Create for You First

Through the Creative Door with Stacey Ann

Sometimes the biggest creative breakthrough doesn't happen in a studio.

Sometimes it happens when everything falls apart.

When I visited Stacey Ann in her creative space, we spoke about music, songwriting and the excitement of a new EP. But as our conversation unfolded, it became something much deeper.

It became a conversation about mental health.

About losing yourself.

About finding your way home again.

And about remembering that creativity isn't something we owe the world.

It's something we first owe ourselves.

A creative space can become a sanctuary

Stacey welcomed me into the room where she writes, reflects and creates (which is currently also her bedroom).

After weeks of rehearsals, performances and being constantly on the move, she admitted something many creatives understand all too well.

She hadn't spent much time there lately.

Simply walking back into her bedroom, her creative sanctuary, brought an immediate sense of calm.

The piano waiting quietly in the corner.

The familiar surroundings.

The silence.

Her creative space isn't just somewhere she makes music.

It's where she reconnects with herself.

Sometimes creating begins with simply coming home.

Your tribe can help carry your dreams

As we spoke about the upcoming release of Stacey's EP, one thing became beautifully clear.

This project isn't something she's built alone.

She spoke with genuine gratitude about the musicians, producers and sound engineers who have become part of her journey, not simply because of their talent, but because of their belief in her.

Every creative needs people who remind them to keep going when self-belief begins to fade.

Those collaborators become more than colleagues.

They become your tribe.

The people who celebrate your wins as though they're their own.

And that kind of support is priceless.

Sometimes the biggest journey happens inside you

One of the most moving parts of our conversation centred around Stacey's experience with anxiety.

As a child, anxiety shaped much of her life.

Over time, she believed she'd left it behind.

Then, during a solo trip through Europe, it returned unexpectedly.

What was meant to be an adventure became something entirely different.

Without her usual support systems (being back in perth, Aus) and without music surrounding her in the ways she'd always known, she found herself navigating one of the most difficult seasons of her life.

But somewhere inside that challenge came clarity.

She realised just how deeply music was woven into who she is.

Returning home to Perth and stepping back onto a stage wasn't just another performance.

It was proof that she was finding herself again.

Sometimes healing isn't about becoming stronger.

It's about remembering what brings you back to life.

Creativity doesn't need perfect conditions

One of my favourite stories Stacey shared happened while she was overseas.

Without her piano or recording setup, she improvised.

Voice memos on her phone.

A laptop.

Logic Pro.

A willingness to experiment.

Instead of worrying about doing things the "right" way, she simply played.

She sped up an old song.

Tried new ideas.

Ignored perfection.

That experiment eventually became one of her favourite songs she'd ever written.

And there it was, a moment in our chat that had reminded both of us as creatives that creativity rarely asks for perfect circumstances.

It simply asks us to begin with whatever we have.

Not everyone will love what you create—and that's ok!

As artists, we naturally hope people will connect with our work.

But Stacey spoke honestly about releasing music into the world and receiving feedback that wasn't always positive.

It hurt.

Of course it did.

Yet she also realised something equally important.

For every person who said a song wasn't for them...

Someone else loved it.

Art has never been about pleasing everyone.

It has always been about connecting deeply with someone.

That's a very different goal.

And perhaps a much healthier one.

Celebrate the small wins

Towards the end of our conversation, Stacey shared advice that every creative could benefit from hearing.

Celebrate the little things.

Finishing a chorus.

Getting onto a playlist.

Completing a recording session.

Writing one verse you're proud of.

Creative careers rarely come with one grand finish line.

Instead, they're built from hundreds of quiet victories that deserve just as much celebration.

Because if we only allow ourselves to feel successful after achieving the biggest milestones...

We'll spend most of our lives forgetting how far we've already come.

Final Thoughts

Spending time with Stacey reminded me that creativity isn't about constantly producing.

Sometimes it's about healing.

Sometimes it's about adapting when life changes.

Sometimes it's about creating with nothing more than a phone, a laptop and a little bit of hope.

Most importantly, it's about remembering why we started in the first place.

Create because it fills you up.

Create because it helps you understand yourself.

Create because somewhere, someone might hear your story and realise they aren't alone.

And if that someone is you...

That's enough.

A x

Listen to the full conversation with Stacey Ann on Through the Creative Door S1.E5, where we explore creativity, anxiety, finding your tribe, songwriting, resilience, and why the most meaningful art often begins by creating for yourself first.