--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a musician first, the whole DJ-ing…" description: "\"I was a musician first, the whole DJ-ing came after.\" — Bonobo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/bonobo-5452_after_i-was-a-musician-first-the-whole-dj-ing_52704.jpg" --- # I was a musician first, the whole DJ-ing came after. ![“I was a musician first, the whole DJ-ing came after.” quote by Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/bonobo-5452_after_i-was-a-musician-first-the-whole-dj-ing_52704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/bonobo-5452_after_i-was-a-musician-first-the-whole-dj-ing_52704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36f/bonobo-5452_after_i-was-a-musician-first-the-whole-dj-ing_52704.jpg) > “I was a musician first, the whole DJ-ing came after.” [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker’s primary identity is as a musician, with DJing being a later addition to their creative practice. **In simple terms:** Music first, DJ later Key Takeaway Core skill precedes secondary role Themes identity career evolution creativity music production self‑definition Mood proud reflective Type personal statement career insight When to use this quote - transitioning from performance to mixing - expanding artistic repertoire - building a brand beyond original work Key Concepts musician DJ artistic identity Practical Applications - marketing personal music catalog - designing DJ sets that reflect original style Questions to Reflect On - How does your primary craft shape later pursuits? - What benefits arise from adding a new role to an existing skill set? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [After](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) [Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Ing Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ing-came-743080/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Musician Dj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician-dj-728830/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [I consider myself more of a producer and a musician than a DJ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kygo/i-consider-myself-more-of-a-producer-and-a-musician-than-a-dj/) [Kygo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kygo/) > [It's all about perspective: different people need different forms of musical medicine. What matters most is if the artist or musician or DJ thoroughly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raye/it-s-all-about-perspective-different-people-need-different-forms-of/) [Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raye/) > [Pesticides came about after the first world war. Some brainy petrochemical money maker said, 'Hey, that mustard gas worked great on people, maybe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/pesticides-came-about-after-the-first-world-war-some-brainy/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best compliment came from Knopf's Sonny Mehta. We were at lunch in New York with my editor, Gary Fisketjon, it was my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ross/the-best-compliment-came-from-knopf-s-sonny-mehta-we-were-at-lunch-in/) [Adam Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ross/) > [Our album 'Show No Mercy' came out in late '83, and we did three or four shows in San Francisco after the release. 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After I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/from-being-a-writer-of-plays-it-was-not-that-surprising-that-somebody/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I came to the United States to see what would happen in 2000 after working for 20 years in Australia and asked my agent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dale/i-came-to-the-united-states-to-see-what-would-happen-in-2000-after-2/) [Alan Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dale/) > [I came back after my surgery, throwing four to six miles harder than I did before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-schilling/i-came-back-after-my-surgery-throwing-four-to-six-miles-harder-than-i/) [Curt Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-schilling/) > [After 'Quantum Leap,' a lot of sci-fi things came my way, and I had to say, 'I can't do that right now.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/after-quantum-leap-a-lot-of-sci-fi-things-came-my-way-and-i-had-to/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [I remember being shocked when I came out from under the focusing cloth after a minute or two being submerged within that, at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sexton/i-remember-being-shocked-when-i-came-out-from-under-the-focusing/) [John Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sexton/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) [Deke Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-richards/) ## More by Bonobo > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [I've never been one of those musicians to differentiate between acoustic and electronic sounds. I just see it all as sound sources to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/i-ve-never-been-one-of-those-musicians-to-differentiate-between/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [My records are not informed by whether the music is going to work live. I just kind of make the music I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/my-records-are-not-informed-by-whether-the-music-is-going-to-work/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [I listen to records I made years ago and it takes me back to that time, so why not actually put a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/i-listen-to-records-i-made-years-ago-and-it-takes-me-back-to-that/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [I really enjoy DJing but I couldn't DJ exclusively. I couldn't produce exclusively either, that would involve spending a lot of time in isolation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/i-really-enjoy-djing-but-i-couldn-t-dj-exclusively-i-couldn-t-produce/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Ninja was able to survive its own hype and become a very strong label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/ninja-was-able-to-survive-its-own-hype-and-become-a-very-strong-label/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [If you're in a current mind state where you know what you want from the track, you can't just leave it and expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/if-you-re-in-a-current-mind-state-where-you-know-what-you-want-from/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Albums are just a punctuation of music. I don't usually start out with a manifesto. Your tastes change with the process of the album.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/albums-are-just-a-punctuation-of-music-i-don-t-usually-start-out-with/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [When I started touring and coming to San Francisco, especially, I felt the most at home in America, other than in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/when-i-started-touring-and-coming-to-san-francisco-especially-i-felt/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [As a DJ you spend a lot of time on your own, in airports, away from friends, away from your home. That can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/as-a-dj-you-spend-a-lot-of-time-on-your-own-in-airports-away-from/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Yeah, I'd definitely love to do some scores someday. I particularly love Hans Zimmer's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/yeah-i-d-definitely-love-to-do-some-scores-someday-i-particularly/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [I come from a film background as I studied film at art school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/i-come-from-a-film-background-as-i-studied-film-at-art-school/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [I always have trouble recording drums and double bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/i-always-have-trouble-recording-drums-and-double-bass/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Yeah, it's a kind of weird thing because I don't define myself as an electronic musician. It's certainly a part of it, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/yeah-it-s-a-kind-of-weird-thing-because-i-don-t-define-myself-as-an/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [I didn't really think my music was good enough to be heard by anyone. I had some friends who were releasing records who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/i-didn-t-really-think-my-music-was-good-enough-to-be-heard-by-anyone/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) [Explore all 100 Bonobo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. 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But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) [Bert Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-lahr/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. 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