Melodies are just honest. They can only be what they are. Words have the capacity for deception. Theyre all full of subtext, and some of them are cliche and overused and vernacular. Theyre tricky. All I can say is, words are tricky.

I just pay attention to what's in my head. That's my number-one rule.

Songwriters can sort of get away with murder. You can throw out crazy theories and not have to back it up with data or graphs or research.

I write a lot more when I'm happy, because you're hopeful, you're motivated.

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.

Sometimes I just think we're not meant to fly halfway around the world in a day. That some kind of mutation is going to happen.

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