--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a tendency for young musicians…" description: "\"There's a tendency for young musicians - I certainly was guilty of this - of wanting to know what they sound like, before making their first record, be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/jack-conte-5709_find_there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i_119871.jpg" --- # There's a tendency for young musicians - I certainly was… ![“There's a tendency for young musicians - I certainly was guilty of this - of wanting to know what they sound like, before making their first record, before releasing things. But I think that's the wrong order of operations. You only find out what you sound like, when you have five records under…” quote by Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/jack-conte-5709_find_there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i_119871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/jack-conte-5709_find_there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i_119871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/jack-conte-5709_find_there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i_119871.jpg) > “There's a tendency for young musicians - I certainly was guilty of this - of wanting to know what they sound like, before making their first record, before releasing things. But I think that's the wrong order of operations. You only find out what you sound like, when you have five records under your belt.” [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists often seek validation before creating, but true artistic identity emerges only after sustained practice and multiple releases. **In simple terms:** Identity forms after repeated creation. Key Takeaway Practice precedes self‑knowledge in art. Themes creativity growth music industry process Mood encouraging pragmatic Type advice creative When to use this quote - musicians releasing EPs before finding their sound - writers drafting multiple stories before defining a voice Key Concepts deliberate practice feedback loops Practical Applications - focus on output volume before perfection Questions to Reflect On - How many attempts are enough to discover a unique style? - Can early self‑assessment hinder creative risk? A Different Perspective Early experimentation can also be valuable; waiting for many releases may delay breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of young musicians in Stockholm are about keeping tradition alive and moving it forward at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/a-lot-of-young-musicians-in-stockholm-are-about-keeping-tradition/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [After the war, once the bop revolution had taken hold, there were all kinds of young musicians, talented young musicians, who were ready for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunther-schuller/after-the-war-once-the-bop-revolution-had-taken-hold-there-were-all/) [Gunther Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunther-schuller/) > [I feel quite sad for the young musicians coming up because they may never get to pay their rent properly. It doesn't matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/i-feel-quite-sad-for-the-young-musicians-coming-up-because-they-may/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [I don't try to make 15 musicians sound like two each.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-baxter/i-don-t-try-to-make-15-musicians-sound-like-two-each/) [Les Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-baxter/) > [When you're listening to radio and hear the same 20 songs over and over and over, you want a break from it. Sometimes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-houser/when-you-re-listening-to-radio-and-hear-the-same-20-songs-over-and/) [Randy Houser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-houser/) > [I feel like all of my records have potential to be hits. Sometimes it's promotion, sometimes it's bad timing, but yeah I take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-love/i-feel-like-all-of-my-records-have-potential-to-be-hits-sometimes-it/) [Rico Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-love/) > [I'd like my records to reach as many people as possible, but I'm also thinking in terms of how I can keep from getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-oldham/i-d-like-my-records-to-reach-as-many-people-as-possible-but-i-m-also/) [Will Oldham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-oldham/) > [I'd like the records to be remembered just for the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-d-like-the-records-to-be-remembered-just-for-the-music/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [There's not anything I can fix, change, make better its out to the world. I'd like to say that I like my records but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/there-s-not-anything-i-can-fix-change-make-better-its-out-to-the/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) > [I'm playing to the sort of people who like the same records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lowe/i-m-playing-to-the-sort-of-people-who-like-the-same-records/) [Nick Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lowe/) > [I don't like records that are the same from beginning to end, that are too styled and slick. Everything is so designed and airbrushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/i-don-t-like-records-that-are-the-same-from-beginning-to-end-that-are/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [I like how our records go from super poppy to heavy then electronic, and next I'd like to make a bunch of records where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-like-how-our-records-go-from-super-poppy-to-heavy-then-electronic/) [Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/) > [It just seemed like all the records I have made since Creedence Clearwater Revival have all been sort of pushed off center. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/it-just-seemed-like-all-the-records-i-have-made-since-creedence/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [The Heartbreakers got kind of stuck with these hits and we had to play them like the records, which is a great balance too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-campbell/the-heartbreakers-got-kind-of-stuck-with-these-hits-and-we-had-to/) [Mike Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-campbell/) > [I feel like records are moments in time, a modern moment that feels right then and it found its way to us then, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-lynne/i-feel-like-records-are-moments-in-time-a-modern-moment-that-feels/) [Shelby Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-lynne/) ## More by Jack Conte > [Medium is like the Instagram of the corporate world. It's the layer that we want everybody to see, but not actually how it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/medium-is-like-the-instagram-of-the-corporate-world-it-s-the-layer/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [Patreon, is, has been and will continue to be a creator-centric organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/patreon-is-has-been-and-will-continue-to-be-a-creator-centric/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I got to compose for a full symphony orchestra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-got-to-compose-for-a-full-symphony-orchestra/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [Unless you've given up your business to a record label, there's no such thing as just being a musician anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/unless-you-ve-given-up-your-business-to-a-record-label-there-s-no/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [We want to make a living doing what we like to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/we-want-to-make-a-living-doing-what-we-like-to-do/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I love the idea of shifting power away from institutions and toward individual creative people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-love-the-idea-of-shifting-power-away-from-institutions-and-toward/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [It's so embarrassing to just not feel valued as a creative person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/it-s-so-embarrassing-to-just-not-feel-valued-as-a-creative-person/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I couldn't possibly be any more open or public about my role as CEO at Patreon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-couldn-t-possibly-be-any-more-open-or-public-about-my-role-as-ceo/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [People like my videos, some of which can cost me thousands to make. So I just ask, 'How about giving me $1 to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/people-like-my-videos-some-of-which-can-cost-me-thousands-to-make-so/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I don't get a work-life balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-don-t-get-a-work-life-balance/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [One lesson I learned with Pomplamoose is that there will always be haters. Part of achieving some level of success is learning to tune…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/one-lesson-i-learned-with-pomplamoose-is-that-there-will-always-be/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [We want Patreon to be safe, and we have no tolerance for hate speech. That's something I think other platforms have been behind on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/we-want-patreon-to-be-safe-and-we-have-no-tolerance-for-hate-speech/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [When I was 6 my dad taught me the blues scale, and I started writing songs and improvising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/when-i-was-6-my-dad-taught-me-the-blues-scale-and-i-started-writing/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [If your company is mostly men, make sure to have women on the interview team. While you don't want to 'tokenize' someone for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/if-your-company-is-mostly-men-make-sure-to-have-women-on-the/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [The philosophy behind Patreon is that all the great art we have known has been made because of patronage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/the-philosophy-behind-patreon-is-that-all-the-great-art-we-have-known/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) [Explore all 100 Jack Conte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) ## More Find quotes > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Consumers can choose organic cotton grown without pesticides, but it uses more water and requires more land than conventional crops. Organic cotton can also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/consumers-can-choose-organic-cotton-grown-without-pesticides-but-it/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [You will find that the more successful the individual, the less inclined he is to make excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-joseph-schwartz/you-will-find-that-the-more-successful-the-individual-the-less/) [David Joseph Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-joseph-schwartz/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [They will find somebody younger, somebody funnier, somebody more engaged. As long as the court genre is viable, people are going to be looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/they-will-find-somebody-younger-somebody-funnier-somebody-more/) [Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/) > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [I'm very fond of classical music, especially Mozart. I find it relaxes me and helps me concentrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guler-sabanci/i-m-very-fond-of-classical-music-especially-mozart-i-find-it-relaxes/) [Guler Sabanci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guler-sabanci/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Reading counts as partying, even if you're not enjoying it! Even if someone's forcing you to read, you can find a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/reading-counts-as-partying-even-if-you-re-not-enjoying-it-even-if/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [George Roy Hill, Redford, and I have been looking for a script to do together for 13 years. We haven't been able to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/george-roy-hill-redford-and-i-have-been-looking-for-a-script-to-do/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [People from all walks of life that you might find as a King Diamond fan - you don't look a certain way; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/people-from-all-walks-of-life-that-you-might-find-as-a-king-diamond/) [King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [For me, I like to be different. I didn't want to imitate another wrestler. I always try to find something from other genres, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinsuke-nakamura/for-me-i-like-to-be-different-i-didn-t-want-to-imitate-another/) [Shinsuke Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinsuke-nakamura/) > [For young people in the U.K. who find themselves without anywhere to live - perhaps they have left the family home after a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/for-young-people-in-the-u-k-who-find-themselves-without-anywhere-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) Browse all 11,342 Find quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's a tendency for young musicians - I certainly was guilty of this - of wanting to know what they sound like, before making their first record, before releasing things. But I think that's the wrong order of operations. You only find out what you sound like, when you have five records under your belt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Conte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i-certainly-was-guilty-of-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Find" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i-certainly-was-guilty-of-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/jack-conte-5709_find_there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i_119871.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/jack-conte-5709_find_there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i_119871.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/317/jack-conte-5709_find_there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i_119871.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's a tendency for young musicians - I certainly was guilty of this - of wanting to know what they sound…” — Jack Conte", "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": "Jack Conte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's a tendency for young musicians...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i-certainly-was-guilty-of-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/there-s-a-tendency-for-young-musicians-i-certainly-was-guilty-of-this/#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 } } ] } ```