--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're not inspired and you're working…" description: "\"If you're not inspired and you're working hard to pull inspiration from somewhere and make a song something it's not, then it's very contrived and I do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/halsey-28169_contrived_if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-workin_3210833.jpg" --- # If you're not inspired and you're working hard to pull… ![“If you're not inspired and you're working hard to pull inspiration from somewhere and make a song something it's not, then it's very contrived and I don't like to write music that's contrived.” quote by Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/halsey-28169_contrived_if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-workin_3210833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/halsey-28169_contrived_if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-workin_3210833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/halsey-28169_contrived_if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-workin_3210833.jpg) > “If you're not inspired and you're working hard to pull inspiration from somewhere and make a song something it's not, then it's very contrived and I don't like to write music that's contrived.” [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating music without genuine inspiration feels forced and lacks authenticity. **In simple terms:** Forced music lacks authenticity. Key Takeaway Seek genuine inspiration before writing. Themes authenticity creativity music process Mood reflective determined Type advice creative When to use this quote - songwriting - personal reflection - studio sessions Key Concepts artistic integrity inspiration expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you cultivate inspiration naturally? - What rituals help you connect with authentic emotion? A Different Perspective Inspiration may be elusive, leading to frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contrived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrived/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Working hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-hard/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [For the greater beauty of the instrument, the balls representing the planets are to be of considerable bigness; but so contrived, that they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rittenhouse/for-the-greater-beauty-of-the-instrument-the-balls-representing-the/) David Rittenhouse > [If anyone can crack the publicity nut and figure out how to not come across hammy and contrived, I'd love to talk to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/if-anyone-can-crack-the-publicity-nut-and-figure-out-how-to-not-come/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [“All fiction is to some degree contrived. If it is not contrived, then it actually happened, therefore making it a stolen idea. Ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-de-bruler/all-fiction-is-to-some-degree-contrived-if-it-is-not-contrived-then/) Connor de Bruler > [Great as the planning were for the dinner, the lot was so contrived that not a soul in the house be supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/great-as-the-planning-were-for-the-dinner-the-lot-was-so-contrived/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Personality is everything that's false in a human: everything that's been added on to him and contrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/personality-is-everything-that-s-false-in-a-human-everything-that-s/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I'm a socially concerned citizen of India. I have strong views on issues of social and political relevance. But it's very difficult to voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/i-m-a-socially-concerned-citizen-of-india-i-have-strong-views-on/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [If a character's suddenly spouting information that's supposed to bring you up to date, it can seem artificial or contrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-andrews/if-a-character-s-suddenly-spouting-information-that-s-supposed-to/) [Naveen Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-andrews/) > [I feel that if you made your writing too contrived to meet the market, it wouldn't be any good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-marie-buchanan/i-feel-that-if-you-made-your-writing-too-contrived-to-meet-the-market/) [Cathy Marie Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-marie-buchanan/) > [I don't know if it's because my sensitivity is through the roof, but I can't stand contrived dialogue anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-baena/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-because-my-sensitivity-is-through-the-roof-but-i/) [Jeff Baena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-baena/) > [Your look shouldn't be contrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lezark/your-look-shouldn-t-be-contrived/) [Leigh Lezark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lezark/) > [I just wanted to keep consistent and keep true to America and not seem contrived. I didn't want to seem contrived at all with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champlin/i-just-wanted-to-keep-consistent-and-keep-true-to-america-and-not/) [Will Champlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champlin/) > [You know as a scientist that both were developed completely independently of each other in the laboratories. And only afterward were the political situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/you-know-as-a-scientist-that-both-were-developed-completely/) [E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/) > [The contrived language and the flattering attitude rarely come with the virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-contrived-language-and-the-flattering-attitude-rarely-come-with/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Early on, I had a girlfriend come see me, and she was like, 'Yeah, it was good, but you were funny at a dining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shaffir/early-on-i-had-a-girlfriend-come-see-me-and-she-was-like-yeah-it-was/) [Ari Shaffir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shaffir/) > [My records do not require a lot of thought of 'What is this?' and 'What is that?' That would be too contrived for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/my-records-do-not-require-a-lot-of-thought-of-what-is-this-and-what/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) ## More by Halsey > [It doesn't matter how many private jets you take, how much money you make, how famous you get, keep putting in the hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/it-doesn-t-matter-how-many-private-jets-you-take-how-much-money-you/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I feel like a lot of people look at pop music with a very formulaic perspective in numbers and patterns, but an outsider would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-people-look-at-pop-music-with-a-very-formulaic/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [The thing about being an artist is that you evolve so quickly, you grow, you learn, you change, you find yourself hating work that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/the-thing-about-being-an-artist-is-that-you-evolve-so-quickly-you/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [Anyone who has been with me from the beginning has worked from the trenches with me and they've worked really hard. People that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/anyone-who-has-been-with-me-from-the-beginning-has-worked-from-the/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I love '80s happy music. I love Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, and the idea of making music that's about people celebrating fun. I spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-love-80s-happy-music-i-love-cyndi-lauper-and-madonna-and-the-idea/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I wake up every day and think about what I am to other people. What I am to the people I employ, who depend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-wake-up-every-day-and-think-about-what-i-am-to-other-people-what-i/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I've met so many amazing fans in the couple of weeks since the release of my second album, and everyone keeps telling me