Love songs come in many guises and are seemingly written for many reasons – as declarations or to wound – I have written songs for all of these reasons – but ultimately the love songs exist to fill, with language, the silence between ourselves and God, to decrease the distance between the temporal and the divine.

I see it as my duty in some way is to be out in the world as an Australian putting forward what I consider to be authentic Australian music.

Most people wait for the muse to turn up. That's terribly unreliable. I have to sit down and pursue the muse by attempting to work.

I think it's an essential fact for any performer or artist to fail as poignantly as they can succeed.

If you got a trumpet, get on your feet, brother, and blow it!

I'm an Australian, and when I grew up much of my influences were American - blues music and country music, all that sort of thing.

Some are exploring the world through the subconscious. I've done that on occasions for various reasons, whether it be illness or self abuse, or whatever. Once things start to look grotesque I don't write them or sing them. I couldn't write them - making nightmares into living daylight...The minute it gets dark I shoot back, retreat.