Yannis Philippakis Quotes & Sayings

When you're making an album with people who made your favorite records as a rebellious teenager, it feels like you've achieved something. — Yannis Philippakis

I like simple writing. I'd rather read Hemingway than Burroughs. — Yannis Philippakis

I started growing roses. I enjoyed the craft of it and that they're difficult to look after; they can provide joy. — Yannis Philippakis

I'm definitely preoccupied by thinking I'm just a biological thing. I want to feel that there's more, but so often I'm reminded of how we're just like baboons, basically. — Yannis Philippakis

Music was my friend when I was a teenager, and I would inhabit and take comfort in lyrics. That's how I want to write. — Yannis Philippakis

I was definitely inspired by gospel music, or old-school R&B; I got into some Good God gospel compilations. — Yannis Philippakis

I never want to listen to the songs in front of people close to me. There's an emotional honesty in that place where it's not earnest but it's vulnerable. — Yannis Philippakis

I like the fervor of religious music, the zealous aspect - that preachers can go from a conversational cadence into this passionate singing. — Yannis Philippakis

I'm just worn down and weary of bands whose lyrics are cryptic and self-referential. — Yannis Philippakis

You can get into a comfort zone writing lyrics, like wearing a mask. But I wanted to feel uncomfortable when I was listening back to [the lyrics]; I wanted to squirm. — Yannis Philippakis