Composing demands a degree of isolation.

I live in Topanga Canyon, which is like a faux-rustic enclave in Los Angeles. I love the sounds of all the critters outside - the frogs, owls, crickets, and birds. Some of the birds around here are pretty accomplished musicians. You can learn a lot from them.

The way that I make films is that I sit down and I think, "How much money could I get with less consequences?" And that's how I start. I'd rather have less money and total autonomy than more money and start having to answer to things, because then I'm not being true and the money men are not being true.

I know so few people who actually give music their undivided attention, so I've been trying to just park myself on the couch between the speakers and listen.

It's very important that you never depend on money to fulfill your creative vision. If you do that, you're doomed to fail.

I think the music business is becoming more difficult. It's really taken a big hit with piracy, so it's a lot more difficult. I mean, it was kind of an impractical career choice when I did it 25 years ago, but nowadays it's truly reckless.

The more I come to understand music, the more I feel like a numbskull because there is always more to learn.