--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The record company doesn't know what to…" description: "\"The record company doesn't know what to do with me, because I'm not a Lily Allen, but I'm not really an indie artist, either. All the best artists have..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/bat-for-lashes-9901_allen_the-record-company-doesn-t-know-what-to_2960557.jpg" --- # The record company doesn't know what to do with me… ![“The record company doesn't know what to do with me, because I'm not a Lily Allen, but I'm not really an indie artist, either. All the best artists have been in the middle.” quote by Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/bat-for-lashes-9901_allen_the-record-company-doesn-t-know-what-to_2960557.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/bat-for-lashes-9901_allen_the-record-company-doesn-t-know-what-to_2960557.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/bat-for-lashes-9901_allen_the-record-company-doesn-t-know-what-to_2960557.jpg) > “The record company doesn't know what to do with me, because I'm not a Lily Allen, but I'm not really an indie artist, either. All the best artists have been in the middle.” [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist feels stuck between mainstream pop and indie, lacking a clear label for their style. **In simple terms:** Finding a unique musical identity is hard. Key Takeaway Embrace your hybrid sound. Themes creativity identity industry Mood determined hopeful Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - marketing - label negotiations Key Concepts genre fluidity artist branding Questions to Reflect On - How will you define your music? - Can hybrid genres thrive? A Different Perspective Labels may force categorization; stay authentic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allen/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/either/) [Indie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indie/) [Indie Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indie-artist-4064075/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Lily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lily/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lily-allen-536035/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Really Indie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-indie-366981/) [Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record/) [Record company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-company/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I think Katy B encapsulates young London in a way I never could. She reps London harder than anyone song-wise since Lily Allen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-think-katy-b-encapsulates-young-london-in-a-way-i-never-could-she/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [Everyone thinks Lily Allen is this brash, bold, funny person. It was all just a bit of a facade and bravado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/everyone-thinks-lily-allen-is-this-brash-bold-funny-person-it-was-all/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [I love Beyonce. She's so fierce. I also love Lily Allen, and she was an influence on my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgit-mendler/i-love-beyonce-she-s-so-fierce-i-also-love-lily-allen-and-she-was-an/) [Bridgit Mendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgit-mendler/) > [I just don't care what people like Lily Allen think about stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-just-don-t-care-what-people-like-lily-allen-think-about-stuff/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I miss the outspoken pop stars like Lily Allen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ryan/i-miss-the-outspoken-pop-stars-like-lily-allen/) [Lee Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ryan/) > [I'm a big fan of Lily Allen's music, but I'm not a fan of her personality. I differentiate the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/i-m-a-big-fan-of-lily-allen-s-music-but-i-m-not-a-fan-of-her/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [Ive had enough of being me. Ive had enough of being Lily Allen, I want to be me now. Whatever situation Im in, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/ive-had-enough-of-being-me-ive-had-enough-of-being-lily-allen-i-want/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [If you ask most people, 'Who's Lily Allen?,' they'll say, 'That girl who's in the papers all the time.' Not that girl who wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/if-you-ask-most-people-who-s-lily-allen-they-ll-say-that-girl-who-s/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [I'm really into the indie-music scene and listen to a lot of De La Soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/i-m-really-into-the-indie-music-scene-and-listen-to-a-lot-of-de-la/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [Im really into the indie-music scene and listen to a lot of De La Soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-celski/im-really-into-the-indie-music-scene-and-listen-to-a-lot-of-de-la-soul/) [J. R. Celski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-celski/) > [I don't understand why people make me want to make music that's a join-the-dots thing by numbers. I find it really difficult when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-understand-why-people-make-me-want-to-make-music-that-s-a/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [I'm an indie artist with major distribution, so one foot in the extreme major music business and one foot in the abyss of indie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/i-m-an-indie-artist-with-major-distribution-so-one-foot-in-the/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [It's a lot of work being an indie artist, but it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/it-s-a-lot-of-work-being-an-indie-artist-but-it-s-worth-it/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I started my entire journey as an indie artist. Ownership has its benefits and it's just about putting in the work. I'm just working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle/i-started-my-entire-journey-as-an-indie-artist-ownership-has-its/) [Estelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle/) > [I wear glasses and suits, so I guess I am an indie artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-jackson/i-wear-glasses-and-suits-so-i-guess-i-am-an-indie-artist/) [Stevie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-jackson/) ## More by Bat for Lashes > [Music's free and music's for everyone to enjoy and express and interpret. It transcends countries and times and decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/music-s-free-and-music-s-for-everyone-to-enjoy-and-express-and/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [I was brought up by the English side of my family, who are very repressed and working class. Absolutely lovely, but very English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-was-brought-up-by-the-english-side-of-my-family-who-are-very/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [I think Deborah Harry has a really sexy, cool and quite playful sex-kitten kind of style I really like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-think-deborah-harry-has-a-really-sexy-cool-and-quite-playful-sex/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [We walked arm in arm but I didn't feel his touch a desire I'd first tried to hide. That tingling inside was gone and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/we-walked-arm-in-arm-but-i-didn-t-feel-his-touch-a-desire-i-d-first/) [Bat For Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [There's something in me that loves to inspire people: when I'm playing music, I imagine all this sparkly stardust going through everyone. