I don't think there is much American music.

I don't have ideas so much as there are things which constantly evolve... there are various threads or layers, if you like, which change.

My attitude to writing is like when you do wallpapering, you remember where all the little bits are that don't meet. And then your friends say: It's terrific!

People say my music is English. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's not me writing English music, but that English music is becoming more like me.

It's the irrational things that interest me.

I'm not an architectural composer.

One thing I've tried to do in writing music is take on very basic things, very archetypal things.