Brandi Carlile Quotes

Powerful Brandi Carlile for Daily Growth

About Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile is an accomplished American singer-songwriter, known for her powerful vocals, poignant lyrics, and distinctive blend of country, rock, and folk music. Born on May 1, 1981, in Ravensdale, Washington, Carlile's love for music was nurtured from a young age. Growing up in a musically inclined family, she learned to play guitar and write songs, drawing inspiration from artists like Emmylou Harris, The Beatles, and Linda Ronstadt. Carlile's musical journey took a significant turn when she formed the band "The Storybook Cactus" with her twin brothers, Tim and Phil Hanseroth. In 2004, they released their debut album, "Brandi Carlile," which gained critical acclaim but limited commercial success. However, it was their second album, "The Story (2005)," that catapulted them into the limelight with the hit single, "The Story." In 2007, Brandi Carlile released her solo debut album, "The Story," which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Her subsequent albums, "Give Up the Ghost" (2009) and "Bear Creek" (2012), further solidified her status as one of contemporary music's most compelling artists. Carlile's music is deeply personal, often reflecting her experiences growing up in a conservative family in Washington State, her struggles with identity, and her journey towards self-acceptance. Her powerful live performances have earned her a devoted fanbase, and she has collaborated with notable artists such as Elton John, Dolly Parton, and Tanya Tucker. In addition to her music, Carlile is an active advocate for social justice issues, particularly LGBTQ+ rights and environmental conservation. She co-founded the Looking Out Foundation, which supports various charities focused on these causes. Brandi Carlile continues to push boundaries with her music, captivating audiences with her raw emotionality, compelling songwriting, and powerful vocals.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Keep your head up, keep it strong. I see the best in people and I hope that's how they see me."

This quote by Brandi Carlile encourages resilience, optimism, and empathy. The first part ("Keep your head up, keep it strong") suggests endurance and determination in challenging times, implying that one should persevere through hardships with a positive attitude. The second part ("I see the best in people and I hope that's how they see me.") reflects her belief in the inherent goodness of others and her aspiration to be perceived similarly by others. This highlights the importance of kindness, understanding, and faith in humanity as guiding principles. In summary, this quote emphasizes the significance of staying strong and optimistic amid adversity while cultivating a positive and empathetic mindset towards others.


"You can remain angry, resentful, or you can love and be loved. I choose love and adventure."

This quote emphasizes a choice between two paths in life, both stemming from challenging situations. The first path is marked by emotions such as anger and resentment, where one holds onto negative feelings towards past experiences or current circumstances. The second path, chosen by the speaker, leads with love and adventure. Here, she encourages embracing a more positive emotional state and seeking new experiences rather than dwelling on pain or bitterness. This choice represents resilience, optimism, and personal growth. It suggests that moving forward with love can lead to greater fulfillment in life than clinging onto grudges or negativity.


"I don't want to survive. I want to live."

The quote emphasizes a desire for more than mere existence or endurance; it expresses a longing for an intentional, meaningful, and vibrant life experience. In this sense, "survive" denotes just getting by or making it through difficult times, while "live" suggests engaging in life fully and passionately, embracing its opportunities and challenges, and striving to make a positive impact.


"If there's a heaven for broken Angels, I hope it has a pool hall."

This quote by Brandi Carlile suggests a longing for a place where misfits, outcasts, or those who feel broken in some way can find solace, acceptance, and communion. The "pool hall" symbolizes a place of camaraderie, relaxation, and shared activities, implying an environment where people can be themselves without judgment. Essentially, the quote expresses a hope for a haven where those who have faced challenges or hardship in life can find peace, companionship, and enjoyment in simple pleasures with others who understand their struggles.


"My art has always been my refuge and the wellspring of all my creativity."

This quote suggests that Brandi Carlile's artistic pursuits have provided her with a safe space to retreat, express herself, and generate creative ideas. Essentially, her art is not only an outlet for self-expression but also the source of inspiration for all her creative endeavors.


I tend to support and get behind issues instead of candidates, because of the whole 'Super Bowl' generalization of our world - You're on this side, I'm on that side; you're a Republican, I'm a Democrat; you're country music, I'm rock music.

- Brandi Carlile

Republican, Behind, Country, Rock Music

It's really important to me to promote worthy causes. But not in a heavy, obligatory, responsibility way. I really admired that as a kid, learning about the 'Elton John AIDS Foundation.' And I was obsessed with The Indigo Girls. And they are the consummate activist group, always reaching out, especially to Native causes and things like that.

- Brandi Carlile

Kid, About, Elton John, Obligatory

Writing is sort of putting a puzzle together halfway. Then, performing it has always been the completion of it. Once that happens, I'm feeling verbally communal with other people. It's out there and I feel so much better about it.

- Brandi Carlile

Other, Been, Putting, Communal

I hope that somewhere in Small Town, U.S.A., a 15-year-old kid looks to me as a role model the way I looked at the Indigo Girls and Elton John as role models.

