Appreciate the Process

Discoveries Along the Way :

“Appreciate the Process.”

I just wanted to honor my spirit and be a vessel for capturing this moment. Here I am, on my porch in Studio City, CA, reflecting on an ongoing theme in my life: appreciating the process. Process, process, process. Lately, I’ve been investing my energy into understanding what it truly means to be a vessel, to engage deeply in every moment, and to discover the processes I’m navigating. Currently, I find myself examining the dynamics within story—the structure beneath the layers of my content. What stories am I called to create, and why? Although if you ask my fur son Mister, he’d probably tell you the most riveting stories I tell involve snack time and going to get the ball on the bounce at the park.

Right now, in my process, I feel called to take time and organize my Discoveries Along the Way through Solo Art. However, as I prepared for a new writing session, I noticed the audiobook I was listening to was clashing with my creative flow. So, I told myself, “Hey buddy, let’s dial down this word overload and switch to music without words.” I took a moment to tap into the energy of the moment to decide what would be the score for this session. Immediately, I recalled an influential moment I had while listening to Donuts, an album by J Dilla, when I discovered the name of my style of art: Abstract Intentionalism. The productions in that album told a story I had never heard before. They felt abstract and cosmic, rooted in a place I love to explore: outer space. To me, abstract work has this freedom to it—layering different concepts, creative languages of expression, and storytelling rhythms in a way that the creator chooses to create.

So I decided to start the session off by playing a J Dilla instrumental playlist, and as the first song played, it transported me to a creative space of pure vibes. Then suddenly, the music broke into silence, followed by crackling microphone noise and a man’s voice. I turned down my muted computer, thinking my speakers were malfunctioning. To my surprise, this was all part of the song. I assumed it was an artist’s note from J Dilla—an invitation to step inside his creative process. It was like Dilla was saying, now that I’ve gotten your attention, BOOM, now listen. Lol.

In this delivery of insight, I was reminded of the ongoing investment in our processes. Understanding the utility of my vessel and the importance of being intentional with my superpowers became clear. Just like an abstract painting has the power to reflect the score of life, what the perceiver receives is always relative to their perspective. Through the lens of the observer, my work may appear to lack structure, but often it’s quite the opposite. I had an epiphany: WOW, this is the score of how I create. This realization struck me even more after diving into the book Dilla Time by Dan Charnas. I learned that Dilla was meticulous: his intentionality inspired me. He was a superhero in his own right, honing his craft, evolving, and sharing his journey through the experiences of James DeWitt Yancey, aka J Dilla, wielding his superpower of storytelling as only he could.

Today, I experienced an organic delivery of the audio experience I had long envisioned while listening to Dilla's “Ghetto Wish.” I took a moment to breathe in gratitude for being aligned with the universe’s current. I pressed record on my documenting camera, embracing the flow: “Here we go, ladies and gentlemen. This is how this happens!” Amidst the distractions of a fast-paced world, I was delivered another revelation. I wanted to not only document the dynamics of divine process but also express my gratitude, recognizing the blessing of attracting the reference I had been searching for for years. Experiencing something transcendental is like trying to describe a feeling you’ve never encountered until it manifests—transformative and captivating.

Now, as I collaborate with composers and producers on curating layered audio experiences, I can integrate clips of my discoveries, enriching our collective journey through sound. The deliverance was a blessing for countless reasons. It’s like noticing the first shadow of muscle forming after weeks at the gym—a double fist bump to the chest followed by a kiss to the sky, celebrating a new discovery in my process.

On this journey, I choose to approach each step mindfully, allowing the universe to guide me, taking One Step at a Time down Process Lane. After years of honing my awareness, I hear the universe navigate my path, encouraging me to invest in these moments and recognize their depth.

Instead of excluding those who can’t physically collect my art, I found a potential way to share the energy of the physical stories through audio. Music is emotionally therapeutic for me—a crucial part of my process. This concept has been on my heart for some time: to exhibit the process. Now that I’m developing my divine communication within this journey, I feel I am learning to flow with it rather than against it.

I pray that anyone who interacts with these discoveries understands they serve as a reminder to honor your process and be present. Like life within existence, we will never reach a destination; we will forever be evolving and becoming. Whatever way the universe communicates with you, seize that moment, listen, and put its guidance into action, as I was led to turn on a J Dilla playlist and, through it, rediscover a wealth of inspiration woven into his production of “Ghetto Wish.”

This journey of discovery reminds us that we all have muscles we’re developing for the adventure we’re on, ultimately enhancing our endurance and insight as we walk alongside the universe. I recognize the value of alignment in all of this, and thus, I strive to be a vessel for this intentional energy.

Thank you for sharing this time with me. This has been another discovery of Discovery Along the Way!

To be continued…

by Solo.

Bless it

Solo The ArtistNovember 21, 2024