The image of the isolated musical genius, think Beethoven alone at his piano or Bob Dylan sequestered in a cabin, persists in our cultural imagination, but it's largely a romanticised myth. Even the most seemingly solitary creators have relied heavily on communities for practice, feedback, and inspiration.

One of the most valuable aspects of being part of a creative community is the opportunity to exchange feedback and constructive criticism. As musicians, we can sometimes become too close to our own work, making it difficult to see where we might need to improve or try something different. By sharing our music with others, we open ourselves up to the insights and expertise of our peers, who can help us see our work with fresh eyes.

Many artists engineer deliberate oscillation between these modes. They create "seasons" of deep isolation for creation, followed by intensive community engagement for refinement and release. They maintain a trusted inner circle for ongoing feedback while protecting sacred creative time from intrusion. They distinguish between communities that energise versus those that drain, curating their creative ecosystem as carefully as their setlists.

Magic can be made in isolation, but it can also die there, so find your balance. This is the ‘curse of the creative’ and you’ll need to develop an assertiveness as to what the ideal balance is for you.