We were kind of caught up in the genre trap. We didn’t really have a lot of artistic freedom. They wanted us to go into a certain direction, so they could promote us easier.

Meaning of the quote

The record company wanted the band to make music that fit into a specific genre, or type of music, so it would be easier for them to promote the band. This meant the band didn't have as much freedom to create the kind of music they really wanted to make. They felt trapped by the genre the record company wanted them to follow.

About Mark McGrath

Mark McGrath is an American singer who is the lead vocalist of the rock band Sugar Ray. He is also known for his work as a co-host of Extra and as the host of the TV show Killer Karaoke.

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More quotes from Mark McGrath

I never really thought we’d fitted into the cross-over drawer. But I think the real Sugar Ray fans did like us because we always had variety and because we experimented a lot.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

There are a lot of people out there who are just waiting that we fail. They brought up the theory that we’re one-hit wonders and they want us to fall flat on our noses, just to prove them right.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

I’m really fed up with all the credibility talk. A lot of times it seems to be more important than the music. Well, I guess for a lot of people it actually is. We don’t care for credibility.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

I really do hope that the people will like 14:59. The critics seem to like it. We got a lot of good reviews.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

It’s funny; we never had anything like credibility. Even though we all have some sort of punk-rock background, but so what? I really don’t care about that. What’s credibility anyway? Who has credibility?

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

We were kind of caught up in the genre trap. We didn’t really have a lot of artistic freedom. They wanted us to go into a certain direction, so they could promote us easier.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

All we did was to sit around, collect some ideas, wait and see what’s going to happen. That was it.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

Of course, we wrote the songs accordingly and performed and recorded them that way. At that time, we really thought it was right, but you know, seen in retrospect, it made the album sound forced, and not really great.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

Today they’re praising you sky high, place you on a pedestal and tomorrow they don’t want to know you.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host

You know how it is with drawers and labels in the music business. They don’t want anything to be complicated. They just want it simple, as simple as possible.

Mark McGrath

American singer and television host