Who or what inspires you?

I figured this applied to musicians/singers over various styles and instruments so this is a generic thread.

I was wondering who or what inspires you? Either the style/instrument you play or how you write or to play in the first place?

1. What do you play?
2. Why did you start playing?
3. Why did you choose the style you play?
4. What influences your style of playing/writing?
5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?
6. What inspires you?

For me:
1. I play guitar and synth. Started playing piano when I was about 4 and guitar when I was about 12.
2. I started piano because my parents made me :lol: I picked up synth when I got into some more industiral and gothic bands a few years ago. I started guitar because I figured that playing my favourite metal and hardcore songs on piano just wouldnt cut it.
3. I play in the style of music I listen to most. Metal/gothic/industrial/hardcore etc.
4. My musical influences are Marilyn Manson, Lacuna Coil and Deathstars. They all have similar gothic (I guess thats the most obvious similarity) themes and styles but have individual ways of portraying their messages which I really like to draw from.
5. Im in a industrial metal band and we pull musical influences from Nine Inch Nails, Manson and Rammstein mostly but lyrically I think (I dont know 100%, I dont write the songs, the vocalist and bassist do) is personal, things that we feel others can relate to. We're not political or themed in anyway but our image is a bit of a mixture of Deathstars (they have old German army outfits), Manson (though not so much the extreme make up :lol:) and Rammstein.
6. I dont know what inspires or drives me. I cant work it out (which is partly why Im interested to hear about other people) exactly. I love music, I love listening, watching, playing etc but I dont have any actual drive or reason I play. Maybe to release emotion? I dont know.

I think its interesting to see what drives/inspires other people.

1. What do you play?

Drums as main instrument since I was 16. Additionally I taught me a bit guitar (but am not good at it), some percussions, flute, harp and - most importantly :lol: - nose flute.

2. Why did you start playing?

My dad is a musician, who played in bands for a very long time. He didn't do any longer when we kids grew up, but knowing he played the drums always wanted me to do so too. Very simple explanation. It was great I really loved it when I began though.

3. Why did you choose the style you play?

Just as Hysteria I always play what I like to listen to. In fact quite literally, because I basically learned the drums by copying what I heard in other songs.
Later, just like a few years actually, I began to play what just might be technically interesting to me too more than in starter times. Sometimes this even bounds back and lets me detect music I probably wouldn't have listen to otherwise.

4. What influences your style of playing/writing?

Playing: in classic practise I still more likely play to songs than do technical practise only. So the basic factor is the mood I'm in. Just like what leads you to decide to chose a certain playlist leads me to chose the style I play.
Writing: No matter for what band or project I likely had random times where some idea hit me and there was no other way than writing down and work a bit on it asap. This could be the first thought in the morning as a minute after lunch or beyond midnight. It's actually still that way, but currently do not to so often (I'm even not in a band right now) due to other life duties.

5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?

In bands hardly one of us wrote a song for himself. Sometimes one of the guys or me had a groove, a melody, a lyric snippet and the song mostly was made after it together. Sometimes you two of us did, sometimes the whole band. It did not seem to depend on special moods (like getting creative by your own seems to be), we just were together and got thing started.

6. What inspires you?

Life experiences, friends, events, a calm day in nature or maybe a random moment, other music. I think these things ever had the biggest impact on me to create some own music.

1. What do you play?

I play the cello and the piano, but enjoy the cello more.

2. Why did you start playing?

I started playing because I loved the beautiful tones of the cello.

3. Why did you choose the style you play?

I don't have much of a choice. I play jazz and classical. Right now, I'm playing Hayden te Deum, Air for Strings, and Vivaldi.

4. What influences your style of writing/playing?

I don't write any music myself, yet.

5. What inspires you?

My grandfather who passed away this January supported me playing cello and shared many, many, many books and cd's of cello music and famous cello players, inspires me while I'm playing my cello.

My housemate plays cello, but we didn't make it to a decent jam session yet. (Me drums, another one plays bass :lol:).

I don't have much of a choice. I play jazz and classical. Right now, I'm playing Hayden te Deum, Air for Strings, and Vivaldi.
When it comes to cello I actually always found it quite inspiring to listen to bands like Apocalyptica (http://www.apocalyptica.de/en_index.html) of the 12 Cellisten (http://www.die12cellisten.de/d/index.html?cds) of the Berlin Philharmonics (I'm sure there are others as well), who just show what is all possible with an instrument so often put down to one main style in music by many. Its multilateral like so many instruments. I've no clue how to play it, but it - like some other instruments - inspires me in my own music quite often.

1. What do you play? Mainly bass, guitar,harmonica, a bit of the accordian, Irish Tin whistle

2. Why did you start playing? Boredom really
3. Why did you choose the style you play? I plau celtic punk,I love the traditonal music, my old man used to always sing Irish folk songs, then I got into punk. Match made in heaven

4. What influences your style of playing/writing?Irish trad, and punk.

5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?Oh yes.

