--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing that's serious to me about…" description: "\"The only thing that's serious to me about music is making sure marginalized people are included in the story.\" — Justin Tranter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/justin-tranter-7360_music_the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-abou_1115136.jpg" --- # The only thing that's serious to me about music is making… ![“The only thing that's serious to me about music is making sure marginalized people are included in the story.” quote by Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/justin-tranter-7360_music_the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-abou_1115136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/justin-tranter-7360_music_the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-abou_1115136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/justin-tranter-7360_music_the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-abou_1115136.jpg) > “The only thing that's serious to me about music is making sure marginalized people are included in the story.” [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stresses the importance of inclusive storytelling in music for marginalized voices. **In simple terms:** Music should represent all people. Key Takeaway Champion diversity in art. Themes inclusion music social justice Mood advocacy critical Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - festival line‑ups - record label decisions Key Concepts representation equity cultural narrative Questions to Reflect On - How can you amplify under‑represented artists? - What barriers exist in music inclusion? A Different Perspective Industry pressures may limit marginalized voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [For me getting paid for art is a class issue. I don't have the luxury not to care. It's great if your parents buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-georges/for-me-getting-paid-for-art-is-a-class-issue-i-don-t-have-the-luxury/) [Nicole Georges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-georges/) > [We must make sure #MeToo breaks the race, class, gender, and faith lines that make it so hard for marginalized people to be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/we-must-make-sure-metoo-breaks-the-race-class-gender-and-faith-lines/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [These things are happening in large measure because of us. We in this country burn 25 percent of the world's fossil fuel, create 25…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/these-things-are-happening-in-large-measure-because-of-us-we-in-this/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [I think it is fundamental to understand that the ethics of politics indicate that you should concentrate your efforts on those marginalized people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/i-think-it-is-fundamental-to-understand-that-the-ethics-of-politics/) [Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/) > [If we don't center the voices of marginalized people, we're doing the wrong work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarana-burke/if-we-don-t-center-the-voices-of-marginalized-people-we-re-doing-the/) [Tarana Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarana-burke/) > [The activism of marginalized people often comes with visibility and being heard. Which can lead people to believe that recognition and awareness is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/the-activism-of-marginalized-people-often-comes-with-visibility-and/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Social media is something of a double-edged sword. At its best, social media offers unprecedented opportunities for marginalized people to speak and bring much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/social-media-is-something-of-a-double-edged-sword-at-its-best-social/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [Listen, there is no equality without the loss of power. Someone is going to have to lose power. That is really uncomfortable for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-the-drag-queen/listen-there-is-no-equality-without-the-loss-of-power-someone-is/) [Bob the Drag Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-the-drag-queen/) > [I am now using media as a tool to bring attention to marginalized people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-kennedy/i-am-now-using-media-as-a-tool-to-bring-attention-to-marginalized/) [Rory Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-kennedy/) > [When marginalized people gain voice and center their own experiences, things begin changing. And we see this in all kinds of grassroots movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/when-marginalized-people-gain-voice-and-center-their-own-experiences/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [We need to look marginalized people in our community in the eye and listen to their stories of struggle, heartache and impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/we-need-to-look-marginalized-people-in-our-community-in-the-eye-and/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [People, me included, have a truly emotional thing about this iPad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-diller/people-me-included-have-a-truly-emotional-thing-about-this-ipad/) [Barry Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-diller/) > [It does good things to one, to feel that you are included in the story of your nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/it-does-good-things-to-one-to-feel-that-you-are-included-in-the-story/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [The answer to one is the answer to all. Government by 'the people' is expedient or it is not. If it is expedient, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-chapman-catt/the-answer-to-one-is-the-answer-to-all-government-by-the-people-is/) [Carrie Chapman Catt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-chapman-catt/) > [Some people have dissapointed me in life journey not because they are bad but because God doesnt want them to be included in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/some-people-have-dissapointed-me-in-life-journey-not-because-they-are/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) ## More by Justin Tranter > [If you think of 'Chandelier,' Sia's singing her heart out about all those moments before she got sober, and that's one way to convey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/if-you-think-of-chandelier-sia-s-singing-her-heart-out-about-all/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [Most of my friends are my friends because they inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/most-of-my-friends-are-my-friends-because-they-inspire-me/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [For the most part, it's straight white men running these labels and publishing companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/for-the-most-part-it-s-straight-white-men-running-these-labels-and/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [I like to play this game where I ask people to count gay pop writers and producers they know. Everyone's always like, 'Oh, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/i-like-to-play-this-game-where-i-ask-people-to-count-gay-pop-writers/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [I've had the experience of going through homophobia in my work, and I can share my experiences so future generations don't have to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/i-ve-had-the-experience-of-going-through-homophobia-in-my-work-and-i/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [You can tell if something feels special. But there are so many moving parts involved in making the song a hit. The radio has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/you-can-tell-if-something-feels-special-but-there-are-so-many-moving/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [Great music is just very clear. Sonically and lyrically, you understand the point of view, you understand the melodies, you understand the vibe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/great-music-is-just-very-clear-sonically-and-lyrically-you-understand/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [When I'm in a session with an artist, my job is to help execute their vision - so it's whatever story they're telling, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/when-i-m-in-a-session-with-an-artist-my-job-is-to-help-execute-their/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [I was born into the most amazing family an underdog could be born into, and I was born into the LGBTQ community. