Sometimes I start with lyrics - rarely - but sometimes I might have an idea for some lyrics that I wanna say. I write them down and figure out how to use that in a melody to write a song.

Leon Bridges

Categorized in : Ideas Song Writing

Love is the biggest thing. I feel that if we all were truly loving to each other, I think life would be better. Even to like, a stranger. They could be going through something crazy in their day and just to show love towards that person.

crazy love-is thinking

I think it's good to have a balance. Everything I write about, it's not something I necessarily might have went through, there's songs where I might have an idea, sometimes it might be a melody or something that I like, I make up a story to go with that melody. But I do think it's most important to have honest songs.

writing song thinking

I never really thought about my music being universal. When I set out to write, it is just a feeling that feels good to me. I never thought about being able to reach everybody.

feel-good feelings writing

For me, style is something that I've always loved. It's more than just, "Oh I make this type of music, so I should dress this type of way." But it's very important. On the other hand, if I was on stage in a hoodie and some baggy jeans, it wouldn't give off the same feeling. People appreciate the music, but people want to see the whole visual thing.

jeans giving hands

I'm not writing just classic-sounding songs, but songs that come... by Leon Bridges

I'm not writing just classic-sounding songs, but songs that come from experience.

classic writing song

If I went crazy and tried to make pop music, my band wouldn't record it! I love them too much to do that.

records band crazy

I don't think I'd be able to flat-out write a pop song and make it satisfying to me. I'm ready to make a consistent sound in whatever way I can.

writing song thinking

I just want people to see my growth as an artist, and singer. by Leon Bridges

I just want people to see my growth as an artist, and singer.

growth artist people

Dance really built my confidence on stage. I'm still a shy person. But I have a lot more confidence than I did when I started.

person confidence shy dance

I don't live in this soul music bubble. I love Young Thug, Drake, Kendrick Lamar. I even heard that Kendrick was a fan of my music. Hopefully there's a door open for us to do music together. He's one of my favorite artists. I love Jazmine Sullivan, Lianne la Havas, Usher, Ginuwine. It goes further than classic soul.

music soul together love

I like to groove a little bit! by Leon Bridges

I like to groove a little bit!

little like little-bit groove

I write based on how I feel. by Leon Bridges

I write based on how I feel.

write i-feel feel how

I've always had a very clear vision of what I wanted to do. by Leon Bridges

I've always had a very clear vision of what I wanted to do.

very always clear vision

I was 10 years old when I first heard Ginuwine. I remember being at a friend's house, and the music video came on. I was just like, 'What is that?' I was just kind of drawn from there.

friend music house remember

The first time I heard Sam Cooke was in the 'Malcom X' film. I was with my father, and that's the first time I heard his song. I remember my father telling me the story of Sam Cooke.

me time song father

I remember hanging out at Starbucks. There were these older guys who would sit around and play Crosby, Stills & Nash songs. I was just so in love with music. I would just go hang out with them, and I would try to sing and harmonize with them. I didn't even know the songs.

know music remember love

It's kind of weird - I get shy when I'm around new people, still, even when I'm onstage. I come from not really wanting to be in lights or known or in front of people.

weird new lights people

I love the pioneers like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, but when I write music, it comes out in my own way.

my-own music love way

I never really thought about my music being universal. When I set out to write, it was just a feeling that felt good to me. I never thought about being able to reach everybody.

feeling good me music

In the beginning, I was so inspired by the music. I had the option to make something modern with classic undertones, but I wanted to make something that was exactly like that old sound.

beginning classic music sound