Mark Kozelek Quotes

Intimacy comes from being yourself on the stage and making the audience feel, without trying, that you're sittin' down there with 'em, playing, and that can happen in a big hall, if you have a good audience that want to listen.

It's hard to get intimate with an audience.

Playing live is closer to theatre, although when you're up there on your own, it's quite scary and revealing because you're playing your own songs. It's like a one man show that you've written yourself.

For me, it's always this constant battle and search when I'm out on stage as to where and when do I really open myself up to the people that are there. How do I let myself feel present in the space, and how do I allow myself to get into the music and interact with the band members.

If you interview people or friends who work with me, they would say I'm private or internal or don't emote a lot. Yet I do it every day for 10 million people. I just don't do it for the 30 people I'm in the room with.

Performing is a profound experience, at least for me.

I like to feel the burn of the audience's eyes when I'm whispering all my darkest secrets into the microphone.

Whenever I go onstage or in front of a camera, I always want to pour my soul out because I know I have a lot to offer.

I don't necessarily feel 100 per cent comfortable standing up on stage in front of lots of people, but I don't think most people would. It's a pretty bizarre thing to do. It can also be absolutely incredible having thousands of people singing back lyrics that you might have written in your bedroom or wherever.

I like to talk to the audience once the show starts, as much as possible, and feel connected to them. I don't feel quite as nervous when I do that because, then, you feel like they're on your side.

Whenever I walk out on a stage, I'm begging for affection.

I think the more you do this and the more comfortable you become on stage, you start speaking more and becoming more of a character in yourself.

In the same way that I'm open when I speak, I'm that open on stage. I feed off the energy of the audience, too, so they're feeling what I'm feeling.

Just me onstage with a mike having an intimate relationship with the audience. I don't get nervous for that. I just get excited.

I don't get stage fright, I actually love the energy, I love the spontaneity, I love the adrenaline you get in front of a live audience, it actually really works for me.

It wasn't so much that I was all alone on stage, but it was the realization of how much you need the response-you need the audience to tell you where to go.

I feel so much at home onstage and so comfortable in my body.

I love playing in front of people. I feel powerful, 'cause I don't have to really say anything - I'm just singing.

Being on stage makes me come to life. When all eyes are on you, they're watching every move you make.

As an actor, you're naked emotionally; you're revealing yourself emotionally.

I just feed off the energy of the audience.

Being in front of all these people staring at you and it helps you to dig down and become more emotional and get lost in it as you're feeding on people's energy.

When I performed at 'Open Mic U.K.' I had this connection with the audience that I'd never felt before, and I loved it. It was my first big thing, and looking out into the crowd... was just amazing.

Real intimacy is only possible to the degree that we can be honest about what we are doing and feeling.

It's hard to talk about yourself onstage and be sincere about it.