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I’m very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It’s the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange.

Nick Cave

I’m an Australian, and when I grew up much of my influences were American – blues music and country music, all that sort of thing.
NICK CAVE

Country Grew Influence
It’s very important that the music has a sense of adventure to it, and that it’s done by the seat of your pants. There’s a kind of nervy element about it.
NICK CAVE

Adventure Element Important
I write songs in batches and then record them and then can’t write again for ages. I try and build one song upon another, they may not obviously look inter-related but often one song acts as a springboard into another.
NICK CAVE

Age Country Obvious People Song Writing
In the hysterical technocracy of modern music, sorrow is sent to the back of the class where it sits, pissing its pants in mortal terror.
NICK CAVE

Class Pants Sorrow
I love being manipulated by what I see. I love weepies and romantic comedies where you’re reaching for the Kleenex at the right moment.
NICK CAVE

Comedy Moments Reaching
The body becomes the carrier for the work. It’s not really about the physical body; it really becomes the apparatus that carries and moves the work. I don’t really consider the body as much; I look at it as a tool.
NICK CAVE

Apparatus Looks Moving Tools
I’ve always had an obligation to creation, above all.
NICK CAVE

Always Creation Obligation
I suspect the older you get the more invisible you become.
NICK CAVE

Country Invisible People Suspects
We as visual artists need to continue to be renegades and say, “Yes I am here to do a project, but what is the social service?”
NICK CAVE

Artist Needs Social
The way I take in the world is by seeing it; that is very much evident in the songs that I write.
NICK CAVE

Song World Writing
I write hate lyrics really well. It’s not every day you can use them, really.
NICK CAVE

Hate Use Writing
Your limitations make you the wonderful disaster you most probably are.
NICK CAVE

Disaster Limitation Wonderful
Anything that I’m doing I’m writing specifically for a particular project.
NICK CAVE

Particular Projects Writing
It’s always a risky business inviting somebody on stage. You never know what they’re going to do. I try to avoid letting people join me onstage because it can be very distracting, and overly theatrical.
NICK CAVE

Business People Risky Trying
I don’t really care who collects my work, black, white, red, yellow. You have to also be consciously aware of, what does this mean in your home? And how are you supporting this work and the message behind the work?
NICK CAVE

Home Mean Yellow
No wonder sorrow doesn’t smile much. No wonder sadness is so sad.
NICK CAVE

Sadness Sorrow Wonder

I’m very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It’s the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange.

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Popular Authors

I’m very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It’s the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Nick Cave Quotes