Carole King

“To create art, there has to be an emotional connection. Making it vulnerable is part of that connection on the part of the artist. If it’s just business, then fine; you can sell a lot of records by making something that’s commercial. But if there’s no emotional connection in it, I don’t think it’s art.

“Long ago I wrote songs, and still do, with commerce in mind. I’m not always in an ivory tower saying that I have to drag agony out of my gut (laughs). But once I start to create a song, even if commerce is the motivation, I’m still going to put my whole heart and soul in it. I’m going to try to write the best song and move people in a way that touches them and that fits the need of the commercial project, whatever it is. People know there’s an emotional connection, even if the song is commercial.”

From Carole King: New Threads in the Tapestry

Performing Songwriter Issue 79

Category: In Their Own Words