When I finally got to 30, I'll admit that there was a little anxiety, but at the same time I actually really liked it.

The great thing is that when you hire string players you always get really great players. I don't know why that is.

When we got to the step when we'd normally start collaborating, we started having these talks about how it was not worth getting together. Getting together just didn't feel very inspired, and doing it alone did.

I write songs now I look at my strengths and I start there. In The Walkmen, we'd start with the live stuff.

Ironically, I like working with people.

The first ones I played were in New York at Joe's Pub; I played four shows, but I did something like 30 interviews and a couple radio shows in the mornings and completely blew out my voice. It kind of sucked.

Traveling makes a vacation lose all appeal. You would never want to take the family to a European city. You travel a lot, but it's a job.