I'd just like to inspire people to be themselves and do what they want and not conform to the rigid guidelines of the music or entertainment business.

If you want to achieve things in life, you've just got to do them, and if you're talented and smart, you'll succeed.

When I start writing, I'll have a vague concept or I'll just have a title, and the song just goes on its own direction. Usually it goes in many directions within each song. They get really convoluted sometimes.

I like people wanting to know about me.

When I first started making music, I didn't really know what I was doing. I just wanted to write songs. I didn't have a concept. I didn't think it through. I was just flailing around doing what comes naturally. It took me a really long time to step back and deal with what I was doing with any kind of perspective or self-awareness.

I'm kind of an emotional exhibitionist.

Songwriting is like editing. You write down all this stuff - all this bad, stupid stuff - and then you have to get rid of everything except the very best.