25 Music Production Quotes To Get You Motivated 💬

A good music quote has the power to stay with you forever.

And no, I’m not talking about cringe “Live, Laugh, Love” and other Sex and the City-inspired motivational quotes…

What I want to cover here are deep words of wisdom that will make change your perception and push you to overcome challenges.

So just for you, I’ve scoured the web to bring you 25 of the best music quotes out there, from famous composers like Mozart all the way to modern producers like Daft Punk!

So without further ado, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s dive into it! 👇

1. “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between” (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Starting off with one of my all-time favorite music quotes, this one was a true revelation to me.

As beginner producers, we have a tendency to fill in every silence with something new.

But silence can be one of the most powerful tools to build tension and excitement.

It’s even something Aden covers in one of our YouTube tutorials here:

2. “Don’t be a prisoner of your own style!” (Armin van Buuren)

Too often, we fall victim to our own genre.

We think of ourselves as a “house producer” or a “trap producer”.

Follow the wise words of the Dutch DJ, and never be scared to experiment outside your preferred style!

3. “Technology is neutral, but it all depends on the way we use it.” (Jean-Michel Jarre)

This is one you will hear over and over again in your musical journey.

It’s not about how many plugins you have or how many analog synths you bought. It’s all about how you use them!

A great reminder from one of the pioneers of electronic music.

4. “When you play, never mind who listens to you” (Robert Schumann)

Music is inherently a personal process.

This is even truer in the case of electronic music, where we are often composing by ourselves.

Even though electronic music didn’t exist in the 19th century, I believe this quote still stands true. No matter the genre of music you are composing!

5. “Every track starts with a single, strong idea” (Hannes Bieger)

Wise words from the Berlin-based producer.

One of the lessons I wish I had learned earlier is to let go of bad ideas. If a loop I wrote doesn’t inspire, I either shelve it for later or delete it.

Focus on ideas where you feel there is true potential, and let go of the rest!

6. “Music is the universal language of mankind” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

A quite self-explanatory music quote.

One of the most beautiful things about music is its power to cross boundaries.

No matter the ethnicity or culture, anyone on Earth can be touched by your music one day. And that’s something worth pursuing!

7. “Writing music is not so much inspiration as hard work.” (George Gershwin)

Here’s a music quote to bring you back down to earth from the American composer!

Writing music is often romanticized as something that happens by magic.

But it’s worth remembering that more often than not, it’s persistence and perspiration that will yield results!

Recommended: The Producer’s Guide to Workflow & Creativity

8. “For every hour of recording, have two hours of laughter in the studio (Quincy Jones)

Writing music should first and foremost be enjoyable.

Sure, some things aren’t the most fun but have to be done (compressing a snare for example…).

But on the whole, never lose track of why you got into music: to have fun and enjoy yourself!

9. “The best musicians are people who never considered themselves to be artists or musicians.” (Aphex Twin)

What I love about this quote is that it can be interpreted in many different ways.

For me, it’s a personal reminder to not take myself or my music too seriously!

10. “Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there” (Miles Davis)

Another music quote that can be interpreted in many ways by the jazz legend.

In my opinion, it’s an invitation to wander off the beaten tracks.

Try something that hasn’t been done before. Play that note even if it’s not on the right scale. There are no rules!

11. “I’ve experienced tons of failure. I’ve been making music for 30 years, and I’d say failure and success have happened in equal measure.” (Moby)

A sobering reminder that “achieving success” is never a smooth process.

There will be ups and there will be downs along the way.

Don’t let the failures bring you down, there are the best opportunities to learn!

12. “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” (Berthold Auerbach)

Never underestimate the power of music.

Going through a rough time? Put on one of your favorite albums and forget your worries.

This is also true if you’re stuck in a creative rut! Spin some of your favorite records, and you might find yourself re-energized!

13. “Less is more” (Rone)

The best music quotes are often short and sweet.

This one hits straight to the core and reminds us to get rid of the superfluous.