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/i-was-born-into-the-most-amazing-family-an-underdog-could-be-born/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [I love myself. I love my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/i-love-myself-i-love-my-friends/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [When we were starting out as a band in New York, we played a concert at a small club early on and asked Lady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/when-we-were-starting-out-as-a-band-in-new-york-we-played-a-concert/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [The thing is, if you tell your story specifically enough, it becomes so universal. Just because you're a gay man singing an honest love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/the-thing-is-if-you-tell-your-story-specifically-enough-it-becomes-so/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [When I saw Courtney Love in 1994, I knew what I wanted to do. The minute I saw a female-fronted rock n' roll band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/when-i-saw-courtney-love-in-1994-i-knew-what-i-wanted-to-do-the/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [Being a songwriter, you are accepting that this isn't about you. If you do want it to be about you, you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/being-a-songwriter-you-are-accepting-that-this-isn-t-about-you-if-you/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [Pop just means popular - it can be any genre, and if it becomes popular, then it's pop music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/pop-just-means-popular-it-can-be-any-genre-and-if-it-becomes-popular/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) [Explore all 92 Justin Tranter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) ## More Marginalized quotes > [Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/robin-williams-was-an-airman-a-doctor-a-genie-a-nanny-a-president-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I'm unequivocal about my belief in the rights of our marginalized communities, including our trans community, because I'm a minority myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/i-m-unequivocal-about-my-belief-in-the-rights-of-our-marginalized/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [There are plenty of risks when we encourage "investment" or commoditization of natural resources, as power dynamics may mean that poor people (who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-d-gayle/there-are-plenty-of-risks-when-we-encourage-investment-or/) [Helene D. Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-d-gayle/) > [For me getting paid for art is a class issue. I don't have the luxury not to care. It's great if your parents buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-georges/for-me-getting-paid-for-art-is-a-class-issue-i-don-t-have-the-luxury/) [Nicole Georges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-georges/) > [If you do keep the faith and continue to be radical, very bad things can and do happen to you. At the very least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/if-you-do-keep-the-faith-and-continue-to-be-radical-very-bad-things/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [My parents were civil rights activists, and my mother was active in the feminist movement. Issues concerning marginalized people and especially women of color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-holmes/my-parents-were-civil-rights-activists-and-my-mother-was-active-in/) [Anna Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-holmes/) > [If my life is any example, the work that youth workers are doing is very, very important. It tends to get marginalized in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-j-palmer/if-my-life-is-any-example-the-work-that-youth-workers-are-doing-is/) [Parker J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-j-palmer/) > [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [You must make sure that the majority of the people are not marginalized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/you-must-make-sure-that-the-majority-of-the-people-are-not/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [In a world where people are hungry for quick fixes and sound bites, for instant gratification, there's no patience for the long, slow rebuilding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hill/in-a-world-where-people-are-hungry-for-quick-fixes-and-sound-bites/) [Dan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hill/) > [What I want people to know about Ethiopia is that it is a country of nations and nationalities. Oromos are the majority. But Oromos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/what-i-want-people-to-know-about-ethiopia-is-that-it-is-a-country-of/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [We need to look marginalized people in our community in the eye and listen to their stories of struggle, heartache and impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/we-need-to-look-marginalized-people-in-our-community-in-the-eye-and/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [I by no means intend to simplify the challenges women face in any culture. Women are marginalized in all cultures in my opinion, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/i-by-no-means-intend-to-simplify-the-challenges-women-face-in-any/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [My films are motivated by a keen interest in highlighting issues that affect marginalized populations who are caught in difficult circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharmeen-obaid-chinoy/my-films-are-motivated-by-a-keen-interest-in-highlighting-issues-that/) [Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharmeen-obaid-chinoy/) > [Possibly worst of all, from the standpoint of the dedicated enemies of freedom, the Internet is a world that libertarians - having been marginalized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/possibly-worst-of-all-from-the-standpoint-of-the-dedicated-enemies-of/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) Browse all 171 Marginalized quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing that's serious to me about music is making sure marginalized people are included in the story.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Justin Tranter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-about-music-is-making-sure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Marginalized" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-about-music-is-making-sure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/justin-tranter-7360_music_the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-abou_1115136.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/justin-tranter-7360_music_the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-abou_1115136.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/justin-tranter-7360_music_the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-abou_1115136.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing that's serious to me about music is making sure marginalized people are included in the story.” — Justin Tranter", "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": "Justin Tranter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only thing that's serious to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-about-music-is-making-sure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/the-only-thing-that-s-serious-to-me-about-music-is-making-sure/#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 } } ] } ```