Lately, I think about the Roman Empire every day—specifically the period between Augustus and Nero. I devour every podcast and book I can find. Last month I considered studying Nature and Forest Management. In February, I was obsessed for weeks with solfège (ear training).
My girlfriend often laughs at how I get distracted mid-sentence by bird sounds or start conversations I've already begun in my head. She has to puzzle out what I mean without any context.
Some people call this 'ADD', but I'm not interested in diagnostics. I just call it 'my brain'.
I get extremely distracted when something doesn't interest me, but develop hyperfocus when I'm truly interested. This hyperfocus follows a cycle: complete obsession with one subject, then after two or three months, jumping completely elsewhere. After a year, I usually circle back to the original topic.
During my conservatory studies, this cyclical pattern was a constant struggle. Following the curriculum while maintaining motivation to practice piano for hours. I thought I was failing if I couldn't concentrate for six hours straight.
Now I understand my creativity works differently. I need different types of input: sometimes hardcore piano technique, sometimes Roman history, sometimes bird sounds during walks. Mixing different fields of knowledge creates the most interesting tension. That's where unexpected turns emerge.
It is good to bring some balance though. Now I dangle the right carrot in front of the donkey (myself) to keep me on track.
When I lose interest in making an album, the album still needs to get finished. That's non-negotiable.
But maybe the album will be about Augustus.