The Sum of Many, Many Parts
I agree. When it comes to creativity you are the sum of your influences. This little scribbled note from Nick Cave captures it perfectly. You can hear all of these influences in his music... 2001's "No More Shall We Part," is on my all-time greatest list...
Postscript: I am a little bit surprised to see that Edgar Allan Poe isn't included in this note. I have always thought that Nick Cave is EAP reincarnated. If Poe were around today pretty sure he'd be fronting a band very much like the Bad Seeds...