--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My only incentive is to write music that…" description: "\"My only incentive is to write music that changes me, where the process of making it is a discovery and is true in some way, at that moment.\" — Johnny F..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/johnny-flynn-8130_discovery_my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that_3119998.jpg" --- # My only incentive is to write music that changes me, where… ![“My only incentive is to write music that changes me, where the process of making it is a discovery and is true in some way, at that moment.” quote by Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/johnny-flynn-8130_discovery_my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that_3119998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/johnny-flynn-8130_discovery_my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that_3119998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/johnny-flynn-8130_discovery_my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that_3119998.jpg) > “My only incentive is to write music that changes me, where the process of making it is a discovery and is true in some way, at that moment.” [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Create music that transforms you, viewing the creative process as a personal discovery. **In simple terms:** Make music that changes you while you make it. Key Takeaway Seek personal growth through art. Themes creativity self‑discovery authenticity Mood introspective inspirational Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - personal journaling - therapy - education Key Concepts artistic process psychology of flow Questions to Reflect On - How does personal change influence your listeners? - What discoveries have you made while creating? A Different Perspective The focus on self may limit audience connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Incentive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentive/) [Incentive Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentive-write-5472645/) [Making Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-discovery-1641014/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Changes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-changes-567418/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Write Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-music/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest reward lies in making the discovery; recognition can add little or nothing to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-ernst-neumann/the-greatest-reward-lies-in-making-the-discovery-recognition-can-add/) [Franz Ernst Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-ernst-neumann/) > [Every day I feel different about music, but what never changes is my love for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/every-day-i-feel-different-about-music-but-what-never-changes-is-my/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [“The musicians-how shall one begin to describe them? All this time they have been there, playing in a mad frenzy-all of this scene must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/the-musicians-how-shall-one-begin-to-describe-them-all-this-time-they/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [Music changes kids, and kids change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/music-changes-kids-and-kids-change-the-world/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [Cage's Music of Changes was a further indication that the arts in general were beginning to consciously deal with the given material and, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earle-brown/cage-s-music-of-changes-was-a-further-indication-that-the-arts-in/) [Earle Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earle-brown/) > [I know that I will age making music, and I want to see how my music changes with the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/i-know-that-i-will-age-making-music-and-i-want-to-see-how-my-music/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [Rock has to absorb other rhythmic forms, because the underlying rhythm of music changes with fashion, and people like to move differently, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-jagger/rock-has-to-absorb-other-rhythmic-forms-because-the-underlying-rhythm/) [Mick Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-jagger/) > [I love music, that it changes so much, but I also want to keep a bit of the country roots to make it country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-kramer/i-love-music-that-it-changes-so-much-but-i-also-want-to-keep-a-bit-of/) [Jana Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-kramer/) > [Music is thousands and thousands of years old and I don't think that basic, primitive connection to the language of music ever changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/music-is-thousands-and-thousands-of-years-old-and-i-don-t-think-that/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [Music changes, life changes. It's like Jay Z said: 'If people like the old Jay, then go listen to the old Jay.' I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-t-genasis/music-changes-life-changes-it-s-like-jay-z-said-if-people-like-the/) [O. T. Genasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-t-genasis/) > [Music changes, and I'm gonna change right along with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aretha-franklin/music-changes-and-i-m-gonna-change-right-along-with-it/) [Aretha Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aretha-franklin/) > [When the music changes, the walls of the city shake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-the-music-changes-the-walls-of-the-city-shake/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Music changes energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-tarbuck/music-changes-energy/) [Liza Tarbuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-tarbuck/) > [Just like styles change, music changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac/just-like-styles-change-music-changes/) [Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac/) > [You don't change country music; it changes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-mcbryde/you-don-t-change-country-music-it-changes-you/) [Ashley McBryde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-mcbryde/) ## More by Johnny Flynn > [I like the idea of letting the music do its own work and the stories being more expressionful - if that's a word -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-like-the-idea-of-letting-the-music-do-its-own-work-and-the-stories/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [I feel really lucky that I somehow have blagged my way into loads of different experiences. I find making a film fascinating, I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-feel-really-lucky-that-i-somehow-have-blagged-my-way-into-loads-of/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [I did a lot of theater as a young actor in my early twenties, and my first few records really came from writing songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-did-a-lot-of-theater-as-a-young-actor-in-my-early-twenties-and-my/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [I