Along with John Hughes, he's probably the biggest influence. Would be awesome not only to meet him; he's one person I'd also definitely like to work with.

There's a lot of particularly good things going on in my life at the moment. It's the fact that I get to be an ambassador for the concept of modernity. I can be creative and useful. And I don't have to grow up.

The main reason we understand what we're doing is because we're the individuals doing it. One of the things that surprises me is that all the songs are about me, and it's cool that people care.

I don't believe in anything blindly supernatural.

I'm not reading any novels right now, though not for lack of trying. Unless they're really good, my attention in most novels tends to sputter out after a hundred pages or so - an awful admission for someone who is trying to write one, but it's true.

Everything's immediately diminished. That's why there's no real rock stars anymore. People are too accessible.

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