--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our vocal harmonies started to feel like…" description: "\"Our vocal harmonies started to feel like a cop-out: all group-singing, all the time.\" — Robin Pecknold" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/robin-pecknold-18273_harmonies_our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like_2771650.png" --- # Our vocal harmonies started to feel like a cop-out: all… ![“Our vocal harmonies started to feel like a cop-out: all group-singing, all the time.” quote by Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/robin-pecknold-18273_harmonies_our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like_2771650.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/robin-pecknold-18273_harmonies_our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like_2771650.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/robin-pecknold-18273_harmonies_our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like_2771650.png) > “Our vocal harmonies started to feel like a cop-out: all group-singing, all the time.” [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels the constant group singing has become repetitive and lacking authenticity. **In simple terms:** Group singing feels stale and inauthentic. Key Takeaway Seek fresh vocal arrangements. Themes creativity authenticity musical expression Mood reflective contemplative Type musical artistic When to use this quote - band rehearsals - live performances - recording sessions Key Concepts group dynamics artistic fatigue Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance harmony with individuality? - What new vocal textures could revitalize the sound? A Different Perspective May alienate listeners seeking variety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Group Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/group-singing-1090228/) [Harmonies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmonies/) [Harmonies Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmonies-started-3246093/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Vocal Harmonies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocal-harmonies-1524606/) ## Related quotes > [I don't dictate the solos and I don't dictate the vocal harmonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hicks/i-don-t-dictate-the-solos-and-i-don-t-dictate-the-vocal-harmonies/) [Dan Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hicks/) > [Harmonies come really naturally to me. I don't have to labor too hard over them. I'll sing a lead vocal, and then I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/harmonies-come-really-naturally-to-me-i-don-t-have-to-labor-too-hard/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [The inspiration for our vocal harmonies was sort of Appalachian. It's sort of at weird intervals, and it almost has an Appalachian kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-pierson/the-inspiration-for-our-vocal-harmonies-was-sort-of-appalachian-it-s/) [Kate Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-pierson/) > [I insist on group singing of the names of the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/i-insist-on-group-singing-of-the-names-of-the-lord/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [So I believe in singing to such an extent that if I were asked to redesign the British educational system, I would start by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/so-i-believe-in-singing-to-such-an-extent-that-if-i-were-asked-to/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Holiday Shores' ambition far exceeds its members' recording budget. The band's boyish vocal harmonies wash in and out with the tide, and reverb radiates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fantano/holiday-shores-ambition-far-exceeds-its-members-recording-budget-the/) [Anthony Fantano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fantano/) > [God is not regulated to 30 minutes of accessible group singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenton-brown/god-is-not-regulated-to-30-minutes-of-accessible-group-singing/) [Brenton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenton-brown/) > [I believe in singing to such an extent that, if I were asked to redesign the British educational system, I would start by insisting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-believe-in-singing-to-such-an-extent-that-if-i-were-asked-to/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Because I don't play guitar any more, African harmonies and rhythms have been an inspiration to me. I love the raw origin of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/because-i-don-t-play-guitar-any-more-african-harmonies-and-rhythms/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [Some men are like a church-organ -- you can play on them for a lifetime and always find new harmonies; others are like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/some-men-are-like-a-church-organ-you-can-play-on-them-for-a-lifetime/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [If it has to be put in a box, it's a country record. But it's hard to do that, because it is inspired and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-harp/if-it-has-to-be-put-in-a-box-it-s-a-country-record-but-it-s-hard-to/) [Jessica Harp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-harp/) > [Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty. Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/lift-every-voice-and-sing-till-earth-and-heaven-ring-ring-with-the/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [The bass line is the anchor for me. I started with the bass, and either doubled that and then added the harmonies, or sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/the-bass-line-is-the-anchor-for-me-i-started-with-the-bass-and-either/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [I was a fan of the group. I thought they were great - loved The Eagles - but I thought that their beautiful harmonies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-was-a-fan-of-the-group-i-thought-they-were-great-loved-the-eagles/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [There's music to dance to and make love to, music to cry to. I'm starting from scratch, coming fresh. But my sound still embodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-debarge/there-s-music-to-dance-to-and-make-love-to-music-to-cry-to-i-m/) [El DeBarge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-debarge/) ## More by Robin Pecknold > [Our day-to-day lives recording and touring aren't that different from those of Metallica, even though the perceived worldview is totally different. So that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/our-day-to-day-lives-recording-and-touring-aren-t-that-different-from/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [I don't know that we're really going to need a label for the things we're thinking about doing next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/i-don-t-know-that-we-re-really-going-to-need-a-label-for-the-things/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [I'm looking forward to doing things more intuitively in the future, just going with whatever happens and not immediately categorizing it as potentially good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/i-m-looking-forward-to-doing-things-more-intuitively-in-the-future/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [I was listening to this Ngozi Family record, 45,000 Volts, and it's mostly this guy singing, and then for the choruses, he's doubled. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/i-was-listening-to-this-ngozi-family-record-45-000-volts-and-it-s/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [You want to make music that reflects your ideals, but considering the isolating process of recording and the time and energy requirements of touring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/you-want-to-make-music-that-reflects-your-ideals-but-considering-the/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [There are personal topics on the record that have nothing to do with creativity but were maybe amplified by the demands of the band.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/there-are-personal-topics-on-the-record-that-have-nothing-to-do-with/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [They even let me do the ads for the album. I definitely want it all to be presented right, but I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/they-even-let-me-do-the-ads-for-the-album-i-definitely-want-it-all-to/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [Every time you pick up an instrument, it's not always out of necessity - for a certain kind of person, it's a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/every-time-you-pick-up-an-instrument-it-s-not-always-out-of-necessity/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [The touring thing is such a huge time commitment. I'm really feeling like I want to start writing and recording music again. