My first album didn't come out until I was 27, which in pop years is late, you know. But when it came time to arrange it, I became a kid in a toy shop. I had a harp and a saxophone quartet and a symphony orchestra. I went berserk for a time.
Interpretation
Creativity can flourish at any age, and late starts can still lead to great artistic endeavors.
In this quote, Bjork reflects on the delayed release of her first album at the age of 27, which she notes is considered late in the music industry. However, rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, she describes the joy and excitement she felt when she finally had the opportunity to create and collaborate with various musical instruments and ensembles, emphasizing that artistic expression can thrive regardless of timing.
In practice
During a motivational speech about pursuing dreams regardless of age.
I've always had as many powerful, creative ladies in my life as I have men, and you could probably describe some of those relationships as romantic. I think everyone's bisexual to some degree or another; it's just a question of whether or not you choose to recognise it and embrace it. Personally, I think choosing between men and women is like choosing between cake and ice cream. You'd be daft not to try both when there are so many different flavours.
I don't like records that are the same from beginning to end, that are too styled and slick. Everything is so designed and airbrushed and Botoxed, it makes us think, 'Oh, everybody's perfect except me. Everything's smooth except me.' But nothing is smooth.
What comes first? The melody, always. It's all about singing the melodies live in my head. They go in circles. I guess I'm quite conservative and romantic about the power of melodies. I try not to record them on my Dictaphone when I first hear them. If I forget all about it and it pops up later on, then I know it's good enough. I let my subconscious do the editing for me.
Living in a capital in Europe but still surrounded by mountains and ocean, my relationship to music was strongest walking to school and back. I would sing to myself and very quickly started mapping out my melodies to landscapes - at the time I just thought it was very matter of fact, a common thing to do.
A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.
So while our art cannot, as we wish it could, save us from wars, privation, envy, greed, old age, or death, it can revitalize us amidst it all.
To you I am neither man nor woman. I come before you as an author only.
Now I really make the little idea from clay, and I hold it in my hand. I can turn it, look at it from underneath, see it from one view, hold it against the sky, imagine it any size I like, and really be in control almost like God creating something.
Whenever I write a novel, music just sort of naturally slips in (much like cats do, I suppose).
Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.
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