--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I realized I was not a great musical…" description: "\"I realized I was not a great musical technician, if I was going to make anything interesting it would have to come from the creative side of me and not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/jeffrey-lewis-25685_craft_i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-tec_2731636.jpg" --- # I realized I was not a great musical technician, if I was… ![“I realized I was not a great musical technician, if I was going to make anything interesting it would have to come from the creative side of me and not the craft side of me.” quote by Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/jeffrey-lewis-25685_craft_i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-tec_2731636.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/jeffrey-lewis-25685_craft_i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-tec_2731636.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/jeffrey-lewis-25685_craft_i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-tec_2731636.jpg) > “I realized I was not a great musical technician, if I was going to make anything interesting it would have to come from the creative side of me and not the craft side of me.” [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realized his strength lies in creativity, not technical skill, and must focus on artistic expression. **In simple terms:** Creative over technical. Key Takeaway Prioritize creativity. Themes self‑awareness creativity career Mood reflective determined Type advice personal development When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - personal branding - career decisions Key Concepts artistic identity skill balance Questions to Reflect On - How can you blend technical skill with creativity? - What creative outlet excites you most? A Different Perspective Technical skill alone may limit artistic growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craft/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Great music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [Usually when I'm out doing stuff, I'm just out in the wild, doing the wild thing. I don't really get a chance to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bootsy-collins/usually-when-i-m-out-doing-stuff-i-m-just-out-in-the-wild-doing-the/) [Bootsy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bootsy-collins/) > [Sometimes if you have financial restraints, it's a benefit. It forces you to come up with a more creative way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/sometimes-if-you-have-financial-restraints-it-s-a-benefit-it-forces/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [We encourage employees to ship new features on day one, which immediately encourages them to come up with something creative and different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/we-encourage-employees-to-ship-new-features-on-day-one-which/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [I'm used to working with restrictions and that's when you come up with the more creative stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/i-m-used-to-working-with-restrictions-and-that-s-when-you-come-up/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [I used to put flyers on cars in parking lots, anything to get people to come to my shows. I was always having to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-used-to-put-flyers-on-cars-in-parking-lots-anything-to-get-people/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [I come from very creative parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/i-come-from-very-creative-parents/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [If you come into any creative project without questions, you're gonna bore yourself, and it'll show on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/if-you-come-into-any-creative-project-without-questions-you-re-gonna/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [I have come up with very creative ideas that really didn't work with the song I was currently composing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-hill/i-have-come-up-with-very-creative-ideas-that-really-didn-t-work-with/) [Ken Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-hill/) > [Making music and writing kind of come from the same creative place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-eggold/making-music-and-writing-kind-of-come-from-the-same-creative-place/) [Ryan Eggold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-eggold/) > [When I'm playing any of my characters, I totally go into the realm of the character. That's when I'm able to come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dapaah/when-i-m-playing-any-of-my-characters-i-totally-go-into-the-realm-of/) [Michael Dapaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dapaah/) > [“The harder you push your brain to come up with something creative, the less creative your ideas will be. So far, I have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-oakley/the-harder-you-push-your-brain-to-come-up-with-something-creative-the/) [Barbara Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-oakley/) > [I lose faith in everything else, but rarely in my work. If I start to get bored, I change it to make it more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-clowes/i-lose-faith-in-everything-else-but-rarely-in-my-work-if-i-start-to/) [Daniel Clowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-clowes/) > [I get to thinking about my life, and it sometimes makes me want to make it interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/i-get-to-thinking-about-my-life-and-it-sometimes-makes-me-want-to/) [Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/) > [It's our challenges and obstacles that give us layers of depth and make us interesting. Are they fun when they happen? No. But they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/it-s-our-challenges-and-obstacles-that-give-us-layers-of-depth-and/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [If you make something interesting, inevitably not everybody is going to like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rian-johnson/if-you-make-something-interesting-inevitably-not-everybody-is-going/) [Rian Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rian-johnson/) ## More by Jeffrey Lewis > [The funny thing is that some reviews are published in magazines and websites that are seen by millions of people, and other reviews are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/the-funny-thing-is-that-some-reviews-are-published-in-magazines-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I do feel pretty lucky that I'm not so great at playing and singing, it forces me to make sure I've really got something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-do-feel-pretty-lucky-that-i-m-not-so-great-at-playing-and-singing/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I prefer artists who are creative more than artists who are technical, I think everybody would agree with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-prefer-artists-who-are-creative-more-than-artists-who-are-technical/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [In the past, Koreans have mostly copied other countries' engines, and so there's been kind of a problem with quality and a real limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/in-the-past-koreans-have-mostly-copied-other-countries-engines-and-so/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [When somebody asks me "What are your comic books about?" or "What are your songs about?" there is no answer and I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/when-somebody-asks-me-what-are-your-comic-books-about-or-what-are/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [A lot more people will want to hear a 5-minute singing cartoon about Communism in China than will want to read that PhD thesis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/a-lot-more-people-will-want-to-hear-a-5-minute-singing-cartoon-about/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I usually think of art as having a measurable content of nourishment, whether factual or emotional or whatever, and I try to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-usually-think-of-art-as-having-a-measurable-content-of-nourishment/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [There are people who are great technical players like Eric Clapton, and there are people who are great intuitive songwriters like Daniel Johnston. