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."

My favorite literature to read is fairly dry history. I like the framework, and my imagination can do the rest.

The problem is, when you're working with orchestras, you only get the orchestra for about two hours before the performance to pull it all together, and that doesn't sound like a real collaboration.

Music as a social conduit has always been important to me.

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

Norman is a very up-close, personal, character drama and I'd like to do something more zoomed out, a little more pastoral, some sweeping epic. I'd like to try something different.

I definitely have to give myself permission, like on "Master Swarm," to rip a lead on that. Just play a violin solo that's - it's a bit showoff-y, but it's fun, so who cares?