I went right from wunderkind to washed up. Old. Been around too long. That’s just the way I feel. That’s my internal dialogue. – Conor Oberst
I’ve thought about the idea of, ‘Can happiness and creativity co-exist?’ So much of what I’ve done, I think, has been based on being dissatisfied or incomplete or lonely. The answer is, ‘There isn’t an answer, necessarily.’ – Conor Oberst
A boycott is, inherently, a blunt instrument. It is an imperfect weapon, a carpet bomb, when all involved would prefer a surgical strike. – Conor Oberst
On every Bright Eyes record, there’s some kind of sound collage that begins it. Some of them have dialogue, some don’t. I like it because it can kind of slow down the attention span a bit. It’s a way to draw you in to the rest of the record. – Conor Oberst
The best feeling I ever get is when I finish a song, and it exists, and it didn’t exist before, and now it’s there, and it makes me feel a certain way. – Conor Oberst
If you think about Protestant and Catholic or Shiite and Sunni, they are basically the same thing… one eats with their left hand, the other eats with their right hand. – Conor Oberst
It seems like everything I do musically I tend to lose a few fans and gain a few fans, and it all kind of evens out. – Conor Oberst
Art is basically communication, and I think everyone who’s a music lover has had that experience where a record or a recording has kept you company when no one else is around. And I think that is what I’m hoping that people get out of my music. – Conor Oberst
I remember having to quit school and quit my job. I just sort of moved all my stuff into other people’s places. Within, like, six months, I was able to earn enough money from touring to rent a place again. – Conor Oberst
I’ve cried, and you’d think I’d be better for it, but the sadness just sleeps, and it stays in my spine the rest of my life. – Conor Oberst
I read the newspaper online. Mostly ‘The New York Times.’ I’ll still buy papers if I’m getting on an airplane or the tour bus, though. I like physical things. – Conor Oberst
I really believe in the way the energy can consolidate in certain geographical spots. You can find it in a lot of different places, beautiful natural spots, or if you look at Islam or Judaism or Christianity, these ideas of holy places. – Conor Oberst
I think there’s so much about Rasta culture that’s interesting. Just the idea of preaching one-ness, that we’re all in this together. – Conor Oberst
People resist change; if they like something, then they want you to keep doing it over and over – but I think if you like what a particular band or artist does, then you should want to see what they’re going to do next. – Conor Oberst
I kind of go in waves with reading. Sometimes I read all the time, and sometimes I can’t get settled enough to focus. – Conor Oberst
I have on many occasions spoken my mind from stage. I have offered organizations table space by the merch booth. I have donated a dollar-a-ticket, or the entire guarantee, to different causes. I have registered voters. I have played on behalf of political candidates. – Conor Oberst
I find that moving keeps me optimistic, the idea of what’s going to be down the road a bit or around the next bend. – Conor Oberst
I have many friends who are both Mexican and Mexican-American and others who, I guess you would say, are somewhere in between. The ironic thing is that all three of those categories often exist inside of the same family. – Conor Oberst
The first music I ever got into was the ’80s alternative bands that my brother listened to, like The Cure and The Smiths and R.E.M. and Fugazi. I can remember specifically saying The Cure was my favorite band back in second grade. – Conor Oberst
When I was younger, I was somewhat of an idealist. I guess I’m a little bit more of a realist now. I think there’s a lot that can be done to make the world a better place, but it’s more about choosing your battles. – Conor Oberst
I prefer career artists that have spent time honing their craft, as opposed to, ‘I won a karaoke contest on a reality show and now I have a record.’ That’s such a drag. The music that comes out of it is so poor. – Conor Oberst
Music is unique because you can get behind enemy lines a little bit, get into people’s houses and into their heads, on their stereos, and win hearts and minds. – Conor Oberst
I know a girl who cries when she practices violin because each note sounds so pure it just cuts into her, and then the melody comes pouring out her eyes. Now, to me, everything else just sounds like a lie. – Conor Oberst