Art is something that opens up and enhances your emotions and that's what I like to think I'm doing.

I think the hardest thing to overcome is judging yourself and being your own worst critic so to speak.

Almost all the producers I know and dig, like Quincy Jones or Brian Eno, are really musicians first. I'm a composer, an orchestrator, an arranger and a musician first. I know how to write and rewrite songs, and the genius is really in the rewriting.

I grew up in the era of the concept album. What I do now is pick up on singles, and they are their own complete stories; you don't necessarily have to hear the rest of the album because I don't think albums are created like that anymore. They get songs from all over the place.

Any real record person knows that the number one most powerful marketing tool when it comes to music is repetition.

Artists don't come much cooler and well rounded than Lady Gaga. Love and respect.

What do great artists do when you see a world around you that's in turmoil? Some of the best artists make you feel good (hah), they look to the future.