have a classical music background. I studied violin and trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-have-a-classical-music-background-i-studied-violin-and-trumpet/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [In my mind, there's usually a fairly definitive kind of narrative when I write. But I don't want to enforce that on other people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/in-my-mind-there-s-usually-a-fairly-definitive-kind-of-narrative-when/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [Bob Dylan has and Einstein had their own way of perceiving the universe and translating it for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/bob-dylan-has-and-einstein-had-their-own-way-of-perceiving-the/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [Our job as actors is to invent the things that bridge ourselves with the characters, so you have to build something if it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/our-job-as-actors-is-to-invent-the-things-that-bridge-ourselves-with/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [My dad was working class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/my-dad-was-working-class/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [I take them both seriously - I don't particularly want to be an 'actor-musician.' I want to play the great challenging parts, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-take-them-both-seriously-i-don-t-particularly-want-to-be-an-actor/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [I played trumpet for Noah and the Whale a couple of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-played-trumpet-for-noah-and-the-whale-a-couple-of-times/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [I try and stay in my right brain as much as I can, but my left takes over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-try-and-stay-in-my-right-brain-as-much-as-i-can-but-my-left-takes/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [The truth is there's always a hum of people playing folk music in cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/the-truth-is-there-s-always-a-hum-of-people-playing-folk-music-in/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [As a jobbing actor or musician, you have to take any work you can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/as-a-jobbing-actor-or-musician-you-have-to-take-any-work-you-can-get/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [The reason I stopped music for a while and concentrated on theatre was that it was more conducive to parenting; having the days free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/the-reason-i-stopped-music-for-a-while-and-concentrated-on-theatre/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [Diane Cluck is part of the anti-folk movement in New York. She's got a really haunting voice, and she usually sings in the pentatonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/diane-cluck-is-part-of-the-anti-folk-movement-in-new-york-she-s-got-a/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) [Explore all 84 Johnny Flynn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) ## More Discovery quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Throughout my work, I have assumed that the standard model is correct, and hence, the Higgs boson should be found. Although this is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashoke-sen/throughout-my-work-i-have-assumed-that-the-standard-model-is-correct/) [Ashoke Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashoke-sen/) > [There is usually no dreamer so unworldly as the anthologist. He wanders in a vast garden, lost in wonder, unable to decide often between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/there-is-usually-no-dreamer-so-unworldly-as-the-anthologist-he/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The discovery that heartbreak is indeed heartbreaking consoles us about our humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/the-discovery-that-heartbreak-is-indeed-heartbreaking-consoles-us/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [ “\[W\]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves-to-the-discovery-that-some-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [We cannot predict the new forces, powers, and discoveries that will be disclosed to us when we reach the other planets and set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/we-cannot-predict-the-new-forces-powers-and-discoveries-that-will-be/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [ That has been another interesting discovery: that basically a city \[Lagos\] could recover from a really deep, deep, deep pit. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/that-has-been-another-interesting-discovery-that-basically-a-city/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Every fact of science was once Damned. Every invention was considered impossible. Every discovery was a nervous shock to some orthodoxy. Every artistic innovation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/every-fact-of-science-was-once-damned-every-invention-was-considered/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“In December of 2007 human bones including skulls, which have been radiocarbon dated back to between 1304 and 1424, were found in a museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/in-december-of-2007-human-bones-including-skulls-which-have-been/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/education-is-a-progressive-discovery-of-our-own-ignorance/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-characters-in-my-novels-are-my-own-unrealized-possibilities-that/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) [Browse all 3,125 Discovery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My only incentive is to write music that changes me, where the process of making it is a discovery and is true in some way, at that moment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Flynn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that-changes-me-where-the-process/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discovery" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that-changes-me-where-the-process/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/johnny-flynn-8130_discovery_my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that_3119998.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/johnny-flynn-8130_discovery_my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that_3119998.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/johnny-flynn-8130_discovery_my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that_3119998.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My only incentive is to write music that changes me, where the process of making it is a discovery and is…” — Johnny Flynn", "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": "Johnny Flynn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My only incentive is to write...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that-changes-me-where-the-process/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/my-only-incentive-is-to-write-music-that-changes-me-where-the-process/#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 } } ] } ```