There are real teachers out there; I don't pretend to have their mantle.

People want you to play the songs they know. I try not to reflect too much, and I don't really like to focus too much on myself.

I did a lot of music criticism. I don't think much of it was any good. I think I wanted to show off a lot when I was younger. Now I just want people to enjoy the story. If it were possible to publish anonymously, that would be awesome.

If you get into a fight and somebody punches you, you get two feelings. One: That really hurts. Two: That relief in the realness of, like, Wow, this is what it is. It's not an intellectual process.

I always want to try and see what the appeal is in anything. It's the healthiest and most honest approach.

I seem to get the best work when I'm angry and depressed and alienated.

I do have a romantic interest in outlasting everybody else. There's a sort of sad machismo to singer-songwriters, I think.