Ben Harper Quotes

Everything I record, I just try to sound like me and come up with songs that suit what I do, and then just go for it.

I don't care if it's somebody else's song. Most of the time, you'll find that I'll put my own stamp on it. But I started writing more because, you know, it's easy to regurgitate what somebody else is doing, but it's exciting to be able to come up with your own writing.

I have never followed anyone's style of singing.

You've got to concentrate on the business of entertaining and writing songs. Always think different from the next person. Don't ever do a song as you heard somebody else do it.

Singing your own songs is all about individual expression.

I feel like the point of being an artist is to have your own voice: to do it the way you would do it and not the way anyone else would do it. If you're a strong enough writer, then that voice is going to come out all the time, and I can't stop it from coming out, no matter what I do.

Music is such an intensely personal thing for me, and I knew if I was going to do it, it would be in my own way.

If I'm going to sing like someone else, then I don't need to sing at all.

I found it liberating of necessity to devise my own style and my own tactics and to look for a voice on the instrument because there weren't really any that impacted strongly on me.

I can only be me. I have a hard time being a chameleon as a singer.

The main thing in making your own music is that it's an expression of someone's personality and being. That's what people want to hear, and you can't really teach that - that's just something that comes out. Teaching just hones that.

I have many musical inspirations, but I would really love to just be me. My very own artist.

I always recommend to any player to always compose their own music. It's one of the best things you can do to find a road to your own style.

I wanted to come through with my own voice and, hopefully, have it affect people. I want people to know that I'm not an Elvis impersonator.

You develop a voice and a process that's unique to yourself.

When directors tell me they want a song like one, I tell them no song should be like another. I don't listen to directors.

I think you just have to be yourself instead of catering your sound to a specific audience, make the music you want to make, and the audience will find you.

It took me a long time to find my own voice, even after I started making my own music.

My music is not like everybody gonna love it, it's really what I make of it.

The way I work is not the way that you work, and the whole point of any creative act is that. What I have to offer is me, what you have to offer is you, and if you offer yourself with authenticity and generosity I will be moved.

I think you have to have a real point of view that's your own. You have to tell it your way. And, I think that it's a mistake to shoot for a specific magazine's point of view because it's never going to be as good. You have to shoot for yourself and photograph [ the way] you believe it.

Don't worry about trying to develop a style. Style is what you can't help doing. If you write enough, you draw enough, you'll have a style, whether you want it or not. Don't worry about whether you're "commercial". Tell your own stories, draw your own pictures. Let other people follow you.

Imitation always stinks. When I take photos, I don't go back. I don't look at the past. I'm always original.

I'm totally open to exploring different types of music. I just have to always remember to be true to who I am.

I was determined to carve out a music of my own. I didn't want to copy anybody.