Focus on the core idea of your track instead of adding a million different sounds to fill it up!

14. “There’s a tremendous power in using the least amount of information to get a point across.” (Rick Rubin)

Possibly the best music producer of our generation gets the same point across here.

If you’re conveying a specific emotion, try to do so with the least amount of sounds possible.

Not only will it make your mixdown easier, but it will also translate better to the listener!

15. “The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought” (Anonymous)

A philosophical quote if I ever saw one, but who doesn’t like a bit of philosophy with their coffee?!

For me, this is a reminder that music should be escapism.

If I’m working on a song, and suddenly 3 hours have gone by, I know I’m on the right track.

16. “In the right context, you can make ugly sounds (…) feel right at home.” (Flume)

The Australian producer certainly is the expert on weird noises!

In this music quote, he reminds us that everything is dependent on context.

If you’ve designed a weird bass patch but it doesn’t fit in your track, keep it safe. It might just be the perfect sound for your next project!

17. “Don’t let your music be defined by genre labels” (Bonobo)

If there’s one producer that defies genre conventions, it’s Bonobo.

Melding trip-hop, jazz, world music, and electronica, his music is endlessly evolving.

And it’s definitely working for him! Stray from the path and do what feels right, irrespective of the genre!

18. “Music can change the world because it can change people” (Bono)

From Bonobo to Bono, this quote sounds a bit cheesy at first.

But the power of music on people is undeniable. Just think back to the anti-war movement led in part by John Lennon or the unifying message of “Imagine”.

Don’t underestimate the power your music can have on people!

19. “Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can’t get it wrong” (Anonymous)

Another music quote that, depending on how you look at it, can take on different meanings.

What do you read in it…?

20. “Music was a vector we wanted to build a universe around” (Thomas Bangalter, Daft Punk)

If anyone is qualified to talk about “universe building”, it’s Daft Punk.

In their own words, music was just a tool that, alongside animation, let them create their own world.

“Universe” is a lofty word, but try spending some time thinking about the world you want to build with your music.

21. “As a DJ, people expect a certain sound and a certain danceability for the music. As a producer, I really like to let go of any rules that may exist” (Armin van Buuren)

One of the best pieces of advice you’ll hear is that “there are no rules”.

If it sounds good, then it sounds good!

Don’t worry about not using your compressor the way you “should”; if it sounds good to your ears, that’s all that matters!

22. “No one worries about genre when they’re dancing. They’re not asking themselves, ‘Is this song a dubstep song?'” (Skrillex)

Notice a trend in some of these music quotes?

One lesson you’ll hear from almost any producer is to let go of genres. Stop worrying about the codes and unspoken rules of your genre.

Dare to be different, and try new things: that’s the only way you’ll get unique results!

23. “If you want to get unusual results, work fast and work cheap, because there’s more of a chance that you’ll get somewhere that nobody else did” (Brian Eno)

Possibly the most iconic producer of the past 50 years, Brian Eno has worked with more gear than we ever will.

But his advice to aspiring producers? Work fast and work cheap!

Don’t worry about the synths you can’t buy, and focus on using the obscure free plugins that everybody overlooks!

24. “I’ve spent my life trying to make things simpler. Because I find ultimately that complicated doesn’t reach the heart.” (Hans Zimmer)

I’m sure none of us would say Hans Zimmer’s music is simple.

However, we can all in our own way make our music simpler. Not every chord needs to be augmented/diminished/altered in a jazzy way, for example.

Simpler is better to convey emotions!

25. “The first mistake of art is to assume that it’s serious” (Lester Bangs)

Echoing some other music quotes in this article, this is the one I will leave you with.

Music should be fun to make, fun to listen to and fun to share.

In a world where everything has become a “process” waiting to be optimized, it’s easy to get lost in the details.

Don’t take yourself or your music too seriously, and enjoy the ride!

Last Words

That’s it for this one!

Hope you enjoyed this article and that some of these quotes resonated with you.

What are some of your favorite music quotes? Let me know by email at [email protected]!