I just started writing stuff to kill time on summer evenings. This is why I'm always telling people who ask me what they need to do to succeed to give up, do something else.

What I like is horror movies, including '80s slasher movies that politically I have all kinds of problems with. Which is an interesting balance, because I have this leftist puritan strain that, well, if you like something that goes against your politics, maybe you should train yourself not to like it. But I know that I like horror movies and that's what I watch when I get a moment.

Conservative forces in the South have a lot of power - almost dynastic - dating back many years.

A bands first albums usually not great. When you made the first album, you had a day job and you were still trying to be serious about it.

I always worry that I'm a dilettante: I know something about lots of things but don't have exhaustive knowledge of much.

I enjoy hearing people who are good at their instruments and who've found a distinctive voice.

You can get really good reads on your dreams if you think of every character in them as actually being you.