I write all the time but often abandon things I don't think will go anywhere. It's rare that I'll labor over writing something that doesn't feel like it will turn into a keeper.

The simpler songs are just done when the lyric has been stated; the more complex or band-oriented stuff can go in a million directions.

You want to think about certain styles of music as being reflective of a certain culture or a certain time or a point of view. You don't want it to be just an intellectual exercise.

I don't really hang out with anyone. I'll hang out with my band ... but I don't have any friends aside from that.

I don't know that we're really going to need a label for the things we're thinking about doing next.

I love Seattle, but I am definitely excited to be in a new place. Growing up there and then living in an apartment in the city for seven years, I just felt stagnant.

I only write maybe one or two songs every couple of years that I think are good enough to play alone without other stuff happening.