6. What inspires you?Dropkick murphys,Pogues,FLogging Molly,Tossers

1. What do you play?
I used to play piano but I stopped because the lesssons were SO boring! I haven't touched it since summer! :/ only cause I can't find decent sheets. used to play recorder for about 4 years. I sing now. well..if singing your heart out in any free time you have counts - I sing :D

2. Why did you start playing?
Err..recorder sounded fun so did piano. I dropped recorder cause the teacher stopped teaching tbh and piano I just got bored of the classical junk I was learning. I watned to learn MY kinda music! Not stuff from the 1700s! sheesh..

3. Why did you choose the style you play? The stuff I sing is the music I love. And the music that helps me through everything, the music that makes my life what it is and the music that keeps me going in life. Without it I'd be lost.

4. What influences your style of playing/writing? Hayley Williams from Paramore!!!! Amy Lee from Evanescence!!! Avril Lavigne..those are the main three I think (Y)

5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?Not in a band! :( I keep dropping hints hopeing my friend will ask me! but he's so clueless! GR! if I was..it DEFINITELY would influence (Y) and they already do influence my image :P

6. What inspires you? The bands I listen to..some of them are SO down to earth in interviews..I just tell myself "maybe one day you'll make it" despite what my family and other people tell me..I listen to the ones who believe in me and think that I will do what I want if I really do want it =) They inspire me to keep trying =)

1. What do you play?
Piano
2. Why did you start playing?
Middle of last year
3. Why did you choose the style you play?
I just play whatever's on the music sheat in front of me. I haven't learned that much yet.
4. What influences your style of playing/writing?
Um...
5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?
Not in band.
6. What inspires you?
For writing songs I have to say the Lord, my friends, and things going on in the world.

1. What do you play? Flute

2. Why did you start playing? I wanted to originally learn the piano but my mom put me in band instead

3. Why did you choose the style you play?Uhm?

4. What influences your style of playing/writing? Again uhm?

5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image? Uhm?

6. What inspires you? I'm a band dork. The different instrumentation sounds crazy awesome and when tuning is right and balance is even its spine chilling.

[QUOTE=Hysteria;4809671]I figured this applied to musicians/singers over various styles and instruments so this is a generic thread.

I was wondering who or what inspires you? Either the style/instrument you play or how you write or to play in the first place?

1. What do you play?
I sing, play the guitar, and I'm going to get a piano.
2. Why did you start playing?
I started singing when I was like 7, and just goofed around, but now I do it because it makes me feel good. :lol:
3. Why did you choose the style you play?
I didn't really chose a style, I just write songs and make up tones that sound good.
4. What influences your style of playing/writing?
Just the music I listen to kind of, I listen to all kinds of music but the main ones are Aly and AJ, Avril Lavigne, and Tokio Hotel.
5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?
I'm trying to form a band.
6. What inspires you?
Basic music. :lol:

1. What do you play?
I can play almost any instrument there is, but I can only play guitar, bass and drums with any semblance of skill. I also do vocals.
2. Why did you start playing?
Well, my parents tried to get me to learn the guitar when I was 8 or 9, but I never took my lessons seriously. I picked my guitar up again when I was 15 just to play along to stuff I was listening to.
3. Why did you choose the style you play?
My style is kind of wierd - it's like a mixture of grunge, hardcore punk, early post-hardcore (like Helmet, Big Black and Drive Like Jehu), old school hip hop and industrial. It's cobbled from all my influences.
4. What influences your style of playing/writing?
My first and greatest influence was the late Kurt Cobain. Others include Steve Albini (both his bands and his production work), Ian MacKaye, Trent Reznor (as you can tell from my username), Public Enemy's Chuck D and Everlast from House of Pain, particularly his solo career.
5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?
I consider band "image" to be a load of bollocks. Unless you count the fact that I'm a guy who likes to perform in a dress, but that's just occasionally for fun.
6. What inspires you?
The flaws of society and humanity, Hindu and Greek mythology and Harry Potter are my greatest inspirations.

Ooh! fun.

1. What do you play?

I play classical harp. Weird, I know, but I have always wanted to play it!

2. Why did you start playing?

I wanted to play all of my life, really. Well, since I was three or four. My late grandfather used to listen to harp music all the time on the classical radio stations... he loved listening to it. He showed me a harp on television one time, and I said, "I'm going to play that some day, Grandpa!" I don't break my promises!

3. Why did you choose the style you play?

I don't have a particular style, actually. I can play everything from rock to soundtracks.

4. What influences your style of playing/writing?

I just do whatever feels right. Probably a dumb answer, but whatever feels right usually sounds right.

5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?

I'm not in a band. Do you know of any bands which have harpists? :P

6. What inspires you?

Watching good emotional films inspires me a lot... so does listening to other music.

