Esperanza Spalding Famous Quotes, born Esperanza Emily Spalding on October 18, 1984, in Portland, Oregon, is an American jazz bassist, singer, songwriter, and composer whose innovative fusion of jazz, funk, soul, and world music has redefined contemporary jazz.
She made history as the first jazz artist to win the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2011, outshining pop stars like Justin Bieber and Drake. A musical prodigy, she played violin in the Chamber Music Society of Oregon at age five, later mastering bass and guitar, and became a professor at Berklee College of Music at 20.
Her albums, such as Esperanza (2008), Chamber Music Society (2010), and Songwrights Apothecary Lab (2021), showcase her genre-defying artistry. These 15 famous quotes—sourced from her most widely cited interviews, songs, and public statements—capture her profound insights on creativity, authenticity, resilience, and music’s transformative power, reflecting her status as a cultural and musical trailblazer.
15 Esperanza Spalding Famous Quotes
- “I’m not gonna sit around and waste my precious divine energy trying to explain and be ashamed of things you think are wrong with me.”
- “Jazz music just resonates with the frequency of me.”
- “You can grow up with literally nothing and you don’t suffer if you know you’re loved and valued.”
- “There’s nothing wrong with struggle. Anytime I look back at a difficult phase of my life and see what grew out of it—the creative survival tactics—I think that the good is way better than the bad.”
- “My name means ‘hope’ in Spanish and it’s a name I want to live up to.”
- “Jazz has always been a melting pot of influences and I plan to incorporate them all.”
- “The benefit of the radio is, something beyond your realm of knowledge can surprise you, can enter your realm of knowledge.”
- “I am insubordinate by nature. I can’t help it.”
- “Alchemy and magic are about how mundane, benign, and abundant materials can have an effect that is greater than the sum of their parts. To me, creativity is alchemy.”
- “I fear that I won’t get better and that I won’t have time to practice. To be called a jazz musician—it’s a big responsibility.”
- “I love people, and I love to be with people and to make music with people, but my natural state is to revert back to being by myself in my house.”
- “There’s no secret, no shortcut. Once you accept that being a writer or a creator is just really hard and takes a lot of hours of slogging through crappy first drafts, you just keep producing, and then you turn around and it’s done. That’s the magic.”
- “I just think music is so intrinsically linked with images in the culture that we live in that you’ll be hard-pressed to have an experience with the music without a preconceived notion.”
- “There’s enough time in the day: If you go to bed at 10 and start your day at 6, there’s a lot you can do in a day!”
- “I want to have a beneficial effect on your physiology, but it’s not my business what happens after that… It’s my gift to you.”
Esperanza Spalding’s famous quotes are a vibrant testament to her fearless creativity, deep love for jazz, and unwavering authenticity, inspiring fans to chase hope and embrace their unique gifts. Which one strikes a chord with you? Drop it in the comments and keep her soulful jazz legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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