I think that my relationship with my fans has been very special from day one. It's been very special in spite of the fact that I don't think I would ever be able to call myself a press darling. I don't think there's ever been a superficial hype machine around me.

Every day I lugged my backpack through the halls, waiting for the final bell. Then I'd race home and hole up in my room, playing the drums and the piano, composing music.

If I'm in a relationship, I'll go to the ends of the earth. If I'm on the road and we have a conversation, and she says, "God, I really wish I was there with you right now," I'll hang up the phone, send a car, and have the plane ready.

It wasn't that I got pinned against my locker, but I was intensely aware that the things I valued weren't shared by anyone. Girls didn't like me, and I had few friends.

My school life was very much a wandering experience. I was having trouble in school and I was not making a lot of friends. So coming home and actually improvising on the piano and just coming up with melodies was an escape for me.

There is a certain... chivalry to the style of singing I normally do. Part of the fun for me will be to leave that at the door.

No matter who we are, no matter what our circumstances, our feelings and emotions are universal.