Patrick Carney Quotes

Powerful Patrick Carney for Daily Growth

About Patrick Carney

Patrick Carney is an American musician, producer, and songwriter best known as the drummer and co-founder of the critically acclaimed indie rock band, The Black Keys. Born on July 19, 1980, in Akron, Ohio, Carney showed an early interest in music, particularly drums. He started playing the instrument at age seven and honed his skills in school bands throughout his youth. Carney met Dan Auerbach while attending firefighter academy after high school, and they formed The Black Keys in 1999. Initially focusing on raw, blues-infused garage rock, the duo's unique sound would later evolve into a blend of indie rock, psychedelic pop, and soul. Their breakthrough album, "Attack & Release," won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2009. Carney has also produced albums for artists like Tegan and Sara, Florence + The Machine, and Calabrese. His production work earned him two Producer of the Year Grammy Awards in 2014 and 2015. In addition to his work with The Black Keys, Carney co-produced and collaborated with Michael Kiwanuka on his 2016 album "Love & Hate," which won a Grammy for Best R&B Album. Carney's influences range from early blues and punk rock to classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. His innovative drumming style, often characterized by his use of unconventional percussion instruments, has made him a respected figure in the indie rock community. Despite personal struggles with mental health issues, Carney continues to create music and push the boundaries of genre conventions.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best art happens when you're trying to do something else."

Patrick Carney's quote suggests that creativity often flourishes unexpectedly, not when we are deliberately setting out to create art. Instead, it emerges from our efforts in other areas, where we may be experiencing new perspectives, overcoming challenges, or simply living life. This is because the process of pursuing something else allows for a more organic and authentic expression of our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, which can then translate into genuine and impactful art.


"I think a lot of people who work in music get into it because they want validation from their peers."

This quote by Patrick Carney suggests that many individuals who choose careers in music are driven, at least in part, by a desire for recognition or approval from their professional peers. In other words, they seek validation through the success and acclaim they receive within their field of work. It highlights how the pursuit of creativity and artistry can be influenced by social validation, ambition, and a desire to establish oneself as a respected figure in the music industry.


"It's really about just writing songs and being true to yourself."

This quote by Patrick Carney emphasizes the importance of authenticity and self-expression in songwriting. He suggests that creating genuine, heartfelt music is essential, rather than trying to conform to external expectations or trends. Being true to oneself means staying faithful to one's own feelings, experiences, and creative vision while crafting songs, ultimately leading to a more meaningful and impactful connection with listeners.


"When we started the band, there was this idea that if we could just be ourselves, that would somehow lead us to success."

The quote highlights the importance of authenticity in achieving success. In simpler terms, it suggests that by being genuine and true to themselves (i.e., "just being themselves"), Patrick Carney and his band could potentially find their pathway to success. This idea underscores the belief that authenticity resonates with people, fostering a connection and loyalty, which can ultimately lead to success in creative endeavors such as music.


"I think for a lot of people who work in music, it's not even about the music anymore—it's about the lifestyle and the image."

This quote suggests that for some individuals involved in the music industry, the glamour and lifestyle associated with music has become more important than the actual creation of music itself. The focus shifts from the inherent joy, passion, and artistry of making music to maintaining a desirable image or living up to popular expectations about how a musician should look and behave. This phenomenon can lead to superficiality and dilute the genuine artistic value that comes from a deep connection with one's craft.


The Midwest breeds funny, eccentric people, to varying degrees. You play shows not because you're expecting to get a record deal, but to do something fun outside of mowing lawns. Everything else is just gravy... Or mustard.

- Patrick Carney

Play, Deal, Degrees, Mustard

Fast food is the one thing everyone can relate to. It's depressing, but also interesting, that people desire to eat the same sandwich in every single city in the world. But the biggest bummer is when you see a Subway in Berlin. Just devastating.

- Patrick Carney

City, See, Relate, Sandwich

I'm trying to write a TV show. Ideally it would be just a reality-TV show, getting the guy who played Eddie Winslow and Kirk Cameron to live in a house. The Jehovah's Witnesses would come to the house a lot or something like that. I kind of like the idea of Scientologists and Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses trying to convert Kirk Cameron.

