--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything I do, whether it's producing…" description: "\"Everything I do, whether it's producing or signing an artist, always starts with the songs. When I'm listening, I'm looking for a balance that you coul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/rick-rubin-17346_art_everything-i-do-whether-it-s-producing-o_2456764.png" --- # Everything I do, whether it's producing or signing an… ![“Everything I do, whether it's producing or signing an artist, always starts with the songs. When I'm listening, I'm looking for a balance that you could see in anything. Whether it's a great painting or a building or a sunset.” quote by Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/rick-rubin-17346_art_everything-i-do-whether-it-s-producing-o_2456764.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/rick-rubin-17346_art_everything-i-do-whether-it-s-producing-o_2456764.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/rick-rubin-17346_art_everything-i-do-whether-it-s-producing-o_2456764.png) > “Everything I do, whether it's producing or signing an artist, always starts with the songs. When I'm listening, I'm looking for a balance that you could see in anything. Whether it's a great painting or a building or a sunset.” [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music is the foundation for all artistic balance, guiding his production choices across mediums. **In simple terms:** Music guides his artistic decisions. Key Takeaway Start with music to inspire creative projects. Themes music production artistic balance Mood inspired contemplative Type creative philosophical When to use this quote - recording - visual art - architecture - film scoring Key Concepts Interdisciplinary inspiration aesthetic harmony Questions to Reflect On - How does music influence your visual choices? - Can other arts replace music as a guide? A Different Perspective Relying on one art form may limit perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Sunset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunset/) ## Related quotes > [I always thought signing was an artist's honour and guarantee of authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/i-always-thought-signing-was-an-artist-s-honour-and-guarantee-of/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [I feel that people spend as much time skipping songs as they do listening to them in their library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bannon/i-feel-that-people-spend-as-much-time-skipping-songs-as-they-do/) [Jacob Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bannon/) > [Music for me is this thing that's sort of saved my life over the course of my whole life, whether it be writing songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nathanson/music-for-me-is-this-thing-that-s-sort-of-saved-my-life-over-the/) [Matt Nathanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nathanson/) > [I feel like the downfall of any person is the second an artist starts celebrating their work themselves, that becomes problematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/questlove/i-feel-like-the-downfall-of-any-person-is-the-second-an-artist-starts/) [Questlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/questlove/) > [If the artist starts evaluating himself, it’s an enormous block, isn’t it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-guston/if-the-artist-starts-evaluating-himself-it-s-an-enormous-block-isn-t/) [Philip Guston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-guston/) > [I guess if you take yourself seriously as an artist there starts either the problem or the beauty of doing good artwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-as-an-artist-there-starts/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Producing major change in an organization is not just about signing up one charismatic leader. You need a group - a team - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/producing-major-change-in-an-organization-is-not-just-about-signing/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [ I'd like to have a vote on it at the November \[owners'\] meetings. There's no reason why we can't announce who we intend to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dupuy/i-d-like-to-have-a-vote-on-it-at-the-november-owners-meetings-there-s/) Bob DuPuy > [There's a lot of letters, and a lot of people come say "hi" at book signings, but I'm amazed at how normal everybody is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-a-lot-of-letters-and-a-lot-of-people-come-say-hi-at-book/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [People keep asking me why I took so much time to sign my second film after 'SMS.' I keep telling them that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/people-keep-asking-me-why-i-took-so-much-time-to-sign-my-second-film/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [I campaigned on signing the toughest abortion bill in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kemp/i-campaigned-on-signing-the-toughest-abortion-bill-in-the-country/) [Brian Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kemp/) > [This hand is not very active always, because it was in this hand that I carried my books. My carrying hand was always my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/this-hand-is-not-very-active-always-because-it-was-in-this-hand-that/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [In the technical realm, we repeatedly enter into a series of social contracts, the terms of which are revealed only after the signing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langdon-winner/in-the-technical-realm-we-repeatedly-enter-into-a-series-of-social/) [Langdon Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langdon-winner/) > [I am thrilled to be signing for City and can't wait to get started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-walker/i-am-thrilled-to-be-signing-for-city-and-can-t-wait-to-get-started/) [Kyle Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-walker/) > [In other restaurants you'll see employees signing to each other, since we also hire many deaf men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-karcher/in-other-restaurants-you-ll-see-employees-signing-to-each-other-since/) [Carl Karcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-karcher/) ## More by Rick Rubin > [There’s a tremendous power in using the least amount of information to get a point across.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/there-s-a-tremendous-power-in-using-the-least-amount-of-information/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [For me the Beatles are proof of the existence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/for-me-the-beatles-are-proof-of-the-existence-of-god/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [Usually when I start a new project there's a fear of the unknown; maybe it's a band I've never been in the studio with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/usually-when-i-start-a-new-project-there-s-a-fear-of-the-unknown/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [I guess edgy things tend to get my attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/i-guess-edgy-things-tend-to-get-my-attention/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [My taste changes radically all the time, and I listen to whatever feels good. Another thing is that I'm in the studio so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/my-taste-changes-radically-all-the-time-and-i-listen-to-whatever/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [I was very lucky. My neck hurt and I went to my doctor, who was kind of hip, and he said it was stress-caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/i-was-very-lucky-my-neck-hurt-and-i-went-to-my-doctor-who-was-kind-of/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [The power of nature is what all art strives to be. The more we can get in tune with the harmony of the planet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/the-power-of-nature-is-what-all-art-strives-to-be-the-more-we-can-get/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [In between 15 and 20 - probably at around 17 - my interests switched from hard rock to punk rock. And then by 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/in-between-15-and-20-probably-at-around-17-my-interests-switched-from/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [I've gotten to work with amazing people. I would say usually we get to a point before we get into the studio where there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/i-ve-gotten-to-work-with-amazing-people-i-would-say-usually-we-get-to/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [Everything happens kind of the way it's supposed to happen, and we just watch it unfold. And you can't control it. Looking back, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/everything-happens-kind-of-the-way-it-s-supposed-to-happen-and-we/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [I always feel like there's something magic in recording studios. There's a reason good music continues to be made in them. It's just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/i-always-feel-like-there-s-something-magic-in-recording-studios-there/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [Well I listened to mostly rock music, and I felt like hip hop was like an extension of rock music when it was done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/well-i-listened-to-mostly-rock-music-and-i-felt-like-hip-hop-was-like/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [I don't know what makes someone hip. The goal is artist achievement and the best work we can do with no limitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/i-don-t-know-what-makes-someone-hip-the-goal-is-artist-achievement/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [I never made beats to make beats; I only made them when there was a record to make them for. That's one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/i-never-made-beats-to-make-beats-i-only-made-them-when-there-was-a/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [When you're vegan, you spend your time chasing protein, and you're eating food that's way too high in carbs. I could never catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/when-you-re-vegan-you-spend-your-time-chasing-protein-and-you-re/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) [Explore all 37 Rick Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) ## 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": "Everything I do, whether it's producing or signing an artist, always starts with the songs. 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