--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not interested in writing overtly…" description: "\"I'm not interested in writing overtly autobiographical songs. I would rather explore interesting stories. I like the idea of the songs being evocative ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dan-smith-10201_film_i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-au_814524.jpg" --- # I'm not interested in writing overtly autobiographical… ![“I'm not interested in writing overtly autobiographical songs. I would rather explore interesting stories. I like the idea of the songs being evocative and distinctive, so I have in my mind the atmosphere that a film could evoke. I like to think of them existing in their own little world.” quote by Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dan-smith-10201_film_i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-au_814524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dan-smith-10201_film_i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-au_814524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dan-smith-10201_film_i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-au_814524.jpg) > “I'm not interested in writing overtly autobiographical songs. I would rather explore interesting stories. I like the idea of the songs being evocative and distinctive, so I have in my mind the atmosphere that a film could evoke. I like to think of them existing in their own little world.” [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers crafting songs that create vivid, cinematic atmospheres rather than personal autobiographies. **In simple terms:** He wants songs that feel like a film world, not his life story. Key Takeaway Focus on storytelling and mood in music. Themes creativity storytelling atmosphere Mood inspired reflective Type artistic creative When to use this quote - album concept design - film scoring - thematic playlists - creative workshops Key Concepts songwriting cinematic narrative evocative art Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal voice with imagined worlds? - What emotions do you want listeners to experience? A Different Perspective May limit personal authenticity and audience connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autobiographical Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographical-songs-301531/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Evoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-evoke-301533/) [Idea Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-songs-301535/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Overtly Autobiographical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overtly-autobiographical-301534/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Songs Evocative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songs-evocative-301532/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I always sing them as though they are autobiographical, even if they're not, and most of my songs do come from something about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronee-blakley/i-always-sing-them-as-though-they-are-autobiographical-even-if-they/) [Ronee Blakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronee-blakley/) > [I'll take a certain concern of my own or a situation and try to frame it around a fictional story, but sometimes just straight-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-ll-take-a-certain-concern-of-my-own-or-a-situation-and-try-to-frame/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [When I met with Peter Angell, the producer of the CD, we talked about my idea to do songs that I loved and songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-houston/when-i-met-with-peter-angell-the-producer-of-the-cd-we-talked-about/) [Thelma Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-houston/) > [Writin songs is like a mystery. The most difficult thing to do is have a good idea. If you have a decent idea, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/writin-songs-is-like-a-mystery-the-most-difficult-thing-to-do-is-have/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [I like the idea that songs can communicate in a way no other media can. That's why I write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/i-like-the-idea-that-songs-can-communicate-in-a-way-no-other-media/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [The truth about autobiographical songs, he realized, was that you had to make the present become the past, somehow: you had to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/the-truth-about-autobiographical-songs-he-realized-was-that-you-had/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I am absolutely my own biggest critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/i-am-absolutely-my-own-biggest-critic/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) ## More by Dan Smith > [I once went on a date where the girl drove and so couldn't drink. I was nervous, so drank quite a bit - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-once-went-on-a-date-where-the-girl-drove-and-so-couldn-t-drink-i/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [I run our Twitter and Facebook pages, because I feel it's important to maintain a personal relationship with fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-run-our-twitter-and-facebook-pages-because-i-feel-it-s-important-to/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [When we started out in the U.K., there were songs that we made, we put them on the Internet, and we immediately started touring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/when-we-started-out-in-the-u-k-there-were-songs-that-we-made-we-put/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [I write songs, but the guys play on them, they have opinions on them, and we tour together and spend all our time together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-write-songs-but-the-guys-play-on-them-they-have-opinions-on-them/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [We've been having a great time writing for other artists in and amongst making our Bastille albums and mixtapes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/we-ve-been-having-a-great-time-writing-for-other-artists-in-and/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [Playing new songs at festivals is weird, obviously. People at festivals are always a bit drunk, and probably just want to hear stuff they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/playing-new-songs-at-festivals-is-weird-obviously-people-at-festivals/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > ['The Shining' is operatic and sensational and... really shocking. It has this amazing meld of classical music and modern interpretations of classical music, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/the-shining-is-operatic-and-sensational-and-really-shocking-it-has/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [Most friendship groups will have someone who starts a new relationship, and you just don't see them for four months. And that's always kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/most-friendship-groups-will-have-someone-who-starts-a-new/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [I love David Lynch's style. Someone once thought I was his son, so I must have been doing an alright job at emulating it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-love-david-lynch-s-style-someone-once-thought-i-was-his-son-so-i/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [I love the studio. I love writing and producing both for us and for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-love-the-studio-i-love-writing-and-producing-both-for-us-and-for/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [I know who buys our music: we have such a diverse fanbase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-know-who-buys-our-music-we-have-such-a-diverse-fanbase/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [Often, with our music, there's quite a lot going on, so people hear melodies that sound up and catchy, and production, and maybe don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/often-with-our-music-there-s-quite-a-lot-going-on-so-people-hear/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [It was quite nice having a routine, going to the studio every day and finishing off 'Wild World'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/it-was-quite-nice-having-a-routine-going-to-the-studio-every-day-and/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [I guess the way people release music and the way people listen to it has changed and is changing constantly. We wanna get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-guess-the-way-people-release-music-and-the-way-people-listen-to-it/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [When 'Flaws' went to No 21, we thought it was the most chart-bothering thing we'd ever do. We had a little party and started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/when-flaws-went-to-no-21-we-thought-it-was-the-most-chart-bothering/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) [Explore all 67 Dan Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) ## More Film quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not interested in writing overtly autobiographical songs. I would rather explore interesting stories. I like the idea of the songs being evocative and distinctive, so I have in my mind the atmosphere that a film could evoke. I like to think of them existing in their own little world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-autobiographical-songs-i-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Film" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-autobiographical-songs-i-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dan-smith-10201_film_i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-au_814524.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dan-smith-10201_film_i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-au_814524.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aff/dan-smith-10201_film_i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-au_814524.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not interested in writing overtly autobiographical songs. I would rather explore interesting stories. I…” — Dan Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dan Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not interested in writing overtly...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-autobiographical-songs-i-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/i-m-not-interested-in-writing-overtly-autobiographical-songs-i-would/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```