To me, the hook of the riff is what makes a great guitar recording. It's the backbone of the whole song. When you have a strong riff, it's the rocket fuel for the track.

I was raised in the Church of Christ, which was a very abstinent faith. And I just didn't [drink] - there was never anything that I found seductive enough, I guess, to have a romance with it.

I've always been just kind of consumed by my own thoughts.

The actual work of recording a record or making a film just requires that you consciously block the time out to do that and nothing else. That's what I do.

Ironically, the success I've experienced at country radio has left me ostracized from pop and other formats of radio.

I hope that books don't go the way of albums and CD, large format albums, and physical product.

My music is very personal. I've created it in solitude. I face a white wall and beller. I like that sound - the expression of loneliness. That's what it's all about.