How creative people get inspired (Pt. 2)
I asked the same questions for creative people from different areas around the world.
Welcome to the second (and final) part of my little experiment on creativity and analog life, where I ask the same questions to creative people from different fields. If you missed the first part, you can read here. This edition is very special because I had the privilege of asking a few questions to the person who inspires me the most in the world — she's the final interview featured here. But, please, enjoy all answers. Thank you everyone who was kind enough to talk with me and read my newsletters. It was a fun investigation, maybe I’m going to do it a few more times... Now, get inspired with them:
Paulete Lindacelva is a multi-artist from Pernambuco who created a vibrant music work and a strong identity in the Brazilian House Music scene. In her debut EP, Guabiraba Chicago, she was nominated as best producer in Multishow awards and was listened as one of the best Folha de Sao Paulo albums of 2024 - the biggest newspaper in Brazil.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you?
Something I did recently that brought me a lot of joy—or rather, something that always brings me a lot of joy—is eating. I love eating, and there's a restaurant I often visit in the Liberdade neighborhood here in São Paulo… actually, two Tailandeses restaurants. And the women who run them know me, as well as the servers and the staff. I feel really happy when I walk in, and they already know what I want. They automatically bring fresh rolls and tea Thay to the table. These little things bring me so much joy. Eating makes me happy, but I think it's also the treatment and the warmth I receive there that give me a special kind of comfort—a unique kind of comfort, you know?
Where do you usually find inspiration or references for your work outside the internet?
I usually find inspiration in my daily life. Maybe I'm lucky to have friends who inspire me a lot. I'm surrounded by incredible artists, and the exchange I have with them brings me so much joy. I think that's something irreplaceable. I do exchange a lot with people online, but I’m not really a fan of low-maintenance relationships. So, being present in my friends' lives, and them being present in mine, makes everything very inspiring. Beyond that, I believe that sharing everyday life is important. People's daily lives hold so many incredible things—of course, with their own unique challenges, which are not always easy. But I think daily life speaks about people in a way that goes beyond words. Gestures and the way people live reveal so much about who they are, what moves them, and what inspires them.
Recommend something:
And as for recommendations, I would say: be more present in the lives of the people you love, the people you care about, the people you want to connect with. I think the idea of low-maintenance relationships is possible, but honestly, I think it’s a big myth. Strengthening bonds, deepening your connections with others, gives you more longevity, makes you feel more supported, and allows you to support others as well. So, do more things together. Listen to things together. Eat together. Experience more things together—whether near or far. Give yourselves that opportunity, because it’s something that transforms relationships, but more importantly, it transforms the life of the person who chooses to do it. And my recommendation is the album Feito para Ouvir by Emílio Santiago. It’s an album that has been with me for many years. I recently started listening to it again, and I truly believe he has one of the most sublime voices in the world. And this album showcases that beautifully.
AINES is a Barcelona-based DJ and producer who explores multi genres creating an unique soundscape. The music and visual curation is based in their personal exploration, embracing continuous change and fluidity of genres. Committed to the local scene and enhancing diversity both inside and outside the booth, AINES has played at Sónar Festival and some of the most iconic clubs of Spain.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you?I'm not someone who finds joy on the internet—I usually find more frustration there. Just yesterday, I had a couple of moments of pure happiness: one was enjoying a delicious meal under the sunlight, observing nature, and sipping a fantastic glass of wine. The other was at the Moin concert, admiring the art of Valentina Magaletti playing drums.
Where do you usually find inspiration or references for your work outside the internet?
I find a lot of inspiration in going for walks, observing the sea, listening to live music, surrounding myself with friends and questioning life's big questions, meditating, and going out dancing.
Recommend something:
Kelora's latest album Sleepers. I've been absolutely looping this album for the past few weeks.
Gabriel Rolim is a visual artist and music video director who creates images through a process called visual synthesis, which by the exploration of old video equipment and digital manipulation, transforms and repurpose footage. He has already developed many projects for all artists I listen to: Toro y Moi, Metronomy, Tim Bernardes, Duda Beat and companies such as Google, Nike and Puma.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you?
