It was all about music, about getting your friends to come and see you play. I don't see that same intimacy happening very much today.
She has a lot of Team Minaj soldiers, and they ride for her. She's genuinely about her fans; she just makes sure that she answers questions, and plays around with them.
I just be wanting my fans to like, feel like I'm bringing them something nobody bringing them.
At first I missed it, but it was the amazing energy thing that happened during shows, when a lot of people were like Yay Yay Yeah! I missed that for a while. But I don't miss the regular and the business side of that whole thing.
When I do music, I do it for me and my fans.
Anything that exposes the arts more, that gives us an outlet to make money and also do what we enjoy doing as artists and to connect with the fans, I'm all for it.
This thing that I do with caring about the message in my music, it's not separate from my work as a commercial artist; they're totally one and the same. I'm always going to be thinking about what my voice means.
Music is still part of my life, but I hate the idea of people coming to see me play the guitar because they've seen me in movies. You want people who are listening to be only interested in the music.
Country music was a part of my life. Now it isn't. We had a good relationship, really, but we wanted each other at arm's length. The people in Nashville didn't want to be responsible for my looks or my actions. But they sure did like the listeners I brought.
I try as much I can after every live performance to read all the comments my fans post on Facebook and Twitter, as this helps enormously for me to understand straight from fans what worked and what didn't.
A tour is the most intense, stimulating way to hear music; it's the best form to receive it. There's genuine excitement from people. I feel like we've stepped up a level.
I want to let fans know how much I appreciate them and how much I appreciate them showing interest in our music and me personally.
Not compromising the music, but there is a way, by just showing the people that you're sincere and honest with what you're doing, and by talking to them.
A fan would get an autograph and that was that. If we didn't tour again for five years, we wouldn't remember them.
I speak onstage to try to establish some method of communication. The songs are supposed to be a way of communicating. But speech and drinks and sometimes chocolates are also a way of communicating.
My life has always been my music, it's always come first, but the music ain't worth nothing if you can't lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, 'cause what you're there for is to please the people.
I think the audience is getting it right, you know what I mean? And that's kind of rare when the artist feels like their audience understand them. But I feel like people are understanding exactly what I'm going for. And that's awesome.
When I was a kid and went to shows, my favorites were Live Events. You really see a performer's personality on Live Events than on TV.
If the people dig it, then I dig it. If the people wanna hear it, then I wanna play it.
I always write with an audience in mind. If I feel that [connection] coming back at me then I feel like I'm doing my job. That's why people come to my music - for some emotional experience or a perspective, either on their own lives, or on the world that they're living in.
I feel, as an artist, that we don't do enough to appreciate our fans. We are in this position because of the fans, and it's really a blessing.
To go on the road and see people sing my own lyrics back to me is just fantastic.
I love performing live and engaging with my fans on-ground.
A lot of guys really I get the feeling don't care whether you like their show or not, you know. I want people to enjoy what I do, and understand what I'm doing is for their enjoyment, it's all I can ask for.
It's such a rush doing a concert and seeing people actually mouthing the lyrics.
