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.
Andrew BirdSome of your best songs come from a desperate attempt to escape, so sitting in an airport for hours I can just start pulling out little fragments of songs from my head. A lot of times a melody will just occur to me and be my companion for a couple of months.
Andrew BirdMy favorite literature to read is fairly dry history. I like the framework, and my imagination can do the rest.
Andrew BirdSongwriting requires some sort of ceremony to even get the process started, and it can be somewhat arbitrary.
Andrew Bird