they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-ve-met-so-many-amazing-fans-in-the-couple-of-weeks-since-the/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [It usually takes me 20 to 90 minutes to write a song because once I start, I don't stop. I like when it's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/it-usually-takes-me-20-to-90-minutes-to-write-a-song-because-once-i/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I think that sometimes people fear continuity because it can turn into repetition - and there's a lot of artists who are really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-think-that-sometimes-people-fear-continuity-because-it-can-turn/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [As an artist you very much want to have control over your dialogue and your image and when you become exposed in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/as-an-artist-you-very-much-want-to-have-control-over-your-dialogue/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [If I start writing a song and you try to have a conversation with me, you're a bad person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/if-i-start-writing-a-song-and-you-try-to-have-a-conversation-with-me/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [ Pop music really is a love and a joy and a science \[of songwriting\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/pop-music-really-is-a-love-and-a-joy-and-a-science-of-songwriting/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [I write songs very quickly, so the 20 minutes of joy I get out of writing a song doesn't compare to the two months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-write-songs-very-quickly-so-the-20-minutes-of-joy-i-get-out-of/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [Before Guadalcanal the enemy advanced at his pleasure - after Guadalcanal he retreated at ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/before-guadalcanal-the-enemy-advanced-at-his-pleasure-after/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) > [It can be difficult going through a period of time where you feel depressed because it can become your identifier. In the sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/it-can-be-difficult-going-through-a-period-of-time-where-you-feel/) [Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) [Explore all 19 Halsey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/) ## More Contrived quotes > [For the greater beauty of the instrument, the balls representing the planets are to be of considerable bigness; but so contrived, that they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rittenhouse/for-the-greater-beauty-of-the-instrument-the-balls-representing-the/) David Rittenhouse > [Early on, I had a girlfriend come see me, and she was like, 'Yeah, it was good, but you were funny at a dining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shaffir/early-on-i-had-a-girlfriend-come-see-me-and-she-was-like-yeah-it-was/) [Ari Shaffir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shaffir/) > [The contrived language and the flattering attitude rarely come with the virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-contrived-language-and-the-flattering-attitude-rarely-come-with/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [You know as a scientist that both were developed completely independently of each other in the laboratories. And only afterward were the political situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-p-thompson/you-know-as-a-scientist-that-both-were-developed-completely/) [E. P. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-p-thompson/) > [I just wanted to keep consistent and keep true to America and not seem contrived. I didn't want to seem contrived at all with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champlin/i-just-wanted-to-keep-consistent-and-keep-true-to-america-and-not/) [Will Champlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champlin/) > [Your look shouldn't be contrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-lezark/your-look-shouldn-t-be-contrived/) [Leigh Lezark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-lezark/) > [I don't know if it's because my sensitivity is through the roof, but I can't stand contrived dialogue anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-baena/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-because-my-sensitivity-is-through-the-roof-but-i/) [Jeff Baena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-baena/) > [I feel that if you made your writing too contrived to meet the market, it wouldn't be any good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-marie-buchanan/i-feel-that-if-you-made-your-writing-too-contrived-to-meet-the-market/) [Cathy Marie Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-marie-buchanan/) > [If a character's suddenly spouting information that's supposed to bring you up to date, it can seem artificial or contrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-andrews/if-a-character-s-suddenly-spouting-information-that-s-supposed-to/) [Naveen Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-andrews/) > [I'm a socially concerned citizen of India. I have strong views on issues of social and political relevance. But it's very difficult to voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/i-m-a-socially-concerned-citizen-of-india-i-have-strong-views-on/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [Personality is everything that's false in a human: everything that's been added on to him and contrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/personality-is-everything-that-s-false-in-a-human-everything-that-s/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [Great as the planning were for the dinner, the lot was so contrived that not a soul in the house be supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/great-as-the-planning-were-for-the-dinner-the-lot-was-so-contrived/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [“All fiction is to some degree contrived. If it is not contrived, then it actually happened, therefore making it a stolen idea. Ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-de-bruler/all-fiction-is-to-some-degree-contrived-if-it-is-not-contrived-then/) Connor de Bruler > [If anyone can crack the publicity nut and figure out how to not come across hammy and contrived, I'd love to talk to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-harold/if-anyone-can-crack-the-publicity-nut-and-figure-out-how-to-not-come/) [Gale Harold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-harold/) > [My records do not require a lot of thought of 'What is this?' and 'What is that?' That would be too contrived for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/my-records-do-not-require-a-lot-of-thought-of-what-is-this-and-what/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) [Browse all 22 Contrived quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrived/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're not inspired and you're working hard to pull inspiration from somewhere and make a song something it's not, then it's very contrived and I don't like to write music that's contrived.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Halsey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-working-hard-to-pull-inspiration/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contrived" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-working-hard-to-pull-inspiration/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/halsey-28169_contrived_if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-workin_3210833.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/halsey-28169_contrived_if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-workin_3210833.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b7/halsey-28169_contrived_if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-workin_3210833.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're not inspired and you're working hard to pull inspiration from somewhere and make a song something…” — Halsey", "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": "Halsey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're not inspired and you're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-working-hard-to-pull-inspiration/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/if-you-re-not-inspired-and-you-re-working-hard-to-pull-inspiration/#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 } } ] } ```