--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think there's no way of avoiding the…" description: "\"I think there's no way of avoiding the South African or African influence from coming into my music, just because I spent 19 years of my life there. Be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/st-lucia-2349_african_i-think-there-s-no-way-of-avoiding-the-s_2436570.jpg" --- # I think there's no way of avoiding the South African or… ![“I think there's no way of avoiding the South African or African influence from coming into my music, just because I spent 19 years of my life there. Being a kid, my early musical experiences were there.” quote by St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/st-lucia-2349_african_i-think-there-s-no-way-of-avoiding-the-s_2436570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/st-lucia-2349_african_i-think-there-s-no-way-of-avoiding-the-s_2436570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d6/st-lucia-2349_african_i-think-there-s-no-way-of-avoiding-the-s_2436570.jpg) > “I think there's no way of avoiding the South African or African influence from coming into my music, just because I spent 19 years of my life there. Being a kid, my early musical experiences were there.” [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An artist acknowledges that long-term immersion in South Africa inevitably shapes their music, despite personal choices. **In simple terms:** Long stay influences music style. Key Takeaway Embrace cultural influences. Themes music culture identity Mood contemplative creative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - collaborations - genre blending Key Concepts cultural diffusion personal history Questions to Reflect On - How does environment shape creative output? - Can you retain authenticity while integrating influences? A Different Perspective Risk of losing original voice if over-assimilated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [South African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-african/) ## Related quotes > [My own thinking has evolved. You find Africanisms in American speech. You find an African influence on United States culture. There are all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amiri-baraka/my-own-thinking-has-evolved-you-find-africanisms-in-american-speech/) [Amiri Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amiri-baraka/) > [I always liked major-key music quite a bit, and that might have something to do with so many of the musical experiences of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/i-always-liked-major-key-music-quite-a-bit-and-that-might-have-2/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [My earliest professional musical experiences were really as a session player, and every day was an adventure. Three sessions a day, every day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wakeman/my-earliest-professional-musical-experiences-were-really-as-a-session/) [Rick Wakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wakeman/) > [Nature endows us with the feeling that moves us in all our musical experiences; we might call her gift instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-philippe-rameau/nature-endows-us-with-the-feeling-that-moves-us-in-all-our-musical/) [Jean-Philippe Rameau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-philippe-rameau/) > [Being in a different band always brings great musical experiences to be able to draw on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-nash/being-in-a-different-band-always-brings-great-musical-experiences-to/) [Graham Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-nash/) > [Brazilian people and South African people are very similar in all respects. They are very warm and friendly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cafu/brazilian-people-and-south-african-people-are-very-similar-in-all/) [Cafu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cafu/) > [South African rugby doesn't have to stand back for anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolph-straeuli/south-african-rugby-doesn-t-have-to-stand-back-for-anyone/) Rudolph Straeuli > [The poster boy for our superabled future is Oscar Pistorius, an increasingly famous South African sprinter who happens to have had both of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/the-poster-boy-for-our-superabled-future-is-oscar-pistorius-an/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [The people I mixed with in Monaco didn't relate to my South African mentality or humor... Although I have met some wonderful people since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlene-princess-of-monaco/the-people-i-mixed-with-in-monaco-didn-t-relate-to-my-south-african/) [Charlene, Princess of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlene-princess-of-monaco/) > [I know exactly what I will do. I will go and work with the Congress of South African Students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kgalema-motlanthe/i-know-exactly-what-i-will-do-i-will-go-and-work-with-the-congress-of/) [Kgalema Motlanthe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kgalema-motlanthe/) > [South Africans are caring, compassionate and loving people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-motsepe/south-africans-are-caring-compassionate-and-loving-people/) [Patrice Motsepe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-motsepe/) > [What I haven't apologised for is the original concept of seeking to bring justice to all South Africans through the concept of nation states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/what-i-haven-t-apologised-for-is-the-original-concept-of-seeking-to/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [In some respects, South African apartheid was more vicious than Israeli practices, and in some respects the opposite is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-some-respects-south-african-apartheid-was-more-vicious-than/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's pretty impossible to be a South African and not have been personally affected by HIV or AIDS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/it-s-pretty-impossible-to-be-a-south-african-and-not-have-been/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [The reason I'm in San Diego is not because I want distance from South Africa but because I want proximity to the people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/the-reason-i-m-in-san-diego-is-not-because-i-want-distance-from-south/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) ## More by St. Lucia > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [It sounds