Nashville has always felt perfect. I don't think Third Man Records could exist in any other town that I know of in America. Anything smaller or larger than the size of Nashville, and also the music - the attention that's paid to music in that town is sort of the right kind. It's not too hipster and it's not too fake; it's something in the middle, which is really good ground for a place like Third Man Records, that aims to be genre-less. It's great to be able to have that kind of access.

Deadlines and things make you creative.

I say this often, THINK. There is something in life called common sense. Webster's says common sense is sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts. Perhaps this is why in 1776, Thomas Paine used these words as a title for the most famous pamphlet ever written.

If you don’t have a struggle inside or around you, you have to make one up.

Onstage, I don't feel any glory from people clapping in the audience, but when they're pushing me to do something new that feels good.

It's hard to find other musicians that push you to go somewhere new all the time.

Music is what I have to do, I only answer the questions so that I can do it.