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Portrait of Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell

(1979) Singer-songwriter United States

128 quotes in 582 categories

Jason Isbell balances music with family, trying to be as good at parenting as he is at songwriting. He admires simple, raw recordings that skip extra effects, and believes great songs can charm listeners of any age. He also notes how fast‑changing times can leave older country fans feeling left behind.

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Jason Isbell is a singer-songwriter from the United States, best known for The Nashville sound.

Quick Facts About Jason Isbell

Born: February 1, 1979
Nationality: United States
Profession: Singer-songwriter
Notable works: The Nashville sound
Known for: Killers of the Flower Moon
Spouse: Amanda Shires

About Jason Isbell

Michael Jason Isbell is an American singer-songwriter. Considered one of the best contemporary songwriters in his genre, he is known for his honest, emotional lyrics. Isbell began his career as a member of Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007. His first album with his backing band, the 400 Unit, was released in 2009.

Awards & Honors

Americana Award for Artist of the Year

Quotes by Jason Isbell

I think politics are a very personal thing.

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Rehab is like a divorce.

Divorce

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For any writer, a red pen is such a trigger.

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Good sounds, they just make you feel good.

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As my life changes, it gives me new things to write about.

Life

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I think Spotify is honestly just another one of Sean Parker's ways of ripping musicians off.

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I'd rather have 1000 of our fans than 10,000 Kid Rock fans!

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I don't remember a lot of the good times from my days with the Truckers.

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I like a cliche if it's sort of turned on its head.

Cliche

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You always have a lot of time on the road, and you have to fill that time up with something.

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It's nice to feel like you have more in common with people rather than more differences.

Differences

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If you're going to write, you're going to have to force yourself to really study the world.

Education

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If I spent my time wondering about what genre I wanted to be in or where I was on the charts, I…

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I've always wanted to pull off 'No One is to Blame' by Howard Jones. I've done that a couple times in solo…

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The world changes fast, and a lot of the old country folks have a hard time keeping up with it, and it…

Country

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I think I'm a common man for the most part, but I don't work as hard as most people that I know.

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I don't care what 'Pitchfork' says. They write from a place that's a little too self-aware for me to really give a…

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Right when I started touring, there was this wariness I had of the world outside of my small town. But I'm not…

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The good thing about songwriting is you don't have to delineate between what's true and what's fiction; records aren't put on the…

Books

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The fact that I have a Southern accent and write about a lot of rural things leads people to put me in…

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I'm not a big AA guy, but I'll go every once in a while. They do tell you that going out and…

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When I hear somebody like Hayes Carll write a song that's touching and poignant and sad and funny all at the same…

Different emotions

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Early on, I had to structure my ideas of success around things like, 'Can I go back and listen to the record…

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I think I'm writing for an intelligent stranger - you know, in my mind I can't remember who coined that phrase first.…

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I know it's financially lucrative to go out on my own, but I don't like it. It's really hard work, just the…

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I didn't know what to expect when we first started touring behind 'Southeastern' because you don't want to lull anybody to sleep…

Attention

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Sometimes I leave an encounter or a conversation hoping that I didn't come off as above my raisin' - hoping that I…

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I don't write a whole lot about one person that exists in reality; it's usually characteristics of different people that I combine…

Character

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I've grown tired of traveling alone, won't you ride with me?

Inspirational

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I like to play pool. When the ball goes in the pocket, you win.

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You can be very honest without telling the truth, at least in art.

Art

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When somebody asks me what a song or a line is about, I feel like I'm not done writing it yet.

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There was a point when I told my daddy I didn't want to go hunting anymore.

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I go to the movies a lot on off days. I exercise. I have routines that I go by.

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I write pretty much year-round, but I definitely do more when a deadline is looming.

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Man, that Jim Lauderdale always looks good - he's got more western suits than anybody.

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I've spent a lot of time in a rock n' roll band trying to fight off the fact that I was old…

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I have my own definitions of success. And I have my own definitions of country music that, luckily, I share with more…

Country

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I don't have certain kinds of fatigue. My focus stays strong - I can work on a song for six or seven…

Day

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A lot of people make records where there are a couple songs worth listening to and you skip through the rest, and…

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Jason Isbell by topic

People (30) Song (27) Time (21) Writing (19) Music (16) Work (13)

Jason Isbell Quotes About:

People Quotes 30
Song Quotes 27
Time Quotes 21
Writing Quotes 19
Good Quotes 19
Music Quotes 16
I think Quotes 15
Think Quotes 14
Work Quotes 13
Who Quotes 12