Russ Quotes

I always thought that if record companies didn't understand me, fine - I'd go and do it by myself.

I don't think DIY is something that necessarily comes to mind when people hear Third Eye Blind, but that is completely how we've been from the beginning.

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

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

I don't care what the public wants, I'm going to give it what it needs!

I am a good, strong word giver; I am a jealous guard of my own secrets. Freedom is the rule; I am hungry for one good thing I can do.

Even though I wasn't sure I could make it as an indie, almost immediately I felt as if a weight had been lifted off me. To be as independent as I am and to be able to support myself is incredibly satisfying. Everything I want to do myself, I can.

I think it is important to let your kids have independence and ownership. Let your kids do what they have a passion for.

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 have any influences, any heroes, it's just me.

Writing is something I can do by myself.

I'm not interested so much in collaboration. You see that from the history of my albums.

My primary lesson, however, was that I'm a solo writer, happiest when I'm making all the executive decisions. I've always been willing to rise or fall on my own merits.

I never took a grant or borrowed a penny from anybody. It was partially because I didn't really know how to do that, but secondly, my pride never would have allowed me to. In the beginning it was about doing it the right way, on the merits of the music.

One actor in my life is enough, and that's me. With actors, it's too easy to go into this world of complaining. Someone will always be better, richer, more loved, do more work. Those dynamics don't interest me. The friends I hang out with, we create our own work rather than complain about acting.

I'm the type of person that doesn't like to wait for people to do things for me, and I never want to feel stuck. Why sit around and be like, 'I wish my label would book me some studio time,' if I can just buy my own studio equipment and figure out how to run Pro Tools and record it myself?

What I learned from the Beastie Boys was to be independent. They set up their own world separate from the label. They built their own studio.

I would say to someone, 'Make your own stuff sooner.' Also, it's OK to say no to something if it doesn't feel right.

I think one of the most important things punk brought back was the whole concept of staying independent and doing things yourself. It made music a lot less boring in any category you can name.

There is a wonderful feeling of power when you're a director, but I don't think I need that, and I'm OK without it.

I took the process of doing as much myself as I could like a duck to water. I set up my own label and publishing, etc, and it was a fun learning curve two decades ago.

There is never hesitation about doing stand-up. It's just me doing my thing. Unlike being in a band or a play or something, I don't have to rely on anyone else but me.

I must create a system or be enslaved by another mans; I will not reason and compare: my business is to create.

I quickly realized I had to have my own style and strategy and find my own way.

I think for a couple of years I was believing that I was doing it all on my own and I wasn't.