Alice Merton Quotes

I listen to all kinds of music and sometimes I try to do something that's referential to an era or a genre, but it still sounds like me.

The Shins is, in a way, a recording project that turned into a live band. So I don't really keep myself beholden to any rules when I'm in the studio for Shins. I just gotta get it done as best I can.

I would like to think that Ben and myself have begun a partnership that will take us into different areas of music that we can continue to write, enjoy and keep me involved with music other then what I do with RUSH.

For me to create an album of 12 songs, I've got to write about 80 songs. Half of those are totally weird and rubbish. But I get to some really good stuff after a while.

When I was younger I didn't really know what genre of music I'd want to do because I'd always done so many different types, so many impressions.

I've been in the studio experimenting on making a CD of my own. I'm trying out different producers, styles, sounds. With music, as opposed to acting, you are not playing a character. You are showing people who you are. I really want to have my spirit in it.

I wanted to try to write songs on the piano to get a different flavor.

You have got to make new music, that is the way that I look at it anyway.

As part of Depeche Mode, I don't think it's right for me to be using my own songs for a solo project. I'm not a very prolific songwriter, so I keep those for Depeche Mode.

'Welcome to Atlanta' was a song I wanted to do on my first album. The idea was for me and Outkast to do it, but I could never come up with a beat for us to do it. Outkast beats and my beats were very different.

As long as you continue to have new songs, there's usually some new topic or something to present.

I really just care about making music and how I can make it next.

My first year making music was very experimental. I was trying to find my sound. My second year, I was more in my element. I knew what type of production I wanted to go over and the topics I wanted to address.

When I first started making music, I wrote the lyrics first, but now, because the music has got kind of wilder, I've flipped it.

When I was about 15 I had already been recording on my four track in my room, but I couldn't find anyone in my town to be in a band with me. I was in a band very briefly with a bunch of guys and they kicked me out because they wanted to play grindcore. I think they didn't think I could tread hard enough or something. So I started playing solo.

For one, the whole concept of 'Live From Here' - writing a song every week - was like composition bootcamp.

Sometimes, to be honest with you, our lyrics were written a day before the vocal had to be done.

I'd written songs with lots of people, from one spectrum to the other.

I love all Yes music and love to play it live, but I'm most interested in making new music with Yes.

I can't just turn over and sing disco or rock.

I like people that can strap on a guitar and don't sweat the fact that you have to come up with a song in an hour. I want to work with someone who won't feel like they have to play along with Jason Molina. I want them to just have the confidence.

A lot of songs you write are just for exercise - just pencil sharpeners.

When I recorded my solo album, 'Keep It Hid,' in 2008, I'd gotten more interested in songwriting, inspired by reading Charles Bukowski and connecting with unfancy, interesting language.

I love hip-hop and soul, but I desperately want to challenge it and see what I can bring to it.

Had I joined a straight rock band, I'm sure my drumming would be a little bit different right now.