I was the boy who liked to sing his own songs at talent shows, and I was suddenly officially uncool.

I wanted to focus on songs that I was inspired by growing up. I love so many of them from the last 100 years, but I really wanted, for my first step forward, to choose material that has inspired me and got me into the world of musical theater.

If there is one thing that is constant in this world, it is the power of 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.

A beautiful and binding morning The world outside begins to breathe See clouds arriving without warning I need you here to shelter me. If I could make these moments endless If I could stop the winds of change If we just keep our eyes wide open Then everything would stay the same And I know that only time will tell me how We'll carry on without each other So keep me awake for every moment Give us more time to be this way We can't stay like this forever But I can have you next to me today

Fly me up to where you are beyond the distant star. I wish upon tonight to see you smile, if only for a while to know you're there. A breath away's not far to where you are.

Maybe the gruffness and anger can be done with a purity of sound.