Alex Kapranos Quotes

We are unique because we're the same three guys, and as Billy says, playing the same three chords.

I started to notice that simpleness is divine. I think we all start trying to use very complex harmonies and rhythms and all that because of a certain kind of ambition. But I was always trying to create something simple.

People just loved the sound because I kept it simple.

Through Kurt I saw the beauty of minimalism and the importance of music that's stripped down.

If I get a song - a good song - I just sing it the way I hear it in my head. If anybody else wanted to add whistles and bells and chains rattling, that's fine. Just not too much. I actually just do things as straight ahead as possible.

I'm into the whole song-as-a-piece-of-music thing: if it literally doesn't call for it, if it already has enough stuff going on, then it's okay not to play a solo.

As a songwriter, simplicity - what not to do, what not to play - can be the hardest thing to achieve.

I've come to realize ways of making music without being excessive.

I just make my music. It's not too complicated.

I think minimalism is something I just got attracted to just in general because I like the empty space, if you think about it, like there's a lot of empty space. So there are sounds there, there are chords, like coordinates, to sort of tell you where the emotion is going, but then it leaves so much room for the voice to do other things.

It's just rock and roll. A lot of times we get criticized for it. A lot of music papers come out with: 'When are they going to stop playing these three chords?' If you believe you shouldn't play just three chords it's pretty silly on their part. To us, the simpler a song is, the better, 'cause it's more in line with what the person on the street is.

When I started out making music I thought it was about thrills and adding layers, but I realized I want to focus on saying the most with the least.

I do try to structure everything in a way that's very much like a pop song. I try to keep the arrangements really simple, just to make everything essential.

I'm definitely trying to make longer songs, but if it's short and good, I'm not going to do anything about it.

Less is more' may be a cliche, but that doesn't mean musicians often heed that advice. Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson, who performs and records as The Tallest Man on Earth, follows it religiously.

One-minute songs are easy as hell!

Get to the point where the songs sum it all up, and creatively, I'm just like, 'This is it.' I've also learned how to be patient and not really try to overproduce anymore. I used to add instruments, keep adding instruments, but nowadays - I know better now. I know how to let the track breathe.

As a song-writer I have always written with one instrument - either guitar or piano - because I believe that if a song is strong enough to be performed completely stripped down then it is a good one to go on and record.

I like to have space between the notes. I like to use silence.

I pick simple beats because I need space for me to work.

I play a very streamlined piano.

The primary plan is to let the music speak for itself.

Sometimes the simplest forms of music are the hardest to play. Especially for musicians that are accomplished.

I just go out and sing my songs. I don't put on elaborate stage shows with ridiculous fancy dress.

I write songs, I play a guitar and that's it.