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/the-touring-thing-is-such-a-huge-time-commitment-i-m-really-feeling/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [I don't really hang out with anyone. I'll hang out with my band ... but I don't have any friends aside from that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/i-don-t-really-hang-out-with-anyone-i-ll-hang-out-with-my-band-but-i/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [The notes sound like they're coming from inside your mind... It was the closest thing to a psychedelic experience I've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/the-notes-sound-like-they-re-coming-from-inside-your-mind-it-was-the/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [Fleet Foxes will never, ever, under no circumstances, from now until the world chokes on gas fumes, sign to a major label. This includes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/fleet-foxes-will-never-ever-under-no-circumstances-from-now-until-the/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [Being in Portland is cool. I have some good friends here and the general feeling might be a little more welcoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/being-in-portland-is-cool-i-have-some-good-friends-here-and-the/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [We're covering all our bases so we can do whatever we want next time. That's how we're looking at it, rather than this just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/we-re-covering-all-our-bases-so-we-can-do-whatever-we-want-next-time/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) > [You want to think about certain styles of music as being reflective of a certain culture or a certain time or a point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/you-want-to-think-about-certain-styles-of-music-as-being-reflective/) [Robin Pecknold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) [Explore all 35 Robin Pecknold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/) ## More Harmonies quotes > [There's music to dance to and make love to, music to cry to. I'm starting from scratch, coming fresh. But my sound still embodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-debarge/there-s-music-to-dance-to-and-make-love-to-music-to-cry-to-i-m/) [El DeBarge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-debarge/) > [The bass line is the anchor for me. I started with the bass, and either doubled that and then added the harmonies, or sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-haden/the-bass-line-is-the-anchor-for-me-i-started-with-the-bass-and-either/) [Petra Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-haden/) > [Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty. Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/lift-every-voice-and-sing-till-earth-and-heaven-ring-ring-with-the/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I was a fan of the group. I thought they were great - loved The Eagles - but I thought that their beautiful harmonies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-was-a-fan-of-the-group-i-thought-they-were-great-loved-the-eagles/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [If it has to be put in a box, it's a country record. But it's hard to do that, because it is inspired and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-harp/if-it-has-to-be-put-in-a-box-it-s-a-country-record-but-it-s-hard-to/) [Jessica Harp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-harp/) > [Some men are like a church-organ -- you can play on them for a lifetime and always find new harmonies; others are like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/some-men-are-like-a-church-organ-you-can-play-on-them-for-a-lifetime/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [That's one of the things I like best about folk music is the beautiful melodies - and the harmonies - that exist in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcguinn/that-s-one-of-the-things-i-like-best-about-folk-music-is-the/) [Roger McGuinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcguinn/) > [If it's a heartbreak-related stress, I like to listen to Lauryn Hill's 'Forgive Them Father' the most, especially the harmonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-chatto/if-it-s-a-heartbreak-related-stress-i-like-to-listen-to-lauryn-hill-s/) [Grace Chatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-chatto/) > [My brother Carl taught me how to play bass. I'm a self-taught keyboard player, though - I figured out our harmonies at the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/my-brother-carl-taught-me-how-to-play-bass-i-m-a-self-taught-keyboard/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [Because I don't play guitar any more, African harmonies and rhythms have been an inspiration to me. I love the raw origin of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/because-i-don-t-play-guitar-any-more-african-harmonies-and-rhythms/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I have a fascination for well-produced '70s and '80s rock with a lot of harmonies. AOR bands like Journey, Jefferson Starship, Toto, Kansas, Boston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-forge/i-have-a-fascination-for-well-produced-70s-and-80s-rock-with-a-lot-of/) [Tobias Forge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-forge/) > [We've recorded over our voices once and double the harmonies, make them thick. The Four Freshmen do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/we-ve-recorded-over-our-voices-once-and-double-the-harmonies-make/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [I can't get enough of this guy called Baths. He's a total L.A. dude and really young as well. It's super-electronic, but with almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-cullum/i-can-t-get-enough-of-this-guy-called-baths-he-s-a-total-l-a-dude-and/) [Jamie Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-cullum/) > [I always layer my vocals a lot. I sing a minimum of three layers of the same line every time, and then it's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-forge/i-always-layer-my-vocals-a-lot-i-sing-a-minimum-of-three-layers-of/) [Tobias Forge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-forge/) > [I was raised in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church so I grew up around music a lot, singing harmonies and stuff like that, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koffee/i-was-raised-in-the-seventh-day-adventist-church-so-i-grew-up-around/) [Koffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koffee/) [Browse all 88 Harmonies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmonies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our vocal harmonies started to feel like a cop-out: all group-singing, all the time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robin Pecknold" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like-a-cop-out-all-group-singing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Harmonies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like-a-cop-out-all-group-singing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/robin-pecknold-18273_harmonies_our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like_2771650.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/robin-pecknold-18273_harmonies_our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like_2771650.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/robin-pecknold-18273_harmonies_our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like_2771650.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our vocal harmonies started to feel like a cop-out: all group-singing, all the time.” — Robin Pecknold", "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": "Robin Pecknold", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-pecknold/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our vocal harmonies started to feel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like-a-cop-out-all-group-singing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-pecknold/our-vocal-harmonies-started-to-feel-like-a-cop-out-all-group-singing/#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 } } ] } ```