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

The idea of writing songs because you're depressed and you need to communicate it somehow, that isn't really true for me.

I don't like super-descriptive modern fiction. I like, "Here's what was happening in 1582 all over the planet." Then that gets my imagination going.

Anyway, I'm digressing, but this is just kind of this 10-and-a-half-minute, ambient - you hear cicadas and birds and the wind outside and crickets as I'm swelling the piece. I could never do that on a pop record. I could, but why would I want to be agitating?

I put a lot into my records, and I won't release anything I'm not totally thrilled with.

The anti-aging advert that I would like to see is a baby covered in cream saying, 'Aah, I've used too much'

If something gets under my own skin, and keeps reoccurring, it starts to take on a certain weight and value, and I think, "I have to put this in the song. I have no choice but to mention Greek Cypriots in this song." It's a little internal challenge to myself. Like creating little imaginary rituals in yourself to help the song go from nonexisting to existing.