I'd had a rough childhood.

In some ways, my gift for music and writing was born out of tragedy, really, and loss.

Van Gogh was impulsive.

Fly silly sea bird, no dreams can possess you, no voices can blame you for sun on your wings.

I heard someone from the music business saying they are no longer looking for talent, they want people with a certain look and a willingness to cooperate. I thought, that's interesting, because I believe a total unwillingness to cooperate is what is necessary to be an artist — not for perverse reasons, but to protect your vision. The considerations of a corporation, especially now, have nothing to do with art or music. That's why I spend my time now painting.

Fame is a series of misunderstandin gs surrounding a name.

I thrive on change. That's probably why my chord changes are weird, because chords depict emotions. They'll be going along on one key and I'll drop off a cliff, and suddenly they will go into a whole other key signature. That will drive some people crazy, but that's how my life is.