You get one chance to make an impression and coasting through is a disservice.

I don't function well in certain aspects of society, and you can read into that what you will.

Life is short. I'm here to make music, I'm not here to sit on a beach. That sounds really boring to me.

I really wanted to get that dynamic on the record onto people and let them know it wasn't just a simple strumming along the guitar type of thing without ramming it down their throats so I kind of went the opposite way and sang some of the songs more quietly which allowed for the louder parts to sound as though there were more. It was the only way singing those songs made sense to me.

My favorite records are not easy - they're not records that reveal everything to you the first time out.

When I started out making music I thought it was about thrills and adding layers, but I realized I want to focus on saying the most with the least.

My love of R&B and hip-hop has influenced my life not even as a musician, but generally in terms of growing up and looking to America as an inspiration.