Summary Elliott Smith Interview - How important is the internet to you? - YouTube (Youtube) www.youtube.com
1,218 words - YouTube video - View YouTube video
One Line
Elliott Smith discusses his songwriting process, his preference for utilizing available instruments and technology, and his focus on creating music that he enjoys, while acknowledging the role of luck in his success and expressing concern about potential regulation and corporate ownership of the internet.
Slides
Slide Presentation (8 slides)
Key Points
- Elliott Smith recorded around 25 songs for his album, but only a few made it onto the final tracklist.
- He doesn't think too much about radio airplay or media attention, and is more focused on making music that sounds good to him.
- He would take advantage of any instrument technology available and doesn't feel constrained by budget when recording music.
- He doesn't care about becoming a massive radio success and sees playing music as the most important part of his career.
- He believes that having conflicting emotions in a song can make it more relatable to listeners.
- Elliott Smith is in control of how his music sounds and the artwork, but doesn't want to be involved in the business side of things.
- He sees the internet as a great tool for distributing music, but hopes it won't be overly regulated by those with money and power.
Summary
236 word summary
In this interview excerpt, Elliott Smith discusses his songwriting process and the selection of songs for his albums. He mentions that he recorded around 25 songs but only picked the ones that sounded best together. When asked about the possibility of changing his music with an unlimited budget, Smith expresses his preference for utilizing available instruments and technology rather than focusing on polishing the sound. He also mentions that he does not prioritize radio airplay or media attention, as his main focus is on creating music that he enjoys. Smith emphasizes that playing music is what he truly loves and that he tries not to become bitter or focus on comparisons with others. He acknowledges that luck has played a role in his success and that he does not have specific goals or expectations for his music. Smith believes that combining different emotions in a song can be effective because it reflects the complexity of human emotions. He briefly describes the artwork for one of his albums and mentions that he has control over aspects such as sound and artwork, but not the business side of his music. When asked about the importance of the internet, Smith expresses his positive view of it as a new technology for distributing information but expresses concern about potential regulation and corporate ownership. Overall, Smith's primary focus is on his love for music and creating songs that resonate with him.