At Sūmèr, we actively look for motivation and inspiration to create compelling copy for our clients. In order to get our creative juices flowing, we often rely on music to become more focused and come up with new ideas to engineer the perfect message.

Yet, each copywriter has different tastes. For the most part, we pick artists that help clear our minds and get us into the copywriting mode. But sometimes, we simply want to dance, be silly, and have a good time. (Come on, don’t you have a few guilty pleasures?)

The next time you’re stuck in a mental rut, check out some of the following artists to get your synapses firing. Read on for our teams’ musical choices to streamline the workday (and have a little fun.)

Michelle Salater Sculpts for Success: Anytime I need motivation, inspiration, and a boost of energy, I put on one of the Sculptations Success Songs, and am instantly in a positive state of mind. I’m officially addicted to Paul Hoffman and Lacy Arnold’s MindSculpting Tracks. 

When She’s Rocking and Rolling: Okay, I have to admit that my guilty pleasure is 2Pac’s “Picture Me Rollin’.” Or if I’m in the mood for something especially cheesy, I’ll listen to some really bad 80’s power ballads. 

Catherine Campbell Keeps It Smooth: I love jazz. Anything without lyrics or else I start to tune into the lyrics instead of what I’m reading on my computer screen! Jazz albums such as Charlie Byrd’s “Byrd’s Word,” John Coltrane’s “Blue Train,” Art Pepper’s “Intensity” help keep me work with energy and clarity.

But Sometimes She Kicks It Up a Notch: When I want to change it up, I love Balhmorea or Bjork to kick things into gear in the creative department. Their albums are all over the place: layered beautifully and with unpredictable departures. This music sends me into an optimal state for switching mindsets. I simply close my eyes and dream up projects and campaigns for clients.

John Owen Focuses with Radiohead and Philip Glass: Ever since high school, I’ve been a diehard Radiohead fan. I especially appreciate how their style evolves from album to album. When I need to visualize on a project, I’ll put on Philip Glass, who I discovered accidentally. When I realized a lot of films I love featured richly textured music, I decided to find out who was responsible, and I haven’t stopped listening to Mr. Glass since.

And Sometimes He Dances in The Purple Rain: When I met my partner, we instantly bonded over our mutual guilty pleasure, Prince. When I feel like listening to an over-the-top performance, I’ll pop in Purple Rain and get my fix. Check out the movie of the same name, too.

Travis Mossotti’s Got The Blues: My favorite music to listen to while I’m writing is anything Blues. I love listening to the Blues, because the musicians revel in the everyday melancholy and promote an empathetic response. After all, the blues are nothing more than a communal grievance of what it means to be human. I love it all, from R.L. Burnside to The White Stripes.

Though He Likes To Space Out: My guilty pleasure will forever be trance music, because it’s full of verve and yearning and seems to have a tempo influenced by the pulse of a star or an electron or some other charged entity.

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