I think I couldn't give myself any advice apart from just do exactly what I want.

I'm writing songs that connect to millions of people. And that happens for a reason. I don't really worry too much about people who aren't into it because that's the beauty of music. It's subjective. If every single person in the world loved our music, then that'd be weird.

As I tell my intro creative writing students, after reading someone you love, wait at least an hour before starting to write.

We like to juxtapose our music with a more dour aesthetic.

When you start becoming a pop star, you think, Hold on a second, maybe my life is different now - maybe all these people that I thought of as celebrities are going to be normal, and when I walk into a room I'm going to be really cool and so is everyone else. But that's not what happens at all - I was awkward, and then I just retreated from any social engagement for about a year.

I think early on I was really into ambient music and like American original Emo.

There's a lot that's happened in my life that maybe I didn't want to happen, but I suppose it's led me to exactly where I am now.