kind of cliche, and a lot of people say it about our music, but I think a good place to hear our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/it-sounds-kind-of-cliche-and-a-lot-of-people-say-it-about-our-music/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I will readily confess that I'm a coffee addict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/i-will-readily-confess-that-i-m-a-coffee-addict/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I just believe that you have to allow each other to grow in the way you're meant to grow and not be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/i-just-believe-that-you-have-to-allow-each-other-to-grow-in-the-way/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [Most of the writing that I do is a complete train of thought process. I'll just be walking down the street or sitting on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/most-of-the-writing-that-i-do-is-a-complete-train-of-thought-process/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [Everyone knows Earth, Wind & Fire. We know 'September,' all the big sort of hits from going out and dancing and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/everyone-knows-earth-wind-fire-we-know-september-all-the-big-sort-of/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [Unfortunately, there are very few facilities which offer courses in the arts. Not all the secondary schools offer the subject for CXC examinations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/unfortunately-there-are-very-few-facilities-which-offer-courses-in/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [While painting I noticed a piece of madras cloth on the floor. As usual, my mind started working overtime and a pair of scissors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/while-painting-i-noticed-a-piece-of-madras-cloth-on-the-floor-as/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [When I was 10 I went to the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, which is this idyllic Harry Potter-esque music boarding school in the mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/when-i-was-10-i-went-to-the-drakensberg-boys-choir-school-which-is/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [The music I used to make was a lot more rock, so I come from this background of head banging a lot, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/the-music-i-used-to-make-was-a-lot-more-rock-so-i-come-from-this/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [When I was a teenager, I never knew anything about art. I think in South Africa at that stage, no one was really exposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-never-knew-anything-about-art-i-think-in/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [When I'm making the music, the songs that I get most excited about definitely make me feel good, but often, it's a really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/when-i-m-making-the-music-the-songs-that-i-get-most-excited-about/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I feel like a lot of bands have done amazing covers, but whenever we start working on it, whenever we try it in rehearsal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-bands-have-done-amazing-covers-but-whenever-we/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [When I think back, I felt like I had the life that a lot of white American kids grew up with in the suburbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/when-i-think-back-i-felt-like-i-had-the-life-that-a-lot-of-white/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [It's sad that some people still believe that artists die poor. This is not the case in this day and age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/it-s-sad-that-some-people-still-believe-that-artists-die-poor-this-is/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) [Explore all 170 St. Lucia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) ## More African quotes > [We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/we-examine-and-highlight-the-history-of-the-african-descendants-in/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Virtually all of Darfur's six million residents are Muslim, and, because of decades of intermarriage, almost everyone has dark skin and African features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/virtually-all-of-darfur-s-six-million-residents-are-muslim-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I loved Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi. Its about a first-generation African family living in America that has to return home to Nigeria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-loved-ghana-must-go-by-taiye-selasi-its-about-a-first-generation/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [I concentrate on the southern African subcontinent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-dennis/i-concentrate-on-the-southern-african-subcontinent/) [Nigel Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-dennis/) > ['Yo I'm from Africa' Boy you're just a faker. Name one city: 'Uhh, Jamaica!' Wrong! And I think that's a shame, An African look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-sun/yo-i-m-from-africa-boy-you-re-just-a-faker-name-one-city-uhh-jamaica/) King Sun > [I am of an African-Jamaican descent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-mitchell/i-am-of-an-african-jamaican-descent/) [Liz Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-mitchell/) > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Football is a personal interest which has been turned into a philanthropic initiative directed at encouraging social cohesion during the difficult process of African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/football-is-a-personal-interest-which-has-been-turned-into-a/) Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [African Queen' is pretty darn great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/african-queen-is-pretty-darn-great/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [Most Americans know nothing about the African forest, and it seems to them a very scary, spooky dangerous place. I've spent a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/most-americans-know-nothing-about-the-african-forest-and-it-seems-to/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) Browse all 576 African quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think there's no way of avoiding the South African or African influence from coming into my music, just because I spent 19 years of my life there. 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