To me, rock music was never meant to be safe. I think there needs to be an element of intrigue, mystery, subversiveness. Your parents should hate it.
Trent ReznorRead
I lived a fairly average, anonymous small-town life till I got the idea to do Nine Inch Nails. Then I locked myself in a studio for a year, and then got off the tour bus two years after that, and I didn't know who I'd turned into.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the transformation that comes from dedication and creative pursuit, highlighting the journey of self-discovery.
Trent Reznor shares a personal insight into his life before and after the inception of Nine Inch Nails, emphasizing how a single idea led him to isolate himself in a studio for an extended period. This dedication not only birthed a successful musical project but also resulted in a profound change in his sense of self, indicating that intense commitment to one's passion can dramatically alter one's identity and life path.
Themes
TransformationDedicationSelf-DiscoveryMusicIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to young musicians, this quote can illustrate the importance of dedication to their craft.
More from Trent Reznor
All quotes →Though I still have no semblance of a life outside of Nine Inch Nails at the moment, I realize my goals have gone from getting a record deal or selling another record to being a better person, more well-rounded, having friends, having a relationship with somebody.
Trent ReznorRead
You're standing onstage in a sold-out arena with people singing your music, and you feel like the loneliest person in the world. Because here's a party that, essentially, it's for you. And you still somehow feel like you don't belong there. Those people all have their lives and go back home.
Trent ReznorRead
My music has been a sort of personal therapy. It's got me out of tough times, it has been the friend that I needed, when I didn't have a friend there.
Trent ReznorRead
I've attended many concerts where I felt let down and I was wishing it would be something else. Not that it's their duty to please me, but at the same time, I think a lot about what it's like through the eyes of the consumer, the fan. I want not to pander to the audience, but to be aware of them.
Trent ReznorRead
I think the whole aspect of social networking is vulgar and repulsive in a lot of ways. But I also see why it's appealing - I've had that little high you get from posting stuff online. But then you think, 'Did I need to say that?' I've explored that enough to know to stay kind of quiet these days.
Trent ReznorRead
Similar quotes
The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.
Will RogersRead
It's different for every writer. It's not a career for anyone who needs security. It's a career for gamblers. It's a career of ups and downs.
George R. R. MartinRead
I think the great part about what I do is that there's a scoreboard. At the end of every week, you know how you did. You know how well you prepared. You know whether you executed your game plan. There's a tangible score.
Tom BradyRead
It feels like my hard work has paid off, but at the same time, I still have the impostor, you know, syndrome. I still feel like I'm going to wake up, and everybody's going to see me for the hack I am.
Viola DavisRead
I felt rich when I was 20 years old and my wife was paying my bills. Just being in a band, I've always felt blessed.
BonoRead
It's sort of good to see your vocation as a daily task and have fairly modest expectations for financial or reward in other coin - glory, love, whatever.
John UpdikeRead