I'm a big fan of the young 1950s Elvis when he would just go onstage and control the whole environment.

My dad was into the 1950s doo-wop era. If you look at those groups, or at James Brown, Jackie Wilson and the Temptations in the 1960s, you'll see you had to be sharp onstage.

I could sing you a thousand and one doo-wop songs. I love the simplicity in that music. It's not super-poetic, it's just from the heart.

Hawaii is paradise. It sounds cheesy to say it, but there's music in the air there.

The drumming helps a lot when I'm producing songs or writing songs. My knowledge of drums helps more in that aspect, (although) I don't know, man; I'm not great at any of them.

I always say I wanna work with Alicia Keys. I'm in awe of her.

I feel, as a songwriter, it's one of the hardest things to do - to sit down and say how you feel.