Ria Bird: On Creativity
Marianna
Do you have a routine for entering into a creative headspace?
Ria
It depends. Sometimes I’m in a studio actively writing and recording, other times inspiration strikes randomly and I just follow the impulse. To get into the headspace though I usually loosen up with a drink or two, listen to some of my favorite tracks to get inspired.
Marianna
Do you have any habits you've built for yourself to foster creativity?
Ria
I have been writing every day during my morning tea/coffee. I’ve started a quarantine journal where I keep track of my daily habits, routines, and activities. It helps me stay focused and track my progress day to day on whatever I’m working on.
Marianna
Where do you think ideas come from?
Ria
Personally, a lot of my ideas come from things I think would be cool or interesting to see out in the world, things that would inspire thoughtful conversation or a feeling of connectedness. I think a lot of good ideas also come from people and things that we are inspired by.
Marianna
What does creativity mean to you?
Ria
Creativity means operating outside the norms and putting new things into the world that weren’t there before.
Marianna
When do your best ideas hit you?
Ria
Usually when I least expect it. Sometimes I have to jump out of the shower, when my brain isn’t distracted and just running amok and write something down. Sometimes while listening to/watching a program I can visualize something I want to bring into being.
Marianna
Do you use a process to come up with ideas?
Ria
Not really. I am generally just trying to keep up with everything firing off in my brain by writing it down. When I am in a space where I’m ready to create I go back and reference those notebooks as a starter.
Marianna
What are the unexpected turns your life took to lead you to become who you are today?
Ria
The death of my mother from cancer when I was 19. That turned my whole life upside down and I don’t think I would have the same joie de vivre I have today if not for that. Although it was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced, I became obsessed with the idea of living fully and leaving behind a creative legacy. I can’t say for sure I would be doing what I’m doing if she were alive.
Marianna
What sources of inspiration do you use to foster creativity in your work?
Ria
I draw from all kinds of things. Music, movies, my friends, people I see on the street, stories I hear, things I’ve experienced personally. I think it’s important to not forget about finding inspiration in the seemingly mundane. What’s normal to one person may be the adventure of a lifetime to someone else. Conversely, there are so many things that are universal it’s important to remember the little things we all share.
Marianna
What creative accomplishments are you most proud of?
Ria
Recording and putting out my first record on my own without a label, manager, or anything. Certain shows have been big accomplishments. Being able to work with a lot of the people I have worked with is an accomplishment in itself. I’m so lucky to count so many amazingly talented people as friends and collaborators.
Marianna
Do you experiment in your work?
Ria
I think it’s very important to experiment, that’s how you can break yourself out of your usual routines and find something new and exciting within yourself. It might not always work, but it’s important to try new things and not be afraid of failure.
Marianna
How would you describe your creative process?
Ria
It depends on what I’m working on! If I’m in the studio writing a song I usually listen to the track before I start writing. I’m a very visual writer. Each song has a place, a person, a story I’m trying to tell. So I usually close my eyes and listen to what kind of story the music is trying to tell me, and work on how to get that story out through words and melodies.
Marianna
What do you think is something that the most creative people in the world have in common?
Ria
Pain. I remember hearing in a documentary once that there are a shocking amount of famous musicians who have parents who died at an early age or have a similar tragedy in their life. I think that expressing oneself through art when dealing with grief has very powerful repercussions on that person and whoever experiences their art. Other than that maybe a shared desire to create a world that doesn’t yet exist.
Marianna
How do you make sense of chaos in your life?
Ria
I try not to make sense of it. Life is chaos. There is very little we are actually in control of at the end of the day, other than our response to any given situation. I try to gracefully accept the hard stuff with the good stuff. I have a tattoo on my wrist that reminds me of this “Amor Fati” it means to love fate. The idea is that good and bad things will inevitably happen to us, and we might as well love the bad the same way we do the good - otherwise, we’ll be very miserable over the course of our lives.
Marianna
Why do you think people get stuck on problems?
Ria
I think our biggest issues come from letting our ego get in the way of any particular ‘problem’ - an inability to walk away from something that doesn’t serve us, to accept that we don’t know the answer to something, or to be so set in finding the answer from a certain path we refuse to look at other options. Put your ego in the backseat and stay open to other ideas and opinions you’ll probably find the answer faster that way.
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About Ria Bird:
RIA aka Ria Bird is a New York City-based vocalist and DJ that has been taking the New York scene by storm since her arrival. Ria combines her myriad tastes and diverse musical upbringing across borders to play to many different crowds and parties across the U.S. from LA to Miami and globally from Kenya to South Africa to Mexico and Guatemala and back. From Deep House to Funky Disco, Soul to 80s, or Hip Hop to Rock and Roll and World Music, Ria has a passion for bringing people together through all types of music and dance.
Ria is a second-generation DJ whose father played the discotecas of Mexico in the 70s, imparting on her from a young age a seemingly inexhaustible enthusiasm and passion for sharing music with the world. In her short tenure in New York City Ria has played and held residencies at some of the most prestigious clubs and venues in the New York area such as Paradise Club, Rose Bar, Elsewhere, Good Room, Public Records, Paul’s Baby Grand, and Casablanca, Surf Lodge, Rough Trade, Brooklyn Bowl, Gitano, Soho House, 1 Hotel, Sultan Room and many many more. Ria has DJed, written and performed with dozens of local and international DJs and musicians such as Justin Strauss, Eli Escobar, Plastic Plates, Justin Miller, Moullinex, Salt Cathedral, Friendly Fires, Miami Horror, members of Midnight Magic, Holy Ghost, Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones, The Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, and more.
2018 saw Ria self-released her first EP, Love Safari, with Morgan Wiley (Midnight Magic/ Ex-Hercules & Love Affair) under the name 88 Palms. She continues to write, record, perform live, and tour in the US and internationally.
To learn more, follow Ria Bird on her Instagram, Website, and Soundcloud.