It was writing about music for NPR - connecting with music fans and experiencing a sense of community - that made me want to write songs again. I began to feel I was in my head too much about music, too analytical. Carrie Brownstein More Quotes by Carrie Brownstein More Quotes From Carrie Brownstein "We can't name it, but we can sing along." That is my ultimate relationship to any art form, but especially music. Carrie Brownstein form names art No matter what people are struggling with, or based on whatever. Sexuality, ethnicity, economic status, size. I don't wish smallness for anyone. It's a terrible place to live. Carrie Brownstein ethnicity struggle people [I hate] the ways that people want their special needs to be met, whether it's their food allergies or their special lotions or shoes. Or the ways that people want their neighborhoods and restaurants curated in a way that's really tailored to them. Growing up with someone who was living by these very strict, repressive rules for themselves - it made me very allergic to the idea of denial. Carrie Brownstein shoes growing-up hate I think closing-off is the most detrimental thing we can do as people. Also, the idea of not judging oneself. Carrie Brownstein people ideas thinking I've always been interested in queerness and underground and fringe and periphery, and who and what flourishes in those spaces. Those spaces that are darker and dingier and more dangerous, more lonely. What comes out of there, to me, is the life force. I'm excited when the center reaches over to those places and pulls inspiration from them, and translates it for a lot of people. Carrie Brownstein space lonely inspiration I would not call myself an optimist, even though I would aspire to be. I am innately a skeptic. There's kind of an incessant dissatisfaction that I have, that I'm always trying to either expose or fight against or wrestle with. Carrie Brownstein always-trying fighting kind I like to take things incrementally, and strive for something that feels more attainable. Carrie Brownstein strive feels I think proteins are really good for your brain. And your brain is where comedy comes from. Carrie Brownstein comedy brain thinking There are foods you should avoid. For me, sugar is a no. Because it gives me a spike and then a crash. Carrie Brownstein crash sugar giving I have no problem spending money on a great meal with friends or a flight to see somebody that I love, versus something like a fancy car. I don't need a fancy car. I don't need a giant TV. Carrie Brownstein fancy-cars giants meals I love coffee. I love a midday espresso on set, just for the energy. Carrie Brownstein espresso coffee energy I have to erase my Google search histories, because they always lead to an obituary. Carrie Brownstein google-search google erase The internet is just a scary place. It's better to just go to the doctor. Don't let Google get inside your head. It will do bad things to you. Carrie Brownstein doctors scary letting-go I'm all about being prudent. And I've started to appreciate experiences more than actual objects. Carrie Brownstein prudent objects appreciate Just invest in apps. Just download apps and then pay yourself the dividend. Carrie Brownstein downloads apps pay For me, being in shape means, like, not having cynicism out-weigh optimism on a daily basis. Carrie Brownstein optimism shapes mean I think you should be prepared for a green-screen CGI at all times. Carrie Brownstein green should thinking I think hypochondria always plays a part in the healthcare landscape. Carrie Brownstein landscape play thinking What I value most in new music today is strangeness, oddity. Passion. And humor. I listen to a lot of hip-hop because it combines so many things like that. Carrie Brownstein oddities hip-hop passion To me, that ugliness, that grotesqueness - that's the essence [of life]. That's where you realize, it's not about all the consonance and the harmony. It's all the parts that are wrong that help explain why we're drawn to something - what the mystery is - just as much as the beautiful things. Carrie Brownstein essence helping beautiful