It's hard enough to make a good song and a good recording of that song. But to try to tailor it to some outside force is just like - It's never been a factor in what I've done or what the band's done.

It's much easier to work on other people's music and play in other people's bands as a guitar player instead of being the main songwriter and singer. That's a really big job to do that.

Composing is just another exciting thing. It's as exciting as being in a band. It's kind of like joining a new band for three months.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago.

At some point, I had to make a decision: I could practice more and become a really great guitar player or I could work on writing better songs. There are only so many hours in the day, and I found writing songs more fulfilling than working on becoming this virtuoso guitar player.

Even from a listening end now, I'm still completely a fan of music.

Yeah, I'm sure there are stereotypes of Asian people.