RHYME: On Creativity
Marianna
What creative projects are you most proud of?
RHYME
There’s so many. But for now timing this best fits, [equanimity by LNOL, a song I produced and featured in for pianist Yaeko Takemura] my idea also became a video. Two feminine energies being God.
Marianna
You've recently released six new songs - can you talk to me about the themes behind the music and what inspired it? How has current culture influenced your creative process?
RHYME
Yeah! It started off at the beginning of the lockdown narrative and also the same time releasing my thus far biggest music hit/ MV ‘Fashion Blogger’ …all the hysteria pushed it down the feed a little as the general mood of the earth got hysterical and I got quite anxious then hit a depressed state and had to re-check this whole perception and expectations.
It felt like bad timing, but also I was in pain for everyone suffering and feeling so disconnected. I was losing patches of hair, my sleeping patterns changed, and I was up all night. I started to practice CE-5 and became a night watcher and did these sunrise (before bed) meditations where I got to explore myself on the opposite edge.
Then these memories came up from when I was 17, right when the first sense of true identity was blossoming, and I felt different angles of a bigger reality hit me. I came from a small town Suburbia, never had family that traveled or had much money, but it was then I knew that I would have to go to edges of the desert. I also began writing religiously and luckily I could re-read what was going on from then, basically, I was on this natural trip going back into deep memory banks. Because I lived next door to a train station, I would spend a lot of time watching and listening to these machines, sitting under light rain, smoking a stolen cigarette, and figuring out what poetry was, the essence of the place I wanted to re-create. No rules, grids, typical or aimed for structures, just free form output.
[Listen to GOLDSTAR: Poems for 18'ers here.]
Marianna
Do you have a routine for entering into a creative headspace?
RHYME
I love to make rituals, but for creating… usually, the routine finds me through a dream or during deep delta meditations. Some random occasions I’ll be making or humming something coddiwompling away and before I realize I’m making it from the washy fantasy.
On the contrary, when something strong is pulling at me to create, I go in with a very focused intention and goal to that particular message, and on that occasion, it is more thought through intensely feeling, born from the earth.
Marianna
Do you have habits you've built for yourself to foster creativity?
RHYME
Constantly checking yourself, through whatever means, mostly meditating or chanting, re-reading a mission statement and or checking back on journals for hidden phrases with new light and also a new ‘word of the day’.
Marianna
What does creativity mean to you?
RHYME
Marianna
When do your best ideas hit you?
RHYME
Lately... late, really late.
Marianna
So many creatives are pivoting and finding ways to adjust their creative process during the quarantine. How have you been channeling your creativity during this time? Discover anything new or surprising about yourself?
RHYME
Yes, well put. It’s very interesting to witness the world and everyone cooking up a new diner to serve their dishes when the customers are not allowed in the restaurant.
The obvious ‘Live Streaming’ has been a thing I got into…but also building up my YouTube Channel, Tik Tok (yes I tried it), and different avenues such as apps that can allow such space like a big audio conference call at once, really interested my dive into the online.
On the double-edged blade, listened to many musics, played a whole lot of Animal Crossing, gardened, read many new books (especially I was really into James Lovelock ‘Novacene’ ), and made new friends and creations by mutual contacts and private FaceTimes.
This all assisted whatever ‘creations’ needed to assimilate.
Marianna
What unexpected turns did your life take to lead you to become who you are today?
RHYME
It’s like a never-ending series, but mostly I ended up staying in Japan when I was on my way to the U.S.A. I met my current partner here and mysterious forces whispered to learn this lesson.
Marianna
What sources of inspiration do you use to foster creativity in your work?
RHYME
Gnostic Teachings.
Marianna
Art and creativity reflect the current culture. How an artist wields the power to tell stories can be an effective act of rebellion. How have you been creating, have you been channeling your creativity in new ways?
