Kamasi Washington Quotes

I've always tried to stay clear of being labeled, putting a label on what type of music that I make.

I don't like rock. Honestly, I like to listen to it, but it's not for me. There's a lot of musical genres that I find interesting, but they don't suit me. It's one thing to listen to different genres, but to perform a genre that isn't yours is counterproductive.

A name doesn't make the music. It's just called that to differentiate it from other types of music.

We were bunched up with Southern bands, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. We just wanted to make it clear we weren't a Southern band.

Music is music; you don't have to put a label on it.

Some people think I'm a rock 'n' roll musician and some think I'm a jazz musician but, for me, there is no difference.

We are just fans of music, we are not fans of a specific kind of music. We just happen to be a rock band. Until we explain ourselves, sometimes people don't understand why we limit ourselves to just being a rock band. It's because that is what we like doing.

Music is music and there are only two types: good and bad.

I really think there are two genres of music: good music and bad music. And I'm just trying to be on the side of making good music.

I think the music defends myself. I don't think anyone should put a race on any genre. It's just a way of expressing yourself through instruments and sounds, right? People can just listen to the music.

A lot of music that's my favorite doesn't sound like the music I write.

I don't think a song should be put in a category.

I like hearing fiddles, steel guitar, acoustics up loud - really rock & roll stuff but with a country sound behind it. That's just who I am. I'm not trying to prove a point; I am just doing what I like. But I don't have any problems with any other artist coming in and doing their own thing.

I've always had a close connection to both rock and classical music.

In the early '70s, I started to feel like Philadelphia soul was the black-sheep brother of rock and roll. I decided to try to get away from it.

Music is a personal preference. Everyone's free to connect and like whatever they want.

The most important thing is that you honor that musical integrity, whether you make music that sounds like ABBA or you make music that sounds like Void.

I don't want to be seen as this math-rock geek.

The thing is, acoustic could be like a four-letter word to a lot of kids.

Good music is good music, and everything else can go to hell.

Too much emphasis is put on American roots music when people try and place me. You know, I grew up listening to punk.

When I was younger I didn't really know what genre of music I'd want to do because I'd always done so many different types, so many impressions.

I know music is subjective.

People are always defining and re-defining music. My style of playing has been characterized as smooth jazz and acid jazz. I listen as I play; I'm not caught up in defining the type of music I play.

I have a very difficult time describing my music. Because I run into people in the hardware store and they go, 'Oh, you're a musician. So what kind of music do you play?' And I go, 'Uh, I've been doin' this for many years - I don't know what to call it.'