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/there-s-something-in-me-that-loves-to-inspire-people-when-i-m-playing/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [It's very much to do with how I'm feeling ... I love to be experimental and use eclectic mismatched things and put them together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/it-s-very-much-to-do-with-how-i-m-feeling-i-love-to-be-experimental/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [David Bowie worked with Brian Eno and dressed up in extraordinary clothes, but he was also a brilliant songwriter who captured the thoughts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/david-bowie-worked-with-brian-eno-and-dressed-up-in-extraordinary/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [There's a part of me that wishes I could go out in T-shirt and jeans, 'cause I really love Patti Smith, Cat Power, girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/there-s-a-part-of-me-that-wishes-i-could-go-out-in-t-shirt-and-jeans/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [When I was little, people like Talking Heads were on the radio. There was something geeky yet groundbreaking about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/when-i-was-little-people-like-talking-heads-were-on-the-radio-there/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [I had Halloween parties every year, as it was my birthday five days before. My parents would actually put prosthetic noses on, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-had-halloween-parties-every-year-as-it-was-my-birthday-five-days/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [I think what I wanted to do was meet someone who knew more than me about songwriting structure and progressions and middle eights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-think-what-i-wanted-to-do-was-meet-someone-who-knew-more-than-me/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [I always think that the exceptional people are those who remain outsiders but still communicate on a grand scale. I think I want everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-always-think-that-the-exceptional-people-are-those-who-remain/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [Each album takes two or two-and-a-half years to finish between recording and touring. It's like being with an old boyfriend every single night watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/each-album-takes-two-or-two-and-a-half-years-to-finish-between/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [I was a nursery school teacher, and I worked with youth groups. I loved that job. It was exhausting, but you got a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-was-a-nursery-school-teacher-and-i-worked-with-youth-groups-i-loved/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [I find the world pretty overwhelming, so I'm getting into meditation and doing lots of yoga. And I love my garden, and I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-find-the-world-pretty-overwhelming-so-i-m-getting-into-meditation/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) [Explore all 69 Bat for Lashes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) ## More Allen quotes > [Being in a Woody Allen film. I cherish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/being-in-a-woody-allen-film-i-cherish-it/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [My older brother took me to Woody Allen double features when I was still teething.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/my-older-brother-took-me-to-woody-allen-double-features-when-i-was/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [I don't know enough about Woody Allen to be a fan of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-ritchie/i-don-t-know-enough-about-woody-allen-to-be-a-fan-of-him/) [Guy Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-ritchie/) > [I would like to work with people whose films I really like: Walter Salles, Woody Allen, Julio Medem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/i-would-like-to-work-with-people-whose-films-i-really-like-walter/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) > [I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don-t-try-to-compete-with-other/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [When you win, everything is everything. But when you lose, it's all about Allen Iverson and Larry Brown. When we win, I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-iverson/when-you-win-everything-is-everything-but-when-you-lose-it-s-all/) [Allen Iverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-iverson/) > [Obviously, if Woody Allen calls and says he wants you to read a script, of course you read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/obviously-if-woody-allen-calls-and-says-he-wants-you-to-read-a-script/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Some people said my acting was a cross between Euell Gibbons, Rodney Allen Rippy and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfman-jack/some-people-said-my-acting-was-a-cross-between-euell-gibbons-rodney/) [Wolfman Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfman-jack/) > [While filming 'Annie Hall,' I never really hung out with Woody Allen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/while-filming-annie-hall-i-never-really-hung-out-with-woody-allen/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [First off, I love Woody Allen. His early movies, like 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' are incredible. I also love anything by Billy Wilder, Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-story/first-off-i-love-woody-allen-his-early-movies-like-hannah-and-her/) [Tim Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-story/) > [I'm so from the Woody Allen/Spike Lee school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/i-m-so-from-the-woody-allen-spike-lee-school/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [When I worked with anybody like Woody Allen, there's the name, and your understanding of who they are before you meet them, that stays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/when-i-worked-with-anybody-like-woody-allen-there-s-the-name-and-your/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [I'm very physical. I'm extremely active, and I would love to do something a little more sexy and dangerous, a la Sophia Loren, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azita-ghanizada/i-m-very-physical-i-m-extremely-active-and-i-would-love-to-do/) [Azita Ghanizada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azita-ghanizada/) > [When television began, it modeled itself after radio. Many early television programs were radio programs first. 'My Favorite Wife,' 'The Jack Benny Show,' 'Burns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/when-television-began-it-modeled-itself-after-radio-many-early/) [David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/) > [Woody Allen's movies are so much a part of me. I grew up watching them over and over and would read all his comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/woody-allen-s-movies-are-so-much-a-part-of-me-i-grew-up-watching-them/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) [Browse all 105 Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The record company doesn't know what to do with me, because I'm not a Lily Allen, but I'm not really an indie artist, either. 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