It can and will be a more powerful sound but the orchestra has far more potential for expressive power. When I hear a great rock band it can make me feel alive, but when I hear a great orchestra it can make me feel human.

There were a lot of people doing new and interesting things with rock. But I wanted to take it farther than that. My real influence was punk. I must have listened to the first Patti Smith album 300 times.

One hundred guitarists making lots of noise would not be something you'd want to listen to.

I like to read. I've become obsessed with fiction. And it's too bad: I'm a musician many people love and I myself am not part of the music scene.

I started out in theatre and I definitely have wanted to add extra musical elements to my music with both imagery and text.

Whatever works for the piece I'm thinking about is the way I write.

It's a mysterious thing that a whole generation of young people can come up and see and understand things that previous generations weren't able to see or understand.