When all my friends insisted that they were feeling jaded, it struck me as an affected pose. To me, everything is always new.

I am at a place in my life where the more like a cave I can make my surroundings, the happier I am.

Giving up and doing something else (nursing, for me) was exactly what eventually led me to making music that other people wanted to hear.

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.

I really love Durham more than any place I've ever been; some small towns can be really provincial and strangling, but Durham is the best city in the world.

I just started going to shows. I don't know how submerged I am: I feel guilty that I don't get out more, but I really like being inside the house.

One way you can get really close to God is to sin as hard as you can.