Dhani Harrison Quotes

When I got into the music industry, I wasn't focused on being the most famous artist or even getting a major record deal. It was just to make music on my own terms or create my own image, do my own hair, do my own makeup.

I knew what I wanted to be, but I didn't know exactly how to get there. I thought you move to Nashville, you sing downtown, and someone discovers you, and you become a country music star. I had no idea.

I did not start IC and Inteam to have control over my music. I had control before and after.

To me, being in the big time is not that big of a deal. I've been there; I know what it is. It's exciting, but it's also a lot of work and pressure. I love sort of flying under the radar where we can play theaters and sell CD's on the Internet, and it's really kind of a cool time.

I don't think the label makes the artist or the artist makes the label. It's the music that makes everything work or not.

A whole generation of veteran composers has never taken a stand or provided an example and has produced in the music academies generations of docile workers for the music industry. What can you expect from downtrodden workers who see music as a type of profession, like stenography, and not an act of creation that by its nature is subversive?

I'm not saying I wasn't flawed or amateurish. But you can never say I did anything to appease the music business.

I'm in a very good place to make records. Needing to make money off music is very dangerous.

The whole point of 'Acid Rap' was just to ask people a question: does the music business side of this dictate what type of project this is? If it's all original music and it's got this much emotion around it and it connects this way with this many people, is it a mixtape? What's an 'album' these days, anyways?

The reason I never wanted to sign with a big label was because I didn't want no one telling me how to make my music.

I have just enough people paying attention that I have the freedom to be in charge. And I have a great record company - Nonesuch understands what I'm about.

I have been involved in music since 1972 when I started managing two artists from The Jimi Hendrix Band. My family has been involved in music for years, so it's kind of in my blood. I just wish I could sing!

It's funny, when bands or younger musicians ask me: 'So, what does it take to make it?' Well, first explain to me what you mean by 'making it': Do you want to be a rock star or do you want music to be your livelihood?

I want to do music the rest of my life.

I feel fortunate about being able to make the music I want to make and getting away with it.

I'm in a band, and we play music. And that's sort of my way of still being a rock star.

I just want to make music and make a living. I just have to find the means of doing that.

I plan to stay in music. I plan to keep making records.

I'm very much interested in music specifically and wanted to make a film about it, but not in an atmosphere of censorship.

When I graduated college, I had a fairly successful weekly club gig and was buying more studio equipment and writing my own music. I realized I didn't want to work.

All I've ever wanted to do was play music and go on the road and make records.

I even have nephews who make music, my daughter makes music. I don't know what advice to give them these days. It's really a tough industry to break into.

Music's always been a huge part of my life, and my first record came out in 1981.

All I knew when I moved to Nashville was that I wanted to make music in whatever shape and form I could.

Creativity is much better when it's free. Someone can take it and sell it if that's what it needs, and from that standpoint, you have to have a label. If you could make your music and just give it away and somehow make a living - that would be the best scenario.