--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a lot easier to write songs before…" description: "\"It was a lot easier to write songs before I had a record deal, because the record labels and the industry doesn't mean to put pressure on you, but they..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/ashton-shepherd-35084_because_it-was-a-lot-easier-to-write-songs-befor_64731.jpg" --- # It was a lot easier to write songs before I had a record… ![“It was a lot easier to write songs before I had a record deal, because the record labels and the industry doesn't mean to put pressure on you, but they do. They don't realize that they are, but you end up having a pressure there that you feel. At times I feel myself wanting to say, 'Just let me do…” quote by Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/ashton-shepherd-35084_because_it-was-a-lot-easier-to-write-songs-befor_64731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/ashton-shepherd-35084_because_it-was-a-lot-easier-to-write-songs-befor_64731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/ashton-shepherd-35084_because_it-was-a-lot-easier-to-write-songs-befor_64731.jpg) > “It was a lot easier to write songs before I had a record deal, because the record labels and the industry doesn't mean to put pressure on you, but they do. They don't realize that they are, but you end up having a pressure there that you feel. At times I feel myself wanting to say, 'Just let me do what I do.'” [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative freedom declines under commercial expectations, causing internal tension between artistic authenticity and industry demands. **In simple terms:** Pressure from labels stifles songwriting. Key Takeaway Industry expectations can erode artistic spontaneity. Themes creativity commercial pressure artistic integrity industry dynamics self-expression Mood frustrated determined reflective Type personal testimony industry critique When to use this quote - songwriting sessions - record label negotiations - studio recordings - tour rehearsals Key Concepts creative autonomy commercial expectations artist-label relationship Practical Applications - maintaining artistic vision - navigating contract terms Questions to Reflect On - How can artists preserve authenticity while meeting commercial goals? - What strategies help balance creative freedom with industry pressure? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Record labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-labels/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs/) ## Related quotes > [I write songs; I record them. When I get enough, and it seems like a coherent piece, I call it an album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/i-write-songs-i-record-them-when-i-get-enough-and-it-seems-like-a/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [I remember at a very early age ringing up record labels I found in the Yellow Pages, and asking them for a record deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-walters/i-remember-at-a-very-early-age-ringing-up-record-labels-i-found-in/) [Ashley Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-walters/) > [Now, if I speak to people who want to act, I say, 'Don't give yourself a back-up.' If I had gone to university, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tuppence-middleton/now-if-i-speak-to-people-who-want-to-act-i-say-don-t-give-yourself-a/) [Tuppence Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tuppence-middleton/) > [Pressure to me now has become almost part of my life. It doesn't really affect me anymore. People talk about me being under pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-bush/pressure-to-me-now-has-become-almost-part-of-my-life-it-doesn-t/) [Reggie Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-bush/) > [The best part of a MacArthur is having some pressure taken off from touring relentlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/the-best-part-of-a-macarthur-is-having-some-pressure-taken-off-from/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [Not having the pressure allowed us to get our feet wet, to figure things out, to see where we were taking the show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-danza/not-having-the-pressure-allowed-us-to-get-our-feet-wet-to-figure/) [Tony Danza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-danza/) > [A lot of the issues of the Dallas Cowboys yesterday having pressure on Tony Romo, came from the outside pressure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmitt-smith/a-lot-of-the-issues-of-the-dallas-cowboys-yesterday-having-pressure/) [Emmitt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmitt-smith/) > [You can't keep having the pressure on your goal all of the time because, eventually, a team will get through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/you-can-t-keep-having-the-pressure-on-your-goal-all-of-the-time/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) > [I've always been the guy that loved being scared or loved having pressure on me, because I always wanted to prove myself wrong and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-ve-always-been-the-guy-that-loved-being-scared-or-loved-having/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [Having pressure is a privilege.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-bregman/having-pressure-is-a-privilege/) [Alex Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-bregman/) > [With a lot of songs on this record, one verse doesn't relate to the next verse. I don't think that one day really relates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/with-a-lot-of-songs-on-this-record-one-verse-doesn-t-relate-to-the/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [I really try to be aware of the purpose of each song. There are songs on my record that I want people to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-really-try-to-be-aware-of-the-purpose-of-each-song-there-are-songs/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [The only thing they really get to pick is the single. But I get to pick the producer, the songs on the record, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/the-only-thing-they-really-get-to-pick-is-the-single-but-i-get-to/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [Usually, if I hear songs, I record it on a Voice Memo first. I have to perfect it. I'm a big fan of delivery,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-t-genasis/usually-if-i-hear-songs-i-record-it-on-a-voice-memo-first-i-have-to/) [O. T. Genasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-t-genasis/) > [People want to be the first with the record, they want to be the first to know which songs are on the record, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/people-want-to-be-the-first-with-the-record-they-want-to-be-the-first/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) ## More by Ashton Shepherd > [The word is faithful, look it up It don't mean sneakin' around Behind my back like you ain't gettin' enough How 'bout forever, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/the-word-is-faithful-look-it-up-it-don-t-mean-sneakin-around-behind/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [It feels so satisfying to hear a song I wrote come out of the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/it-feels-so-satisfying-to-hear-a-song-i-wrote-come-out-of-the-radio/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [Sometimes I get in writing moods and I want to write a song every couple of days. Then sometimes I may not write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/sometimes-i-get-in-writing-moods-and-i-want-to-write-a-song-every/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [Maybe you could call me a little controlling or I like things to be my way, but since I was a little girl, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/maybe-you-could-call-me-a-little-controlling-or-i-like-things-to-be/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [I drink a lot of water and I try to watch what I eat. The thing about me is I like healthy stuff, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/i-drink-a-lot-of-water-and-i-try-to-watch-what-i-eat-the-thing-about/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [I'm thankful to God for having a family that's been there for me. He's been there from the time I was a child to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/i-m-thankful-to-god-for-having-a-family-that-s-been-there-for-me-he-s/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [The Lord has been there from wanting to be a momma, to having a wonderful childhood life and dreaming of having a good motherhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/the-lord-has-been-there-from-wanting-to-be-a-momma-to-having-a/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [I know so many people who have gone through just not very good situations, and sometimes you just need a song to help pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/i-know-so-many-people-who-have-gone-through-just-not-very-good/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [One of my favorites is one called 'Rory's Radio' that I wrote about my brother Jeff's best friend growing up - his name was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/one-of-my-favorites-is-one-called-rory-s-radio-that-i-wrote-about-my/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [First and foremost, praying about things and having the good Lord as a part of my life is a huge grounding thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/first-and-foremost-praying-about-things-and-having-the-good-lord-as-a/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [For me and my husband, one of my biggest peeves is that I can't stand for an old friend or a woman to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/for-me-and-my-husband-one-of-my-biggest-peeves-is-that-i-can-t-stand/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) > [I'll get depressed out on the road simply because I'm not being the mama that's cooking supper every night, or that's fixing my husband's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-shepherd/i-ll-get-depressed-out-on-the-road-simply-because-i-m-not-being-the/) [Ashton Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) [Explore all 13 Ashton Shepherd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-shepherd/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I was contacted by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, MP, through the Pune Film Institute and offered the post in the NFDC. I accepted it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/i-was-contacted-by-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-mp-through-the-pune/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) Browse all 15,485 Because quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was a lot easier to write songs before I had a record deal, because the record labels and the industry doesn't mean to put pressure on you, but they do. 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