I played violin from when I was about eight to thirteen, so I could read a little bit, but if you put a piece of music in front of me now, I would probably know the notes, but not the timing, how they're supposed to be played, and I just don't know how to read chords. If I'd stuck with it, I'd probably have more jobs.
Petra HadenPeople want to hear clean sounds; they don't want to hear coughing in the background, pages turning.
Petra HadenI like things that start depressing and dark and end up romantic, and thats what I really loved about King Kong.
Petra HadenI didn't know who Meredith Monk was, and I knew about Laurie Anderson but I didn't know her music that well.
Petra HadenMy grandparents on my mom's side played in a mandolin orchestra. So when I hear mandolins, I automatically think of them.
Petra HadenI didn't know how write a song, (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, bridge, verse), etc., and I didn't know how to write lyrics, so that's when I thought, well, I don't have to write a song with all those verses and choruses or lyrics. I can just sing everything the way I want to. So I sang all the instruments with my voice and just went with it.
Petra Haden