Rick Rubin | Design Matters with Debbie Millman | Ted Talks Daily

Intro

In this episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman, part of the Ted Audio Collective, Rick Rubin, a celebrated record producer, discusses his book on creativity, “The Creative Act, A Way of Being.” Rubin shares insights into his upbringing, his love for magic, his experiences with meditation, and his journey in the music industry. He also explores the importance of creativity, the role of artists as channels for cosmic messages, and the challenges and rewards of the creative process.

Main Takeaways

Upbringing and Influences

• Rick Rubin reflects on his upbringing on Long Island and the influence of his aunt Carol, who worked at Estee Lauder and exposed him to a cosmopolitan lifestyle.
• His love for magic began at a young age and sparked his fascination with the impractical and unexplainable.
• Recurring neck problems diagnosed as stress-related led Rubin to explore different types of meditation to manage stress, eventually learning transcendental meditation (TM).

Early Music Journey

• Rubin’s interest in music was sparked by a high school teacher who taught him to play guitar and provided an environment for artistic expression.
• Despite parental expectations for a professional career, Rubin was drawn to music and started a punk band called The Pricks in high school.
• He founded another punk band, Hose, in 1981, influenced by the band Flipper and the blurred line between performance art and stunts.

Impact of Flipper and Def Jam

• Flipper, known for playing slow, sludgy music, inspired others to start slow punk bands and challenged the notion of popularity.
• Rubin co-founded Def Jam, a record label focused on rap music, aiming to capture the essence of hip hop and elevate the role of the DJ in the genre.
• Hip hop’s global phenomenon was not initially considered, and there was resistance and skepticism when repositioning a radio station as the first hip hop station in the world.

The Creative Process and Cosmic Timetable

• Rick Rubin discusses his book, “The Creative Act, A Way of Being,” which aims to share the knowledge gained from working with a small group of artists with a wider audience.
• He emphasizes the importance of being in tune with the planet and the cosmic transmission of ideas, allowing remarkable things to happen more often.
• Creativity requires commitment, being present, and consistent work, even when inspiration is not readily available.

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Imperfection

• Rubin encourages artists to embrace playfulness, experimentation, and the process of rewriting and editing.
• He highlights the importance of momentum in creative work and the need to recognize when a project may have reached its peak.
• Artists act as translators for messages the universe broadcasts and develop sensitive antennas to pick up on resonating energy.

Summary

Upbringing and Influences

Rick Rubin’s upbringing on Long Island and exposure to a cosmopolitan lifestyle through his aunt Carol at Estee Lauder influenced his creative journey. His love for magic at a young age sparked his fascination with the impractical and unexplainable. Rubin’s recurring stress-related neck problems led him to explore meditation, eventually learning transcendental meditation (TM) and incorporating other forms of meditation into his life.

Early Music Journey

A high school teacher who taught Rick Rubin to play guitar and provided an environment for artistic expression ignited his interest in music. Despite parental expectations for a professional career, Rubin was drawn to music and started a punk band called The Pricks in high school. He later founded another punk band, Hose, influenced by the band Flipper and the unconventional performances of Andy Kaufman.

Impact of Flipper and Def Jam

Flipper, known for playing slow, sludgy music, inspired others to start slow punk bands and challenged the notion of popularity. Rubin co-founded Def Jam, a record label that aimed to capture the essence of hip hop and elevate the role of the DJ in the genre. Despite initial resistance and skepticism, hip hop became a global phenomenon, redefining music and culture.

The Creative Process and Cosmic Timetable

Rick Rubin’s book, “The Creative Act, A Way of Being,” shares insights into the creative process and the importance of being in tune with the planet and the cosmic transmission of ideas. He emphasizes the commitment, presence, and consistent work required for creativity, highlighting the role of artists as channels for cosmic messages. Rubin believes that being in tune with what’s going on leads to creating things that make the world a better, more balanced place.

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Imperfection

Rick Rubin encourages artists to embrace playfulness, experimentation, and the process of rewriting and editing. He emphasizes the importance of momentum in creative work and recognizing when a project may have reached its peak. Rubin believes that artists act as translators for messages the universe broadcasts and develop sensitive antennas to pick up on resonating energy. He acknowledges the challenges of self-doubt but emphasizes the need to believe in the possibility of achieving greatness and embracing imperfection.

Conclusion

In this episode of Design Matters with Debbie Millman, Rick Rubin shares his insights on creativity, the music industry, and the importance of being in tune with the cosmic transmission of ideas. He emphasizes the commitment, presence, and consistent work required for creativity and encourages artists to embrace playfulness, experimentation, and imperfection. Rubin’s experiences and perspectives offer valuable lessons for aspiring artists and creators.