And frankly, when I made that record, hit songs were not what I was trying to achieve. Duncan Sheik More Quotes by Duncan Sheik More Quotes From Duncan Sheik I actually think sadness and darkness can be very beautiful and healing. Duncan Sheik sadness healing beautiful It's inevitable your environment will influence what you do Duncan Sheik inevitable environment influence I'm fortunate I have this coterie of musicians around me to help take music to next level. Being surrounded by so much creative energy, so many creative people really feeds that creativity in me Duncan Sheik creativity creative people But I can't really say there is too much modern music that I'm blown away by at this moment Duncan Sheik modern too-much moments I got a publishing deal with BMG, they were supportive, and some money to record demos Duncan Sheik deals supportive records I'd have these weird experiences where I'd just be walking down the street with this chord progression in my head, this happened more than a few times, and I'd walk home and find a fax in my machine and it would match the music in my head Duncan Sheik fax-machines progression home I privilege the music over the lyrics Duncan Sheik privilege I certainly wouldn't say that my life is a disaster, but there have been moments where I've felt like that Duncan Sheik disaster moments life-is Happy music doesn't tend to move me much Duncan Sheik happy-music moving My second record was all about big ideas - I was trying to make big statements about the culture, about life. I think in a certain way, I was a 27 year old kid with a guitar Duncan Sheik guitar kids thinking Simon Hale, the British arranger, does all string and wood arrangements on my records Duncan Sheik woods records doe Lately I've been a workaholic. I'm in the studio all the time and I've helped to produce a couple of artists Duncan Sheik workaholic couple artist I think my Buddhist practice has a profound influence on my life and encompasses my creative projects Duncan Sheik buddhist practice thinking Emerson, Lake & Palmer or King Crimson or Gentle Giant - the worst prog rock references I can come up with. Though I totally loved those groups as a kid. Duncan Sheik kings lakes kids I also wanted to make a record that was about other things than romance, yeah, after two years on the road singing all the songs from the first album, I got kind of tired of that. Duncan Sheik tired song two So I started chanting when I was nineteen, which was about twelve years ago, and it really had a huge impact on my outlook, happiness, and general creativity. Duncan Sheik impact creativity happiness When I was a teenager, I got into four track recorders, drum machines, and synthesizers, and I started producing instrumental music. Duncan Sheik machines teenager track But really important, perhaps most important is the craft; how you make your record, the creation of these sonic worlds you want your listener to hear. Duncan Sheik records important world My first two records were more energetic; Phantom Moon is subtle, quiet; so these various reactions are just something I expected Duncan Sheik records moon two Because of my Buddhist practice, I'm never lacking for inspiration Duncan Sheik buddhist inspiration practice