Art has a way of transcending boundaries between forms, with one medium inspiring and shaping another in ways that feel both intentional and serendipitous. For me, music has always been the thread that guides my creativity, pulling something unseen from the vast unknown into existence.
Two years ago, I started building a playlist—not with a purpose, not for a project, but because it felt like something I needed to do. I named it Presencia, after the very first song I added. At the time, the name didn’t hold any special meaning; I simply followed an impulse. But as the playlist grew, the name began to resonate deeply. It became a symbol of what this playlist truly was: a space for presence, a connection to feeling fully alive in the moment.
This playlist is not curated, not polished. It’s messy. Songs were added as I discovered them, without overthinking what should come before or after. And yet, it’s always there—something to lean on, something to catch me when I need it most. It doesn’t matter what songs are on it, not really. What matters is that it exists. I hope everyone has a playlist like this, one that feels like a friend who knows exactly what to say, even if the words aren’t clear yet.
Music as a Partner in Creation
For me, the relationship between music and visual art is like a dance. Music makes a move, and I respond. Together, we create something that isn’t planned but is always honest and real.
The cover image for this post is just one example of what I see when I listen to music and translate it into my art. Music isn’t just background noise; it’s a collaborator. It stirs something deep inside me, a thread of emotion or imagery that I follow with my brush or stylus, pulling it out of the intangible and onto canvas, fabric, or screen.
There’s something about music that sets it apart from other art forms. I’ve studied painting, immersed myself in its history, and honed my craft, but music? I’ve left it untouched. I don’t know its mechanics, and I’ve never tried to create it myself. And yet, it moves me in ways I can’t fully explain.
Music carries me through heartbreak and fear, amplifies my joy, and sits with me in moments of stillness. It becomes a time machine, taking me back to memories I cherish or forward to places I dream of being. It inspires me not by instructing but by awakening—by opening doors to feelings I didn’t know I was ready to explore.
Every painting I make, every piece of fabric I cover in colors, carries the echoes of the music that inspired it. Some songs whisper eternal hope, others hum with joy or ache with longing.
A Playlist for Everyone
While my playlist is deeply personal, its purpose isn’t unique. I hope everyone has something like it: a messy, uncurated collection of songs that’s always there to lean on. A playlist that feels like a friend, guiding you when you’re lost, catching you when you fall, and celebrating with you when you rise.
Art inspires art. And whether that inspiration comes from music, visual art, words, or movement, what matters most is that we let it. That we allow ourselves to be present, to feel, and to create honestly.
Because when we do, we make something real. Something worth sharing. Something that reminds us why we create at all.