--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have an independent record label called…" description: "\"I have an independent record label called Favored Nations on which I released an album by an artist called Johnny A, who plays an arch top Gibson throu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/steve-vai-7290_albums_i-have-an-independent-record-label-calle_1397999.jpg" --- # I have an independent record label called Favored Nations… ![“I have an independent record label called Favored Nations on which I released an album by an artist called Johnny A, who plays an arch top Gibson through a Marshall, but the tone is all in his fingers.” quote by Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/steve-vai-7290_albums_i-have-an-independent-record-label-calle_1397999.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/steve-vai-7290_albums_i-have-an-independent-record-label-calle_1397999.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/steve-vai-7290_albums_i-have-an-independent-record-label-calle_1397999.jpg) > “I have an independent record label called Favored Nations on which I released an album by an artist called Johnny A, who plays an arch top Gibson through a Marshall, but the tone is all in his fingers.” [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) ## 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 describes his independent label and an album where the artist’s skill, not equipment, defines the sound. **In simple terms:** Label focus on artist talent over gear. Key Takeaway Prioritize musicianship. Themes music industry independent labels artist development Mood proud reflective Type statement informative When to use this quote - record label launch - artist promotion - studio recording - live performance - music distribution Key Concepts branding authenticity production instrumentation marketing Questions to Reflect On - How do you showcase talent beyond gear? - What role does branding play in music? A Different Perspective Equipment alone cannot guarantee unique tone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Record labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-labels/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) ## Related quotes > [The tone is in your fingers, not in your amp or effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/the-tone-is-in-your-fingers-not-in-your-amp-or-effects/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [The artist is called a creator...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/the-artist-is-called-a-creator/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [Playing a flute is like writing a book. You're telling what's in your heart...It's easier to play if it's right from your heart. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-cahill/playing-a-flute-is-like-writing-a-book-you-re-telling-what-s-in-your/) [Eddie Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-cahill/) > [I have to confess that a strong contributing factor was that I had just taken what was probably the first acid ever made, given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-capaldi/i-have-to-confess-that-a-strong-contributing-factor-was-that-i-had/) [Jim Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-capaldi/) > [I wrote on a show called Johnny Bravo when I was at Hanna-Barbera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-macfarlane/i-wrote-on-a-show-called-johnny-bravo-when-i-was-at-hanna-barbera/) [Seth MacFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-macfarlane/) > [Let me tell you a little story about a guy called Johnny. He's got the 2.25 kids, the washer, dryer, he's livin' the dream.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiga/let-me-tell-you-a-little-story-about-a-guy-called-johnny-he-s-got-the/) Tiga > [I wrote on a show called Johnny Bravo when I was at Hanna-Barbera and he guest-starred as himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-macfarlane/i-wrote-on-a-show-called-johnny-bravo-when-i-was-at-hanna-barbera-and/) [Seth MacFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-macfarlane/) > [“Johnny wis a junky as well as a dealer. Ye hud tae go a wee bit further up the ladder before ye found a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/johnny-wis-a-junky-as-well-as-a-dealer-ye-hud-tae-go-a-wee-bit/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I love science fiction. I always have, ever since I was a kid. I love a lot of science fiction writers. William Gibson is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahmoh-penikett/i-love-science-fiction-i-always-have-ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-love-a/) [Tahmoh Penikett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahmoh-penikett/) > [There was a rumour that I was buying Gibson. It circulated around the Internet... And I just go, 'How well off do you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/there-was-a-rumour-that-i-was-buying-gibson-it-circulated-around-the/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I dreamed of having a Gibson. I had a cheap Kent - you know, a Japanese guitar - and then a Kanora, a Japanese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/i-dreamed-of-having-a-gibson-i-had-a-cheap-kent-you-know-a-japanese/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [If I could have one superpower, I'd be like Mel Gibson in 'What Women Want,' where he reads women's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/if-i-could-have-one-superpower-i-d-be-like-mel-gibson-in-what-women/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [One of my favorite albums is Bob Gibson and Bob Camp, 'At the Gate of Horn.' It was a really dynamic album, almost like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcguinn/one-of-my-favorite-albums-is-bob-gibson-and-bob-camp-at-the-gate-of/) [Roger McGuinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcguinn/) > [“No," said Blackwell, "she won't, because that would be a violation of the very personal terms I will have established in our conversation. