Ornette Coleman Quotes

I'm kind of lucky in the fact that I can take something that's in my head and write it down, or I can listen to a piece of music that somebody else has written and try to tap into what the music's saying and just kind of follow that, you know. I mean, nine times out of 10, I'm just kind of following where the music takes me.

There's no rule that says you have to make records constantly, like clockwork, to continue being who you are.

I guess as a kid, I was always creative, and I was involved in music, like piano and violin and choir, so I always knew - I always knew that I wanted to do something that would allow me to be who I am. Generally, that was creatively, imaginatively.

My creativeness stems from my love of music. Music is pure emotion. Music is the infinity sign. Music is self-expression in its purest form - it's how I express my anger, my self-doubt, my love. I think my music is very vulnerable and very expressive, very transparent.

Don't worry about what others say about your music. Pursue whatever you are hearing... but if everybody really hates your music maybe you could try some different approaches.

I love music because you can create a world through your records. I have total control over what I do and what I wear. It's like my own world out of my imagination rather than someone giving me lines.

The way that I've always gone about making music, the rule of thumb, has just been to make what I love.

I try to do things that keep me interested. And play music that moves me. I like to move around and play in a lot of different ways.

I just play, and I'm always trying to write songs.

To me, music has to be about freedom. It's the most important thing in my life.

When I started writing, I just wanted to do something different and creative. I first thought neo-soul was a good pathway for me, so I tried that out but realized I didn't want to be placed in that box.

My music is like my freedom space.

I have music inside me and I'm very lucky to be able to play music and that's the way that I try to do it.

Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.

When I work alone, and I'm in my studio, and I'm playing a lot of the stuff myself, I think the style of it becomes something a little different.

First, I started with music singing, writing songs, playing music. Later, I got into acting. I'm not a brilliant musician or a brilliant actor. But, to me, they're still great vehicles for expression.

To me, that's what music entails. It's freedom, it's having the undeniable confidence to express yourself in a way that you know is right.

Music should not be a contest, it should be an individual thing that each band is putting out from within themselves.

I'm definitely one of them artists that loves putting the track on and having fun with it, but in my own way.

I can sing other people's songs all day, but I'm ready for it to be my song.

I feel like I'm just trying to pave my own lane and just kind of make my own sound.

There are some guys out there who make great music who may or may not be super-emotionally attached to their work. To each their own.

The way I did the first album... the way I wrote 'Church'... was just to trust my instincts with the music and let it kind of do what it does.

When it comes to music, it's my clothes, it's my guitar, it's my voice, it's my song.

I do music because I can just pick up my guitar and sing, and completely satisfy, instant gratification. I don't need a script, I don't people, I don't need anything, cameras, I just have myself and my guitar, or keyboard.