When I start asking my friends, "What do you think this means?" And it leads to way more interesting conversations than what it actually ends up meaning in the dictionary. Like "apocryphal," for instance.

I've always had levity in my songs, so I like to turn things over, twist them around, and make fun of myself.

The music that I write is often not necessarily full of doom and gloom. You'll notice in most of the darkest songs, the music is actually pretty peaceful and lulling.

I don't write poetry and then strum some chords and then fit the words on top of the chords.

Well, my main instrument is violin, but I think of myself as a songwriter who happens to play violin.

I'm coming from a place that's more experimental and indulgent already, so for the last 10 years, it's been more like, "How can I defend my own sensibilities by writing a nugget of a little catchy pop song?" That's how I'm stretching myself, by writing something really simple.

There is something comforting about going into a practice room, putting your sheet music on a stand and playing Bach over and over again.