P. J. Harvey Quotes

Music is my way out. I keep things locked up and never say anything. I guess in order to say something to one person, I have to sing it to a couple of thousand. It doesn't make for healthy relationships.

Strangely, I feel that I become increasingly reclusive in my normal life and more open and candid in my music.

I come from a dancing background, and I know it's stereotypical, but I would dance because I wasn't comfortable speaking to people.

I am really a very shy person. If I appear, it is because of the music, not because I want to be seen.

I kind of keep my personality in my pocket a lot. When I start to do stand-up, that's not my true personality either. It's the personality of a guy who hasn't been able to say what he wanted to say.

Me being a shy kid, very closed off, showing vulnerability in a character was sort of a safe space on stage. It's always been in my toolbox, there for me when I need it.

I'm not a man of many words, I'm not very expressive or emotional, but it comes out in my music.

I think what's wrong with too many people is they're too reserved. They're miserable, but they don't want to talk about it.

In a way song writing can almost be detrimental, because suddenly you find an outlet that is a kind of cheating. You don't need to have direct communication. You can say, 'I can't describe it to you, but I will record it and send it to you.'

I'm actually not an exhibitionist at all. When you get onstage and you get under the lights playing music, I feel more hidden and more alone than anywhere else. You hide behind your music and let your emotions come out through the music.

There, in the chords and melodies, is everything I want to say. The words just jolly it along. It's always been my way of expressing what, for me, is inexpressible by any other means.

Some people are uncomfortable saying what they feel.

Singing, to me, just feels really vulnerable.

I always did music privately as a hobby, I think partly because I was nervous to do it in front of other people.

A lot of writers don't know what it feels like to get on stage. They don't understand the weight that songs can carry. I got a chance to play all these shows. I got a chance to define myself through music, so when it comes to helping other people figure out what they should say, I've been through it.

I'm not good at opening up with people.

In general, I probably have a shy nature. So the idea of poking out with my music is probably not something I want to do.

The minute I stop singing, I'm back to being shy. I'm soft-spoken because I never really talked to people. I didn't learn to do it.

The aggressive side of me comes across in my music, but I'm just a sweet girl.

Music is about expressing things you can't in everyday life.

I never felt comfortable in real life very well. It's always been an awkward kind of thing for me and so when I hit the stage I just sensed freedom. I sensed, 'Here's a place that I can have all the experiences of life and not feel uncomfortable about it.'

I don't like talking about myself and I don't like talking about the work.

I find in music there's a space and a language I can use to express things in ways I can't describe conversationally.

What's the point of a song if you can't be honest?

Rap helps me connect emotionally.