Inside Prince’s Creative Aquarium: The Bizarre Ritual That Fueled His Genius

Prince, the enigmatic musical genius whose creativity knew no bounds, was an artist whose inspirations were as unique as his sound. Often seen as an individual beyond influence, Prince crafted songs that seemed to spring forth from his own imaginative universe. Yet, like all great artists, he too sought inspiration, and his process was as unconventional as the music he created. One of the most peculiar yet fascinating elements of Prince’s creative routine was his “aquarium,” a ritualistic space that helped fuel his brilliance.

The term “aquarium” might conjure up images of fish and underwater serenity, but in Prince’s world, it was much more—an environment curated to stimulate his creative mind. This space, however, wasn’t filled with paintbrushes or notebooks, but instead with the constant loop of two films that helped Prince tap into a deep well of inspiration. Questlove, drummer for The Roots and a longtime Prince collaborator, once revealed the details of this strange ritual. “Since 1997, Soul Train has been my aquarium. That’s a Prince term,” Questlove said. “Whenever you’d go to Prince’s house, two things were always on TV: the 2003 animated film Finding Nemo and Black Orpheus, a beautiful Brazilian film from 1959. He would have those on a constant loop.”

For most people, it might seem odd that Prince found creative energy in these two films—one an animated underwater adventure and the other a tragic love story set in the world of Brazilian carnival. But for Prince, the ambient noise and the repetition of these films provided the perfect backdrop for his work, allowing his mind to wander and to form new ideas while remaining undistracted.

Beyond the cinematic influences in his “aquarium,” Prince was also deeply inspired by the music of Earth, Wind & Fire. A fan of their dynamic and genre-defying approach, Prince admired how they seamlessly blended soul, funk, and disco into something that felt both timeless and fresh. Allee Willis, a songwriter known for her work with Earth, Wind & Fire, recounted Prince’s fandom for the band in a blog post. She revealed how Prince, often seen at their office in the late 1970s, was deeply moved by their music. In fact, he was such a devoted fan that he had a particular song in mind for the end of every DJ set: September. “He told his personal DJ, Purple Pam, to always end her sets with ‘September,'” Willis recalled, reflecting on Prince’s adoration for the band.

This admiration reached its peak when Prince had the opportunity to work with Earth, Wind & Fire in the ‘90s. When the band asked him to contribute to their Millennium album, Prince jumped at the chance. The track he wrote for them, Super Hero, was brought into the studio already completed—ready to be recorded. The band was thrilled with what Prince had created, and the song quickly took shape with his guitar contribution. Prince’s involvement not only solidified his stamp on Earth, Wind & Fire’s sound, but also allowed him to bring his own flair to the music of one of his idols.

Prince’s creative “aquarium” and his reverence for Earth, Wind & Fire are just two pieces of the puzzle that made him a musical genius. It’s clear that Prince was more than just an artist; he was a curator of experiences, constantly seeking new ways to spark his creativity. Whether it was through his eccentric ritual of watching Finding Nemo and Black Orpheus or by collaborating with musical legends, Prince’s ability to draw inspiration from the world around him is a testament to his boundless creativity.

In the end, Prince’s “aquarium” wasn’t just a physical space, but a state of mind—a place where the fusion of sound, film, and art helped him create the timeless music that would change the world forever.