But I can't really say there is too much modern music that I'm blown away by at this moment

I make the kind of music I like

Simon Hale, the British arranger, does all string and wood arrangements on my records

So, once I've written a song, you know, I'm pretty happy with what the song is on its own terms.

But really important, perhaps most important is the craft; how you make your record, the creation of these sonic worlds you want your listener to hear.

A real foolproof way to do it is play your stuff by hook or by crook and build up a grass roots following

I did a song, "Court and Spark," for a Joni Mitchell tribute album that's yet to see the light of day. So she's someone I'd like to do something with, sure. I worked with the great guitar player Bill Frisell on Phantom Moon - that was fun. I'm such a fan; he's amazing.