I increasingly find myself appreciating any activity that catches my attention without being imposed by a screen, a glow, or an animation – recently I started exploring cyanotype, an ancient photographic printing technique that requires different levels of offline focus. First, you have to create the transparencies or object that will serve as the print; then you coat a paper with a combination of chemicals (I feel like an alchemist here); next, you leave it in the sun so that this liquid burns in the areas not exposed on the transparencies, and finally reveal everything in a water bath. I spent about two weeks experimenting with this for a project that hasn’t been released yet, and it was one of the most pleasurable things I’ve done offline. I want to start painting and doing things that make me disconnect even more from the internet.
Where do you usually find inspiration or references for your work outside the internet?
I find inspiration in many things, but perhaps observing the textures in objects or the light shining on them transports me immensely into daily inspiration—another great source of inspiration for me is films in general, especially old ones. Understanding how things were made in the past gives me a fresh perspective on those very processes.
Recommend something:
I highly recommend two books. The first is called Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland, published by Seiva (a very, very cool creative [brazilian] publisher) – it demystifies creative processes and offers a therapeutic/psychological perspective on creating, which is very helpful for people who experience creative blocks or who feel creative in some way but are afraid to create. The other is Sculpting in Time by Andrei Tarkovsky, which is beautiful, philosophical, and probably my favorite book when it comes to inspiring, creating, and understanding life's processes from someone you greatly admire—in this case, Tarkovsky, the greatest Soviet-era filmmaker of his time (for me, haha).
Wilaize is a strategic marketing leader with full experience in reading and understanding the world as no other. Our paths were connected in music and our passion to make the world better made us fly high. She knows how to build strong communities and leveraging cultural intelligence to drive business growth.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you
Lately I've been wondering how to combine my social movements with physical activities – and this has led me to some really fun discoveries. In one of those unexpected invitations to enjoy the day with friends, I discovered rowing. I’ve always found water sports fascinating, but living in São Paulo, they always seemed out of reach. I was in Rio a few days ago and took some lessons with a friend. It was an experience that brought me new perspectives on time, nature, friendship, and the "controversial" quality of life. Taking a plunge into the icy sea, with a splendid view, after rowing under the sun on a Thursday morning... It’s transformative. A reminder of how simple and generous life can be when we allow ourselves to act differently. Knock, knock… It’s time to rethink, honey! I also love projects in São Paulo with this spirit: gathering friends to explore the city by bicycle and finishing with lunch at a large table, or scheduling a day of massages with friends. I enjoy what is experienced with presence and pleasure.
Where do you usually find inspiration or references for your work outside the internet?
On the street, in people, in life unfolding without filters. A normalcy without high expectations has been a place I’ve cherished with care and attention. I’ve increasingly enjoyed traveling alone. In August of last year, after many years without long vacations, I took 30 days to visit other countries by myself. The experience was an invitation to listen, observe, and embrace a slower pace of time. When you’re alone, your focus shifts: the book reveals new layers, time within a gallery expands, and small gestures around you become more subtle. Additionally, I’ve been seeking inspiration in Brazilian cinema and in manual activities: painting, writing, taking care of my plants, reorganizing the house. Simplicity has grounded and inspired me greatly.
Recommend something:
A book: Dream Count, the new novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I'm curious to read it—I want to see how she now translates emotions after the famous Americanah.
An article: That beautiful response from Nick Cave about balancing creativity and personal life: The Red Hand Files.
A piece of advice: "Yes" almost always comes with a discovery—or a lesson you didn’t even know you needed. Meanwhile, "no" can be an embrace of maturity.
Gabriel Batista is currently the Strategy Director at Havas Lisbon. Besides being my best friend, he is passionate about creating concepts that truly resonates in people combining insights, culture, and innovation to shape impactful brand narratives. He also has a sensitive and unique point of view of the world that you can read in his answers.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you?
