Duncan Sheik Quotes

I actually think sadness and darkness can be very beautiful and healing.

Lately I've been a workaholic. I'm in the studio all the time and I've helped to produce a couple of artists

My second record was all about big ideas - I was trying to make big statements about the culture, about life. I think in a certain way, I was a 27 year old kid with a guitar

Things come to me pretty regularly. There is never a shortage or a backlog

I try to make sure that the Buddhism is more or less implicit in the music rather than explicit

So I started chanting when I was nineteen, which was about twelve years ago, and it really had a huge impact on my outlook, happiness, and general creativity.

But I can't really say there is too much modern music that I'm blown away by at this moment

I certainly wouldn't say that my life is a disaster, but there have been moments where I've felt like that

But really important, perhaps most important is the craft; how you make your record, the creation of these sonic worlds you want your listener to hear.

My first two records were more energetic; Phantom Moon is subtle, quiet; so these various reactions are just something I expected

A real foolproof way to do it is play your stuff by hook or by crook and build up a grass roots following

I'm a pretty big P.J. Harvey record fan and you can really hear New York in his record

For my second record I had gotten ProTools and started to familiar myself with hard disc recording.

I also wanted to make a record that was about other things than romance, yeah, after two years on the road singing all the songs from the first album, I got kind of tired of that.

Because of my Buddhist practice, I'm never lacking for inspiration

Simon Hale, the British arranger, does all string and wood arrangements on my records

It's inevitable your environment will influence what you do

I got a publishing deal with BMG, they were supportive, and some money to record demos

When I was a teenager, I got into four track recorders, drum machines, and synthesizers, and I started producing instrumental music.

I'm fortunate I have this coterie of musicians around me to help take music to next level. Being surrounded by so much creative energy, so many creative people really feeds that creativity in me

I make the kind of music I like

I actually am always a music first person

Ultimately, if I'm really moved by something, it's going to go on the record and that's that

I think in a way I was probably completely naive about what it takes to make something become a hit

I mean, at the end of the day when I'm making a record, what I want to do is what I do

I started playing music at a pretty young age

I wouldn't say that I've had a tough life by any stretch of the imagination.

I think my Buddhist practice has a profound influence on my life and encompasses my creative projects

If I were to do this over I'd play a lot more shows before I made a record

And frankly, when I made that record, hit songs were not what I was trying to achieve.

I privilege the music over the lyrics

Happy music doesn't tend to move me much

I feel fortunate about being able to make the music I want to make and getting away with it

So, once I've written a song, you know, I'm pretty happy with what the song is on its own terms.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer or King Crimson or Gentle Giant - the worst prog rock references I can come up with. Though I totally loved those groups as a kid.

I try to make sure that the Buddhism is more or less implicit in the music rather than explicit.