The poetry inside of me is warm like a gun
About sad girl branding, firing poetic gunshots and writing petty poetry.
Stab me
Stab me with the sword you borrowed
from the one who was supposed to break my heart
But in the end it wasn’t him, it was you who tore it apart
Bloody confetti you get to throw in the air
A deeper shade of red than the one you dye your hair
— Jenny Tâm Thai, 2024
Last Thursday, I got to have the magical experience of seeing one of my all-time favourite artists perform live - Lana del Rey.
Especially as a writer I deeply respect her lyricism. When it comes to music, I am naturally typically one to pay a lot of attention to lyrics. Music on its own might catch my attention but it is always the lyrics that truly get me hooked. That force me listen. But aside from Lana being an accomplished wordsmith (do you know about her poetry book?), the marketing professional in me is deeply fascinated by the artist persona she has created for herself.
I would describe Lana as the ultimate glamourised incarnation of the perpetual sad girl who is chasing the American dream, and any bit of love that she can get from her older bad guy. She’s self-destructive. She loves vanities, and flirting with death. She’s struggling with an overly emotional heart and a roaring mind. She would do anything for male validation.
And while you can take this type of persona down many paths, she chose the nostalgic one. Which ties everything together neatly and creates a perfect musical backdrop. Grandiose, memorable, and melancholic. Topped off with her evocative lyrics and imagery and dramatic vocals, she succeeds to create a universe that anyone can enter simply by tapping the play button.
This is how Elizabeth Grant finally broke into the industry as Lana Del Rey and how she is remembered by the masses. And it works, because she’s consistent with it. She authentically owns the sad girl branding and is creative with it.
Yet, without doubt, what we get to see is a fabricated person. And as much as I love Lana’s work, I would be eternally curious to know about Lizzie’s work. To what extend is her self-imposed sad girl branding impeding her from expressing herself authentically? In what ways is it allowing her to be even more creative? Does she ever feel like this is getting old? Will she ever completely reinvent herself?
Branding as a creative
Having a strong artist identity becomes crucial once you want to share your work publicly. It’s one thing to hone your craft and showcase your skills. It’s another to master those skills to the extend of being able to create freely and bring your vision to life. There is nothing wrong with just enjoying a creative activity and creating. But as a creativity coach, I think it never hurts to think about who you are as an artist.
Who do you create for? Why do you create?
Do you create for yourself or for someone else? Do you care about authenticity? Is there a personal story you want to tell? A deeper message you want to convey? Do you want to have the freedom to experiment and trial? Or do you want to create for a brand or as a fabricated persona? Are you able to reinvent yourself? Do you prefer to write from another perspective? Do you create with an audience in mind? Is it a job to you, a career? Is it your means to self-express?
If you are ever experiencing a creative block or feeling uninspired, revisiting these questions can be helpful. Not just to (re)establish who you are as an artist but also to discover how you can bend the rules and push the boundaries. Stepping outside a (self-imposed) box is a healthy thing to do as a creative.
Life as an artist
When it comes to forming an artist identity compared to a brand or business, I prefer to view it more like a loose framework than a rigid box. And that is because we are talking about living and breathing individuals here. And as humans we grow, we evolve, we change. We live and we learn. Our views and tastes and influences change. And that dictates the art we create, and the way in which we create said art.
However, being an artist and a creative is about more than just creating. Because creation is just one small part. You need inspiration, content, purpose, a reason to create. And no matter what you create, it will always be the autobiographical element that makes your art unique. As writers, for instance, we are always told to write about what we know best. And in order to know anything, we need to experience.
And how do you get that experience? By living life. By observing your surroundings. By taking note of your thoughts and reactions. By being mindful and curious. The beauty is - you are never the first or only one to experience these things. And that’s why art is so powerful. It’s a way of sparking thoughts and connecting with other humans on a deeper level.
And that is the case even if you are creating as a persona rather than your authentic self. I’m certain that while Lana Del Rey is a fabricated persona, there are still grains of truth and authenticity sprinkled throughout her songs. If there weren’t, we wouldn’t be able to connect with her music and lyrics as deeply.
The poetry inside of me is warm like a gun
Speaking of her work - one of my favourite lyrics of hers is from her song Bartender and goes “the poetry inside of me is warm like a gun”. There are so many things going on here that I appreciate so deeply.
I love the internal rhyme of poetry/inside of me. I love the cadence and contrast of the three quick syllables (poetry and inside of me) versus the long single syllables (warm and gun) mimicking the dance of a waltz. And, of course, I love the evocative comparison of poetry to a firing gun. The idea of speaking one’s truth through poetry. Or maybe even going as far as a metaphorical attack. A poetic gunshot. Something, a thought, an emotion, that is inside of you and that is burning to get out. Words cannot kill but what if they could?
