[Songwriting is] something that I own - it's my property, it's my music, it's my voice.

Sometimes there's something that you need a few takes to get it and if it takes 15 takes, it takes 15 takes. It really depends.

I know that each and everyone of you have felt, at one point, like you couldn't go on. But then you found hope. There's always a way to find hope. Remember that.

I feel the most connected to my art when it comes from my real life and hopefully the audience feels that.

I thought the popular kids were the cool kids. I got caught up in that, and it was bogus. School is about finding who you are because thats more important than not being yourself.

Having an open dialogue, in any creative atmosphere, is really important to feeling free to tell the story the best way you can.

I really try to be aware of the purpose of each song. There are songs on my record that I want people to have sex to, and songs people can listen to when they're pissed off.