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/there-are-people-who-are-great-technical-players-like-eric-clapton/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [What can you think when one review says "this album is brilliant, and all the songs flow into the utmost brilliant song 'The Upside-Down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/what-can-you-think-when-one-review-says-this-album-is-brilliant-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [“One good idea could cost you thousands of your days, but it's just time you'd be spending anyways”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/one-good-idea-could-cost-you-thousands-of-your-days-but-it-s-just/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [It's all easier said than done, and it isn't even easy to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/it-s-all-easier-said-than-done-and-it-isn-t-even-easy-to-say/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I don't think talking about myself making songs is a very interesting topic, there are so many other more engaging things to think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-don-t-think-talking-about-myself-making-songs-is-a-very-interesting/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I never felt like I had a surface image to rely on that people would like - I always felt like my music would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-never-felt-like-i-had-a-surface-image-to-rely-on-that-people-would/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [A great artist can change society because of the entertaining and mesmerizing quality of his or her art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/a-great-artist-can-change-society-because-of-the-entertaining-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) > [I sell a complete package... a life style that's in harmony with and exemplified by the exterior and interior living space. I'm obsessive about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-sell-a-complete-package-a-life-style-that-s-in-harmony-with-and/) [Jeffrey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) [Explore all 22 Jeffrey Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/) ## More Craft quotes > [As I progressed in the firm, I learnt the craft, and as I learnt my craft, my partners and the firm threw up different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punit-renjen/as-i-progressed-in-the-firm-i-learnt-the-craft-and-as-i-learnt-my/) [Punit Renjen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punit-renjen/) > [Learn your craft. You want to be a doctor or a teacher - it's very important to learn your craft and indulge in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/learn-your-craft-you-want-to-be-a-doctor-or-a-teacher-it-s-very/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [What I didn't know that by sticking to craft we would blow open some doors that I never saw opened before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/what-i-didn-t-know-that-by-sticking-to-craft-we-would-blow-open-some/) [James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/) > [All the craft skills that I have, I feel like I developed and honed in drama school. It's the most important thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/all-the-craft-skills-that-i-have-i-feel-like-i-developed-and-honed-in/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [“There is something deeply satisfying in shaping something with your hands. Proper artificing is like a song made solid. It is an act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/there-is-something-deeply-satisfying-in-shaping-something-with-your/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I have a lot of fun working and training and learning and trying to figure out the different aspects of my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-have-a-lot-of-fun-working-and-training-and-learning-and-trying-to/) [Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/) > [I probably learned most of my craft from singing to the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/i-probably-learned-most-of-my-craft-from-singing-to-the-radio/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [The key to acting - from what little I know about that wonderful craft - is listening, and interacting with the other person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/the-key-to-acting-from-what-little-i-know-about-that-wonderful-craft/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [It is by losing himself in the objective, in inquiry, creation, and craft, that a man becomes something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/it-is-by-losing-himself-in-the-objective-in-inquiry-creation-and/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [“The instruction here is not for every kind of writer - not for the writer of nurse books or thrillers or porno or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/the-instruction-here-is-not-for-every-kind-of-writer-not-for-the/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [I take a pretty expansive view of craft, which is to say I don't see craft as just being technique - it's also process;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-take-a-pretty-expansive-view-of-craft-which-is-to-say-i-don-t-see/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [“Writing is a craft, being an author is work, and having readers and a following is a gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-kannengieser/writing-is-a-craft-being-an-author-is-work-and-having-readers-and-a/) [Michael J. Kannengieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-kannengieser/) > [You need to know your craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorena-garcia/you-need-to-know-your-craft/) [Lorena Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorena-garcia/) > [I have developed my eye as a cinematographer through the craft of operating. When I am not operating, I am often anxious, uncertain, restless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-richardson/i-have-developed-my-eye-as-a-cinematographer-through-the-craft-of/) [Robert Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-richardson/) > [Muscle is good, but craft is better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wace/muscle-is-good-but-craft-is-better/) Wace [Browse all 514 Craft quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craft/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I realized I was not a great musical technician, if I was going to make anything interesting it would have to come from the creative side of me and not the craft side of me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeffrey Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-technician-if-i-was-going-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Craft" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-technician-if-i-was-going-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/jeffrey-lewis-25685_craft_i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-tec_2731636.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/jeffrey-lewis-25685_craft_i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-tec_2731636.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89b/jeffrey-lewis-25685_craft_i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-tec_2731636.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I realized I was not a great musical technician, if I was going to make anything interesting it would have…” — Jeffrey Lewis", "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": "Jeffrey Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I realized I was not a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-technician-if-i-was-going-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-lewis/i-realized-i-was-not-a-great-musical-technician-if-i-was-going-to/#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 } } ] } ```