Throughout my life, there's just periods when I write and periods when I don't. I don't feel like anything's really blocked. "Writer's block" sounds so dramatic and worrisome, and I don't worry about it. I know deep down that I'm a writer, and it's just a matter of time until it comes back, and when it does, it'll be good like it's always been.

I'm 45 and I don't have time to spend two years of my life bringing in producers and dragging the record around the planet.

When you're a touring musician, you're always turning over new rocks and there's always a certain level of tension in your life.

Trying to cope with the balance between home life and road life has been a theme in my music since early Red House Painters records.

I didn't want to put myself, or anyone else, asleep with another quintessential Mark Kozelek album.

When you get older, you're bothered, or inspired, by other things in life than a girl breaking up with you. Things get heavier as you get older.

I feel like when the songwriting slows, I'd love to help others with their records. If it's something I really believe in, it's worth the effort.