The fact that I'm a performer helps me enormously as a lyricist.

The biggest secret weapon we had in regards to really being true to this part of the world, and making sure this part of the world could see themselves in this film [Moana] in a way that felt positive and accurate, was Opetaia, my co-writer, Opetaia Foa'i, who has a great band called Te Vaka and is an amazing musical and cultural ambassador.

I'm the music guy, I get to wear the music hat, but being able to be that guy in the room is a thrill at this level and caliber.

I wouldn't give a performer something I couldn't deliver myself.

I read reviews, I'm not going to lie to y'all. Like you know, I'll read 'em, but then, the next day I'm able to sort of shrug them off. But if something sort of sticks the next day, there's probably something to it. I just sort of really try to trust my gut on, on all that stuff.

I had friends who only listened to hip-hop. I had friends who only listened to musicals, and I stood proudly in the middle.

I got to fall in love. I got to win a war. I got to write words that inspired a nation.