In winter, it rains a lot in Lisbon - to a surreal degree. There are years, like this one, where we go through two full months of nonstop rain. But in spring and summer, the sky over Lisbon is something else: a deep, cloudless blue, with a soft breeze coming in from the Atlantic. Last weekend, the weather was beautiful - exactly that kind of sky I’m describing. I made a salad and had lunch in my backyard, listening to the birds. And that brought me a lot of joy. Isn’t it a privilege to hear birdsong, even if they might be singing right next to us every day?
Where do you usually find inspiration or references for your work outside the internet?
In my solitude - which is not easily reached. Sometimes I may be alone, but not truly in solitude. To access it, I have to shed all the internal noise that follows me around, the thoughts that keep projecting me elsewhere. In my solitude, I’m not anywhere but in the deepest present. And from that place, the most magical ideas come to me - some I bring into my work, others I keep for my life.
Recommend something:
I’m currently reading Jorge Amado’s first novel, The Country of Carnival. I haven’t finished it yet, but I can already tell you it’s worth the read. Jorge Amado might just be the writer who most beautifully seduces through language. The way he describes people - their hatreds, their passions - is so vivid and lyrical it deserves to be called art. After nearly a decade living in Portugal, reading Jorge Amado fills me with this quiet joy of being Brazilian - of speaking our version of Portuguese, which is, in itself, a kind of poetry.
Bruna Togni is the Creative Coordinator & Trend Researcher at Out Of Office. She delved into different areas of knowledge and diverse contexts through research, acting as a creative director, storyteller, consultant, and creative leader. Recently, coordinated the new MASP communication team and already worked with brands such as Renner, O Boticário, Unilever and Melissa.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you?
Last weekend at an antique fair here in Porto Alegre, I wandered through all the shops without any specific goal or something I wanted to buy. Then I entered one of the last shops on the street and started looking at the items until I reached the very back of the place, where an old record player was located. I got there and was stunned by the music that was playing! I rushed to open Shazam before it ended, trying to figure out which LP it was, but without success. Later I found out that it was a record from another nearby shop that he had borrowed. I went to that other shop to buy the LP, and the owner was thrilled that we loved the record and that it was his network that secured the sale. It was an exquisite record of classical music played as samba on violins. The song that captivated me was Dança Eslava by Antonín Dvorak, full of dissonant chords and arranged with samba on the violin. I felt as if I were in another space-time. Later on the street, a couple stopped us to ask about the record, saying it was a relic. That day and those unexpected encounters were very special.
Where do you usually find inspiration or references for your work outside the internet?
It's funny, but one of the highlights of my day is taking my little dog, Rute, for a walk down the street. On these walks with her and my partner, I leave my phone behind, and we just talk and exchange ideas—I share thoughts I’m imagining, and he, coming from a completely different field, comments, asks questions, and brings in new ideas. It’s a moment of great freedom. I also love starting a project by listening to vinyl records that connect me to it on some level. This is an almost daily habit—stopping to listen to a vinyl from beginning to end, and spending time opening up the inserts, dissecting the information on the covers. In the end, the activities that nourish me the most are, in a way, linked to habits and routines, with variations along the way. They form the foundation I build in my physical life, allowing my mind to wander to other places.
Recommend something:
I always recommend to everyone the podcast Ser Sonoro, the Ph.D. project by researcher Fernando Cespedes. It’s a podcast about sound, music, and the world of listening, and it’s incredible how he unfolds the narrative and makes us realize (and feel through listening) sound as a true life force. It’s very exciting, and the sound quality (he recommends listening with headphones) is impeccable. In addition, there’s the book Ways of Seeing by John Berger, which was created as a companion to the BBC documentary series of the same name, available on YouTube. Also within the realm of the senses, this book and documentary form a critical work that explores how we see and interpret images, and how the way we see is conditioned by cultural, social, historical, and power factors. Every time I watch or read it, I enter a state of active awareness about what I observe, contemplate, and express—and in that creative process, this state of visual awareness is a really exciting perceptual dynamic.
