Jill Sobule
I don't have a Madonna-sized fan base, so I can actually e-mail and talk to everyone that e-mails me, because I am totally appreciative and I like my fans!
I have never made a cent off a record in my life. I have never recouped enough, and I never sold enough.
When people see you have a song on MTV, they think you are doing well - but you know, the way the traditional label deal was set up, it is really hard for an artist, unless they sold a lot, to see anything.
I'm not one who goes for the 'all press is good press' dictum.
I had a brother six years older than me, so I wasn't just listening to teenybopper stuff. My brother had the cooler music, but my parents had the Burt Bacharach, Tom Jones, the Association, the Fifth Dimension; these groups were un-cool, but I secretly loved them.
I like being a storyteller. I'm bored with myself; I like to write about others. I have a lot of names in my songs: Karen, Margaret, Mary Kay. Even if it's about me, I want to put it through someone else. The music is the soundtrack to the story.
People get to a certain age and success that they stop being curious. I'm still curious because I haven't really had that success. I've never done a record to catch whatever the latest sound is. It's my love of music, eclectic-ness, and the music that I heard my entire life that seeps in. That's what you're hearing.
I don't have a Madonna-sized fan base, so I can actually e-mail and talk to everyone that e-mails me because I am totally appreciative, and I like my fans! They seem to have the same interests as me. They are kind of nerdy and cool - and have good taste, obviously.
I have never made a cent off a record in my life. I have never recouped enough, and I never sold enough. When people see you have a song on MTV, they think you are doing well - but you know, the way the traditional label deal was set up, it is really hard for an artist, unless they sold a lot, to see anything.
As a musician, I have always refrained from criticizing another artist.
I think I'm different from a lot of singer-songwriters because some of my favorite singer-songwriters told stories. Like John Prine.
I always did go against the singer-songwriter form. I think I've always had a lot of storytelling songs.
When I write songs, I like to write lyrics first, and I think that's different from a lot of singer-songwriters. But I heard Sammy Cahn was asked what comes first, the lyrics or the music, and he said, 'The paycheck.'
I haven't learned anything new on guitar since high school. And I think it's time to learn something.
I'm an older woman who's not going to have a shiny pop song ever again, so that gives me license to do whatever the hell I want.
I was very inspired by the videos of the crowds at the Palin rallies.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a spy detective or a rock star.
I wish I had somebody to rock me to sleep.Collection: Sleep
And we laughed, at the world. They can have their diamonds, And we'll have our pearlsCollection: Laughter
Unfortunately you can't copyright a title... bummer.Collection: Titles
I think Im different from a lot of singer-songwriters because some of my favorite singer-songwriters told stories. Like John Prine.Collection: Thinking
I would go to heaven, if I believed in heaven.Collection: Heaven
I'm down with the whole patron thing. Bring back the Medicis. Maybe, I'm not just a lefty, but a royalist.Collection: Lefties
I'm a bit of a lefty. I like the idea of art and music collectives.Collection: Art
Music teachers can either inspire or make you resent your instrument and parents in early years.Collection: Teacher
When I was on the big labels, I never calculated what would make me sell more records. I just did what I did -no different than when I wrote songs for myself in high-school.Collection: Song
My mom wore the pants in the family, for sure. I always say, that I spent my childhood trying to get the love and attention of my mom, and now I can't get rid of it.Collection: Mom
I've never been good at the money thing. I have had a couple of really nice but inept managers, and a business accountant that ripped me off. But I cannot totally blame my money making lameness on them.Collection: Couple
As a bit of loner, prone to melancholy, with a questionable sexuality, I found great solace in the words of-Dylan, Joni, John Prine and Leonard Cohen. The darker the better.Collection: Loner
My older brother was the guitar player in the neighborhood band. My parents were the cool ones that had the basement for rehearsal. Rather than hang with my peers after school, I wanted to just listen to the band. More than that, I wanted to play.Collection: Brother
I am doomed or fortunate to stick to what I do best.Collection: Sticks
I started playing the acoustic guitar for more singer-songwriter type stuff. I bet if I would have gotten more approval for my "rock playing", I might be a world class shredder.Collection: Rocks
My rocking out didn't make me particularly popular with the boys or girls. It wasn't cute or feminine. I was more of a...weirdo.Collection: Cute
I still have this unrealistic faith, that one day, my ship will come in. More people will discover, understand and buy my stuff.Collection: People
In a way, I'm not at all jaded, and still enjoy so much what I do. It's a good trick.Collection: Way
Can you imagine a 6 year old banging all day on a drum kit. I do have photos of me in my sort of princess girly bedroom with a bad-ass sparkle set.Collection: Girly
My original idea- and I still want to do it -for Pinko Records, would be to create a platform for other artists to do the same thing I did. They could create their own levels of donation and final goal. I have no idea how I would make any money on that -but I don't think like that.Collection: Artist
My first instrument was the drums. Not quite sure why I quit and changed to guitar, but I'm sure my parents might have convinced me that the guitar was way better.Collection: Guitar