Look at someone like Ke$ha. I wouldn't say she's got the most rangy, incredible voice, but she's got a thing. She stands for something, and people are buying into that.

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

Look at someone like Ke$ha. I wouldn't say she's got the most rangy, incredible voice, but she's got a thing. She stands for something, and people are buying into that.

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

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

Listen to the Bee Gees and you can learn to be a great writer.