LIVE! Justin Timberlake and Bill Withers ASCAP Music Expo 2010

“I write for myself, I speak for whoever wants to have that voice…”
Justin Timberlake, like him or hate him is a true artist.

The questions began as to why/how they write the songs—As the moderator turns to Bill Whithers with the same question Bill replies
“I was waiting to see if your question was as long as Justin Timberlake’s Answer”..

Both elude to the need to set aside expectations and do you. Bill says it best
“What you eat, don’t make me fat”

You have to a commitment, to take risk and be able to put yourself on the line. You have be able to bounce back. People need to want to pay you for the privilege of your presence.

Perspective is needed when you are writing, according to Justin. You have to observe, listen watch and the more you can tap into confidence or the lack of.

“More interesting to want something than to have it” Have an open mind, we don’t want to miss the journey. Its about finding an interesting perspective. JT

“Don’t always write about things that are conditional….whatever you are trying to do, there is no way to get around dealing with feeling-open up yourself to feel…..sometimes you get tossed aside-someone always prefers someone else over you. -Enjoy doing this now, bc you may never hear it again. Do it for doing it sake…..then you can enjoy the journey”BW

“We look at the world through the window of our own eyes. I didn’t get popular until I quit. Throw your hat in the ring, put what you do available for consumption or rejection.Be driven for a love for something, just get in there. Can you get off doing it.” BW

“I grew up listening to songs, I loved songs. I knew who MJ was , but I grew up caring more about who made that song. What feeling did he have to go for that vocal. Once a song is done…you have to let it go. Enjoy the process.” JT

“Love it enough to keep going to the well…..” BW
“Whatever it is, it doesn’t have to always be an art”

“if it does something to you, in any direction it is going somewhere. Dont waste it, just let it go” JT

“A & R— antagonistic and redundant” BW

“Sometimes people don’t understand. doesnt mean they are mean….just that they don’t get it. The dumbest thing you can do is to hold someone responsible for something they just don’t know.Once you commit to doing something..no matter if its serious or silly. If you cheat yourself out of the inner pleasure of doing it…..and please yourself.” BW

“I turned in the record and said this is the first single…..I walked him through all of it. the song came out of a feeling, imagining myself in the middle of a moment where something made me feel that way. I had to go further with the process or it. I had to call up radio programs to tell them it was my record. It wasn’t by design but when the record was done i knew that was what made it interesting for me….i got to express myself the way that I wanted to. I didn’t really think I was brining sexy back…It was a moment.” JT

“You would know what would make someone’s socks roll up and down more than a guy in a chair.” BW

“its an audio visual thing now…for me it was just audio. The concern for us seniors..there is nothing we can do but be concerned. Justin is broad enough, musical enough to where he’s not just fooling you with the video…there are a lot of people who are shy outside of this chair i am very shy….for the person who is just the singer, or just the singers ongwriter who doesn’t have this…I hope we don’t lose, miss hearing profound music….Bob dylan would have been out of luck….with someone like Justin.” BW

“There’s a question of available space….i would hope that in this audio visual age, that we dont lose some very profound statements, you know, bc the favorite mail i get…is somebody says…theres somebody out there, some shy person with issues, but have something profound to say…and books take a lot of time. If you can deliver something profound in 3 to five minute format they can digest it quickly. So I just hope in this transition with gadgets and the internet….I like all that stuff and we need all that stuff..” BW

“realizing that the journey on the way, that the process…..knowing that some idea channeled through you is a part of some body’s life is soo cool.” JT

“Even if it just helps you get through a tough time. Sometimes we confuse the music…with the music business.If you love music, and its in you, dont let all the complications make you fall out of love with music. Bc its a pleasure.” BW

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