In the hierarchy of instruments, if you're a harpist, you're considered someone with a brain much more than if you're a singer.

What people generally tell you is, "We'll all agree," and then once you sign, they expect to get their own way. I think it was a bit of a surprise that I was still very headstrong even after signing. I wasn't so happy to get a deal that I would agree to anything. In fact, I disagreed on most things and got my way on most things, which I think was to all of our benefit. But they wanted the record to come out, and I wanted the record to come out, so we had to work together.

Public radio is the last oasis of free and independent music. For satellite radio channels, you have to subscribe; commercial stations are as corporate as basic cable.

I kind of go for the MGM version of every musical style.

I never know how to get off the phone, so I'm terribly admiring of people who can.

Music can make the cerebral accessible, the subconscious hummable. It communicates our shared needs and desires as sentient beings better than any other medium.

I think people at most record labels really like music, but it's hard because everything is so subjective, and everyone's so creative in their own right.