A creative release
And when there is something that is burning to be released, it should be. Because bottling up your thoughts and feelings is nothing but poison to your mind. One of the main reasons why I am so passionate about creativity and the creative coaching work I do goes back to a quote by Dr. Edith Eger stating “the opposite of depression is expression.” And I wholeheartedly agree with that.
Whether it’d be through words, through paint, through movement - whatever it may be, expression and creation are the healthiest way to deal with anything that life throws at you. Creating authentically asks you to be fully honest with yourself, to acknowledge your thoughts and feelings and to validate them. And being able to transform something negative into anything positive is one of the most empowering feelings out there.
But there are no rules or limits here. No one said that you ultimately have to create from your perspective. Maybe you prefer to create as an alter ego. Or from someone else’s perspective. Or invent a completely different persona. Like the way Lana does. However, either way, I believe that in order to do so convincingly, you need to have fully understood your own stance first.
A poetic gunshot
Have you ever fired a poetic gunshot? I certainly have (my friends joke that they should make me sign an NDA and have compared me to Taylor Swift, I have a.. certain reputation :)). Let’s take a look at the opening poem of the day:
Stab me
Stab me with the sword you borrowed
from the one who was supposed to break my heart
But in the end it wasn’t him, it was you who tore it apart
Bloody confetti you get to throw in the air
A deeper shade of red than the one you dye your hair
Is it petty? Kind of. Is it dramatic? Overly so. Is it harsh and direct? Totally. But it works because it’s poetic. It’s a raw emotion wrapped up in a pretty and poetic bow. And most importantly, it was the soothing balm I needed to calm my aching soul. It’s creative expression and validation that I could gift myself in a moment when I felt so many thing were taken away from me.
Going a step further, this poem is a starting point. This is 1:1 what I felt life was throwing at me. And if I wanted to, I could develop this idea further by imagining a different persona and story. Or written from another perspective. I could turn it into a full song, a short story, a short film or inspire a photoshoot, similarly to what I explored in my previous post.
So here’s the conclusion I’d tell myself - write that petty poem, live out those intense emotions, fire those poetic gunshots. And use that momentum to create and build. Sad girl summer will come to an end eventually but creativity is an endless cycle that we are all connected to and get to feed on.
Journaling Prompts
What are three past experiences (small or big) that could inspire your creative work?
Do you prefer creating authentically for yourself or for a brand/persona? Why?
Can you rework any of your existing creative work or ideas from another perspective?
How would you define your artist branding? How can you strengthen that?
Book your Coaching Call: Artist Branding
If the topic of artist branding interest you and you would like to establish and develop your own identity as an artist and creative, I’m here to help! As a trained Creativity Coach and experienced Marketing Professional, I will walk you step-by-step through everything you need to consider. Simply reply back to this email or drop me a message at info@jennytamthai.com to book a free discovery call.
Book your Re:Start Workshop Spot!
I don’t know about you, but September has always felt like a more potent new start to me than January ever has. Maybe it’s because of la rentrée, the back-to-school season. Maybe it’s because it happens to be Virgo season (take that with a grain of salt). Or maybe it’s because you can feel the end of summer and the change of season looming over you.
But if you’re anything like me, you find it challenging to get back into a routine after the summer. Maybe you crave some healthy balance again after giving yourself and your body a break and prioritising other forms of self-care. Maybe you find your mind lacks clarity over what exactly you want to achieve, what needs to be done, and how to get there!
So in order to help you (and me!) find your groove again and get back on track, I’ve been working on a very special offering - my very first in-person workshop!
During this 2-hour yoga + creativity workshop, we will be reconnecting not only with our body and breath but also with our intentions and (creative) goals for the upcoming weeks and months. Re:starting on the right foot!
If it’s been a little while since you’ve last moved your body - don’t fret. We will be keeping it gentle and take it back to the basics. Even if you’ve never done yoga before you’re welcome to come join this workshop!
All the Info at one glance
When? Sunday, 8th of September 2024, 14-16h
Where? The Space, Nation, Paris 12e
How much? Early Bird (sign up before the 18th of August): 35€; Regular price: 40€; Book two spots for you and a friend: 70€
What can you expect? A mindful and inspiring afternoon! There will be a vinyasa yoga flow, a guided meditation, chanting, pranayama, journaling exercises, and goal-setting in a safe and inclusive environment. My intention is for you to leave this workshop feeling refreshed and clear about what steps you want to take next.
For whom is this workshop? For beginner and experienced yogis alike who want to get back on track with their (creative) goals and practice. You do not need to have creative ambitions or consider yourself a creative to join and benefit from this workshop!
How can you sign up? Follow this link to sign up. Shortly after, you will receive an email with payment information.
How many spots are available? To keep this intimate and cosy, spots will be limited to 8!
Stay creative,
Jenny x