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

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

There's always a tension between wanting to write a really concise, instant gratification type song that gets under your skin the first time you hear it, and wanting to really stretch out. I think it's a healthy tension.

A day off after a show with no agenda in a foreign city is about the most fertile creative situation I can imagine. Just walking with nothing to do, killing time and hearing the sights and sounds of an unfamiliar place.

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."

I'm into lately being a little less precious about writing and being like, "Okay, what if I just locked myself in my room, pretend that there's someone outside with a gun that's saying, 'Don't come out until you write something.'"

I really believe there's more honesty in one live show than there may be in my whole output.