Quotes of Wisdom From the New Skrillex Bonnaroo Documentary
When Bonnaroo enlisted Skrillex to curate 2014’s late-night SuperJam, the OWSLA boss put together one of the most diverse lineups known to humankind. You’ve got Big Gigantic’s Dominic Lalli on sax and Jeremy Salken on drums, Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger on melodies, Brainfeeder’s virtuoso Thundercat on bass, and Skrilly at the wheelie. Add to that a whirlwind of guest appearances from Cage the Elephant’s Matt Schultz, the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, Warpaint, A$AP Ferg, Damian Marley, Mystikal, Janelle Monáe, Zedd, Craig Robinson, and mother-effing Ms. Lauryn Hill, and you’ve got a musical phenomenon unlike the world has ever seen, nor will likely again.
Skrillex recently released a seven-part documentary on his Bonnaroo SuperJam journey. The film captures a historical moment—as the SuperJams are traditionally hosted by jam bands and rock acts—and it marks yet another moment when electronic music crossed over into the mainstream, further legitimizing the ever-broadening appeal of the genre.
With so many legends in one place, the discussion was bound to get deep. These are our favorite takeaways from the film.
“My dad always said, ‘If you want to grow, bite off more than you can chew and swallow that shit.’” —Skrillex
Skrillex has never shied away from a challenge, and that’s what made him the incredible, envelope-pushing artist he is today. From his early days as a teenage frontman in From First to Last to his time as a homeless producer crashing on 12th Planet’s couch and creating the first blips of what would become America’s angst-ridden brand of dubstep, he’s always shot for the highest stars. It’s why he has more Grammys than any other electronic music producer on earth. It’s why he was tapped for a collaboration with the Doors. It’s why he finds success at every turn. And it’s why he was perfect as ringleader for Bonnaroo’s 2014 SuperJam.
“Without rhythm, it ain’t worth living.” —Mickey Hart, the Grateful Dead
The rhythm is in all of us. You can trust Mickey Hart; he’s the legendary drummer of the world’s most celebrated jam band. He goes on to say, “When the rhythm stops, you die. Heart stops beating. Blood stops pumping.” Music is the universal language. It’s the intersection of math and logic with emotion and the human soul. Get out there and embrace your own rhythm. Make music every day with your own existence. Be yourself, and be daring.
“It’s not like you’re embarrassed to say the word ‘rock ‘n’ roll,’ but it doesn’t hold the same impact as it used to; but then the music does. You see all these other things happening so fast. You want to chase after the greener grass on the other side, and then you just play a rock ‘n’ roll song, and people are blown away. It’s like, ‘Wow, have I been thinking in the right direction?’” —Matt Schultz, Cage the Elephant
You’ve heard it before: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Just as in life, it’s better not to overthink things when making music. Like Skrillex, most of us grew up with a background in rock ‘n’ roll. Even rap music traces itself back to funk and soul, which were greatly influenced by rock greats like Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The spirit of rock runs through all things, especially in the case of former metal frontman Skrillex and his pals. The term may be outdated, but the feeling of rock music lives on. Keep its rebellious fire alive in everything you do.
“The thing about any art or any music, at least the way I’ve always approached creating stuff, is you can’t really plan it too much. If you’re open to change, that’s when the final product will always be the most special.” —Skrillex
It’s good to have a plan, but you can’t count on anything to stay the same. Life will always bring untold problems, hiccups and sidetracks. If you stay rigid, you’ll run into more problems. It’s when you go with the flow that things fall into place. That goes for creative endeavors just as much as professional and personal circumstances.
“I don’t do this because it’s my job. I do this because I love to make music.” —Skrillex
Wiser words may never have been spoken, and Skrillex is just talking facts. If you want to be happy in this life, be motivated by what moves you. Chasing money will only get you so far. Successful people will tell you: If you do what you love and put everything you’ve got into something that’s real, the money will come. Not everyone gets to live the life they want, but not everyone is willing to fight for it. It’s not easy, but Skrillex can tell you—it’s hella worth it.
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