American duo Big Gigantic talk social media, food, and good advice.
What has been your biggest life challenge so far and what did you do to overcome it?
Over coming what fear and negativity can do to your life in general is the biggest challenge I have.
It can be a never ending battle.
The glass half empty/half full analogy is always relevant.
It’s wild to see when you change your mindset, how fast good things happen or you manifest exactly what you desire.
Turning “WHY ME” to “TRY ME” is a motto I heard recently that has really stuck out.
What do you think affects your mental health positively?
Food, exercise, making/playing music, community, connecting with people.
Releasing as many endorphins as possible! Switching your mind to think from a place of positivity.
And negatively?
Phones, apps, negative people, the current president of the US. None of it is helpful.
Your upcoming album explores human connection – what do you think is advancing human connection?
I know we just said phones/apps are negative but in a lot of ways smart phones and apps are enhancing connection across greater distances.
Our accessibility to information is allowing people to learn quicker than ever. .
At the same time apps like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are a black hole.
If you’re not careful they can be an extremely negative influence on you at the same time.
And what is holding it back?
Fear holds everything back.
Do you think it’s as simple as ‘social media = bad’?
No, not at all. It’s an extremely difficult culprit to pin-point.
Phones, apps, social media in general is extremely new in the grand scheme of things.
iPhones have only been around for like 12 years, so a decade or so ago none of this was a thing.
It’s all new and we’re living through the effects it has on society in real time. It’s pretty crazy.
What role does creativity play in your wellbeing?
It literally releases so many endorphins and in theory makes us feel better.
It can be a blessing and a curse though.
What are you reading, watching and listening to at the moment?
Jeremy: I really need to read more. I watch a good amount of TV shows because it’s so easy to dig into Netflix, Amazon, etc. ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ is by far my favourite.
Music wise its all over the place from acts like Jungle, Tame Impala, Mac Miller, Robert Glasper, Phish, Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, Johnny Cash.
Dom: I’m not really reading anything too interesting at the moment, although I should be!
I’m watching lots of music videos and maybe an occasional ‘Doctor Who’ episode!
Musically, I’ve been diving back into some early Bjork, checking out some future funk stuff, and went back to some Jamiroquai too.
I’ve been going back to some older stuff recently.
What’s your go to music if you need a boost?
Jeremy: Stevie Wonder
Dom: Jazz
What are your favourite foods?
Jeremy: I love all sorts of food. I can eat XLB (Xiao Long Bao) soup dumplings and any other kind of dumplings just about every day, but that’s not the healthiest.
I eat lots of salads, sushi, Thai, Italian, Mexican. I’ll just stop there because I’ll start naming all food!
Dom: Tacos!
Do you like to exercise or meditate at all?
I try to get some sort of exercise just about every day.
That’s one of the easiest way to give your brain the best chance possible to start feeling good.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received in regards to your mental wellbeing?
I said it earlier but “Turn “WHY ME” into “TRY ME.’”
How have you changed since 15, and what advice would you give to that person?
I would say, “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Life isn’t a race, it’s a marathon.”