Anne Rice Quotes

Anything that I write comes from the soul.

I'm not trying to stay in the same place and I'm not trying to compete with what's currently in fashion. That would be dishonest. But, at the same time, I'm different and the music reflects that to some degree.

I don't want ever to be guilty of what my critics claim: doing formula without original elements.

It's amazing that you can listen to any song and you can always tell when there's some substance beneath it and when there isn't. Even if it's poetically written and technically brilliant, I'd rather hear something that's all over the place but has some soul to it.

I never want to compromise my act just to get a laugh.

I want my writing to reach people. I don't write for a market. I write from my heart, something that appeals to me. The marketing, segmenting etc., can be done by your publisher, not you.

Just trying to be different - when I hear something - I don't like to go trampling on other people's sounds.

All I try to do is to write music that feels meaningful to me, that has commitment and passion behind it.

If you were to hold me to a standard of, 'What are you doing, singing about a scratch-off ticket at your level of success?' then my music's gonna be ridiculous.

The writer interweaves a story with his own doubts, questions, and values. That is art.

When you write a song, you don't ask if it's good or not, or if it's gonna sell. When you write a song, you ask whether you've reached deep inside your heart and whether it's honest.

I never try to pander to an audience, and I'm really not concerned with my image. I'm far more interested in stretching my abilities as an actor.

I write to music, and Nina Simone is always on my playlist to write to. I mean, she's inspiring. She's truthful and real and raw.

If it doesn't come from your heart, music just doesn't work.

Anybody who goes searching can find enough artistic things I've done that nobody can ever say I sold out.

That's something that I think the best artists retain - the ability to invite you into their small, intimate inner space, and let that be what radiates.

I don't think I'd ever apologise for music I make, no.

When I started off as an actor, the last thing I wanted to do in the world was make money. I was under the impression, when I started off as an actor, that the more money I made, the more it would diminish from my creativity and my capacity to be an artist.

I wanted to create a body of work that I was proud of. It's come from honesty and integrity, without forcing anything from myself, the ideas had to come instinctively and organically. Whether that translates to people in that way, it's kind of out of my hands now.

I don't feel I have to be Jackson Browne. Still, I like to say something.

I always just experiment with different sounds and styles until I find something that evokes the feeling I'm going for. I'm not trying to think too much about what anyone else is doing.

For me, it's about making art that's not good but phenomenal. James Baldwin didn't want to just stay above the fray. Prince didn't think, 'I wonder what the industry is gonna think about 'Purple Rain.'' It's just, is this honest? Is this real? Does this move me? The rest is icing.

Before the money or anything, number one, it was just to put out real music, real stuff with a passion, real art.

You can play as good as you want, but you have to sing from a place of living.

I really believe in not compromising your art. I feel like I've never compromised my art.