Gord Downie Quotes

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

One of the advantages of not having a record contract is that you can make your own mistakes, you don't need somebody else to organize them for you.

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

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 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.

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.

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

I don't much like being directed. I enjoy being allowed to play.

The reason I wanted to do a webcomic was that I could be my own boss, and I could call the shots myself.

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

I've avoided situations where I wouldn't have creative freedom.

I want everything that I've worked for to go into my pocket. I want all my money to come to me. I'm very much hands-on with my career, and I like to do what I want in the studio - I don't like being told, 'do it this way' or 'do it that way.'

As an independent artist, you control the means of production, which is the ultimate form of empowerment.

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 can't tell you how freeing it is to have my own label. For the first time in my career, I have total control.

If I'm going to go out to be a solo artist, it's because I want to do something different without having to wait on someone else's schedule or hobbies or be limited by other people's prejudices. I'd be kind of stupid not to exercise that.

With acting I am being led by the script, other actors, the director, etc. But with songwriting I feel it is much more self reliant and allows me to be in the creative experience without being as dependent on others.

I started to make my own films, however small and however independent they were, from the beginning. And so, even though I was nobody, I was always the master of my own work.

I am never driven. Every film I've made has been an assignment.

I need to find a way of retaining creative control.

I don't have anything to prove anymore. I don't have a record deal, no one has any expectations, I'm in a position of freedom. I don't need anyone's approval.

I just kind of feel like it's my choice to do what I want to do. And my agent, he's totally with it. He tells me, 'You can turn down any audition you don't want to.'

I don't necessarily love all the collaborations that I've done; the more I work with other people, the more I realize that I want to work with myself.

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.