Mark Bohle is an Artist, Designer and Creative Director. He is also my teacher at Elisava in the Beyond Branding master. A while ago he did an exposition at Taula, in Barcelona, and I had the privilege of doing a playlist inspired by his work: you can listen here.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you?
I very much like the process of painting. It’s slow and pretty physical. Almost like doing sports but in super slow motion. I very much enjoy when the work you have done is visible.
Where do you usually find inspiration or references for your work outside the internet?
References are in bread, air, water and humans. There is no specific place or moment where I find them. Also hunting for them doesn’t work too well. They just happen.
Recommend something:
The Many Deaths of a Painting: https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-many-deaths-of-a-painting/
Dulce is a person who loves to make noise as a DJ and putting colors in spaces as a cenographer. She already worked in big festivals in Colombia, her hometown, and now brings energy to the Spanish cultural scene. Also, she is just the best person to connect different people.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you?
Not long ago we started to feel spring arriving—with it, a good rush of everything. We took the opportunity to go “see the snow” right before the season ended. Coming from Colombia, there’s very little contact with the seasons, and with snow in general. I was fascinated by how the mountain transforms, how the rocks crack open in the ice. In general, I feel happy when I expose myself to new environments—especially in nature. A lot of my work with light is inspired by these processes and changes. Every place has its own luminous identity, its own imprint shaped by everything that inhabits it. In the snow, everything bounces and shines differently.
Where do you usually find inspiration or references for your work outside the internet?
It’s simple, but I walk slowly—a thing all my friends complain about (sorry)—but it usually works in my favor. Letting your mind wander while walking is important. In the end, you start to notice little details—the everyday obvious things. Like how the sun hits a building at a certain hour, some construction material lying in the street, or just seeing the different clever touches people use to build the identity of their spaces. I especially have a fixation with antique shops, collecting, the layering of different materials, forgotten or obsolete objects—they really move me.
Recommend something:
Right now I’m reading Switched On: The Dawn of Electronic Sound by Latin American Women — it’s a really powerful research project by Luis Alvarado & Ale Hop, where various women share their craft, experiences, visions, and more.
Marina Henkes is my young niece. Since she was born, 13 years ago, I decided to be for her the person that didn’t exist when I was a kid - a safe place. We love to dance and play together. She inspires me every single day to be my own best version. A few years ago she did an amazing drawing of an animal and I tattooed it on my arm. Te amo, Marina!
PS: I did a few different questions to her because I wanted to talk about boredom and other aspects in her life. She is the grand finale of this short interviews. So, enjoy her sparkling point of view.
What’s something you recently did offline that sparked joy for you?
Something simple I did recently that brought me joy was visiting my friend who lives in the countryside. He invited several of our friends to spend the afternoon there, and it was really fun. We did a lot of things you just can’t do in the city. And we weren’t glued to the internet the whole time.
What do you enjoy most doing outside the internet?
What I enjoy most doing outside the internet is playing volleyball, hanging out with my friends, spending time with my family, talking, reading books, and more.
Do you think adults spend too much time on the internet?
I think some adults spend way too much time on the internet, without even looking at anything useful. There are even adults who stop talking to their families just to stare at their phones.
And what about your friends?
My friends are online a lot too, usually when there's nothing else to do, and the internet becomes our entertainment. For example: when we’re together and run out of things to do or talk about (because we’ve already “talked about everything”), everyone just ends up on their phones.
How do you deal with boredom?
I believe boredom is important for creativity. When we’re bored, we need to find something to do—or even just use that free time to "do nothing." And that time spent doing nothing is really valuable, especially for people who are always busy and never get the chance to slow down.
Recommend something:
I’d like to recommend a book my Portuguese teacher talked about, which I found really interesting: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. The book is about creativity in the modern world. Kleon argues that nothing is completely original, and that everything is a creative remix or reinvention of what came before. If you’re a creative person (or want to reconnect with that side of yourself), this book might be the breath of fresh air you’ve been needing.
thanks for the love
loved this experiment!!! thanks for sharing :)