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

Men tend to dominate whatever public discourse they participate in, and another big part of feminism is to let women have their say. Men's voices can be welcome at the table, but there is a time and a place, and maybe it's now, for men to make a little less noise, make their needs less known, and listen to the needs of others.

There is something fierce and starved about first ideas.

Over the past 40 years, the tradition of Southern progressivism has been somewhat successfully erased by right-wing revisionist historians.

There are so many ways to respond to music besides feeling like someone's communicating with you. It gives me a charge.

The studio's a collaborative environment. I just try to let people bring their own ideas to the songs and see what happens.

You're not really going to know what a place is like 'til you've lived there a few years - you sort of just have to go with your gut.