Choosing Joy: How Creativity Can Change the Way We See the World

Through the Creative Door with Fran

Sometimes creativity doesn't begin with inspiration.

Sometimes it begins with a decision.

When I visited Fran in her home, she welcomed me into not one, but two creative spaces. One centred around a beautiful grand piano, the other a newly transformed electronic music studio where melodies, film scores and EDM tracks are now taking shape.

As we talked, it became clear that this wasn't simply a conversation about music production.

It was a conversation about choosing joy.

And how creativity has the power to completely change the lens through which we experience life.

A creative space should invite you to stay

One thing became immediately obvious while visiting Fran's home.

Every detail of her creative environment had intention behind it.

She spoke about how difficult it would be to create in a room dominated by a television or distractions. Instead, she has deliberately built spaces that invite focus, curiosity and play.

Even something as simple as redesigning her music studio changed everything.

The equipment hadn't changed dramatically.

The feeling had.

By repositioning her workspace so that her keyboard, computer and recording setup all worked together, creativity became more enjoyable and far more natural.

It's a beautiful reminder that our environment quietly shapes the work we create.

Sometimes changing the room changes the art.

A midlife awakening, not a crisis

One of my favourite moments in our conversation came when Fran described the turning point that led her into music production.

She didn't call it a midlife crisis.

She called it a midlife awakening.

Working in a profession dedicated to easing the suffering of others, she realised something profound.

Over time, she had become so focused on recognising pain that it was all she seemed to notice.

Then one simple question changed everything.

What if, instead of relieving suffering, I could create joy?

That question became the beginning of an entirely new creative journey.

Music wasn't simply a hobby.

It became a way of changing what she noticed in the world.

Creativity changes what you see

As Fran reflected on the past six years, she shared something I'll carry with me for a long time.

Before rediscovering music, she saw suffering everywhere.

Now...

She notices joy.

She spoke about seeing tiny moments of happiness, little "blissful glimmers" that had previously gone unnoticed.

Nothing about the world itself had changed.

She had.

By choosing to spend her time creating beauty, she had unknowingly retrained herself to recognise it.

It's remarkable how creativity doesn't only produce art.

Sometimes it reshapes the artist.

Collaboration creates something neither person could make alone

Fran and I also chatted about our own musical collaboration, which was her first time taking the lead as producer on a collaborative release.

Listening to her describe the excitement reminded me why I love collaborating with other creatives.

There's something incredibly special about bringing together different experiences, perspectives and skills to create something that simply couldn't exist otherwise.

It's less about ownership.

More about shared curiosity.

Every collaboration feels like planting a tiny seed together and watching something unexpected bloom. It is Just such a joy!

Great tools help, but they aren't the whole story

Like every creative, Fran has a growing collection of equipment.

One piece she couldn't imagine working without is her Kaotica Eyeball - a portable vocal isolation system that allows her to record high-quality vocals without needing a professional recording booth.

It's a practical solution that supports her creativity at home.

But despite our shared laugh about how expensive creative "toys" can become, we both agreed on something important.

The tools matter.

But they're only tools.

As Fran pointed out, an experienced craftsperson can still create remarkable work regardless of the equipment in front of them.

The gear supports the creativity.

It never replaces it.

Patience might be the greatest creative skill

Towards the end of our conversation, Fran offered advice that every creative needs to hear.

Be patient.

Learning a creative craft takes time.

Far longer than most people expect.

After six years of learning music production, she still sees herself as growing, exploring and discovering new possibilities.

The real reward isn't waiting for the next milestone.

It's falling in love with the process itself.

Because if you only celebrate the destination, there can be very long stretches between moments of joy.

If you love creating, however...

You never really stop winning.

Final Thoughts

Spending time with Fran reminded me that creativity isn't always about becoming someone new.

Sometimes it's about returning to the person you were before the world convinced you to stop singing to yourself.

Her story is one of rediscovery.

Of choosing joy over fear.

Of building spaces that support curiosity.

And of remembering that creating something simply because you love it is reason enough to begin.

Perhaps creativity isn't here to change the world overnight.

Perhaps it changes one person's perspective first.

And from there, everything else begins to look a little brighter.

Alexis x

Listen to the full conversation with Fran S1.E3 on Through the Creative Door, where we explore music production, creative spaces, collaboration, finding joy through art, and why it's never too late to begin creating the life you've always imagined.