- Brandi Carlile

Small, Role, Models, Elton

My songwriting is so influenced by orchestrated music, dramatic, super glam rock-y stuff. Two of my biggest influences in songwriting were Elton John and Freddie Mercury.

- Brandi Carlile

Songwriting, Glam, Mercury, Elton

I'd love to claim the title of 'songwriter' or 'intellectual,' but the truth is that anything that I ever learned how to do in conjunction with music was purely so that I would have a platform to sing from.

- Brandi Carlile

Love, Purely, Learned, Claim

Every city has a town outside with a lake. I pull out my fishing pole and fish. I've been doing that for a long time.

- Brandi Carlile

Doing, Been, Town, Lake

You know, your first album is about really amazing things. Your first album is always about coming of age, first love, first loss, usually you suffer a first loss of someone that you love to death, even, you know, really big life lessons, things you learn from your parents' divorce or from the travels that you took.

- Brandi Carlile

Love, Big, Coming Of Age, Amazing Things

I stand firm behind the belief that, for me, songwriting isn't something that I do or command, it happens to me. I can either choose to stop and acknowledge it, or put it off and hope that it won't fade away. 'That Wasn't Me' is no exception - it came together more quickly than any other song I have ever constructed on my own.

- Brandi Carlile

Behind, Exception, Other, Fade

I've read and heard that some of the most inspiring vocal interpreters adhere habitually to one rule: Always think the lyrics as you're singing them, so that the sentiment is always appropriate and heartfelt.

- Brandi Carlile

Some, Always, Appropriate, Adhere

My advice to new artists is to embrace a broader concept of timelessness than vintage or retro.

- Brandi Carlile

New, Embrace, Artists, Broader

I think I was probably looking for gay role models when I was younger, before I even knew or thought I was gay. I didn't really make the connection that they were gay, but I felt drawn to them because they were going against the grain, and I knew there was something that they had that everybody else didn't have. It was an edge.

- Brandi Carlile

Role, Everybody, I Think, Grain

I didn't get bullied any more than anybody else. I think I got bullied more for being poor than being gay. But no more than any other kid. And I'm sure that I did my fair share of picking on other kids, too. We're all humans.

- Brandi Carlile

Other, I Think, Anybody, Bullied

I tend to feel really protective of songs, and if they aren't sitting well in a record, I'll pull them tight to my chest until I feel it's a better time.

- Brandi Carlile

Feel, Chest, Better Time, Protective

My mother's a singer and my mother's father is a singer, and everyone on both sides are all country-western bluegrass musicians.

- Brandi Carlile

Both Sides, Singer, Everyone, Bluegrass

I grew up in a single-wide, three-bedroom mobile home with my family. And now I see them, like, half a dozen times a year. Figuring out how to come home and talk to them again and feel like myself has probably been the greatest challenge.

- Brandi Carlile

Year, Been, Half, Figuring

When we were doing 'Live at Benaroya,' the song 'I Will' was hard to get through. I've always get a big lump in my throat when I sing that song. And also 'Before It Breaks.' So I'm just a different songwriter now. And the older I get, the more difficult it becomes to deliver those songs casually.

- Brandi Carlile

Doing, Big, Through, Songwriter

When I started out, I was definitely writing about experiences that I hadn't had yet. The songs were just based on my influences, songwriters that had written songs before me and that were more experienced and 20, 30 years older than me.

- Brandi Carlile

Before, About, Had, Experienced

Singing is a form of meditation... apparently the only one that I have command over.

- Brandi Carlile

Singing, Over, Form, Command

People that could yodel always fascinated me. People that could sing loud always fascinated me. So I started trying to mimic at a really young age: 6, 7 years old.

- Brandi Carlile

Young, Always, Loud, Mimic

There are still civil rights issues. There are still people who can't be visited by their spouse in the hospital because they're gay. These are humanitarian issues. At the end of the day, all you want is for people to be happy in the pursuit of life, love and liberty.

- Brandi Carlile

Love, Happy, Pursuit, Visited

'Hallelujah' is going to be a standard that our grandkids, our great-great grandkids will learn to sing in church. It's one of those really, really special songs.

- Brandi Carlile

Will, Going, Standard, Grandkids

My wife even thinks our next album should be recorded in our house, and we should move all the furniture out to the garage. I'm not sure how many spouses would be supportive of that, much less come up with the idea.

- Brandi Carlile

Next, Idea, Supportive, Recorded

When I turned 30, I started to feel all those miles. At times, you want to turn the faucet off a bit, but I never want to stop traveling. That's what it's all about - taking the music to the people.

- Brandi Carlile

Feel, About, Turned, Faucet

Colorado is an oasis, an otherworldly mountain place. I've played so many shows in Colorado that I think I'm the Colorado house band.

- Brandi Carlile

Think, I Think, Oasis, Band

I love fishing, any kind of fishing.

- Brandi Carlile

Love, Kind, I Love, Fishing

The hardest thing about being on the road is not being with my animals.

- Brandi Carlile

Road, Hardest, About, Hardest Thing

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