--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never really focus on writing for other…" description: "\"I never really focus on writing for other people, to be honest. Every song I've ever written was for me to sing. Maybe if I'm writing for a rapper, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/skylar-grey-10158_actually_i-never-really-focus-on-writing-for-othe_1858727.jpg" --- # I never really focus on writing for other people, to be… ![“I never really focus on writing for other people, to be honest. Every song I've ever written was for me to sing. Maybe if I'm writing for a rapper, but I'd still write it as though it was for myself and then sometimes I'm actually asked to do the part.” quote by Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/skylar-grey-10158_actually_i-never-really-focus-on-writing-for-othe_1858727.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/skylar-grey-10158_actually_i-never-really-focus-on-writing-for-othe_1858727.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/skylar-grey-10158_actually_i-never-really-focus-on-writing-for-othe_1858727.jpg) > “I never really focus on writing for other people, to be honest. Every song I've ever written was for me to sing. Maybe if I'm writing for a rapper, but I'd still write it as though it was for myself and then sometimes I'm actually asked to do the part.” [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Songwriting is personal; even when writing for others, the artist stays true to self. **In simple terms:** She writes songs for herself, even for others. Key Takeaway Stay authentic in creative work. Themes creativity authenticity music industry Mood inspired thoughtful Type creative personal narrative When to use this quote - producing for other genres - co‑writing sessions Key Concepts songwriting process artist identity collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How does personal authenticity affect audience connection? - When is adapting for another artist beneficial? A Different Perspective Focusing on self may limit commercial appeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [In the beginning, I was a stay-at-home dad. So I could actually focus on being a rapper. I could write. I could come up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blueface/in-the-beginning-i-was-a-stay-at-home-dad-so-i-could-actually-focus/) [Blueface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blueface/) > [I wanted to write a book like a rapper would write it - I didn't want to hold back. Rappers catch a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/i-wanted-to-write-a-book-like-a-rapper-would-write-it-i-didn-t-want/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I loved writing lyrics for rap when I was in junior high. I loved studying, but somehow I wanted to be a rapper who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rm/i-loved-writing-lyrics-for-rap-when-i-was-in-junior-high-i-loved/) RM > [I think that good writing is based on good reading. Maybe it's not about writing today, maybe it's about reading today. Maybe it's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/i-think-that-good-writing-is-based-on-good-reading-maybe-it-s-not/) [Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/) > [I will direct one day. I need some more life experience before I feel like I can do something like that comfortably. It'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stana-katic/i-will-direct-one-day-i-need-some-more-life-experience-before-i-feel/) [Stana Katic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stana-katic/) > [I wanted to be a composer for a while, and for a while, and maybe still, I found writing music much easier than writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mccrae/i-wanted-to-be-a-composer-for-a-while-and-for-a-while-and-maybe-still/) [Shane McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mccrae/) > [Job applications are an aesthetic event. They are performance art. They are not about proving you are smart - well, maybe your writing sample…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-morton/job-applications-are-an-aesthetic-event-they-are-performance-art-they/) [Timothy Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-morton/) > [“Maybe I can do some writing then. The phrase made him sick. It had no meaning anymore. 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I could have put out a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-ford/they-re-hit-writers-they-re-gonna-write-me-a-hit-whether-i-wanted-it/) [Willa Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-ford/) > [The novelist in me is probably hiding behind all the stories I write, looking for ways to connect them and continue the conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/the-novelist-in-me-is-probably-hiding-behind-all-the-stories-i-write/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [I was starting to wonder if I was ready to be a writer, not someone who won prizes, got published and was given the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-was-starting-to-wonder-if-i-was-ready-to-be-a-writer-not-someone/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [“...maybe writing doesn't require sacrifice. Maybe it's a gift to experience emotions through our brushes, ink, and paper. I wrote out sorrow, fear, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/maybe-writing-doesn-t-require-sacrifice-maybe-it-s-a-gift-to/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [I don't know - to be honest, I don't really model myself after anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-klattenhoff/i-don-t-know-to-be-honest-i-don-t-really-model-myself-after-anybody/) [Diego Klattenhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-klattenhoff/) ## More by Skylar Grey > [There's this one song called 'Final Warning' that I'm really excited about because I love the contrast of my vocal sounding very soothing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/there-s-this-one-song-called-final-warning-that-i-m-really-excited/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I always knew I wanted to do music, but it took me a long time to figure out how to exactly do that. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-do-music-but-it-took-me-a-long-time-to/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [Expectations are an evil thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/expectations-are-an-evil-thing/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [My mom always puts a grapefruit in my stocking. I like grapefruit, but why put it in a stocking like it's a gift? It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/my-mom-always-puts-a-grapefruit-in-my-stocking-i-like-grapefruit-but/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I write a lot about the past because I really see things clearly in hindsight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-write-a-lot-about-the-past-because-i-really-see-things-clearly-in/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [Anytime someone basically commissions a piece, I write a song based on something personal to them. I go online and I do research on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/anytime-someone-basically-commissions-a-piece-i-write-a-song-based-on/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I discovered that my insecurities and my flaws were things that I actually need to embrace, and I let them become my superpowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-discovered-that-my-insecurities-and-my-flaws-were-things-that-i/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I want just let me lose myself, lose myself for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-want-just-let-me-lose-myself-lose-myself-for-life/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [So maybe I'm a masochist. I try to run but I don't wanna ever leave. Til the walls are going up. In smoke with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/so-maybe-i-m-a-masochist-i-try-to-run-but-i-don-t-wanna-ever-leave/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I would say that nobody is going to work harder for your career than yourself - the one with the vision. No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-would-say-that-nobody-is-going-to-work-harder-for-your-career-than/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I tried everything, to make them see me but all they see, is someone that's not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-tried-everything-to-make-them-see-me-but-all-they-see-is-someone/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [Since I started making music, it had always been for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/since-i-started-making-music-it-had-always-been-for-myself/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [Even when I'm walking on barb wire. Even when I sat myself on fire. Why do I always feel invisible, invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/even-when-i-m-walking-on-barb-wire-even-when-i-sat-myself-on-fire-why/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I love New York. I first came here with my Mom when I was in 9th grade. I took the subway for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-love-new-york-i-first-came-here-with-my-mom-when-i-was-in-9th-grade/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) > [I think one of the reasons I've had success in hip-hop is that I can bring out vulnerability in people who are generally seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/i-think-one-of-the-reasons-i-ve-had-success-in-hip-hop-is-that-i-can/) [Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) [Explore all 67 Skylar Grey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never really focus on writing for other people, to be honest. 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