I studied audio engineering at university. The background I am from, music was never seen as a viable career; it was always a hobby.
For too long, musicians have been the greatest enemy of music. Their lack of desire to proselytize is a kind of betrayal.
That's the exact concept behind the music: to take that kind of, I guess whatever you want to call it, jazz sensibility - but not have it be about solos.
I spent a lot of time in Tower Records. I'm a huge music nerd, and Tower was instrumental to me when I was growing up.
Despite all the technical improvements, it still boils down to a man or a woman and a microphone, playing music, sharing stories, talking about issues - communicating with an audience.
Stone walls confine a tinker; cold iron binds a witch; but a musician's music can never be fettered, for it lives first in her heart and mind.
Not compromising the music, but there is a way, by just showing the people that you're sincere and honest with what you're doing, and by talking to them.
I can only speak for myself - there were times when I just wasn't inspired by creating music.
Music is unique because you can get behind enemy lines a little bit, get into people's houses and into their heads, on their stereos, and win hearts and minds.
I used to be fast and loose with the term 'country' because I didn't know what else to call my music. I still don't.
I had always thought that I would do something that was connected to music as a career, or possibly Chinese, which was my major.
I think I'm no different from any artist in music. At least once, you want to see your name up on the top.
Beethoven's music tends to move from chaos to order, as if order were an imperative of human existence.
Before recording technology existed, you could not separate music from its social context.
It didn't even occur to me that I'm the last person in the world who should play salsa or Brazilian music.
I used to like the Jonas Brothers, but only because I thought that they were good-looking, not because I actually liked their music.
There was no match for Barry White. His music is just going to live forever. It's not limited to disco or soul or hip-hop or anything.
MTV essentially killed 'American Bandstand' and 'Solid Gold,' because music videos are an easier way for pop artists to gain television exposure.
I thought I'd use music to confront the problems that I faced, and it helped. I found a more healing mindset, and it did rejuvenate me.
I don't need my phone to play me music. I need it to be a phone and an e-mail thing.
I make my guitar scream with pain or pleasure or sensuality. It makes people move their feet and shake their bodies. That's what music does.
