--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trying to make your own sound is hard…" description: "\"Trying to make your own sound is hard. When I was producing for other artists, I could just produce and write songs as a normal songwriter, and almost ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/karl-wolf-57910_art_trying-to-make-your-own-sound-is-hard-wh_1490326.jpg" --- # Trying to make your own sound is hard. When I was… ![“Trying to make your own sound is hard. When I was producing for other artists, I could just produce and write songs as a normal songwriter, and almost make them generic. The artists themselves, whoever is singing that song, can put their own twist on it. When it came to my own material, I had to…” quote by Karl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/karl-wolf-57910_art_trying-to-make-your-own-sound-is-hard-wh_1490326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/karl-wolf-57910_art_trying-to-make-your-own-sound-is-hard-wh_1490326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/310/karl-wolf-57910_art_trying-to-make-your-own-sound-is-hard-wh_1490326.jpg) > “Trying to make your own sound is hard. When I was producing for other artists, I could just produce and write songs as a normal songwriter, and almost make them generic. The artists themselves, whoever is singing that song, can put their own twist on it. When it came to my own material, I had to really dig deep, because I was just writing generic stuff. It sounded like everybody else, like Justin Timberlake, like Usher. I never wanted to sound like someone, that's when you know it's not going to work.” [Karl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wolf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating a unique artistic voice is difficult; copying others feels in, so genuine self‑expression requires deep personal effort. **In simple terms:** Finding your own sound is hard. Key Takeaway Dig deep to develop authentic style. Themes authenticity creativity identity Mood reflective determined Type inspirational advice When to use this quote - songwriting - producing - personal projects - genre exploration Key Concepts artistic voice self‑expression influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you discover your true artistic identity? - What steps help break free from generic influences? A Different Perspective Mimicking popular styles may limit originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Songwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriters/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My main goal as a songwriter is to make something that inspires people. To write things about my life that people can relate to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-voegele/my-main-goal-as-a-songwriter-is-to-make-something-that-inspires/) [Kate Voegele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-voegele/) > [I'm a commercial-minded songwriter. I'm here to make a living and be on the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mcanally/i-m-a-commercial-minded-songwriter-i-m-here-to-make-a-living-and-be/) [Shane McAnally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mcanally/) > [I've always thought about someday producing other artists or developing other artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-evans/i-ve-always-thought-about-someday-producing-other-artists-or/) [Sara Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-evans/) > [One of my favorite things is producing other artists because, in many ways, it's a lot more freeing than working on your own music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/one-of-my-favorite-things-is-producing-other-artists-because-in-many/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I've also been writing for other artists, producing other artists, doing some country stuff. Those lyrics I tend to leave more universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-brooks/i-ve-also-been-writing-for-other-artists-producing-other-artists/) [Meredith Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-brooks/) > [I really enjoy writing and producing for other artists. Some people save their best songs for their own albums. I'd rather give another artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-elliot/i-really-enjoy-writing-and-producing-for-other-artists-some-people/) [Missy Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-elliot/) > [I don't want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself. I want to avoid becoming too styled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-don-t-want-other-people-to-decide-who-i-am-i-want-to-decide-that/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [“Brands have to reduce perceived risk else a generic product will do. It should have an acquired power to influence market. Finally, it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-varghese/brands-have-to-reduce-perceived-risk-else-a-generic-product-will-do/) Abraham Varghese > [But it is my total conviction that all the trappings of good leadership are generic and widely applicable whether you are standing in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cosgrove/but-it-is-my-total-conviction-that-all-the-trappings-of-good/) [Peter Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cosgrove/) > [Everyone seems agreed that writing about sex is perilous, partly because it threatens to swamp highly individualised characters in a generic, featureless activity (much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/everyone-seems-agreed-that-writing-about-sex-is-perilous-partly/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [With the exceptional talent that is Guy Sigsworth as producer and collaborator, we have recorded a collection of original songs that sees me moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/with-the-exceptional-talent-that-is-guy-sigsworth-as-producer-and/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always thought that comedy was just another dramatic expression. I try to measure the amount of truth in a work rather than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/i-ve-always-thought-that-comedy-was-just-another-dramatic-expression/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [The love of God is not something vague or generic; the love of God has a name and a face: Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-love-of-god-is-not-something-vague-or-generic-the-love-of-god-has/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The most fascinating powers don't mean a thing if the guy's poorly motivated or dull, and the most generic powers won't hurt a well-motivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-most-fascinating-powers-don-t-mean-a-thing-if-the-guy-s-poorly/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [There are a lot of stuff on the record that I am thinking is generic but actually it is just as good as everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/there-are-a-lot-of-stuff-on-the-record-that-i-am-thinking-is-generic/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) ## More by Karl Wolf > [Canadian artists in Canada, if you're not doing something big internationally, they definitely don't give us super big respect right away. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wolf/canadian-artists-in-canada-if-you-re-not-doing-something-big/) [Karl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wolf/) > [I try to put my culture in all my music, as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wolf/i-try-to-put-my-culture-in-all-my-music-as-much-as-i-can/) [Karl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wolf/) > [Prior to being a Canadian, I'm also Middle Eastern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wolf/prior-to-being-a-canadian-i-m-also-middle-eastern/) [Karl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wolf/) > [I grew up in Dubai, all my friends are there and I'm so used to it. It's such an over-the-top kind of place. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wolf/i-grew-up-in-dubai-all-my-friends-are-there-and-i-m-so-used-to-it-it/) [Karl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wolf/) > [I like my 1980s music. That's why I would bring that back, in a new kind of way, for the people of today. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-wolf/i-like-my-1980s-music-that-s-why-i-would-bring-that-back-in-a-new/) [Karl Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wolf/) [Explore all 6 Karl Wolf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-wolf/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trying to make your own sound is hard. 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