--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was an open mic night when I was…" description: "\"There was an open mic night when I was about 11 years old and I went and I played the songs that I'd written in my bedroom and it was the first night w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/freya-ridings-16178_bedroom_there-was-an-open-mic-night-when-i-was-a_580130.jpg" --- # There was an open mic night when I was about 11 years old… ![“There was an open mic night when I was about 11 years old and I went and I played the songs that I'd written in my bedroom and it was the first night where I felt like I was myself at school.” quote by Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/freya-ridings-16178_bedroom_there-was-an-open-mic-night-when-i-was-a_580130.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/freya-ridings-16178_bedroom_there-was-an-open-mic-night-when-i-was-a_580130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/freya-ridings-16178_bedroom_there-was-an-open-mic-night-when-i-was-a_580130.jpg) > “There was an open mic night when I was about 11 years old and I went and I played the songs that I'd written in my bedroom and it was the first night where I felt like I was myself at school.” [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Performing original songs publicly affirmed her identity and confidence. **In simple terms:** Music revealed her true self. Key Takeaway Embrace authentic expression. Themes identity confidence artistic expression Mood empowering inspirational Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - school performances - open mic nights - first public speaking - creative workshops Key Concepts psychology creativity Questions to Reflect On - How does sharing art affect self‑esteem? - What steps help you stay authentic under pressure? A Different Perspective Stage fright may persist despite confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Open mic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mic/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [But even the law cannot be in your bedroom at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/but-even-the-law-cannot-be-in-your-bedroom-at-night/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Every song I've written, it's about what I've gone through, good or bad. It kind of comes out of me, and I'm grateful for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-jones/every-song-i-ve-written-it-s-about-what-i-ve-gone-through-good-or-bad/) [Kelly Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-jones/) > [“A little later Anastasia was sitting before her bedroom fire writing. It has a magic of its own—the bedroom fire. Not such a one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-meade-falkner/a-little-later-anastasia-was-sitting-before-her-bedroom-fire-writing/) [John Meade Falkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-meade-falkner/) > [You walk into my bedroom at night, it looks like a nightclub. There's all kinds of lighting effects, there's all kinds of music. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dice-clay/you-walk-into-my-bedroom-at-night-it-looks-like-a-nightclub-there-s/) [Andrew Dice Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dice-clay/) > [I'm tired of going to an empty bedroom every night. I wish I had a girl I could cuddle with](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-styles/i-m-tired-of-going-to-an-empty-bedroom-every-night-i-wish-i-had-a/) [Harry Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-styles/) > [At the age of 11 I did my first open mic show, and it was one of those lightning-bolt moments where I suddenly found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/at-the-age-of-11-i-did-my-first-open-mic-show-and-it-was-one-of-those/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [The night we released 'Why This Kolaveri Di?,' I went home and played all the songs I had composed since I was in Class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anirudh-ravichander/the-night-we-released-why-this-kolaveri-di-i-went-home-and-played-all/) [Anirudh Ravichander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anirudh-ravichander/) > [We played all of the songs on the first Johnny Winter AND every day before we recorded them, so that when we got in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-derringer/we-played-all-of-the-songs-on-the-first-johnny-winter-and-every-day/) [Rick Derringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-derringer/) > [Country music in the mid-'90s was a big influence on my career, and I played all the songs that are referenced in '94' back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-aldean/country-music-in-the-mid-90s-was-a-big-influence-on-my-career-and-i/) [Jason Aldean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-aldean/) > [But there were moments when she played songs that made you wonder where she learned them, where indeed she came from. 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We each played songs to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruel/when-i-was-around-eight-or-nine-i-drove-up-to-byron-bay-from-sydney/) Ruel > [My memory is not so good so my most memorable show is the last one I played. Songs are written with intention but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/my-memory-is-not-so-good-so-my-most-memorable-show-is-the-last-one-i/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## More by Freya Ridings > [I'm obsessed with Beyonce. She's just effervescent, I love her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/i-m-obsessed-with-beyonce-she-s-just-effervescent-i-love-her/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [I really want to do a cover of Joan Armatrading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/i-really-want-to-do-a-cover-of-joan-armatrading/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [That's the best thing about being with an indie label, it feels like a family. If it's a major label, they put so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/that-s-the-best-thing-about-being-with-an-indie-label-it-feels-like-a/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [I love the acoustic sets. Growing up, me and my dad would always watch those because we loved seeing the songs stripped back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/i-love-the-acoustic-sets-growing-up-me-and-my-dad-would-always-watch/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [I never went out to make the music that people would like. I mean, I tried, because every teenager tries to do that. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/i-never-went-out-to-make-the-music-that-people-would-like-i-mean-i/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [Every time I do something new, it makes me a bit stronger. Playing huge shows, being invited to play with Nile Rodgers after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/every-time-i-do-something-new-it-makes-me-a-bit-stronger-playing-huge/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [Growing up, I promised myself that if I was every lucky enough to have a hit and also a hit that I had written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/growing-up-i-promised-myself-that-if-i-was-every-lucky-enough-to-have/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [The thing with 'Lost Without You' is that for a long time I didn't feel like I could share it with people. When it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/the-thing-with-lost-without-you-is-that-for-a-long-time-i-didn-t-feel/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [Going to school, sort of not realising that caring about things was going to make me stand out and make me weird, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/going-to-school-sort-of-not-realising-that-caring-about-things-was/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [I remember in 2016 when I got signed to my record label Good Soldier, which is a very small indie label. They took a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/i-remember-in-2016-when-i-got-signed-to-my-record-label-good-soldier/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [All of my music teachers gave up on me one by one because I couldn't read music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/all-of-my-music-teachers-gave-up-on-me-one-by-one-because-i-couldn-t/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [When I first started, I'd play to a few people. My mum would invite everyone she knew and the venue was filled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/when-i-first-started-i-d-play-to-a-few-people-my-mum-would-invite/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [I was in a choir at school and we were part of the BBC Proms back in around 2002.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/i-was-in-a-choir-at-school-and-we-were-part-of-the-bbc-proms-back-in/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [I heard that your subconscious is on the right side. I always shut my right eye when I play, or both eyes. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/i-heard-that-your-subconscious-is-on-the-right-side-i-always-shut-my/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [Songwriting really anchored me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/songwriting-really-anchored-me/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) [Explore all 40 Freya Ridings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) ## More Bedroom quotes > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. 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