who's afraid of repetition


repetition
i fear that it seems lazy or uncreative when i create it
i shy away from repetition, even when i want it but
repetition cannot be lazy if it is crafted with care
repetition cannot be uncreative if it is crafted with intent

the following are some examples of repetition:

repetition is useful

students love to study within relaxing repetitive lofi hiphop loops
speakers repeat key words and phrases for emphasis
filmmakers repeat shots in jump cuts for a jarring effect

repetition is natural

birdsong, rushing water, electronic hum and the wind
fibonacci sequences found within flora, leaves and petals repeating
sounds bouncing off surfaces, echolocation
your heart beating in your chest
life cycles and history

repetition is surreal

ghost notes in a repetitive musical piece
optical illusions
the building anticipation before a bass drop
the drone of everyday life
your own habits, how did they come to be?
the language you use, the way you see the world

repetition requires patience to love
repetition brings out love in its depth
it’s worth it to create spaces that you can stay in for a long time
motifs worth listening to over and over again
the joy of discovery, of mastery sits within repetition

so reuse samples, ideas
say things again, think things again
reread, rewrite, loop, waste your time
follow the echo
crack it open and discover something new within

and feel no need to justify repetition
things don’t have to change and progress all the time