Songwriters tell the truth.

I've never in my life bought a big piece of jewelry - like, 'I'm gonna get myself a big piece of jewelry!' Songwriters' lives are unstable and up and down. Even though mine has sort of has followed more of a going toward the sky trajectory.

I'm a native New Yorker, so I'm edgier; I kind of tell it like it is.

I looked a little pasty. But hey, at least I didn't wet myself!

Just because you're a star on television doesn't mean that you can be a music phenomenon or an artist. You have to have the material to back it, and it's all about hit songs. I can name you every "Idol" winner and why they didn't go on to have success - their songs. The ones who have - their songs.

I can sing in front of people. I can go on a TV show, live, and not feel like I'm going to throw up.

Good new songs are the backbone of the music industry. There isn't an artist out there who could survive without hit songs.