Veteran musician Bright Chimezie has dismissed the popular belief that smoking or drinking alcohol enhances creativity.
On a recent episode of the CreativTea Podcast, the ‘Because English’ hitmaker insisted that artists who smoke or drink are simply enjoying themselves, not boosting their musical output.
He said, “The claims that you need to drink or smoke to get music inspiration is false. If you are drinking or smoking, you are just having fun. That doesn’t mean it will boost your creativity.”
Chimezie added that true music inspiration comes naturally.
But here’s the thing: while it’s true that creativity doesn’t require alcohol or cigarettes, can songs really “flow naturally” for everyone without some external help? Many artists admit that a drink or a smoke occasionally helps them relax, feel uninhibited, or explore emotions they might struggle to express otherwise. Dismissing these experiences entirely seems a bit narrow—after all, inspiration is personal, and what works for one musician may not work for another.