Lauren asked Alicia Keys:

Hi Alicia! I find your music so inspiring, so I'd love to know: what music do you listen to while you are writing? What do you do when you're stuck - busy, tired, uninspired, whatever the reason - to write the next thing?

Alicia Keys It depends what music I’m listening to. Sometimes I’m listening to classic songs that have inspired me through the years. Sometimes I’m discovering new music that may inspire me to think about things in different ways. Sometimes I’m not listening to anything at all and I’m just being quiet.

If I don’t have anything that’s really striking me to write about, I’ll just start to do other things: I’ll read, I’ll go see a really interesting exhibit at a gallery, I’ll just meditate and get more internal and quiet so that I can hear more clearly. Sometimes, I’ll just journal about my day. Even if it seems mundane and boring, there are always interesting ways to look at things. Sometimes, it’s also good to just back away from things, and let them breathe, give them space.

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