Johann Johannsson Quotes

The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes ah, that is where the art resides.

For me, music is in the choice of what not to play as much as in what you've chosen to play.

Music needs room to breathe.

In music, silence is more important than sound.

It's not the notes you play, it's the notes you don't play.

You have certain expressions when you write music, a lot of different emotions, a lot of different feelings.

Music is the silence between the notes.

Nature is garrulous to the point of confusion, let the artist be truly taciturn.

All you have to do is play one note. But it needs to be the right note.

For me, the best rock is not what you play - it's what you're not playing.

Silence can be very effective, and it gives the music space to breathe.

As a songwriter, simplicity - what not to do, what not to play - can be the hardest thing to achieve.

You really have to play with the space in a riff so it can be allowed to breathe.

The bass and drums are the engine, and the key to good bass playing is it's not what you play, it's what you DON'T play that counts. You leave the spaces, they're more important than anything.

If you don't know what to play, play nothing.

Explain nothing. Put it there. Say it. Leave.

The silence between the notes is the good part for me. I find that to be a very important part of music that is often lacking.

I always enjoy rhythms and melodies, but I always use my voice as more of an instrument and less of a soapbox for me to say or to preach.

I've come to realize that you live on through recordings; they're like a musical diary, a window into somebody's soul.

You can play a shoestring if you're sincere.

The higher the artist, the fewer the gestures. The fewer the tools, the greater the imagination. The greater the will, the greater the secret failure.

The value of music is to be able to play one note at the right time in the right way.

There was a subtlety about Peggy Lee. It was powerful. There was a valuable use of space. Everything was not cluttered. Her voice was out front and was the key instrument.

I feel like 'Next To Me' is a great introduction because it's a simple song that has a simple message for me. I wanted to introduce something that lyrically I'm proud of and introduces me both as an artist and as a writer.

Well, rhythm is 90 percent of the interpretation.