I've done my share of busking, and it's fun until it isn't. There are musicians in the subways that will make you cry, they're so good.

I can't relate to the process of just disappearing and writing a record, all at the same time, followed by the sort of drudgery of going out on tour and trying to recreate the record, playing the same 12 songs every night.

When I'm onstage, I'm completely comfortable, and I feel very vital and alive.

I still kind of believe this absurd line that if you have to write it down, it's not worth remembering.

Every time I get up in the morning, melodies occur to me and I start trying to shape lyrics to melodies.

It's not set in stone. I like to keep it rolling and changing, and so I am like, "Great, I get to remake my song."

Playing the violin and singing and whistling are just three different ways of making sound. It's not trying to replace a band, per se. It's become a completely different thing. And it's not just simply an effect. It's just a very surprisingly intuitive thing.