Steven Van Zandt Says Songwriting Is The Most Satisfying But Difficult Part Of Being Musician

E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt recently reflected on having multiple jobs besides being a musician during an interview with Glenn Kirschner. When asked about his favorite, the rocker stated that he considers himself to be a writer and producer, which gives him the satisfaction he needs along with their challenging aspects.

Steven Van Zandt doesn’t only make music with his band named Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul and Bruce Springsteen’s band entitled E Street Band. Van Zandt is also a well-known actor as he has appeared in several television drama series, including his role as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos and as Frank Tagliano in Lilyhammer.

The musician is also a radio host since he has been hosting a weekly syndicated radio show named ‘Little Steven’s Underground Garage’ since 2002. In fact, the show is heard on over 200 US radio stations and in some international ones. Moreover, the show recorded its 500th show in front of a sold-out crowd at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York’s Times Square in 2011.

The list of Steven Van Zandt’s professions is extensive since he is also the program director of two radio channels for the Sirius Satellite Radio network. Van Zandt launched his own record label named Wicked Cool Records in December 2004. He established the non-profit Rock and Roll Forever Foundation three years later, which is only one aspect of his highly busy activism efforts.

As the list goes on with curious fans who wonder how Steven Van Zandt manages to do all of these together, he was recently asked about his favorite job out of his extended catalog of professions such as musician, producer, actor, activist, and author. The musician named two out of his lengthy list by saying that he considers himself to be a writer and producer first.

Van Zandt explained this by saying that the creative process is the most important thing for him. Since both of these jobs require him to write and create, the rocker said that they give him the most satisfaction. The guitarist also noted that writing is the most challenging job compared to the others, which must be why he derives such fulfillment.

When asked about his favorite job, Van Zandt said:

“I don’t know if it’s actually one favorite, but I see myself as a writer/producer first. The creative process is what’s most important to me. That’s what’s most satisfying whether it’s writing a good song which is always a miracle, or writing a broadway show as I did, or writing a radio show every week for 20 years.

So the writing is very satisfying and the most difficult thing to do, but the producing is what’s most satisfying. You’re creating something from nothing. Whether I’m producing a radio show, or a tv show, or broadway, or movies. All of those things have their own satisfying results. So, I like bouncing from one thing to another. It keeps me going.”

You can check out the interview below.