Joe

“To all of the songs like windows, open just enough for us to make our escape, and to all of the songs like windows, closed and clear enough in a dim light to see our own reflection and be reminded of who we are.”
― Jeff Tweedy, How to Write One Song: Loving the Things We Create and How They Love Us Back

“Oscar Wilde said that some things are too important to be taken seriously. Art is one of those things. Setting the bar low, especially to get started, frees you to play, explore, and test without attachment to results.”
― Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“The key is that you never take the piss out of them. You approach them with overwhelming respect, and then you do what you need to get done, and then you must be humble enough to say it was their brilliant idea all along. Understand: This has been half my talent, working with rock stars.”
― Dawnie Walton, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

“Defining one's true self is not so simple. It may be impossible. We inhabit many different versions of a changing self. The suggestion to "be yourself" may be too general to be of much use.

There's being yourself as an artist, being yourself with your family, being yourself at work, and being yourself with friends. Being yourself in times of crisis, or in times of peace. And being yourself for yourself when by yourself.”
― Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being