Chad Gilbert Quotes

So there was a way for you to get promoted and survive as an artist without worrying about AM radio hits.

I was kicked off a record label and didn't get picked up again. It was devastating at first because I thought, 'Oh my God. My career is over. What's gonna happen? What am I going to do?' Once I got that I could have a career, a very good career, without having a hit record, then I changed.

When you don't have a record label and you have been on your own as we have, you can look at all these other ways you can get in touch with other people and get music out there again.

It was hard to work and work and work and not get your music played on the radio.

I got really noticed by record labels and that's how I got signed.

I put a song on Soundcloud, and Annie Mac made it record of the week, and a month later, I signed my record deal.

I can show bands how to produce themselves. In the same way, many bands think you can't make it without some fat cat in London or New York to manage you. That's just crap. All you need is someone a bit older than you with a bit of business nous whom you trust.

I started writing music when I was 15 in my bedroom, and I'd post them on MySpace, and from there it shifted to doing covers on YouTube and building my Twitter.

That's my favorite subject because it really levels the playing field for artists these days. You don't have to sell out to the record company. You don't have to get a five hundred thousand dollars, or whatever, and pay them back for the rest of your life to record a record.

At 13 years old, I realized I could start my own band. I could write my own song, I could record my own record. I could start my own label. I could release my own record. I could book my own shows. I could write and publish my own fanzine. I could silk-screen my own T-shirt. I could do this all myself.

I'm an indie artist with major distribution, so one foot in the extreme major music business and one foot in the abyss of indie artists.

It only took me six months to get a record deal, but it took me 20 years to have a hit.

At Spotify, we really want you to democratically win as a musician. We want you to win because your music is the best music.

I'm not ruling out music forever. I'd love to do that, but if I ever did, I don't think it would be with a record label or anything like that. It might even look like me finding a band and kind of playing in bars.

I don't see myself ever being in a position where I need to sign to a label.

When I was working on 'Coloring Book,' I knew that I wanted it to be a beacon for independent artists and music makers with their own agenda.

I dropped out of law school when I got my record deal.

I've been able to experience so many things since I've had my record deal.

I started singing and writing songs since childhood and later started releasing my independent music.

Every single thing that I was told that I couldn't do without a label - get in the charts, get on to the Radio 1 playlist - I've done.

Obviously, my label would want me to be on the radio all the time, but that's not my personal goal.

Our music is being played on MTV and the radio. That's something that still blows us away. And we did it our way.

I always knew, that in some way, I'd be connected to, and involved in, the music business.

Well, I had a record deal since I was 18, and it got me where I am.

I'm consistently recording and releasing stuff online or YouTube videos or whatever it is. I just don't know if it's going to be a full on, I'm the next Rihanna, or whatever. I'm not going for it to that level. But I love making music and I don't think I could stop if I wanted to.