The melodies come out so strong that I'm like, "Oh, crap." It's really better if they could both be kind of able to compromise, but the melodies, even more recently, they come out very fully cast and formed. Andrew Bird More Quotes by Andrew Bird More Quotes From Andrew Bird I still play solo shows. And some of those shows are still some of the best, most gratifying shows. Andrew Bird solo shows play It's like you don't know you're making a record unless you're half-killing yourself. Andrew Bird records like-you half I think life is a wondrous thing. I'm happy to try pretty hard. Andrew Bird life-is trying thinking Sometimes I just think we're not meant to fly halfway around the world in a day. That some kind of mutation is going to happen. Andrew Bird mutation around-the-world thinking The earth almost looks like it's packed down and dense from so many feet treading over it. Andrew Bird down-and feet looks The music that I write is often not necessarily full of doom and gloom. You'll notice in most of the darkest songs, the music is actually pretty peaceful and lulling. Andrew Bird doom-and-gloom writing song You can build up expectations for a song before you record it, and then it's like nothing's good enough in the studio. Andrew Bird records expectations song I have some irrepressible pop impulses to write an appealing, concise song. And I also have some irrepressible kind of restlessness as well, and I need to keep myself interested. When I'm left to my own devices, there's a struggle. Andrew Bird struggle writing song I definitely have to give myself permission, like on "Master Swarm," to rip a lead on that. Just play a violin solo that's - it's a bit showoff-y, but it's fun, so who cares? Andrew Bird rip play fun If you take a little time, let's say three weeks off, after recording a song, and you listen to it every other day, you're just going to know eventually. Andrew Bird three littles song It's not set in stone. I like to keep it rolling and changing, and so I am like, "Great, I get to remake my song." Andrew Bird rolling stones song I don't get particularly precious about things like this, though. Like the record company said, "We need a radio edit that delivers the hook" - I don't even know what they consider the hook in that song ["Oh No"] - "that delivers the hook sooner." So I'm like, "Okay. I see that." And they were all walking on eggshells, like is this going to be sacrilegious to me or something, to mess with this art I've created? And I'm like, "Great. I get to tinker with it, I get to mess with my song some more." Andrew Bird song art needs If something gets under my own skin, and keeps reoccurring, it starts to take on a certain weight and value, and I think, "I have to put this in the song. I have no choice but to mention Greek Cypriots in this song." It's a little internal challenge to myself. Like creating little imaginary rituals in yourself to help the song go from nonexisting to existing. Andrew Bird creating song thinking I just pay attention to what's in my head. That's my number-one rule. Andrew Bird numbers pay attention I'm coming from a place that's more experimental and indulgent already, so for the last 10 years, it's been more like, "How can I defend my own sensibilities by writing a nugget of a little catchy pop song?" That's how I'm stretching myself, by writing something really simple. Andrew Bird simple writing song There's always that struggle between me wanting to keep [song] new and fresh and then be - I can never get with pop songs being so repetitive. Andrew Bird pops struggle song Every time I make a record, it's kind of like scarification or something. You work 15 hours until you're stupid. You're just kind of all jittery. Andrew Bird records kind stupid Most records, you build from the drums and bass up. This one, we started with the vocals in Nashville and recorded them live with just the guitars and tried to make that complete and lovely-sounding without any adornment at all. I really wanted to get something with the vocal that I've never gotten before Armchair Apocrypha. Andrew Bird nashville lovely guitar Playing the violin and singing and whistling are just three different ways of making sound. It's not trying to replace a band, per se. It's become a completely different thing. And it's not just simply an effect. It's just a very surprisingly intuitive thing. Andrew Bird singing sound trying When I'm onstage, I'm completely comfortable, and I feel very vital and alive. Andrew Bird comfortable alive feels
