When I started writing, I used the singing side of the production as a vehicle for melody and lyrical ideas. Eventually, that process of using my voice to bring ideas across became more complicated, and I felt I could use it more as an expressive tool.

Even though someone has died, a piece of their spirit can still be alive. That's an exciting world for me to take music into, or to attempt to do that.

I always prefer other people's interpretations over my own, so I'm not very quick to make explicit what exactly a song or record is about.

Try to take your vision and ego as far away from the song as possible. Give as much respect as you can to the song and the initial inspiration.

As a producer, I like to bring in unexpected voices, unexpected musicians, like Watt and Joey Spampinato of NRBQ.

It's a hard thing to explain, but the more I arrange for strings, the more I realize the possibilities.

The best live recordings capture elements of surprise onstage.