The melody and the structure of a song always comes first for me, so the emotions behind it can sometimes be a challenge: What am I feeling about this song? Where did the melody come from? I want it to be heartfelt.

People seem to think that folk music is people with acoustic guitars. Or punk music is people with mohawks, leather jackets.

I think it's cool to give people encouragement.

Sometimes I have the idea right away, like, "Oh, this is what this song's about. This is how I'm feeling."

It's too bad music can't be like movies. For me, playing music and listening to music and creating music is very environmental. It creates a certain environment; it sets a specific mood.

Things have changed. The suburbs are developed, but other parts, like where we recorded Spirit and Danse Manatee are still woodland and farmland.

I didn't really know why I wanted to go to college. I didn't really have a reason to go there other than the fact that everybody else was doing it.