Try Hard: Creative Work in Progress

Arkells front man Kerman debuts with a refreshingly down-to-earth guide to the creative process. Tracing his musical career from writing songs in his basement at age 15 to forming his band as a young adult and into the present, he outlines a creative philosophy that focuses less on the mysteries of the muse than on finding a consuming passion. Other advice includes “continuing to work and evolve” instead of ruminating on insecurities, and prioritizing action rather than planning because “exactly what rewards you reap will remain undetermined until you get out there and exercise your creative muscles.” Kerman is at his most effective when he’s describing the visceral, intuitive nature of hissongwriting: “It’s hard to know what the ‘correct’ answer is,” he writes, “but you can feel it in your body when it’s not working. And that’s why living with a song that you know has potential is such a physically immersive feeling.... Even if you’re making a song about a dream world, you want it to feel real and honest.” Creatives of all stripes will be invigorated. (Apr.)