Shania Twain refuses to confine herself to a single musical genre, embracing artistic freedom as an essential part of her identity.
The 59-year-old music icon recently opened up about her creative philosophy and the importance of staying true to her instincts during a conversation with People Magazine on Saturday, February 8th.
Twain, known for her genre-blending hits, shared that she actively resists being categorized or placed into a restrictive mold within the music industry. “If I feel like I’m being put in a box, I start to panic. I run in any direction I can because I don’t want to be contained. I have to be able to find my own way,” she explained, emphasizing her need for artistic autonomy.
She elaborated on the unpredictability of her creative process, saying, “Sometimes I’m not even sure where I’m going myself. How can somebody else tell me that, right? So I need the freedom to explore and to land wherever that exploration takes me.”
As someone who has seamlessly transitioned across different musical styles, Twain reflected on the pressures artists often face to conform to industry standards. She expressed that rigid expectations can stifle artistic passion, noting, “Making music according to someone else’s rules kills the passion of the creativity that I’m creating as I go.”
Twain also took a moment to celebrate Beyoncé’s success in breaking barriers with her latest country album, Cowboy Carter, which won the biggest Grammy award of the night. “It’s really great to see,” Twain said, acknowledging the significance of an artist venturing beyond their traditional musical domain.
She further emphasized her admiration for those who challenge the status quo, stating, “I’m always championing anybody that does things that are unexpected by the industry or unexpected by the audience.”
For Twain, embracing change and staying open to new influences is not only essential for her own growth but also crucial for keeping music exciting and fresh. “We get bored too, if we’re not allowed to stay open and channel things outside of what would be considered our normal or what’s expected of us.”
With a career spanning decades and countless chart-topping hits, Twain remains a steadfast advocate for creative evolution, proving that music knows no boundaries.