Donna Tartt Quotes

You have to work in this business on your own terms. Don't sell out for money, fame, or notoriety.

I can make my own decisions, I can do the music I like. If I fail, it's me failing - you know.

He chose a certain path in life, it proved to be a misguided one, but there, he chose it, he can say that at least. As for myself, I cannot even claim that. You see, I trusted. I trusted in his lorship's wisdom. All those years I served him, I trusted I was doing something worthwhile. I can't even say I made my own mistakes. Really - one has to ask oneself - what dignity is there in that?

People say 'Poor guy.' That insults me. I despise sympathy. So I screwed up. I made some mistakes. 'Poor guy,' like I'm some victim. There's nothing poor about me.

You don't want to depend on an editor. If you want to regret something for the rest of your life, you want to make sure you're responsible for it.

I didn't come to Hollywood to be subservient to anyone else's vision.

Very few artists are as independent as I am mentally, physically, spiritually and technically. I sit in my home studio and record things by myself. I don't need to get anybody's approval or validation.

Trust yourself so that the mistakes you make are the ones you've made and not something you've made because you were afraid to do what you wanted to do. Own your mistakes, then you can own your successes.

My primary lesson, however, was that I'm a solo writer, happiest when I'm making all the executive decisions. I've always been willing to rise or fall on my own merits.

I don't work to any commissions. I do what I want to do.

If you make up your own mind, you can only blame yourself.

I do love being solo because I can have more of my own creative input to every aspect of my career.

Only trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee.

If I'm confirmed, I'll be myself.

I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow; if I fail, or if I succeed at least I did as I believe.

If you consider the definition of authenticity, it's saying something and actually doing it. I write my own songs. I made my own videos. I pick my producers. Nothing goes out without my permission. It's all authentic.

It's a luxury to not have to just be performing with other people to have my music heard.

It's a huge responsibility being a solo act.

I've been wanting to produce for some time because I want to have more creative control over the things that I do and not be victim to the whims of other people's desires.

I've had a lot of voices tell me what I should be making. Personally, I would much rather live and die by my own hand. If my stuff sucks, then at least I made it suck. I didn't allow some person, some old dude in a suit, to make it suck for me.

I didn't want to just be an artist and let someone else have all that control over me. I knew I would have to produce.

I still want to do features, but on my own terms.

You know what, I'm out there to give 100%, and I do what I think is best. I really don't care what other people think.

I've got to do it my way. I can't compromise and be someone else.

I'd rather make my own mistakes and pay for them rather than pay for mistakes that are formulistic.