Florian Schneider Quotes

I've never been one to just play safe music and think that's all there is to it.

I keep a band of great young people around me, and we're not musically restrained. It's not about 'Let's do it correct' but 'Let's do it right.'

There's a thin line between interesting music and self-indulgence. We crossed it on the Passengers record.

In terms of music, I can try anything I want, even something that doesn't work at all, because I'm not putting my career in jeopardy.

I've never played it safe on my own music.

I don't ever want to come out with something safe and get away with, 'It sounds good!' It's got to be more than sounding good. The music I like are events.

But it can be hard to experiment when you're in a band.

Music is really all about experimentation and lots of trial and error. It's just mind-numbingly boring until you hit on something that works well.

Being an American musician means being adventurous.

If we didn't want to upset anyone, we would make films about sewing, but even that could be dangerous. But I think finally, in a film, it is how the balance is and the feelings are. But I think there has to be those contrasts and strong things within a film for the total experience.

I'm definitely a risk-taker with my music.

So dance music is now pop music. So now, as a dance producer, what do I have to do? So I'm starting to do alien music, because pop is not pop anymore; we need to go alien to be independent.

To keep creating something with this type of music, you have to take it out of the box.

I think music needs danger; it needs risk.

What I really like doing is taking risks, musically.

Anything can become a musical sound. The wind on telegraph wires is a great sound; get it into your machine and play it and it becomes interesting.

I feel that when you care about your music, taking risks is something you should do to keep things exciting.

I was left with an urge to make the guitar sound like things it shouldn't be able to sound like.

Miles Davis would have this lineup of all these amazing musicians and one day would just say, 'We're done.' After tons of great records and tickets sold, he said, 'Now I'm going to grow my hair out and play my horn through a wah-wah pedal.' Rather than play it safe, he went on.

Certain jazz musicians just copy what was done 100 years ago. The music won't grow if nobody takes a risk.

That's the thing about musicians: The priority is to create something new that's never been before. And you put your life on the line every time that you play.

All my favorite bands are the ones that push the limits and boundaries.

There was a time when pop music and rock music were really reaching for the stars and were not ashamed to be experimental. You think of a song like 'Shout' by Tears for Fears. That's a massive global No. 1 hit, and yet the subject matter is very dark.

I like to experiment when it comes to music.

I don't try to make one thing. I really try to experiment, even if its just the vocals or the beat. I can't really describe my sound.