When I get compared to artists like Jose Gonzalez or Bon Iver, I can't help but think, "I've been doing this since they were in third grade." Mark Kozelek More Quotes by Mark Kozelek More Quotes From Mark Kozelek I wanted to remind people that there was a time when music required an attention span. Mark Kozelek attention-span attention people I didn't want to put myself, or anyone else, asleep with another quintessential Mark Kozelek album. Mark Kozelek mark albums want We're all human and life is complicated. Mark Kozelek life-is-complicated complicated life-is The music business, and the travel that comes with it, is stressful, challenging, redundant, exhausting, exciting, and often very depressing. Mark Kozelek stressful depressing challenges I make music to process - because I have to, not for praise or accolades or reactions. Mark Kozelek reactions process praise Anyone who has toured as long as I have, or who has traveled as extensively, and says that they've never cheated is lying. Mark Kozelek cheated long lying Throughout my life, there's just periods when I write and periods when I don't. I don't feel like anything's really blocked. "Writer's block" sounds so dramatic and worrisome, and I don't worry about it. I know deep down that I'm a writer, and it's just a matter of time until it comes back, and when it does, it'll be good like it's always been. Mark Kozelek block worry writing Like many musicians, it's my roots in music, playing cover songs. I've done probably a lot more covers than the average person who does what I do, but I'm very proud of it, and I do feel like I really bring a lot artistically to these covers. Mark Kozelek musician done song I don't make demos. I don't have the interest or the energy or the time. Mark Kozelek demos interest energy I wanted to give my first instincts a chance without shooting them down immediately, which I sometimes do. Mark Kozelek shooting giving firsts You really think all of those indie music dorks go to SXSW every year to check out music? They go there to wear their laminates and act important and try to get laid. Mark Kozelek important years thinking There were a lot more girls at the shows early on. I'd get off stage and there would be options. Those days are long gone, thank god. Mark Kozelek thank-god girl long I feel like when the songwriting slows, I'd love to help others with their records. If it's something I really believe in, it's worth the effort. Mark Kozelek effort helping-others believe When you get older, you're bothered, or inspired, by other things in life than a girl breaking up with you. Things get heavier as you get older. Mark Kozelek inspired things-in-life girl Songs are puzzles - you get an intro, or maybe an end, but you gotta fill in the rest. Sometimes they come easy and sometimes they're a pain in the ass. Mark Kozelek pain song sometimes Trying to cope with the balance between home life and road life has been a theme in my music since early Red House Painters records. Mark Kozelek balance house home I'm a boxing junkie, a serial-killer junkie, and a classical guitar junkie. All of these guys are great, poetic references. Mark Kozelek guitar boxing guy When you're a touring musician, you're always turning over new rocks and there's always a certain level of tension in your life. The music business, and the travel that comes with it, is stressful, challenging, redundant, exhausting, exciting, and often very depressing. After all of these years, I'm still trying to cope with aspects of it. Mark Kozelek depressing challenges trying I'm 45 and I don't have time to spend two years of my life bringing in producers and dragging the record around the planet. Mark Kozelek records two years I'm always moving forward creatively and don't like stalling, trying to find the perfect snare drum sound. Mark Kozelek perfect trying moving
