As a songwriter you have an umbilical cord to the song and it's hard to expand on your understanding of the lyrics. Whereas when you cover a song you can create your own reason why you're attached to it.

I wanted to write songs that would play themselves on stage, songs that sweep you through their current.

Traveling renews you.

Television really has been my vehicle. I don't get played on the radio much, so I've relied on TV a lot.

I just try to speak passionately about things I'm involved in and moved by.

I don't sing anything that hurts my voice.

You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself.