The Outlaws’ Henry Paul – HuffPost 9.19.12

Mike Ragogna: Henry, what advice do you have for new artists?

Henry Paul: Well, you know, I think that some things never change, and I think commitment to your career is probably the most important. There are a lot of road blocks, and there’s a lot of nay-saying and a lot of negativity on the way. But if you, in your heart, believe that you have something worthwhile, I think that you have to stick with it and push through some of the barriers. Aside from that, have honesty in your lyrics and integrity in your effort. I think that it’s important that you put your artistic agenda first and as far as fame and fortune and any of that, I think you can pretty much write that off as a dream, because with the exception of a handful of people that we know by name, this is more of a job and more of a life’s work rather than just a get-rich-quick scheme.

MR: Nicely said, it’s a life’s work and it becomes a lifestyle.

HP: It does. While some people have taken a different path in their lives and are enjoying a steady paycheck and they’re enjoying healthcare benefits and more of a predictable sort of lifestyle, as an artist, a lot of times, you go without, and a lot of times, you’re on the outside looking in on people living that life. But at the end of your artistic endeavor, hopefully, you wind up with a body of work that you can be proud of and a musical sort of contribution that can be taken seriously and embraced.