--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Musical freedom has always been very…" description: "\"Musical freedom has always been very strong for me, something to strive for, to be able to play the music you enjoy playing rather than playing music t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/alvin-lee-17693_able_musical-freedom-has-always-been-very-str_1979584.png" --- # Musical freedom has always been very strong for me… ![“Musical freedom has always been very strong for me, something to strive for, to be able to play the music you enjoy playing rather than playing music that other people want to hear, which I find rather shallow and unrewarding. So I make albums I like, and I put them out and hope other people like…” quote by Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/alvin-lee-17693_able_musical-freedom-has-always-been-very-str_1979584.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/alvin-lee-17693_able_musical-freedom-has-always-been-very-str_1979584.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/alvin-lee-17693_able_musical-freedom-has-always-been-very-str_1979584.png) > “Musical freedom has always been very strong for me, something to strive for, to be able to play the music you enjoy playing rather than playing music that other people want to hear, which I find rather shallow and unrewarding. So I make albums I like, and I put them out and hope other people like them, and that's a kind of freedom in itself.” [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing personal artistic expression over commercial expectations leads to authentic, rewarding work. **In simple terms:** Create music you love, not what others demand. Key Takeaway Focus on personal artistic fulfillment. Themes creativity authenticity artistic freedom commercial pressure Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - industry expectations - fan expectations - financial pressure Key Concepts self‑expression music production artist autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How to sustain a career while staying true? - What strategies balance art and income? A Different Perspective Commercial success may be harder without mainstream appeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/itself/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-albums-438097/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-enjoy-284968/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Musical Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-freedom-957253/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-music/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-music/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rather/) [Shallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shallow/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [That's the kind of musical freedom I like: jazz, rock, blues, anything. You adopt different attitudes when you play different music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/that-s-the-kind-of-musical-freedom-i-like-jazz-rock-blues-anything/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [I just love to play music. I enjoy it more than anything. I enjoy it more than drinking with my friends in the pub.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/i-just-love-to-play-music-i-enjoy-it-more-than-anything-i-enjoy-it/) [Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/) > [After every tour, I think about hanging up the touring hat, and after a while of not working, I'm ready to play. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/after-every-tour-i-think-about-hanging-up-the-touring-hat-and-after-a/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [I have a passion for music, and I enjoy the process of expressing myself within the parameters of a pop song, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/i-have-a-passion-for-music-and-i-enjoy-the-process-of-expressing/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [My ethos is musical freedom: to create whatever I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/labrinth/my-ethos-is-musical-freedom-to-create-whatever-i-want/) [Labrinth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/labrinth/) > [There's more musical freedom on Madison Avenue than anywhere else. It's an Eden for a composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-leigh/there-s-more-musical-freedom-on-madison-avenue-than-anywhere-else-it/) [Mitch Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-leigh/) > [We love playing music but we're too weird to play music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-coyne/we-love-playing-music-but-we-re-too-weird-to-play-music/) [Wayne Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-coyne/) > [What I try to get beyond is playing music at people and, instead, to play music with people because audience members are constantly part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/what-i-try-to-get-beyond-is-playing-music-at-people-and-instead-to/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [Collaboration has become really integral to my process. I play music so that I can spend time with my friends and communicate in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/collaboration-has-become-really-integral-to-my-process-i-play-music/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [I didn't start playing music really until I was 18/19, so it was a relatively new thing. I didn't play much music in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vincent-mcmorrow/i-didn-t-start-playing-music-really-until-i-was-18-19-so-it-was-a/) [James Vincent McMorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vincent-mcmorrow/) > [When I'm feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, sometimes I'll read a book. But most of the time, I will either listen to music or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-lynch/when-i-m-feeling-stressed-out-and-overwhelmed-sometimes-i-ll-read-a/) [Ross Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-lynch/) > [We love playing music but were too weird to play music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-coyne/we-love-playing-music-but-were-too-weird-to-play-music/) [Wayne Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-coyne/) > [I remember early on, for instance, having to play wedding gigs, that I hated playing the music. Now I don't have to play music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-remember-early-on-for-instance-having-to-play-wedding-gigs-that-i/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I just really want to make albums - and however I can, I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/i-just-really-want-to-make-albums-and-however-i-can-i-will/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [I used to make albums because I wasn't touring, and so I thought, "This is the best way for people to find out about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/i-used-to-make-albums-because-i-wasn-t-touring-and-so-i-thought-this/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) ## More by Alvin Lee > [I started off playing the clarinet, after I was inspired by listening to my dad's Benny Goodman records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/i-started-off-playing-the-clarinet-after-i-was-inspired-by-listening/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [My favorite country blues player was Big Bill Broonzy. City blues was Freddie King, but I liked them all - Muddy Waters, John Lee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/my-favorite-country-blues-player-was-big-bill-broonzy-city-blues-was/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [That's the kind of musical freedom I like: jazz, rock, blues, anything. You adopt different attitudes when you play different music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/that-s-the-kind-of-musical-freedom-i-like-jazz-rock-blues-anything/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [Anywhere you go in the world is what you make of it, not what you read in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/anywhere-you-go-in-the-world-is-what-you-make-of-it-not-what-you-read/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [... I'm not conscious of the speed ... it's not my motive ... my motive is displaying a voice through the fingerboard ... it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/i-m-not-conscious-of-the-speed-it-s-not-my-motive-my-motive-is/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/i-d-love-to-change-the-world-but-i-don-t-know-what-to-do/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [It wasn't very satisfying playing the big arenas, but it was good as far as a paycheck. But the sound was terrible, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/it-wasn-t-very-satisfying-playing-the-big-arenas-but-it-was-good-as/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [They have decided to tour under the name of Ten Years After which I don't think is very cool. To be honest, they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/they-have-decided-to-tour-under-the-name-of-ten-years-after-which-i/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [That's the beauty of creativity. It comes from the ether. I like to think, sometimes, it's like I haven't written it, it's more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/that-s-the-beauty-of-creativity-it-comes-from-the-ether-i-like-to/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [Strangely enough, through all those school years I decided at 13 or 14 I was going to be a musician and so school was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/strangely-enough-through-all-those-school-years-i-decided-at-13-or-14/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [I've always been much more of a guitar picker, but I began to feel forced into a position of being the epitome of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/i-ve-always-been-much-more-of-a-guitar-picker-but-i-began-to-feel/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [My solos are more tastefully conceived now. But I still get going in places. It's just that I build up to it now. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/my-solos-are-more-tastefully-conceived-now-but-i-still-get-going-in/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [I think I'll continue to work as a solo artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/i-think-i-ll-continue-to-work-as-a-solo-artist/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [I write and record all the time; it's my hobby and my passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/i-write-and-record-all-the-time-it-s-my-hobby-and-my-passion/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [So if you see Ten Years After, it's not me anymore. I'm very happy with what I am doing now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/so-if-you-see-ten-years-after-it-s-not-me-anymore-i-m-very-happy-with/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) [Explore all 36 Alvin Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Musical freedom has always been very strong for me, something to strive for, to be able to play the music you enjoy playing rather than playing music that other people want to hear, which I find rather shallow and unrewarding. 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