It's not a random chance that we have Alanis Morissette. She didn't evolve out of a null and void. She came from a former template. She borrowed styles and sounds from a very limited set of other artists.

In this quote, Greg Graffin, the lead singer of Bad Religion, discusses the evolution of Alanis Morissette as an artist. He suggests that Morissette’s success was not purely the result of random chance, but rather a product of influences and inspiration from previous artists and musical styles. According to Graffin, Morissette’s style didn’t emerge from a "null and void" but rather from an existing template of sounds and approaches that shaped her music.

Graffin emphasizes that, like many musicians, Morissette borrowed elements from a limited set of other artists to create her distinctive style. He acknowledges that all artists are influenced by those who came before them, and Morissette is no exception. Her music was shaped by the sounds and styles of other musicians, which she then made her own through innovation and personal expression.

The quote also reflects Graffin's broader view that creativity and artistic development are not entirely original, but instead are built upon what has come before. He highlights that the process of artistic creation often involves borrowing and reinterpreting existing ideas and sounds, rather than coming up with something entirely new from scratch. This perspective challenges the notion of pure originality in music, suggesting that all artists are part of a larger musical tradition.

Ultimately, Graffin’s words offer insight into the nature of creativity in music. By pointing out the influences on Morissette’s work, he underscores the importance of understanding the context in which artists develop their style, and how music is often a conversation between past and present influences, rather than a completely isolated act of creation.