When I want to compose music for a film or video, my mind needs to be still and not too busy with distractions. One of the best ways for a mental reset for me is to meditate, to move my body, do some sport or a quiet walk in nature. When the chatter of everyday life is calming down and I open my senses to the sounds and sensations of the nature around me, it connects me to something more essential and beyond physical reality. It opens my heart and the inner “channels” to receive melodies and sound ideas from somewhere else. This is when unplanned melodies and harmonies come that surprise me.
But sometimes I am getting directly inspired by the impressions from everyday life and they trigger the best idea. It depends. Most important is that I find a way to focus, be still and listen.