We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dylan Diamond a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dylan , appreciate you joining us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

My creative work has saved me from my disorder more times than I can count.

Right after my freshman year of college, I had my first psychotic break that landed me in the hospital, completely estranged from reality. I had incoherent trains of thought and genuinely believed in fictional narratives. I couldn’t sleep and developed feelings self-disgust. I didn’t understand what was happening to me, and during my brief periods of lucidity, I didn’t know if I would ever go back to ‘normal’. I was extremely fortunate to have the incredible support of my friends, family, and doctors. With their help and mindful practices, I was slowly returned to my normal self while on heavy antipsychotic medication.

Throughout my college career, I experienced two more intense manic episodes of delusion, each one taking longer to recover from than the last. I would repeatedly fall into deep depression in the midst of episodes, with moments of self-harm and hopelessness. I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 disorder and put on proper medication. Thankfully, today, with proper life balances, a support network, and medication, I have not collapsed into a manic-depressive episode since then.

But throughout all of this, the one constant act that allowed me to pull myself out of the depths of insanity and stay stable was my creative work and passions. I can’t express how important it is for me to have a major creative component in my life. When I’m not feeling well due to my disorder, I find that my art is an amazing outlet to not only deal with my emotions but also to express them in a unique way. When I was dealing with the aftershock of my first episode, I started repeatedly drawing this little robot character of mine to comfort me. He has now been drawn hundreds of times, 3D modeled, and animated, and serves as a sort of coping mechanism and symbolism for mental trauma and stability.

While dealing with Bipolar Disorder can be extremely challenging and, at times, make you question your worth, I know that it is also a part of me. I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without it, and I now understand that the very thing I used to hate about myself is also what drives me to do the creative work I love so much.

Dylan , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a multifaceted digital artist. A couple of years ago, I left my stable robotics engineering job to pursue more creative and artistically fulfilling endeavors. Currently, I work as a freelancer, engaging in various projects such as photography, videography, web presence, and 3D renderings. I’m proud to mention that, with my assistance, one of my clients, Terry Furuta Designs, secured reputable contracts with high-end hotels and entertainment firms. I have also collaborated with art galleries and other entrepreneurs. However, my true passion lies in my personal projects, which involve music, visuals, and game design.

“Manic Machines” is my artist name for my music. I received classical training on the piano and have been producing electronic music since high school. My music places a heavy emphasis on emotion and narrative, drawing inspiration from science fiction. Additionally, I like to incorporate custom visuals and animations to create a more immersive theme and setting. I use a combination of 3D software and live-action footage to craft audiovisual experiences, which can be found on my social media, YouTube, and in my live shows. The robot character mentioned earlier, “Jarvis,” is a central visual theme for this project and frequently appears in the animations accompanying the music. I plan to continue producing both audio and visuals for the project to create a cohesive live show experience.

In addition to my work as a freelancer, music producer, and digital 3D artist, I am also learning game development. I see designing games as the perfect medium to consolidate all my forms of artistic self-expression into one package. I plan to use my past artistic and technical experience to create an indie game featuring my own music, visuals, and game mechanics. I believe there is always cross-pollination between different forms of art, so learning something new like game design will enhance the work I’ve already been doing, such as my music, and vice versa. My current game project is a simple yet atmospherically pleasant experience where you play as a crab on a beach, using unique controls to avoid seagulls and other obstacles. I find using tools in music and visual art to create an impactful, immersive, and emotional experience truly exciting and can’t wait to dive deeper.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I meet a lot of people who don’t do art at all because they claim they are “not creative at all” or have “no artistic talent.” In this competitive, capitalistic world that encourages constant comparison, we often measure ourselves against what we see others achieve. We are often exposed to either a finished product or work resulting from a lifetime of effort or a disingenuous flash of talent that doesn’t accurately tell the whole story. After viewing others’ work, we may feel flustered and look inward, saying, ‘I’ll never be able to do/have that.’ However, the truth is that art isn’t about comparison at all; it’s about enjoying the process and creating a reflection of yourself at that given time. It is a way to express a part of yourself you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Sometimes, regardless of the craftsmanship or mastery, someone will see your work and resonate with it in a way you never thought possible. The idea that people shy away from the joy of creating because we are taught to compare work and skill levels to others is ridiculous. I believe everyone has a creative bone in their body; you just have to find the medium that excites you and enjoy the ride.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Even after creating art my whole life, I still find myself repeatedly realizing the best part of art. It is not the finished project or even the act of showcasing the finished project. The best part, for me at least, is in the flow state of doing. When I am working on something I am excited about, there is a balance that makes it fun and engaging. I have a good idea of what to do, but there is still enough uncertainty or learning to make it interesting. When this happens in my creative workflow, I find it to be the most pleasurable and rewarding form of escapism I know. I don’t think about anything other than getting the artistic project closer to completion and fantasizing about what the end product would be like. I do this all the while without realizing this ‘act of making’ is the best part, and the work that comes out of it is just a by-product of the creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ddfreelance.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylanhdiamond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dylanhawkediamond
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-diamond-1a9307a6/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgl5qqgowtZ0JepkRVoOczg
• Other: (Electronic Music Artist) Manic Machines linktree: https://linktr.ee/manicmachines