I was just a folk singer. I cut my teeth on the streets, you know.

It's just a joy to be able to work with a lot of different musicians. When you play with great musicians, whether they're schooled or self-taught, they keep you on your toes.

I just like writing lyrics. I find a little satisfaction in performing live, making records. But primarily, I just try to write every day.

I don't really write for an album. I just write songs whenever I feel like it, whenever they come to me. It's all a complete accident.

Thank god we don't know a lot about William Shakespeare or Moses or Homer or Lautréamont. These are the best guys we got, and their art is powerful because they're mysterious. Once biographical information contaminates your consciousness, it's impossible to erase it and look at someone's work the same way again.

Opinions only carry weight in the second or third person.

I grew up in the suburbs and was raised on rap radio, so it took me a long time to stumble upon the acoustic guitar as a resource for anything.