From managing their internal psychological states through the creation of art to finding new sources of creativity, there’s always seemed to be such a rich interplay between the internal world of the artist and the external expression of art. I can think of few better examples of this than today’s guest, an incredible singer-songwriter, producer and composer that you might know by the name Sleeping at Last: Ryan O’Neal.
Over the last seven years, Ryan O’Neal has worked on his Atlas series, an ongoing series of songs based on and inspired by the origins of the universe and all the life that lies within it. This includes an incredible series of songs based on the Enneagram of Personality.
During their conversation, Forrest Hanson and Ryan O’Neal explore:
- 3:00: Sleeping at Last’s background and artistic origin story.
- 6:30: Music as a kind of journal.
- 8:30: How masks allow for vulnerability.
- 11:10: Writing in theme, and finding safe spaces for emotion through art.
- 17:00: Sleeping at Last’s creative process.
- 20:00: The Enneagram.
- 25:00: Forrest Hanson and Type 6
- 30:30: Ryan O’Neal and Type 9.
- 33:50: 6 by Sleeping at Last
- 38:15: Learning about people through art.
- 43:00: Pressure.
- 44:45: Increasing creative output.
- 53:00: A message to Ryan O’Neal‘s younger self.
Listen to the fantastic Sleeping at Last Podcast! On it, Ryan explains the process and inspiration behind his music, and I couldn’t recommend it more strongly.
