I guess the most emotional part is when I have that moment when I end up writing something that I really, really love. So not only is there the emotional connection with the music that's being created, but there's also the magic of the fact that you're essentially creating something from nothing.

There's an aesthetic theme, which is cities at two o'clock in the morning. Not cities packed with people going out to clubs and dancing but desolate, empty streets. It's off-putting but there's a strange comfort to it as well, that desolate urban environment.

One of the problems with being relatively conscious and human, is that you want to help everybody.

I don't sleep very well when I travel. And as a result, I tend to be awake in cities when everyone else is asleep.

In the long, nonillustrious history of white people pilfering African American culture, have I just perpetrated that? I'm motivated by a love for the music and by a love of the performances, and I really hope I haven't done anything bad.

I like the humility that comes from being hated. Hopefully some humility and compassion comes out of that.

I know it's simple, but my main inspiration is just my love of music. I know that sounds overly naive. But it's true.