- Patrick Carney

Jehovah, TV, TV Show, Convert

Through the history of rock n' roll, you see lots of bands making the mistake of putting on the tights when they get to arenas. Don't do that.

- Patrick Carney

Mistake, Through, Making, Arenas

A lot of people see a Nissan ad and they see a finished product in a record store or on iTunes and that's the face of the band.

- Patrick Carney

Product, Ad, Finished, iTunes

I imagine if Spotify becomes something that people are willing to pay for, then I'm sure iTunes will just create their own service, and they're actually fair to artists.

- Patrick Carney

Will, Sure, Imagine, iTunes

I'm friends with Dierks Bentley. Aside from that, I don't really know anybody else in the country music field, really. I've met the Lady Antebellum people and I met Marty Stuart briefly once. He's really nice, but I don't know any of them, really.

- Patrick Carney

Country, Anybody, Marty

I'd literally rather hang out at the T.G.I. Friday's in New Jersey than tool around at a place that sells $40 cheeseburgers.

- Patrick Carney

New, Hang, Rather, Friday

Rock n' roll is dying because people became OK with Nickelback being the biggest band in the world.

- Patrick Carney

Roll, Being, Became, OK

I wasn't raised super-poor, but my parents got divorced, and my mother didn't have much money. Even now if I have a cake, I'll eat it slowly, and I save most of the money I have.

- Patrick Carney

Raised, Got, Save, Divorced

I can totally identify with the younger kids. I'll never do what Jon Spencer did to me when I was 16, though. I made a tape with my friends and I put it onstage right near his mic stand by the pedal board and he pulled it out with his foot, kicked it to the center of the stage, looked me in the eye and stomped it to pieces.

- Patrick Carney

Spencer, Mic, Jon, Board

I really don't have an ear for pitch. I can't sing at all, I can't hum melodies and I can't write riffs.

- Patrick Carney

Melodies, Ear, Hum, Riffs

When no one's buying your records, it's easy to justify selling a song. But once you start selling records, you can't really justify having two songs in Cadillac commercials. It looks greedy. And it is greedy. This whole music thing should be about music.

- Patrick Carney

Records, About, Whole, Justify

There is so much good music in the U.S. and there is just a small section that gets recognised at the Grammys.

- Patrick Carney

Music, Small, Grammys, Recognised

The best way to catch my attention is to throw a Twinkie near my face.

- Patrick Carney

Face, Throw, Best Way, Near

I was real into Devo, Pavement, Captain Beefheart, and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

- Patrick Carney

Pavement, Explosion, Jon, Spencer

I buy five of the same shirts. I literally have six blue shirts. Now I have six green shirts.

- Patrick Carney

Green, Same, Six, Shirts

The idea of a streaming service, like Netflix for music, I'm not totally against it. It's just we won't put all of our music on it until there are enough subscribers for it to make sense.

- Patrick Carney

Against, Like, Idea, Streaming

If you can't play guitar and sing in Nashville, you might as well just be a construction worker.

- Patrick Carney

Play, Nashville, Might, Worker

I had this fascination with four-track recorders when I was in high school.

- Patrick Carney

School, High, Had, Fascination

Well, you know what? The same people that get driven crazy by hip hop are the same people that probably listen to the type of music that drives me crazy. Like, Journey covers.

- Patrick Carney

Journey, Like, Hop, Covers

I see a lot of comments on Twitter and stuff about how ugly I am, how bad I am at the drums, how awkward I look, and I'm like, yeah, I agree with most of those things.

- Patrick Carney

Bad, Like, Comments, Drums

I think the best post-breakup album is The Strokes' first album. It's just fun.

- Patrick Carney

Think, Album, I Think, Strokes

One day you look out and the audience consists of 65,000 people. It's like looking in the mirror and one day you realise you've gone grey.

- Patrick Carney

Mirror, Audience, Like, Grey

And once the music is out there, when you're selling a record and selling music and people are going to do whatever they want with it, it's kind of hard to resist certain opportunities, especially in the record market now.

- Patrick Carney

Kind, Want, Going, Selling

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