My mom. She really encouraged me. That's the trouble with education: Unless you have a really supportive parent, you get left behind.

You have to reflect honestly what's around you in your music. I think a lot of people are just obsessed with their own relationships, so that is an honest reflection of what they see. A lot of people don't go much deeper than that.

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 feel like you should always be questioning the genre you're doing. If you're doing something that sounds like a lullaby, it can be good to make it about someone stalking someone.

My mom. She really encouraged me. That's the trouble with education: Unless you have a really supportive parent, you get left behind.

I have trouble with any kind of focus or concentrating, or getting anything done at all, really.

You know, if I can survive marching band, I can survive anything.