We were lucky to catch up with Daniel Murtaugh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Daniel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

I think everyone at some point feels that their work or themselves are misunderstood or mischaracterized and I think that it’s a more natural thing than we give it credit for. For instance, we don’t understand the trees, unless we sit with them for extended periods of time. Even in this article you are reading, what you are reading or rather, what I am writing, has the opportunity to be misunderstood or mischaracterized. I also feel that in order to be our truest and most raw and real expression of ourselves, being misunderstood and mischaracterized is part of the gig. No one will ever understand your art the way you do and that’s actually really a beautiful thing if you can accept it for what it is. That would mean that it’s that way for everyone, universally. If you can approach your art in a free manner in which being misunderstood and mischaracterized is just a part of the art because you understand how much juice there is to empirical knowledge when its overlayed on any type of art that it becomes a part of the goal. I hope that my art is ambiguous enough to make someone think, “Is this about me?”. Identification and personal relationship with art is what drives it.

Daniel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been a producer of many different forms of media, including writing music, scripts and stories, graphic design, music and video production and has helped create many brands and developed creative concepts for them since I was a teenager. I started producing my own music at 20 years ago and have developed many projects through the years.

I think the one I am most proud of is one called The Neverever. It started as a synthwave idea and has turned into something far larger than I ever could have imagined. We have an entire universe for people to discover and I think the think I love most about the project is that for those who are paying attention, they might just discover themself. Its been a really vulnerable and raw for of art that I have worked to keep ambiguous yet still identifiable to audiences as well as fun enough to jam to even if the message isn’t your thing. My friend Jordan who you guys also interviewed is also a part of that project and I look very forward to seeing where it ends up.

I also run a studio, Reel Flow Studios, with Conner Christensen, another one of your interviews! We do all sorts of fun stuff from, commercials, to albums, to creating new ideas, to doing ADR for films, to putting together a rockumentary, to developing a puppet YouTube show!! We have lots of fun doing what we do with that place and if you are interested in checking us out just visit our website!

I don’t think I’ll ever do something that isn’t creative. It’s in my blood, my soul and my very existence. I can’t stop if it wanted to!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There are countless books that I can recommend and almost all of them are about self-development and/or consciousness. They go hand in hand really.

One of my absolute favorite reads about art has to the “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin. It really digs directly to the creative process and how I have also found that it tends to work. Yes, there is an actual system at play in the ethers of your mind and it can be discovered if you pay attention enough. The problem is we have way to many thoughts going on all the time and it can be hard to tell the difference or even “see through the fog” if you will.

Grant you I understand I’m starting to sound a little crazy now but that’s ok, I am. While I’m at it I should also tell you to check out “The Power Of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. Another great and direct look at the most powerful tool you have at your disposal when it comes to art or creativity. There are lots more but these are great spots to start if you want to grow your mind!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The best possible way to support artists and creatives is to just actually support them. Go out to their shows, buys things that they make, commission pieces from them, use their services, buy the merch!!

The problem is that the corporations are just so much more accessible so it makes it that much easier to just go with what’s simple but truly if you want to support and make creativity and art more of a powerhouse in our lives then skipping McDonalds to go to the local coffee house, buying from your friend that makes clothes instead of Target, or going to your co-workers concert instead of supporting LiveNation and their monopoly.

You can create some love that can only get more powerful. I’m in no way claiming to be some perfect person that never hits up Walmart, but I definitely try to help creatives out whenever it’s possible for me to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reelflowstudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_neverever/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenevereversociety/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-murtaugh-520b30161/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theneverever

Image Credits

Erik Olson
Craig Pickup
Jordan Young