.

-Or some basic ‘cut & paste’ at the conceptual level:

http://www.soniccouture.com/pages/genreStim2.shtml

The best way ‘in’ is to ask ‘What If’?

Of course, there are the ‘classic’s too:

http://www.rtqe.net/ObliqueStrategies/

http://www.creativethink.com/

http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2007/12/21/understanding_new_media_marshall_mcluhan.htm

Some music that did that for me: Balinese Gamelan music, Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation Of Millions…”, the Rite Of Spring, some early Rave stuff, My Bloody Valentine…