RHYME
Yes, Hell Yeah. As I mentioned I’ve been doing a lot of CE-5 contact and had successful UFO sightings and energy transfers. I want to be a peace ambassador to communicate with the good E.T. out there to help spread peace and understanding/share technologies and better the cosmos.
I guarantee the next media outpour will be on demonizing the ‘aliens’ and slamming down a whole new evil narrative to suppress the world. I’m all about fighting the bad guys, there’s a lot of topics and legislation being passed under this new frenzy and it has been disguised by human emotion and attachment.
Besides talking and sharing information, some really strict new ways I enforced in my life include:
•stop plastic use (entirely unless forced by grocery store packaging) I even use beeswax food wrap instead of glad wrap. Every food store or restaurant I’m extra careful to politely ask before they serve for no plastic (Japan is Crazy plastic users, it needs to stop, everything is wrapped twice.)
• stopping google, changed search engine to Duck Duck Go.
• Living in Tokyo, we didn’t have the craziest lockdown and generally not much action on the protest fronts but in my inner circle and the local community, I make daily effort to give loving vibes and openness and equality through speech and subconscious body language. I have experienced inequality being a foreigner living here but am also blessed with such loving experiences and kindness even in times of not understanding, I also see a lot of this going on within the protests and demonstrations, by focusing on the positives and heart to heart, each by each we can heal.
There’s a lot to say about everything going on, but it’s happened, and everyone will have their own journey to put into the process and be at peace with it. I’m totally in support and excited by the world and ultimately could overcome my obstacles by inspiration from the crisis into change. Having good friends and a good choice in media intake really helped that.
Marianna
Why do you think people get stuck on problems?
RHYME
Neuron and akashic links fractured.
Marianna
What advice would you offer those struggling with creative blocks?
RHYME
Don’t create. Like try something else for a second, let it flow, fix something, have a giggle or a cry, the inspiration and moment will come... easily.
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About RHYME:
RHYME is “in her own lane”. Encompassing an eclectic but curated genre of herself as a 6D Poet, Vocalist, Producer, DJ, Model, Saxophone player, and performer.
Rhyme defines her atmospheres creatively, she is a muse. RHYME is currently based in Tokyo, Japan.
Rhyme hails from Australian Rock Royalty by father Richard Lara (of The Screaming Jets), and her rock n roll roots are plain to see in the music and storytelling she conceptualizes and plays within the atmosphere she creates. RHYME's love for music isn’t limited by genres or era’s, as a (DJ) music selector specializing in mainly (but not subject too) Rock n Roll, House/Techno/Punk Disco, Hip-Hop, and Future Electronic. She keeps her mindset longterm and is successfully working towards recognizing her self as both an underground and mainstream artist.
RHYME has earned notoriety for her strong modeling portfolio resulting in successful representations by agencies between Australia, China, Indonesia, and the UK. Having modeled for SHISEIDO and CHANEL, RHYME has also performed for DIOR, BURBERRY, YSL, Clinique, and composed runway music selections for fashion weeks worldwide.
Her most recent shows saw her DJ-ing / Performing for DOLCE & GABBANA, INTIMISSIMI, and GREENROOM festival with Mondo Grosso. She is currently the face of DOUBLE STANDARD CLOTHING (2017-2020) and composes music for and campaigns their current seasons looks. In 2018, RHYME collaborated with Japanese streetwear label WAWW and created limited-edition T-shirts and Hoodies with her own poetry and visual designs, there was also a live poetry and music event in Tokyo to launch the collection.
Late 2019 her new project duet RHYME SO, with Japanese legend producer Shinichi Osawa, debut with 88Rising on their compilation HITC II. That single ‘Just Used Music Again’ skyrocketed setting them up for the latest 2020 release; ‘FASHION BLOGGER’ an ironic catchy play on ‘Instagram bloggers and memes. It featured a super story music video showcasing RHYME’s figure skating hidden talent, it also featured Ru Paul’s Drag Race Star ‘MILK’