You mustn't underestimate an audience's intelligence.

I started studying music at the age of five and a half. My older sister was taking piano lessons. When her teacher left our apartment, I would get up on the piano bench and start picking out the notes that were part of my sister's lessons

Normally I can balance two or three things. The problem is when you're out of work and don't have anything to balance. I think people assume you're always busy. You go through dry spells.

I can make a song up about anything: garbage, the weather, things in the news.

The biggest thrill you can have is to tell people one of your songs, and have them be able to hum it.

As I get older, I'm slowing down and, yes, calming down in my desire to be taken seriously. That I can be entertaining and funny and high nervous energy can work against me as a serious composer, slowly but surely you'll see me be quieter just so that people will listen.

I'm not one of those people who says, 'I never read reviews,' because I don't believe those people.