Nicolas Cage Quotes

I don't rely on catchphrases or really like sing-along. I just do whatever I feel. Whatever the beat makes me say, I do that and I run with that. It's been working for me, so I'd be cool with that.

Jazz stands for freedom. It's supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and don't be a perfectionist - leave that to the classical musicians.

It was liberating to do comedy. It felt like playing in a jazz band.

I don't like to box myself in when I'm composing.

There's never any pressure on the music having to be something.

Jazz is all about improvisation and it's about the moment in time, doing it this way now, and you'll never do it this way twice. I've studied the masters. Why would I want to play ball after the guys who sit on a bench? I want to play like Michael Jordan.

I just write what comes along. I don't have a detailed master plan.

If you know how to freestyle, you will never have writer's block.

There is spontaneity to my work.

I think there's all these unknown things you can tap into when you just leave things open, and nothing is forbidden. Then you allow yourself to mold that thing that has been created by freedom and spontaneity and flexibility. That's why I avoid limiting performances of actors and characters.

I loved the freedom of improvised music.

It's always fun to improvise. What's weird is that when you're recording, you're by yourself, for the most part.

Jazz is about freedom within discipline.

Improvisation is the ability to create something very spiritual, something of one's own.

You have to be able to feel like you can play way outside of the box. If you're with a great filmmaker and someone you can trust, that's encouraged, and Seth was that kind of filmmaker and co-star.

I'm looking for something that gives me a chance to stretch. Because I have my own work, and I can do anything I want in my own work - juggle, tap dance, anything I want.

That's good when you don't know what you're doing. But you're doing it and it's spontaneous and you're not afraid.

A lot of times, I'll have a goal, I'll start writing, and I'll end up in some far off place, which is good. It's nice to have a focus, but letting the lyrics write themselves where they need to go is important.

Analysis kills spontaneity.

The first time I started choreographing was in the dark, in my living room, with the lights completely out, to some popular music on the radio. I put the radio on full blast and I started moving. I didn't know what it looked like. I didn't want to see it... I had to start in the dark.

I think that music, or at least the kind of music that I make, benefits greatly from improvisation.

I just do whatever I feel. Whatever the beat makes me say, I do that and I run with that.

People go, 'What do you want to do?' What do you want to do? What are you feeling? Going into a shoot not fully knowing what I want to do—that excitement, that thing that happens, is just so powerful and makes such great pictures.

I like to let each thing happen - direct it a little consciously, maybe - but just kind of follow the vibrations I get in each particular circumstance. We don't plan theatrics. We hardly ever know which set we'll play.

It's fun to be loose. Just like on stage, all of your great ideas come from looseness.