Quotes from Justin Tranter

A lot of writers don't know what it feels like to get on stage. They don't understand the weight that songs can carry. I got a chance to play all these shows. I got a chance to define myself through music, so when it comes to helping other people figure out what they should say, I've been through it.

I'm so grateful for my endless delusion.

This is the dream: to make money off of what you love.

I like to play this game where I ask people to count gay pop writers and producers they know. Everyone's always like, 'Oh, there are plenty!' But we always end up counting them on one hand.

I'm not famous. I work with famous people.

Before anything else, my favorite thing as a fan of music was to make up my own story as to what it means.

You can tell if something feels special. But there are so many moving parts involved in making the song a hit. The radio has to deliver, the management has to deliver in terms of booking the right promotions... just being a good song isn't enough.

I'm fortunate that I have a female publisher, and her boss is a man of color. My world is a little more diverse, but the majority of the business is not diverse at all.

For the most part, it's straight white men running these labels and publishing companies.

The only thing that's serious to me about music is making sure marginalized people are included in the story.

The beauty of letting marginalized people tell their own stories is it isn't only the right thing to do socially, but it's also the right thing to do financially. People love the truth, and people like to spend money on the truth.

I won't do press anymore unless I can talk about the homophobia and let queer people know our ideas are mainstream.

I know that it's my queer perspective that's helping people make songs that the world is listening to.

I've had the experience of going through homophobia in my work, and I can share my experiences so future generations don't have to deal with what I've dealt with.

If I'm hanging out with my friends or I'm working out, I'll listen to female singer-songwriters from the '90s because that's where my heart lies.

My mom has a big ol' crush on Arne Duncan, so I hear about and see pics of him all the time. I think he could look great in heels!

A man in high heels is the most dangerous thing in the world.

I worked at a jewelry store to pay the bills when I first moved to N.Y.C., and I always loved the phrase 'Semi Precious.' So I wanted to just call the band Semi Precious, but my dad told it was kinda sissy, so I added Weapons.

I just didn't really relate to Kurt Cobain. There was nothing very glamorous about him.

Truly saying sorry is never easy to do, and when you are, you just hope it's not too late.

A little makeover never hurt nobody.

Most of my friends are my friends because they inspire me.

I like to make glamorously informed songs for glamorously intelligent people.

In some ways, it's more rewarding to hear someone interpret a piece of music that you're a part of.