Lamont Dozier Quotes

I was so naive about writing, I went to the public library and checked out the only volume they had on the topic - an academic treatise about publishing from the WWII era.

Most songwriters who have been lucky enough to have their song on the radio or be heard widely don't know anything about science. The best songs have a strong dose of metaphor. Most songs about science don't have that. Like 'She Blinded Me With Science.' It's a stupid song, no offense to Thomas Dolby.

I do always the music before the lyrics. The story or an idea for the lyrics appears during the composing process normally, but some other times I already have a strong idea of the story I would like to sing before any music comes to my mind.

Writing was something that came easily to me and there's so many great producers who just teach you so much.

I used to write at home a lot. I used to write a bit for Girls Aloud.

I got this book called 'How to Write the Popular Song.' I read that and went through all the things they suggested, and I learned how to do it.

When I think of artists I love, like J. Cole, it's the storytelling that grabs me. I want to be honest with my music.

I won't usually just sit down to write. I'd have done it in my head already. I visualise a story just like a film strip running in my head. I guess that is also a reason why my books have such a visual element to them. And it's what I tell young writers: plan your story ahead.

I hate to debunk the myth - kids don't wanna hear it - but as songwriters, you have to polish your craft a little bit and hone it as much as possible.

I became a melodic writer after 'Gunn.'

Songwriters often seek the company of fellow songwriters to help finish what they've started, and these days, many do it at songwriting camps.

I started listening to The-Dream a lot. That's when I really got into writing songs. I like the way he put lyrics and makes his songs. So I was like, 'All right,' and I just started writing. That's when I started wanting to be a songwriter.

Pop music might seem banal and simple to some people, but it's what it expresses that counts.

Most of the best songwriters that ever lived couldn't read music.

Music, music, music. It doesn't get much better than that! It pretty much consumes my life.

I'm without a doubt a producer first. The lyrics happen towards the tail-end of the process, mainly because they're more stream-of-consciousness. It's very rare that I'm going to tell a really concrete story.

I'm a music man.

In about seventh grade, that's when we started playing around with beats, rhymes.

Music's a hobby to me.

I've always loved music and was singing from the age of seven on karaoke.

You can't get a better education in what it is to write songs until you listen to American soul music.

As a songwriter, I got used to being in the background.

I never thought about making music because it has to be a hit. There are so many better singers out there who are better trained in music, but I am probably the chosen one... I have not discovered any formula for staying relevant.

There are a lot of people who wonder why Japan is a pretty consistent influence in my music, and I think it's because the reason I started writing - my intro to electronic music was Japanese music.

We all like all of that, from 'Rubber Soul' to 'The White Album' and all of that, but even before, we were into that theatrical element of things. We didn't want to do a 'Sgt. Pepper's' thing.