Quotes About Artistry

My commercial viability, coupled with my reputation, gives me enough freedom to assert my right as a composer.

Ruth Gordon was such a delight to watch in 'Rosemary's Baby' after I had first seen her in 'Harold and Maude.' And Ellen Burstyn is a hero of mine from 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,' The Exorcist,' 'Requiem For A Dream.' These women impacted me greatly as an actress.

People think I like to expose my body. But I don't. It's just because the dance moves require it.

My records do not require a lot of thought of 'What is this?' and 'What is that?' That would be too contrived for me.

I write songs because I have to write them, and if I didn't I'd be doing some other kind of music that didn't require a song.

It's almost required with major artists that there's some duality. And I've got duality everywhere.

I hadn't done much rapping in a while. I really wasn't sure I was going to do that any more. For a couple years I thought I was done with that. It wasn't really required of me.

Professionally I've evolved with what's required, but the pictures I do for pleasure haven't changed, except for the cars in the background, the clothing. I haven't changed at all.

I do want my films to have the required entertainment quotient, but I'd prefer doing films where you don't have to leave your brains behind.

What I learned about music is that it can have nothing to do with words, instrumentation, image, message, or meaning. The meaning is the melody, the notes, the rhythm - music for the sake of its own beauty, with nothing more required to express itself.

I like to promote my work. I do the promotion for my work because that is required. Apart from that I just don't know how to promote myself, to be honest, I think my work ideally should speak for itself.

The great thing about an anthology is that each year is its own 10-hour movie, and the only requirement is that it's the best 10-hour movie that I can make out of the story.

The album requires a certain focus of mine that I can't really explain - let's just say it's all I can really do while I'm doing it.

Theatre's a whole different beast to film. It requires a lot more of you.

I reserve the right to be a participating citizen and artist.

I love being kind of reserved and serious and then having these explosions of passion when it comes time to perform.

That's a fantasy of mine. We could do every record in a residency. It would be so cool. We could play the B-sides along with the album and get really creative with it.

I think that you just understand, as any creative person, that there's a beast that you have to beat, and it never goes away. I've resigned myself to that, and it's kind of what keeps you going. Writing is the worst and the best.

I've been writing since I was 11. But I don't write with a pen, I just sing at the piano with one eye shut like a pirate.

Everybody is under pressure to shut up and sing.

As a dancer, you dance and you shut up. You don't open your mouth. I started using the media as psychiatrists, I guess, they were someone to talk to.

With regards to the paint, I'm normally quite introverted and shy. I keep myself to myself, and I find that when I hide behind the paint, so to speak, I'm able to let myself go more and move more freely than I can without it.

There is a shy side to me that evaporates when I play on stage, and I like that. I think it's another facet of my character, and I need to do that.

I was the family alien. Both my parents are quite creative, but I was... appalling... always putting on little shows. I was rather a shy child, not a natural performer, but there was a performative edge to everything I did.