--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if nobody was listening to it, I'd…" description: "\"Even if nobody was listening to it, I'd still be making music.\" — Jacob Collier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/jacob-collier-10182_communication_even-if-nobody-was-listening-to-it-i-d-s_336915.jpg" --- # Even if nobody was listening to it, I'd still be making… ![“Even if nobody was listening to it, I'd still be making music.” quote by Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/jacob-collier-10182_communication_even-if-nobody-was-listening-to-it-i-d-s_336915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/jacob-collier-10182_communication_even-if-nobody-was-listening-to-it-i-d-s_336915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/jacob-collier-10182_communication_even-if-nobody-was-listening-to-it-i-d-s_336915.jpg) > “Even if nobody was listening to it, I'd still be making music.” [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) ## 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 is driven by personal fulfillment, not external validation. **In simple terms:** Music for personal joy, not applause. Key Takeaway Make music for yourself. Themes creativity self‑expression intrinsic motivation Mood reflective inspired Type personal artistic When to use this quote - personal practice - home studio - private performances - creative blocks Key Concepts artistic integrity self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you when no one listens? - How does private creation differ from public performance? A Different Perspective Even if unheard, the act itself sustains artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Making Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Listening is about making and strengthening a connection with another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bijou/listening-is-about-making-and-strengthening-a-connection-with-another/) [Jude Bijou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bijou/) > [Let's define listening as making meaning from sound. It's a mental process, and it's a process of extraction. We use some pretty cool techniques…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-treasure/let-s-define-listening-as-making-meaning-from-sound-it-s-a-mental/) [Julian Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-treasure/) > [I love making music so it's important for me to keep doing that even if the schedule is busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kiwanuka/i-love-making-music-so-it-s-important-for-me-to-keep-doing-that-even/) [Michael Kiwanuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kiwanuka/) > [I'm a firm believer that embracing the imperfections of making music is so much of what makes something groove. Getting rid of these imperfections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-embracing-the-imperfections-of-making-music/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [Making music with other people feeds spontaneity, and lends ideas to your solo work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/making-music-with-other-people-feeds-spontaneity-and-lends-ideas-to/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I just love making music, bruh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-wave/i-just-love-making-music-bruh/) [Rod Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-wave/) > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [We're making the music that the people are asking us for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-bunny/we-re-making-the-music-that-the-people-are-asking-us-for/) [Bad Bunny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-bunny/) > [If I think about music in the future, I imagine it often as not involving electricity, in some dystopian, post-apocalyptic future. And that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-greenwood/if-i-think-about-music-in-the-future-i-imagine-it-often-as-not/) [Jonny Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-greenwood/) > [Records that were the sound of somebody - more often than not, a she - speaking with a voice that had never been heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/records-that-were-the-sound-of-somebody-more-often-than-not-a-she/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [I think there are times when a song can be a spiritual experience - just making music, in general, is pretty much that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-griffin/i-think-there-are-times-when-a-song-can-be-a-spiritual-experience/) [Patty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-griffin/) > [My first album, 'Get Lifted,' was a hip-hop soul album that had some of its roots in the church, as far as the sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/my-first-album-get-lifted-was-a-hip-hop-soul-album-that-had-some-of/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I didn't have any singing background. Against the wishes of my parents, I got into making music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-didn-t-have-any-singing-background-against-the-wishes-of-my-parents/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) > [The idea of sitting at home, not making music, just makes me want to throw up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/the-idea-of-sitting-at-home-not-making-music-just-makes-me-want-to/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I knew that I would be making music for my whole life; as far as how many people respond to it, you can't plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/i-knew-that-i-would-be-making-music-for-my-whole-life-as-far-as-how/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) ## More by Jacob Collier > [Making music with other people feeds spontaneity, and lends ideas to your solo work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/making-music-with-other-people-feeds-spontaneity-and-lends-ideas-to/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [The thing with music education is that it is good at teaching technique, but not texture. You only learn about that from listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/the-thing-with-music-education-is-that-it-is-good-at-teaching/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [There's one song that I recorded called 'Saviour' and every single sound from that song was actually recorded in a shipyard on my iPhone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/there-s-one-song-that-i-recorded-called-saviour-and-every-single/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I always wanted to, at some point, sit down and consider how to plot out one piece of work, one album, from start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-always-wanted-to-at-some-point-sit-down-and-consider-how-to-plot/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [The Proms are everything life is all about: people coming together, and joy and music and celebration and togetherness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/the-proms-are-everything-life-is-all-about-people-coming-together-and/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I'm a firm believer that embracing the imperfections of making music is so much of what makes something groove. Getting rid of these imperfections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-embracing-the-imperfections-of-making-music/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [AI as a tool in music-making is fine, but it's always going to be the humanity in music that makes people want to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/ai-as-a-tool-in-music-making-is-fine-but-it-s-always-going-to-be-the/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [It's not like I wake up and think, 'Now I'm going to go to work.' It just feels like a continuing exploration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/it-s-not-like-i-wake-up-and-think-now-i-m-going-to-go-to-work-it-just/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [The world of Stevie Wonder - in particular, the kind of overflowing joy that exists in every single thing I've ever heard him do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/the-world-of-stevie-wonder-in-particular-the-kind-of-overflowing-joy/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [It's hard to say that one way of doing things is the best for everybody all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/it-s-hard-to-say-that-one-way-of-doing-things-is-the-best-for/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [Djesse,' essentially, is this spirit. It's this sort of character, very much with some childlike energy, which permeates all of this music... The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/djesse-essentially-is-this-spirit-it-s-this-sort-of-character-very/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I suppose my job is to describe spaces that are honest to me. And the goal, I suppose, is that the listener can hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-suppose-my-job-is-to-describe-spaces-that-are-honest-to-me-and-the/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [It was a challenge with 'In My Room,' because I was the only person in that room making the record, to maintain perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/it-was-a-challenge-with-in-my-room-because-i-was-the-only-person-in/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I think of what I do for work as playing/jamming. Music for me is so much fun so I don't take my work very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-think-of-what-i-do-for-work-as-playing-jamming-music-for-me-is-so/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) [Explore all 67 Jacob Collier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? 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