1. What do you play?
I play mainly guitar and bass guitar, but I play some piano because I write a lot on piano.

2. Why did you start playing?
I love music and wanted to be able to play my favorite songs. Both my parents are musicians and I've always watched them play so that had a big influence on me. When I started to play they were a great help to me.


3. Why did you choose the style you play?

I play anything that sounds good. What I write tends to be Hard Rock or Adult Alternative (like Tori Amos)

4. What influences your style of playing/writing?

Whatever I'm listening to/reading/watching/eating at the moment.

6. What inspires you?

Everything. Good music, good movies, good books

1. What do you play?
Euphonium (T.C.)
2. Why did you start playing?
At the end of 7th Grade my Band Director approached various trumpet players about switching to Euph, and I really enjoyed it, so I switched.
3. Why did you choose the style you play?
:shrug:
4. What influences your style of playing/writing?
:shrug:
5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?
**raises eyebrows quizzically**
6. What inspires you?
Anything and everything good in my life.

1. What do you play? I play piano, a little bit of guitar, and I sing.

2. Why did you start playing? Well, my parents made me start playing piano, but I ended up loving it and that's how I branched out into the other two.

3. Why did you choose the style you play? I play/sing anything between jazz and metal on piano, and I love it. I listen to all kinds of music, and it just feels like an achievement to be able to emulate a layered, complicated song on piano. On guitar I'm more limited to basic acoustic tunes, but I love the way they sound and they're great to sing along to. :)

4. What influences your style of playing/writing? Movie scores. Composers do things with a piano that I could never imagine.

5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image? N/A

6. What inspires you? I just like to write whenever something really good or really bad happens to me - it's a way to get the emotion out, and it helps me really add feeling to the music.

1. I play the piano, guitar and the clarinet (but i only play the clarinet in school)

2. I started playing the piano because all of my friends were doing it and I started the guitar because I wanted to be like my favourite band

3. I play Rock / pop music on both the piano and the guitar. I chose this because that is the style of music I listen to.

4. My favourite bands influence my writing style and the way I play. On the piano, it's The Fray and Hedley who inspire me most because the lead singer of both bands are amazing piano players. On the guitar, Nickelback is my main inspiration because the lead singer / lead guitarist and vocalist / guitarist are incredible guitar players. However, Hedley also inspires me on the guitar.

5. Im not in a band

6. I started playing the piano when I was 9 because my friend played. But I did go through a phase where I wasn't practicing that much and I really wasn't enjoying it. Then I became a fan of Hedley and The Fray and they inspired me to continue playing and for the past few years I practice everyday and sometimes several hours a day. Nickelback inspired me to started playing the guitar after I went to one of their concerts and was blown away with how well they could play the guitar

1. What do you play?
Bass guitar for 4 years now.

2. Why did you start playing?
Always wanted to play to my favourite songs.

3. Why did you choose the style you play?
I love hard rock and some metal, it's fun to play. Also the occasional jazz.

4. What influences your style of playing/writing?
The bands/artists I listen to.

5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?
I'm not in a band.

6. What inspires you?
Anything and everything, really!

1. What do you play?
I play the guitar (write songs, and sometimes sing)

2. Why did you start playing?
Well, being a teenager means I'm constantly trying to find out who I am, what do I really like, and because I'm good at drawing and I love anything about art in general, I decided that the best hobby for me would be music :) And we cannot afford a piano, so a guitar is just what I need. I learned to play by myself and some books :)

3. Why did you choose the style you play?
I choose the style I play based on my musical preferences, for example, I listen to a song I like, I learn to play it on the guitar, and when later I write a song, I'll use some of its elements for it.

4. What influences your style of playing/writing?
What I just said :) My own personal musical taste. But my writing is also influenced by Greek literature and poetry, ancient or latest, which we study a lot at Greek schools, and of course some personal experiences of mine.

5. If you're in a band, do these same things impact on your image?
I'm not in a band, but recently a friend invited me into their band, so I don't know yet, but I guess that yes, they will have an impact on how people see me.

6. What inspires you?
Most of all, Taylor Swift. Maybe most of you think "wow, how childish", but really, her music appeals to me, not only because of her talent in writing melodies, but also, her lyrics speak to me. It's like someone is describing my life into small songs. Plus, I admire her imagination, and her way of "playing" with words...

You made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter...

Cause for a moment a band of thieves in ripped jeans got to rule the world... Long live, all the mountains we moved, I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you...

And don't you know, you're really gonna be someone? ask anyone!

Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday but I realised some bigger dreams of mine... Count to ten, take it in, this is life before you know who you're gonna be, 15.

The only one who doesn't see your beauty, is the face in the mirror, staring back at you... Hold on baby you're losing it, the water's high, you're jumping into it, and letting go, and no one knows, that you're crying but you don't tell anyone, that you might not be the golden one...