Zitat des Tages von Ben Harper:
Sometimes I may be totally arrogant, sometimes I may totally be the most humble guy you've ever met, sometimes I may be in between. But that's life. Who isn't like that? What's the big deal if I had an arrogant moment.
If I'm inspired and music inspires me, then I will continue to play it.
I'm not going to do the Ben Harper house record or the Ben Harper drum 'n' bass record.
Right now I'm listening to a lot of different things but I listen to a lot of classical music. Eventually I would like to compose and perform classical.
I refuse to make uninspired music.
The Blind Boys are truly the deepest well of American musical heritage you can discover.
I just want to keep doing what I feel.
It will make a weak man mighty. it will make a mighty man fall. It will fill your heart and hands or leave you with nothing at all. It's the eyes for the blind and legs for the lame. It is the love for hate and pride for shame. That's the power of the gospel.
You look like gold. I've been fooled before, but now I know I've made the mistake in the past. But now I, now I know the difference from gold and brass.
As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express yourself in any style and have it be soulful and have it be your own voice.
If it comes out sounding like Dixieland jazz or classical or punk or rock or even slightly metal, that's because that's where I'm going to find inspiration.
So it's not so much that I set out to do something different, it's just that the songs themselves require their own individual voice and attention.
I grew up listening to spiritual music, Blind Willie Johnson and folk.
I get diminishing returns when I bore myself in an interview.
But I would never insult the people that love this music and I would never insult the blessing of music in my life and I would never insult myself by playing uninspired music.
Life is short and if you're looking for extension, you had best do well. 'Cause there's good deeds and then there's good intentions. They are as far apart as Heaven and Hell.
You have to do what you believe in.
The music is in the lead here, and a large part of this, I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel a closer bond with the craft of songwriting, stronger than I ever have.
Sometimes I think to talk too much about music almost cheapens it.
If I fall, I fall. I'll rise up like anybody else.
I really feel like the sky is the limit with the Innocent Criminals today.
I refuse to age disgracefully in rock 'n' roll.
Genetics do play a role in how you consciously or subconsciously manifest your true self.
I love being on the road, I love playing.
We went for the best overall feel on each song. There are no musical overdubs at all. It's a true live record; it's one of the few true live records out there.
My head works in music, so there's always music there.
I really feel there's no limitation on what this band can do in the studio or on the stage. That's an empowering feeling - that we can bring a song to life.
That happens every time I get behind a guitar, regardless of what I'm saying, 'cause music is freedom and being free is the closest I've ever felt to being spiritual.
I'm really looking forward to, not more of the same, but a continual growth.
Folk is bare bones music.
We figured you could download live shows for days, so we decided to go for a cream-of-the-crop approach, but not just take the best vocal or the best performances.
The only way that you can find any semblance of a rule, or make any semblance of your own rule, is to tear up the rulebook. Throw it out, burn it, throw it away, and make your own rules.
I've never made a record that didn't sound better than what was in my head - that's sort of my rule.
There is a difference between a great producer and somebody who is a big advocate of your music. Just because you're a big advocate for a band doesn't mean you need to be in the studio with them, and at the same time - we don't need to get into this conversation - you can write a hit, but it might not hit.
I grew up with a heavy diet of gospel, folk, and blues because those are kind of the cornerstones of traditional American music.