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/no-said-blackwell-she-won-t-because-that-would-be-a-violation-of-the/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“All right. And if any of you get hurt I'm going to be really mad. I sleep with a Glock next to my bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-dane/all-right-and-if-any-of-you-get-hurt-i-m-going-to-be-really-mad-i/) [Lauren Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-dane/) ## More by Steve Vai > [I designed a guitar for Ibanez and then they started manufacturing it - it's called the Jem - it's 26 years old and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-designed-a-guitar-for-ibanez-and-then-they-started-manufacturing-it/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [You can never deny the immense talent, rock credibility and iconic historical contribution that Van Halen made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/you-can-never-deny-the-immense-talent-rock-credibility-and-iconic/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I can tell you this: I'm an extremely passionate individual. I try to be careful how I display it because you never know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-can-tell-you-this-i-m-an-extremely-passionate-individual-i-try-to/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I don't believe in 'greatest'. I believe in favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-don-t-believe-in-greatest-i-believe-in-favorites/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Along with its enchanting and exquisite melodies, West Side Story has attitude and a tremendous amount of frenetic energy. It's emotional, theatrical and technical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/along-with-its-enchanting-and-exquisite-melodies-west-side-story-has/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I have a deep love for life and my fellow human beings. I try to understand everything that everybody does, even if it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-have-a-deep-love-for-life-and-my-fellow-human-beings-i-try-to/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I've never really heard anybody imitating anything of mine the way they do with Edward Van Halen's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-ve-never-really-heard-anybody-imitating-anything-of-mine-the-way/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [The only thing that's holding you back, is the way you're thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/the-only-thing-that-s-holding-you-back-is-the-way-you-re-thinking/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [My main calling in life is to seek and achieve spiritual balance, and to express that through my instrument. Everything else is here today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/my-main-calling-in-life-is-to-seek-and-achieve-spiritual-balance-and/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [There's very notable dynamics in all of the collaborations I've done. It's hard to say if one is more important than the other, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/there-s-very-notable-dynamics-in-all-of-the-collaborations-i-ve-done/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I awake, I meditate, get the kids off to school, go to the gym, go to the Favored Nations office, and usually at around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-awake-i-meditate-get-the-kids-off-to-school-go-to-the-gym-go-to-the/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I think every artist subconsciously wants to evolve themselves. Sometimes they get stuck in ruts because of pop culture, peer pressure, stuff like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-think-every-artist-subconsciously-wants-to-evolve-themselves/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [Baby don't wake me, let me take you on an endless journey. We touch and the softest kiss explodes with lust. It's real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/baby-don-t-wake-me-let-me-take-you-on-an-endless-journey-we-touch-and/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [We have the insight and the tools to identify and bring to fruition the dormant talent that our artists possess. Favored Nations will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/we-have-the-insight-and-the-tools-to-identify-and-bring-to-fruition/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [That's the thing about great artists: They find the thing that's most obvious to themselves, what's most conscious and natural, and they put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/that-s-the-thing-about-great-artists-they-find-the-thing-that-s-most/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) [Explore all 92 Steve Vai quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have an independent record label called Favored Nations on which I released an album by an artist called Johnny A, who plays an arch top Gibson through a Marshall, but the tone is all in his fingers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Vai" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-have-an-independent-record-label-called-favored-nations-on-which-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Albums" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-have-an-independent-record-label-called-favored-nations-on-which-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/steve-vai-7290_albums_i-have-an-independent-record-label-calle_1397999.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/steve-vai-7290_albums_i-have-an-independent-record-label-calle_1397999.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfe/steve-vai-7290_albums_i-have-an-independent-record-label-calle_1397999.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have an independent record label called Favored Nations on which I released an album by an artist called…” — Steve Vai", "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": "Steve Vai", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have an independent record label...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-have-an-independent-record-label-called-favored-nations-on-which-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/i-have-an-independent-record-label-called-favored-nations-on-which-i/#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 } } ] } ```