At the end of the day, if you don't have a record contract, a studio or a guitar, you can still write songs. You're still an artist. That's something no one can take away.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
A record deal doesn't make you an artist; you make yourself an artist.
I've made sure that in any situation and with any record label, I'm allowed to write my own music.
Either you write songs or you don't. And if you do write songs like I do, I think there's a natural desire to want to make records.
I don't think you need a record deal to write songs. You don't need any other reason than you want to do it. It's a far cry from why some people do music today. They make it to order, which is pretty horrible.
When you're an artist, you can only do your own stuff. Even if you only write for other people, you're really more focused on yourself. So while everybody's out touring, I'm working on records.
I had this contract to write songs for people when I was about 18. I don't think any of them were taken up; I was a complete failure at it! But I've kept doing it, writing little songs for myself.
I don't try to write songs that will further my career. I write about things that I care about. I don't have a career as much as I'm having an adventure with a guitar. I never liked the business way of doing it. You have to follow some sort of instinct.
One other thing, if it's possible, as songwriters, you should also develop yourself as record producers.
A lot of people considered my career as an artist largely over. Two albums got shelved. But I've made music since I was a little kid, and for the majority of that time, I wasn't paid for it. So I will always be making it.
There's this thing called compulsory licensing law that allows artists through the record companies to take your music at will without your permission.