i recommend
Editor’s note
Aryan Nair is a jack of all trades. He works as a writer, photographer, videographer and overall as a visual artist. We highly suggest checking out his latest work, the ‘Cochin Documentation Project’. There’s loads more about Aryan’s work on his Insta handle and Youtube.
Over to Aryan…
I love the creative process and the dialogue that surrounds it. As information overload and burnout become increasingly common, these are some of my favourite things that help me navigate being in a creative profession.
My Happy Gut: I like to take half a teaspoon of this with hot water just before bed—it soothes my tummy and this compounds over weeks to improve my overall gut health. Most importantly, I like the feeling that each time I make this drink, I’m investing in my health–which sort of cascades into better eating decisions. It’s almost a ritual.
Inshot: This is a useful little video editing app for your phone, and it’s what got me started with editing three years ago. It’s super nifty and a great place to start for making videos!
Vinland Saga: is a slow-burn historical anime. The story follows the discovery of Vinland, which is part of current day North America. The story has incredibly well written characters—many of whom you might initially dislike, but will end up loving by the end. The main character Thorfinn Karlsefni is an Icelandic explorer from around 980 AD. It’s one of those shows that usually incites a moment of silent awe after the credits roll, like, “did I really just watch that?” Available on Netflix.
Vanilla Villa EP: This is a three-song EP by my favourite band of all time, Sunset Rollercoaster. These are some of the more atmospheric/dreamy pieces by the Taiwanese group–whose music genres range from 80’s inspired mandopop to plain rock. I’ve been listening to ‘Vanilla Villa’ for three years now and I still notice something new in the music each time. The video is great too.
The Creative Independent: This is a fantastic resource on everything about being creative–essays, tips, guides and interviews. Nothing beats reading about the thought process of other creative people to make you feel hopeful about your own creativity. You glean raw, unfiltered, and practical advice from real people—a goldmine in an age of information overload. The interviews and guides here are perfect for when you're feeling particularly unmotivated.
Note: This is NOT sponsored content. We use this section to spotlight the recommendations of people we trust and admire.
