--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to be a composer before anything…" description: "\"I wanted to be a composer before anything else. And my sister was listening to Led Zeppelin in the other room! When I heard that, it was a game-changer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/steve-vai-7290_composer_i-wanted-to-be-a-composer-before-anythin_2630387.jpg" --- # I wanted to be a composer before anything else. And my… ![“I wanted to be a composer before anything else. And my sister was listening to Led Zeppelin in the other room! When I heard that, it was a game-changer.” quote by Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/steve-vai-7290_composer_i-wanted-to-be-a-composer-before-anythin_2630387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/steve-vai-7290_composer_i-wanted-to-be-a-composer-before-anythin_2630387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/steve-vai-7290_composer_i-wanted-to-be-a-composer-before-anythin_2630387.jpg) > “I wanted to be a composer before anything else. And my sister was listening to Led Zeppelin in the other room! When I heard that, it was a game-changer.” [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. A sibling's music taste sparked a pivotal shift, showing how unexpected influences can reshape artistic direction. **In simple terms:** Unexpected influences can change your path. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse influences for growth. Themes creativity influence growth Mood inspirational reflective Type musical personal When to use this quote - songwriting - collaboration - genre exploration - personal branding Key Concepts music artistic development Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected influence changed your art? - How do you balance influence with originality? A Different Perspective Influences may clash with personal vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Game changers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-changers/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Led Zep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/led-zep/) ## Related quotes > [“Green heard her voice, murmuring, and Adrian’s, murmuring back. Something inside of him made an actual glass-cracking noise—and before he could convince himself that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/green-heard-her-voice-murmuring-and-adrian-s-murmuring-back-something/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) > [I have left my book, I have left my room, For I heard you singing Through the gloom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/i-have-left-my-book-i-have-left-my-room-for-i-heard-you-singing/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [You can still see the shadow from when the Zeppelin floated over America; it took like Islam in the desert . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-herr/you-can-still-see-the-shadow-from-when-the-zeppelin-floated-over/) [Michael Herr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-herr/) > [When I was seven or eight I was really into Cream, really into Led Zeppelin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fishman/when-i-was-seven-or-eight-i-was-really-into-cream-really-into-led/) [Jon Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fishman/) > [There will be a Led Zeppelin as long as there's a Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant. This isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/there-will-be-a-led-zeppelin-as-long-as-there-s-a-jimmy-page-john/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Led Zeppelin was pretty much what made me pick up drum sticks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fishman/led-zeppelin-was-pretty-much-what-made-me-pick-up-drum-sticks/) [Jon Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fishman/) > [I'm not interested in being known as the singer from Led Zeppelin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/i-m-not-interested-in-being-known-as-the-singer-from-led-zeppelin/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [Led Zeppelin was a very sensitive and beautiful animal beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/led-zeppelin-was-a-very-sensitive-and-beautiful-animal-beast/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [When I was growing up, my idea of Led Zeppelin was all epic lasers, castles, and ten-minute drum solos - that sort of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-adams/when-i-was-growing-up-my-idea-of-led-zeppelin-was-all-epic-lasers/) [Justin Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-adams/) > [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/) > [With Zeppelin, I tried to play something different every night in my solos. I'd play for 20 minutes but the longest ever was 30…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bonham/with-zeppelin-i-tried-to-play-something-different-every-night-in-my/) [John Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bonham/) > [I never listen to Led Zeppelin. But, I mean, I don't think Robert Plant or Jimmy Page listen to Led Zeppelin, either. We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-auerbach/i-never-listen-to-led-zeppelin-but-i-mean-i-don-t-think-robert-plant/) [Dan Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-auerbach/) > [I didn't really listen to rock 'n' roll until I moved to LA. We would ditch school, go get high, put on Zeppelin IV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-didn-t-really-listen-to-rock-n-roll-until-i-moved-to-la-we-would/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [Right from the first time we went to America in 1968, Led Zeppelin was a word-of-mouth thing. You can't really compare it to how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/right-from-the-first-time-we-went-to-america-in-1968-led-zeppelin-was/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Every day, I hear a song and I think, 'This would be great to cover on Glee.' I like Led Zeppelin, of course, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-salling/every-day-i-hear-a-song-and-i-think-this-would-be-great-to-cover-on/) [Mark Salling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-salling/) ## 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 Composer quotes > [A composer knows that music is written by human beings for human beings and that music is a continuation of life, not something separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanns-eisler/a-composer-knows-that-music-is-written-by-human-beings-for-human/) Hanns Eisler > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [Trombone virtuoso and innovative composer, Papo combines the best of jazz and Latin music to create a genre that is unique and wild. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brecker/trombone-virtuoso-and-innovative-composer-papo-combines-the-best-of/) Michael Brecker > [“- Mom, can I tell them there that I'm Romanian? - Sure, why not tell them? - I was thinking that they wouldn't think...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-enescu/mom-can-i-tell-them-there-that-i-m-romanian-sure-why-not-tell-them-i/) George Enescu > [The number of e-mails and letters that I get from choreographers, from sculptors, from composers who are being inspired by science is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-number-of-e-mails-and-letters-that-i-get-from-choreographers-from/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [The architect is very interesting because the architect is the commander, meaning the one who commands all the workers. The architect is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-architect-is-very-interesting-because-the-architect-is-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [If a composer could state in words what being a composer means, he would no longer need to be a composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-rorem/if-a-composer-could-state-in-words-what-being-a-composer-means-he/) [Ned Rorem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-rorem/) > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) Ernest Gold > [I think there's just been this "thing" that's developed, this way that we have of talking about our music that alienates people. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-mazzoli/i-think-there-s-just-been-this-thing-that-s-developed-this-way-that/) [Missy Mazzoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-mazzoli/) > [The ability to understand and deliver comedy and tragedy is extremely rare in one composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/signe-baumane/the-ability-to-understand-and-deliver-comedy-and-tragedy-is-extremely/) [Signe Baumane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/signe-baumane/) > [When synthesizers appeared everyone was a composer suddenly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/when-synthesizers-appeared-everyone-was-a-composer-suddenly/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [A mission that comes from the heart to promote these things and to encourage composers to write, then of course they should do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andre-hamelin/a-mission-that-comes-from-the-heart-to-promote-these-things-and-to/) [Marc-Andre Hamelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andre-hamelin/) > [The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived, though its first material expression be destroyed; a vanished harmony may yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beebe/the-beauty-and-genius-of-a-work-of-art-may-be-reconceived-though-its/) [William Beebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beebe/) > [Every time I see a film or TV show, I think about how that composer made those choices and how that director envisioned music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lopez/every-time-i-see-a-film-or-tv-show-i-think-about-how-that-composer/) [Robert Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lopez/) > [Like any other composer of opera, I choose a subject not for polemical reasons, but because it contains vivid characters in highly charged dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlisle-floyd/like-any-other-composer-of-opera-i-choose-a-subject-not-for-polemical/) [Carlisle Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlisle-floyd/) [Browse all 885 Composer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to be a composer before anything else. 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