After wrapping a demanding recent campaign, I felt the familiar pang of stagnation. A voice in my head kept saying, "Hey, you're standing still, dude! How many more times can you shoot in your backyard?"
So the motivation for my trip to Europe was simple, yet profound: to explore. I truly like the idea of getting lost, because I know in that, you can be found — a yin and yang balance of light and dark.
So I explored Berlin, Germany, and London, England, just to see where it would take me, my art, and my work. It was a necessary escape from routine to reawaken the creative spirit, and I've documented my journey for the Tongal community
The Raw Inspiration of Berlin
Berlin was truly the 'kicker' that opened up a whole different world. And in the first video, I've tried to capture that raw energy of the city that inspired me creatively.
You're seeing graffiti everywhere, you're seeing stickers on every corner, you're seeing unique German architecture, and feeling the energy from Berghain, one of the world's greatest nightclubs. And German expressionism is so visible, accessible, and exciting.
It was so present, so alive. It was hard not to be inspired by every single thing that I was looking at. The inspiration was everywhere.
Creating to the Beat of London
While Berlin was the jolt I needed, London offered another layer of inspiration.
I visited a friend who VJs (does the visuals for DJing) and I got invited to an event they do every year called Hydraulics, which is a really cool, techno-driven rave scene.
I dived into the rave scene, music production, and DJing, which was fantastic. And again, just getting lost. I spent hours just walking in the most random places and being like, "I don't know where I am. I'm not going to use my GPS. I just want to see what I'm seeing." And my video captures the cheeky fun of the UK humor, which I loved.
My trip was full of pivotal, cultural experiences that were such a contrast to my home in California.
Adjusting to a New Reality at Home
After three months in Europe, the return home was surreal and, honestly, quite sad. Having been inspired by new places and experiencing this new chapter, landing back in the U.S. felt strange. There was a point where I just had to stop in my tracks and cry.
But now, I'm in a state where I'm grateful to have even experienced something like that, and having the ability to miss some place like that.
So reintegrating, I'm like, "All right, cool. Let's get to work." The inspiration is palpable. I have a whole list of videos to create, and a part of that, too, is having been inspired from what I've seen and experienced.
The journey was a true lesson in personal growth. Things were going great before I left, but the voice demanding change was loud.
The lesson: Get out of your bubble. Explore. Let the world inspire you. You might just find the next chapter of your creativity waiting.
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