In cities like New York and Austin, there's much more of a social context for music than in other places.

What I enjoy most about being on stage is that the natural instruments give you a greater freedom with texture. When you use natural instruments they have their own resonance.

I like it here in New York. I like the idea of having to keep eyes in the back of your head all the time.

There was a time where I was the youngest one in any group, and now when I turn around sometimes, I'm the oldest one in every group. It just seemed to flip-flop one day - it wasn't a gradual thing.

There are a few people that I always say, "Hey, what do you think of this?" The minute that you know that you want this particular person to hear it, you know that you're pretty much done - although you're doing it to hear some feedback. It's a smart move to know whose ears you want.

We gave up on the idea of trying to make the record a good representation of the live performance.

People sort of know me for that solo piano music I did.