When the systems we expect to help us actually hurt us, we have tragedy.

Los Angeles is an industry town, and it has great facilities and personnel. The disadvantage is that everyone there seems to talk about the same subject matter.

Conducting, I tried it once off the cuff, and quickly realized there were subtle aspects that I was missing. There is a lot more to it that I was able to grasp simply by watching conductors.

I just love the sheer mess of New York.

There is not much irony when people are being happy on screen.

How does my music connect to an audience? That is just a complete mystery to me.

John Barry was my hero when I was about 13. His scores to the James Bond movies were the scores of my life back then.