Check out our feature called Inspiration is the Vibration where we talk to creative humans that inspire us. This is a space where they can talk about the music that enlightens their creative vision. Today we’re excited to share the work and inspiration of Johnny Terror.
What five albums define the ethos of your design work?
1. Jodorowsky’s Dune – by Kurt Stenzel
This soundtrack always transports me back to the time when I first discovered both Dune, The Incal, Jodorowsky, and, most importantly, Moebius. His work left a great impression on myself as a person and an artist.
2. Betrayal – by Muslimgauze
Coming from Berlin, I’ve always had a big fascination with Arabic and Middle Eastern culture and history. There are many good albums by Muslimgauze but somehow this one stuck with me the most and I find myself listening to it quite often while I draw.
3. Mental Door – by Klaus Schulze
An album that I only recently discovered. The futuristic and trance-like tone of the music inspires me a lot and is the perfect and much-need background tune for creating things and letting the mind expand creatively.
4. They Live OST – John Carpenter & Alan Howarth
Since my artist name, Johnny Terror is directly inspired by 80s trash movies, it comes as no surprise that I listen to this soundtrack very often for relaxation. I am a big fan of the movie and Carpenter’s other work. I can’t recall how many times I’ve listened to this soundtrack while walking through the streets of Tokyo on a summer’s night.
5. Blade Runner OST – Vangelis
Blade Runner is probably one of the most inspiring movies I have ever seen. Its soundtrack is an experience in and of itself. There is no point in trying to use big words and complicated sentences to describe this masterpiece. Just sit down and listen to it.
What two historic events or subcultures impact your design work?
Subcultures evolve continuously and reshape themselves. There isn’t any specific subculture that stands out to me. However, I was quite heavily inspired visually by the movie and comic culture of the 80s and 90s. I was born in 1993, so I only observed these phenomena through the retrospective looking-glass. The comic culture had more liberties and most importantly more creativity. Luckily, the Japanese Manga culture is still very strong and thriving.
If you could give one piece of advice to a young person thinking of getting into art & design, what would it be?
Put your own work and creativity in front of everything else. What you created yesterday is already in the past, think about tomorrow. Surround yourself with objects, fashion, music, movies, and people that keep your creativity alive and thriving.
