Stop thinking you have to go to big industry to have a big life, because it's not the truth.

I would hope that wherever Sheryl Crow, Paula Cole, and Fiona get played is where I'd be played. And right now that seems to be the modern Adult Contemporary market.

I like my lyrics to feel conversational and truthful, as if we're having real talk. I don't really like generic lyrics.

Whatever it is that you love to do, be it collect comic books or play the guitar, that you can make a living at it, do it.

When I was a kid in Eugene, Oregon, there was this fantastic guitar player who went out on the tables, chairs, out in the audience and played. So I started taking my guitar in the audience. I tripped, fell backwards and ripped my pants.

I can write songs without a guitar.

I quickly learned to take anger and use it to motivate me. My sister ran away from home, and she was my world. And that was that. The guitar became my world.