Some of their best songs don't have bridges and choruses. So that made me think I should trust my instincts. My songs were okay, I figured. I didn't need to change anything.

It's easier to write songs when you're single.

I feel like it's really kind of a sit-down album, much in the same way I imagine Billie Holiday or someone sitting down in the studio and singing.

Sade's stuff is real deceptive. She's got stuff about prostitutes, poverty and people on the streets.

It's really about living in your head... just looking out at the world, then going back into your head and tossing around a lot of ideas and coming out with something interesting to say.

I write first for myself as a therapeutic process, to get stuff out and to deal with it.

You can't be afraid to deal with your demons. You've got to go there to be able to write.