Whenever I paint or draw, music is always part of my creative process.

 From  jazz and love songs to afro beats, amapiano, calm piano instrumentals, and fresh voices from America, my playlist shifts with the mood.

 And interestingly, both science and Nigerian culture agree with this: music and creativity truly work hand in hand.

How Music Boosts Creativity : Facts From Science 

Researchers have found that listening to music while creating art lights up different areas of the brain at once, these area's include hearing, imagination, planning, and the motor control that guides your hand. 

That mix helps you settle into a deeper creative “zone” and stay there longer. Interesting right, now let's look closer : 

  • Positive, fast-tempo tracks (jazz, classical, upbeat instrumentals) can unlock fresh ideas and flexible thinking.
  • Heavy lyrics may distract during problem-solving - many visual artists do better with instrumental or mood-matched playlists.
  • Mood matching is real: people can often guess a painting’s mood from the song that inspired it - showing how sound and visuals connect.

For me when I paint in my studio, I prefer listen to a play list per session sometimes  I’ll pick faster rhythms so i can be more  free and fast with my brush, while for moments that require attention is calm music or no music at all.

Made in Nigeria: Creativity That Dances to Our Beat

My bond with music isn’t only scientific - it’s also a cultural thing.  

In Nigeria, music grows with us from childhood. Many of us made drums from tins and bottles, clapped rhythms with friends, or hummed songs while drawing in the sand.

 Those were the firt steps we took without even knowing, we built coordination, confidence, and collaboration amongst ourselves.

  • Character development: In homes and schools, songs and performance teach discipline, focus, and pride in our stories.
  • Community first: Across Izon, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba traditions, creativity is often shared - carrying our cultural values into art, dance, and design.
  • Natural Flow: From our rhymes on the streets to our church choirs and festivals, we grow up combining  sound and expression. Art follows that rhythm.

So while global science explains how music fuels creativity, Nigerian life shows why it feels so natural. For many of us, art already comes with a soundtrack.

 See My Process in Action

Watch a short clip of me painting with my current playlist:

Try It Yourself

  • Pick a theme for your piece, then build a playlist to match its mood.
  • Create two “art playlists”: one calm, one energetic - switch as your canvas changes.
  • Share short process clips - music + art performs well on Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok.
In the comments drop your thoughts about your choice of music and your experience combining music and art.