For any artist, whether visual or literal, the search for a constant muse is quite difficult, perhaps even impossible. Similar to your own ever-changing favorites and interests, a muse would have to also change with your skills, talents, and even age.

Music tends to be a constant, however, when it comes to muses. A general agreement is that heavy, violent-sounding music such as rap or heavy metal can inspire a darker, more “hardcore” work. In contrast, perhaps classical or other soothing instrumental tracks inspire a serene composition of words or colors. Jazz, hip-hop, soundtracks, even simple drumbeats could inspire any artist and serve as a worthy muse.

Yet, exactly why does music hold so much power over a creative mind? Perhaps Dick Clark, the all-American DJ, stated it best when he said, “Music is the soundtrack of our lives.” We associate songs to certain moments in our lives such as the first kiss or a touching moment in a drama. Some people can’t wake up in the morning without a good, rousing tune on their clock radios. Such associations could trigger memories of the event or simply the emotion behind it and offer the artist some material to work with.

Theoretically, there have been several scientific studies indicating that music stimulates our brains to work differently. Any sensory perception would do that, but music allows the listener to occupy their hands and eyes for other functions. Music is mathematical in nature, concerning itself with beats, the division of beats, and a harmonious progression of notes that can sometimes be explained through math. There is the belief that studying music at a young age could increase a child’s mathematical understanding later in life. Even more fascinating is the observation that babies in the womb positively react to musical stimulation. One could extenuate that music simply guides the human mind towards different possibilities of thinking.

Music also makes for the perfect muse. The different varieties of music from different countries in the world create such an assortment of melodies and instruments provide different paths for the mind to traverse. One could mix Japanese war-drums with Native American drums to inspire an action sequence in a comic book. One could mix Latin salsa music with hip-hop for a witty exchange in a story. I personally have an entire CD book of personally mixed songs to get myself through daily commutes and drawing sprees. Whether music is used as your artistic muse or simply to get you through the day, it’s hard to deny that music inspires us all.