Jan Delay: Why he chooses handwritten notes over digital notes!

Jan Delay: Why he chooses handwritten notes over digital notes!

Jan Delay is a real phenomenon in the music world! The 49-year-old musician from Hamburg, who is known to many for his unmistakable voice and his creative work in German rap, reggae and funk, works intensively on his song ideas. A central element of his creative work is his notebook, in which he always records his ideas by hand. He has a very clear reason for deciding not to use his cell phone: he finds the tactile quality of writing to be important for his creativity. According to Radio Euskirchen, when writing with a ballpoint pen, which he has used since he was at school, he feels much more connected and can visualize his thoughts better than if they were on a normal screen.

Jan Delay, whose real name is Jan Philipp Eißfeldt, was born on August 25, 1976 and has had a significant influence on the music scene since the 1990s. He has become known not only as a member of the hip-hop group Beginner, but also through his solo albums, which are both commercially and artistically successful. What's impressive is that he actually writes his lyrics and ideas down on paper with a blue ballpoint pen; However, from time to time he also finds black coolies cool. He really hits the ground running with this creative process!

The Importance of Writing

The haptic experience of writing is of great importance not only for Jan Delay but also for many other artists. Studies show that creative work contributes significantly to the cognitive development of the brain. The prefrontal cortex and limbic system play a key role in creativity as they are responsible for planning, emotions and motivation. Writing by hand can also help to promote creative thinking processes, which is proven again and again by original research - relaxation while writing works! These findings are not just relevant to artists, but can help us all improve our cognitive abilities and achieve the “flow” state during social interactions. Das Wissen reports that creative activities reduce stress and stabilize emotional balance.

Jan Delay prefers to go through everyday creative life with a physical notebook, an approach that has proven to be sustainable and beneficial for his creativity. “I have a good hand for ideas,” he tells us when he puts his thoughts into writing and creates his musical masterpieces.

A look at the artist's career

Delay is not only active as a musician, but also knows how to promote talent and assert himself in the music industry. In 1997 he founded his own label, Eimsbush, to support underground talent without mainstream pressure. Despite the fact that the label closed in 2003 due to financial difficulties, Jan Delay remains a central element in the music scene. The list of his albums and singles is considerable:

With this success story and the unwavering belief in his creativity, Jan Delay remains an important player in the German cultural and music scene. And no matter whether with a pen or virtual tools – the creative environment will always give him an answer! Who wouldn't want to capture their creative thoughts in such a personal and tangible way?