I do have a lot of references coming out of the '60s, '70s, and '80s, but I don't consciously think, "I'm going to put this here and this there." It comes out of my unconscious, and I don't want it to be just retro.

The hard part was when I went into the studio with co-producer Eric Broucek, and he started slashing my demos. I always sweat that.

I just love music, so that's what I'm always working on, and I try to say yes a lot. Maybe I'm more ambitious than I thought I was.

I went through a furnace and came out knowing who I am.

I tend to work on a song, generate ideas, and re-arrange it like five times, and I'm glad I take the time to do that, because I think my original songs come out better.

I think I am a late-bloomer. My taste in music just keeps getting better.

It was definitely in my mind to do a solo album, but I didn't know it would take this long.